Bose QuietComfort headphones fall by more than half, starting at $169.99
Two generations on sale
The first-generation Bose QuietComfort Headphones cost $169.99 at Amazon, Best Buy and Bose. That is $190 off and matches the model’s lowest recorded price. The second-generation headphones, released in August, are $199 in multiple colors at the same retailers. The $160 discount puts them $20 above their all-time low. The Verge may earn a commission from purchases made through links.
What the first generation offers
Though no longer Bose’s newest model, the original QuietComfort headphones remain a choice for shoppers seeking noise cancellation, sound quality and 24-hour battery life at a lower price. They also connect to two devices at once through multipoint Bluetooth. Their lightweight, foldable construction makes them easier to pack.
Upgrades in the newer model
The second-generation headphones cost $30 more at these sale prices and add support for lossless audio through USB-C. Reviewer John Higgins said their default sound profile was the best he had heard from Bose, surpassing even the $449 QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2.
Higgins noted that vocals sounded somewhat muted, but said he corrected that with the three-band equalizer in Bose’s companion app. He also found the QuietComfort more comfortable than the Ultra, citing the absence of “eardrum suck,” or pressure associated with strong active noise cancellation.
Key points
- First-generation Bose QuietComfort headphones are $169.99, matching their best price to date.
- The second-generation model costs $199, $20 above its all-time low.
- The newer headphones support lossless audio over USB-C and include a three-band equalizer in Bose’s app.
- The original model offers 24-hour battery life, multipoint Bluetooth and a foldable design.