Sony 1000X vs Bose Ultra: Which Headphones Win?
The battle for premium noise-cancelling headphones has long been a two-horse race, but with Sony’s latest Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones entering the arena against Bose’s formidable Bose New QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones (2nd Gen), the stakes have never been higher. We put these two titans head-to-head to determine which truly delivers the ultimate audio experience.
Design and Build Quality
Immediately, the difference in construction is palpable. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 weighs in at 264 grams, featuring a blend of plastic and aluminum with vegan leather accents. While comfortable initially, we’ve observed some creaking developing after a few months of use, indicating that the build materials might not hold up to the same long-term rigidity as its competitor. It’s available in five color options, offering more personalization.
In contrast, the Sony 1000X The Collexion is a heavier 320 grams, but this weight translates directly into a more luxurious feel. It boasts stainless steel and full leather construction throughout the headband, earcups, and buttons. We anticipate this robust material choice will prevent any creaking over time. The Sony is available in two colors.
For portability, the Bose headphones fold compactly, resulting in a significantly smaller carrying case. The case, however, features a zipper closure and a molded interior that requires the headphones to be folded in a specific way, which can be a minor inconvenience compared to older Bose models. The Sony, while not foldable, comes with a case that features a convenient magnetic closure, allowing for quicker storage. Both models feature smooth telescopic headband adjustments and offer removable and replaceable ear pads, though neither provides user-replaceable batteries.
Controls and User Experience
The control schemes on these two headphones offer distinct philosophies. The Bose relies primarily on physical buttons, which are generally reliable, albeit a bit on the tiny side. However, it incorporates a capacitive touch slider for volume control that we found inconsistent and frustrating, often affected by finger dryness or wetness, and impractical with gloves. On the positive side, the Bose features an automatic disconnect and reconnect function when taken off and put back on, which works about 90% of the time.
The Sony, on the other hand, combines both touch controls and physical buttons. We found the touch controls on the Sony to be far more reliable, allowing for intuitive swipes to adjust volume (swipe up/down and hold) and skip tracks (swipe forward/back). The physical buttons are clearly separated and easy to locate, providing a superior tactile experience. The Sony also includes a traditional power button, which some users might prefer for definitive control.
Comfort
Comfort is paramount for extended listening sessions, and both headphones deliver. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 lives up to its name, offering excellent comfort with deep earcups and a well-designed shape. The Sony 1000X The Collexion has significantly improved its comfort, finally adopting a more spacious earcup design that rivals Bose. We found the Sony to offer slightly more breathing room for the ears, preventing the claustrophobic feeling sometimes associated with previous Sony models. Neither headphone generated extraordinary heat during long-term use. The Bose has a slightly stronger clamp force, which keeps it more secure, while the Sony can slide around a bit easier, especially during active movement.
Active Noise Cancelling & Transparency
In the critical area of active noise cancelling (ANC), both Sony and Bose remain neck and neck, offering industry-leading performance. Both excel at suppressing low-frequency sounds like jet engines, making them ideal for travelers. When nitpicking, the Bose is marginally better at suppressing human voices. For transparency mode, which allows ambient sounds to pass through, the Sony slightly edges out the Bose by letting in more low-end voices, providing a more natural awareness of your surroundings. Both headphones feature effective wind blocking in ANC mode, though wind can still be a challenge in transparency mode.
Microphone Performance
For call quality, both headphones perform well in quiet environments. In noisy conditions, both are very good, but the Sony demonstrates a slight advantage, allowing less background noise to bleed through. In windy conditions, neither is ideal, but if forced to choose, the Sony again performs better, with less wind noise and fewer instances of voice cut-out compared to the Bose. The Sony also offers the convenience of muting directly from the headphones. A software update for the Bose Gen 2 was intended to enable microphone use via a USB-C connection to a computer, but our testing confirmed this feature does not currently work.
To hear the raw microphone samples, check out the video embedded at the top of this post!
Battery Life and Charging
Battery performance sees the Bose taking a lead. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 offers an impressive 30 hours of playback, an improvement over its predecessor. The Sony 1000X The Collexion, however, has seen a reduction in battery life to 24 hours, likely due to its slimmer design. For fast charging, the Sony is quicker, providing 1.5 hours of playback from just 5 minutes of charge. The Bose offers 3 hours of playback from 15 minutes of charging. Both utilize USB-C for charging, with the Sony’s charging port feeling particularly robust due to its stainless steel construction.
Sound Quality
The Sony 1000X The Collexion features 30mm bespoke drivers and supports a range of codecs including SBC, AAC, LD, and LC3. Out of the box, it delivers a slightly more intimate sound profile with somewhat recessed mids and less emphasis on sparkling treble. However, with its comprehensive 10-band EQ, the Sony truly shines after customization. The “clear” preset, in particular, makes the audio feel present and rich without the fatiguing treble sometimes experienced with the Bose. Sony also introduces a 360 upmix feature with modes for cinema, music, and background listening, which we found to surpass Bose’s immersive mode.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 supports SBC, AAC, APX lossless, and APX adaptive codecs, and uniquely offers audio over USB. It provides a punchy mid-bass and a generally fun sound profile. However, its EQ is limited to a 3-band adjustment. Bose’s “CustomTune” technology is a standout feature, analyzing your ear canals to personalize the sound, creating a consistent listening experience for every user. While the APX suite offers high-quality audio, its compatibility is limited to phones that support it.
Extra Features
Both headphones are equipped with multipoint connectivity, allowing them to connect to two devices simultaneously. They also feature wear sensors that automatically pause audio when removed and resume when put back on. The Bose offers a quicker entry into pairing mode by simply holding down the power button. The Sony requires powering off, then powering on while holding the power button. Both companion apps allow for initiating pairing and viewing connected devices.
Sony’s app is known for its extensive customization options, including adaptive sound control that adjusts settings based on your activity (standing, sitting, traveling) and location. Features like “Speak-to-Chat” automatically engage transparency mode when you start talking, a useful addition for many. While 360 Reality Audio is present, the new upmix feature makes it less critical. Head gestures for answering or rejecting calls are also available.
Bose’s app is generally simpler, though it has been expanding its feature set. Its “modes” combine different settings, which can sometimes be less intuitive than Sony’s granular control.
Final Verdict
Considering the launch prices—the Sony 1000X The Collexion at $650 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 at $450—the value proposition is a significant factor. If we set aside the price difference for a moment, the Sony 1000X The Collexion is the superior choice for us. Its premium build quality, refined sound customization, and slightly better microphone performance in noisy conditions make it a compelling luxury audio experience. The improved comfort and advanced software features further solidify its position.
However, the Bose New QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 is by no means a poor choice. It still offers excellent noise cancellation, very good comfort, and a generally enjoyable sound profile. If saving $200 is a priority, the Bose remains a strong contender that delivers on its core promises. The choice ultimately comes down to whether the incremental improvements and luxurious feel of the Sony justify its higher price tag for your personal use case.
DISCLOSURES: Sony lent us the headphones and Bose sent us the headphones for free for review purposes. No one got input at any stage in the creation of this content. All opinions and bad jokes are strictly our own. Affiliate shopping and merchandise links above earn us commission.
