When it comes to noise cancellation, no in-canal earphones have ever seriously competed with over-ear headphones. However that may have just changed with the Bose QuietComfort 20.
At AED1,100 they are no bargain buy, but stand head and shoulders above their competitiors.
So effective are the QC20 earphones, in fact, that when the switch on the inline battery is first flicked to activate noise-cancelling mode, it seems somewhat eerie such is the silence.
A run around Dubai’s Marina – an area famed for its cranes, drills and general noise pollution – was the perfect place to test Bose's latest offering. It was a test that was passed with flying colours.
Despite a host of luxury, 50-storey plus hotels being erected in all directions, Avicii’s crystal clear beats rang out; the QC20 packs a full, rich base and crisp highs that work well with most genres.
The inline remote control and microphone will ensure that busy expats can take calls without interrupting their exercise routines, while the talk-through "Aware Mode" activates the noise cancellation microphones to let you hear what's happening in your environment to keep you safe whilst running.
– #360reviews: Oakley Fast Jackets
– #360reviews: Fitbit Zip, Adidas arm pocket
– #360reviews: The TSG Evolution Helmet
It is unfortunate that batteries are a necessary evil of any noise-cancelling earphones but Bose have squashed the compartment down and positioned it near the end of the cable so that it easily fits in the pocket with the phone or MP3 player; in short, it's unobtrusive.
A long-haul flight next month represents another test, but after the first trial this scribe is expecting to sleep like a baby.
Bose’s product is offered in two varieties—the QuietComfort 20, intended for use with Android, BlackBerry, and Windows phones, and the QuietComfort 20i, intended for iPhone, iPads, and iPods.
VERDICT: 9/10 – Bose continue to push the bar even higher for audio quality and noise cancellation.
WHERE TO BUY: Most major electronics stores in UAE
PRICE: AED1299
