The Bose QuietComfort 45 (QC45) headphones promise a lot on paper. They tout excellent noise cancellation along with up to 24 hours of battery life. However, in practice, they make worrying compromises.
Before you choose to buy the QC45, I want to outline 7 compelling reasons why they may not provide $329 value:
- Mediocre sound that lacks clarity and neutrality
- Distortion occurs at high volumes
- No aptX codec support limits Bluetooth streaming quality
- You can‘t disable noise cancellation fully
- Disappointing build quality for a $329 headset
- Missing extra features like touch controls or EQ
- Overpriced compared to rival noise-cancelling headphones
I‘ll analyze each reason in detail below. My goal is to educate shoppers on the QC45‘s notable downsides so you can determine if they align with your needs and expectations. Let‘s dive in!
1. Lacklustre Sound Quality Given the Cost
As noise-cancelling headphones priced at $329, buyers rightfully expect the Bose QC45 to deliver pristine audio. However, according to professional reviews, the QC45 falter in sound quality, especially for critical listening.
Muddy Bass Overpowers the Mids and Highs
Measurements of the QC45‘s frequency response reveal a lack of tonal neutrality, causing uneven performance:
- Excessive mid-bass creates muddy, booming basslines
- Sharp dip in upper mids makes vocals and lead guitars sound distant
- Spike around 10 kHz adds unwanted sibilance to vocals and cymbals
This uneven profile creates a darker, closed-in listening experience where the exaggerated bass overwhelms the finer details in the mids and highs. Music lacks clarity, balance, and dynamics as a result.
As Sound Guys notes in their review:
"The intense low-end makes the sound signature extremely warm to the point that it may sound muddled to some."
Narrow Soundstage Compresses Dynamics
In addition to tonal balance issues, professional reviewers mention the Bose QC45 having a narrow, congested soundstage presentation. Rather than conveying space and width, the audio sounds boxed in.
This weakness stems partly from the excessive bass response, which in turn masks subtle micro-details in recordings and compresses dynamic range. As a result, lively genre like rock, metal, and electronica sound disappointingly flat.
You lose a sense of energy and dynamics. Similarly, the soundstage limitations make intimate tracks actually sound too intimate. The perceived distance between instruments and vocalists seems to collapse into one dimension rather than conveying space and depth.
Overall, while the Bose QC45‘s beefed-up low end pleases more casual listeners, the skewed frequency response falls short for critical listening. Audiophiles will notice the lack of openness, clarity, and detail compared to balanced headphones.
2. Distortion Occurs Once You Increase Volume
In addition to the sound quality complaints at normal listening levels, the Bose QC45 begin to distort unpleasantly as you increase loudness – even before hitting max volume.
Reviewers note the bass frequencies begin to bottom out by around 80% volume, causing audible distortion and harshness, especially with bass-heavy genres.
This early distortion likely stems from the QC45 using relatively small 40mm drivers to facilitate the slim, portable design. But it means the drivers lack the headroom and dynamic range to cleanly reproduce peaks in loudness.
So while the punchy bass provides initial wow factor, it turns nasty and distorted once you crank up the volume. This weakness ruins the listening experience for fans of loud, spirited music playback. The distortion introduces fatigue much quicker than rivals that retain composure at louder volumes.
Considering the $329 premium price, buyers expect a much higher ceiling before distortion enters the equation. This flaw forces you to listen below normal levels to avoid the bottoming out – an unreasonable compromise.
3. Lack of Qualcomm aptX Support Limits Bluetooth Streaming Quality
While the Bose QC45 utilize the latest Bluetooth 5.1 standard, they lack support for the aptX and aptX HD audio codecs from Qualcomm. These codecs can wirelessly transmit CD-like quality by reducing audio file compression.
Instead, the QC45 relies solely on the standard SBC and AAC codecs. Here‘s how they compare:
| Spec | SBC | AAC | aptX | aptX HD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitrate | 328 kbps | 250 kbps | 352 kbps | 576 kbps |
| Latency | 200-300 ms | 150-200 ms | 100 ms | 95 ms |
| Sound Quality | Low | Fair | Very Good | Excellent |
As shown, aptX and aptX HD offer substantial sound quality and latency advantages over both SBC and AAC due to their improved encoders.
By lacking Qualcomm‘s codec technology, the Bose QC45 miss out on near CD-like wireless fidelity and lag that competitors like the Technics EAH-AZ60 can achieve.
So while Bluetooth 5.1 itself provides solid transmission range and stability, you sacrifice maximum audio resolution by being limited to SBC and AAC bitrates. This downside may disappoint buyers wanting to use high-res streaming services.
4. No True Off Mode Outside of Transparency Means Always-On Noise Cancellation and Hissing
A notable limitation of the Bose QC45‘s noise cancellation capabilities is the lack of true bypass or off mode when listening to music or other audio.
The only alternative to full ANC is Transparency mode, which allows ambient sound to pass through but keeps the noise cancellation circuitry and microphones active.
Problems arise with this always-on ANC approach for a few reasons:
- Introduces faint hissing sound (ANC artifacts) in quiet environments
- Reduces sound quality transparency compared to disabling ANC fully
- Impacts battery life by never letting ANC shut off completely
Having to choose between audible hissing from ANC or allowing in external noise makes the Bose less flexible than rivals like the Sony WH-1000XM5 that let you disable noise cancellation entirely.
If you wanted to conserve battery or simply enjoy music without manipulation from active electronics, the QC45 forces ANC to remain on. This limitation creates unnecessary battery drain and background noise.
5. Disappointing Build Quality and Durability Considering $329 Price
Given their premium $329 cost, the Bose QC45 feature an underwhelming build quality consisting mainly of cheap plastic rather than luxury metals and leather.
In particular, professional reviewers widely criticize the visible plastic seams that mar the aesthetic:
- Plastic headband feels creaky and hollow
- Obvious outline of plastic ear cup connections
- Overly plastic look and feel
This disappointing craftsmanship contrasts sharply against competing headphones from Sony, Bowers & Wilkins, Bang & Olufsen, etc. that utilize richer materials like steel and leather to match their premium branding.
By using plastic as the main construction material, the Bose QC45 seem engineered to a budget rather than durability. And with no stated sweat or water resistance, daily wear may degrade the plastics and moving parts quicker than metal rivals.
The end result feels cheaper and more disposable than expected for $300+ headphones with Bose‘s iconic branding. While 240g lightweight, the tight headband also causes discomfort during long listening sessions.
6. Lacks Additional Features Like Touch Controls Despite $329 Cost
In keeping costs low, Bose dropped premium features from the QC45 that are quickly becoming standard at this $300+ price range:
- No touch controls: Requires using dated inline remote instead for playback
- No wear sensors: Doesn‘t auto pause when removing headphones
- No EQ customization: Signature sound profile can‘t be adjusted
- No fast pairing: No integration with Google Fast Pair or Apple H1 chip
Having to press tiny physical buttons for volume or track changes is inconvenient compared to the seamless tap and swipe gestures offered by touch-enabled rivals.
And the lack of auto pausing when you remove the QC45 to chat with someone means you‘ll miss parts of your music or podcasts. That omission seems petty considering even budget headphones include wear detection sensors.
Likewise, leaving out an app with any sound profile customization ignores how everyone has different hearing and tonal preferences.
Overall, the glaring omissions force buyers to accept mediocre default functionality rather than customizing and enhancing their experience. For $329 in 2023, touch controls, hear-thru audio, customizable EQ, etc. are basic expectations.
7. Significant Price Premium Over Superior Noise-Cancelling Models
Given all the compromises outlined already regarding mediocre sound quality, plasticky build, and missing features, the Bose QC45 simply demand too steep a premium over rival noise-cancelling models.
At $329 USD, these headphones play in an ultra-competitive price region against outstanding alternatives like:
- Sony WH-1000XM5
- Technics EAH-AZ60
- Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
Frankly, the QC45 fail to beat any of those models regarding audio fidelity, ANC technology, battery life, or premium metal/leather builds.
You ultimately sacrifice noticeable sound quality andGet additional features due to questionable "Bose tax" markups. Considering the minor noise cancellation differences, better audio performance and quality materials become deciding factors.
If the Bose QC45 falls short after assessing its downsides, here are two formidable noise-cancelling headphones to consider instead at this $300-400 budget range:
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Technics EAH-AZ60 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sound Quality | Exceptional balance and resolution | Stunning musicality with dynamic range |
| Key Features | Industry-leading ANC, LDAC support, Speak-to-Chat | Superior LDAC codec, ambient Mode optimizations |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (ANC on) | 15 hours (ANC on) |
| Materials | Plastic and steel | Plastic and leather |
As shown, these two models surpass the Bose QC45 headphones where it matters most – audio fidelity and intelligent sound optimizations absent in the QC45.
The Sonys, in particular, outclass Bose to become the new ANC benchmark while retaining great sound. And the Technics provide incredible musicality and dynamic range for both wireless and wired listening.
Either provide better price/performance than the feature barebones QC45.
Are the Bose QC45 good for phone calls?
Yes, call quality is a strength thanks to the eight-microphone system. Noise cancellation also helps isolate speech from ambient noise.
Can you use the QC45 wired without battery power?
Yes, the aux cable allows passive listening without needing battery charge to power noise cancellation.
What‘s the difference between the QC45 and QC35 II?
Updates like USB-C charging, Bluetooth 5.1 support. Sound quality and ANC remain very similar to the older QC35 II.
Is Bose known for sound quality?
Historically no – Bose focuses more on noise cancellation and ease of use over audio fidelity. Critics typically rate Bose as uneven compared to neutral brands like Sennheiser.
If noise cancellation ability remains your priority above all else, the Bose QC45 satisfy with superb damping of ambient noise that outperforms nearly all rivals. However, as outlined above, they make far too many audio fidelity and comfort sacrifices to justify their steep $329 cost.
Before purchasing, I recommend auditioning the Bose QC45 against competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Technics EAH-AZ60 that match Bose‘s class-leading ANC while delivering superior sound quality and wearing comfort.
Ultimately, while the QC45 promise lengthy battery life and slightly better noise cancelling than past Bose models, their mediocre default sound and plasticky build should make anyone seeking premium performance look towards more well-rounded alternatives instead.
