Because these are over-the-ear headphones that offer a tight seal, it can get rather steamy inside the cups, especially on hot days, although they breathe fairly well for such headphones. On long plane journeys, your skin will also get slightly moist underneath the cushions, so expect to take them off for short periods to give your ears some air. Also note that the 3.5mm cord is detachable, so, if you just want to block out the outside world and catch a nap, you can do so.
Smoother sounds
In terms of sound quality, the first thing we noticed about the 15s, compared with the 2s, was that the overall sound was smoother and more tonally balanced. With the 2s and 3s, Bose seemed to have messed with the bass, pumping it up (we found it rather thumping), but the bass on the 15s is tighter and punchier. Hip-hop fans may prefer the bass on the 2s, but that's a matter of listening taste.
The 15s offer excellent detail. When first using the headphones, we experienced a strong urge to relisten to our entire library of music -- a welcome symptom of acquiring high-grade cans. That said, the 15s have a closed-cup design, so the sound feels more 'stuck inside your head' than you'd get from open-backed headphones. As such, they don't quite measure up to some other high-end headphones that we've tested in this price range. Still, these are probably the best-sounding noise-cancelling headphones we've heard to date.
Conclusion
As is the case with virtually all of Bose's headphones, the QuietComfort 15s aren't exactly a bargain. But they're a good step up from the QuietComfort 2s and offer improved sound and noise-cancelling performance. Looking at it that way, we can at least say they're a better deal than their predecessors, or the smaller and similarly priced QuietComfort 3s.
Additional editing by Charles Kloet
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Gazaway 14 February 2013
Comment: I've wanted the Bose QC 15 for quite some time and debated whether or not it was worth it. I got them for Christmas, and realized that I have not REALLY heard music until now. I can't go back to my standard iPhone earbuds. Bose has "ruined" my iPhone experience - in a good way. And then my friend showed me her on-the-ear headphones Beats by Dre. The base was outstanding! I began to wonder if I'd made the right purchase. So I brought over my QC 15 and compared her earphones with mine and her boyfriend's over-the-ear NR Beats by Dre. The first thing I noticed was that at the same volume setting, both Beats headphones played music louder than the Bose. This gave the appearance of much stronger base beats. But when I upped the volume with the Bose, what I found was a much clearer acoustic experience, with not quite as powerful base as Beats, but still incredible base and overall superior sound. I would choose the Bose over Beats by Dre.
That being said, let's cover what Bose QC 15 does and does not do. It does completely cancel out background noise like no other - as long as it's a rhythmic tone, such as airplane engines, lawn mower, fan, etc. It does NOT cancel out loud conversations (though they are very muffled), children playing instruments, babies crying and other high decibel / non-rhythmic sounds. But again, it greatly softens all sounds. The noise canceling Beats by Dre headphones didn't appear to have any cancelling effect when I tried them in a room full of loud computer fans, whereas Bose successfully blocked out every noise.
Bose fits around my ears perfectly. My ears aren't ginormous, but they are on the larger side and still fit. Beats by Dre didn't go all the way around my ears and were comparatively uncomfortable, even for the few minutes that I tried them.
NOTE: for best price for the QC15 I suggest check at -> Noisecancellingheadphonesdeals.blogspot.com/p/bose-qc-15.html
I feel like I have never properly heard music until now. Highly recommend the Bose QC 15.
Pauli Walnuts 7 October 2012
Good: Sound, build and isolating prowess
Bad: Nothing
Comment: Reassuringly expensive.
Every time I open the neat carry case, I get the sense of satisfaction you only ever get from something quality, expensive and desirable.
I wanted a set of these for years, then finally gave in and bought a set from the Bose store in Burlington, Boston, while on holiday.
Expensive yes, but at $300, it was a steal compared to £300 back home in Ireland!
Needless to say, I enjoyed the phones immensely on the transatlantic flight home.
With an IPad loaded with music and movies, the QC 15s were an absolute joy.
Films came across with a richness and I went through my music collection marvelling at the tight bass and musicality of the headphones.
They are now a constant travelling companion.
On a flight, the novelty of placing the cans on my ears, then flicking the switch to completely iradicate the engine noise has not diminished. If only it could do the same for the pesky flight stewards, it would be great!
I concur with the reviewers comments about the slight feeling of pressure, but I find it minimal. They can make your ears a bit sweaty though after a while as they are so close fitting.
Nevertheless, I highly recommend these cans, which do exactly what they were designed to do, and do it well.
toondad 30 March 2012
Comment: I wanted to add that having broken my QC2's which were around 6 years old, I rang Bose to ask about a repair - the right hand cup had broken away from the head band - and they said that whilst they do not repair their headphones, they would be happy to let me have a brand new pair of QC15's for only £109!! I simply have to return my broken pair they will then charge my debit card and send me a new one out!! the quality of their after sales is almost better than the product itself - and they are the best!!!
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