Shut out the world and lose yourself in your music – or let the world in. It’s your choice with the first in-ear noise cancelling headphones from Bose. The Quiet Comfort 20i Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones are engineered to let you enjoy better sound every day, everywhere you go. Turn on noise cancelling to reduce surrounding distractions and focus on your music. Or choose Aware mode to continue enjoying your music while also hearing what’s going on around you. Inside these advanced headphones, exclusive Tri Port technology brings your music to life. Additional exclusive technologies provide dramatic noise cancellation rivaling any full-sized headphone on the market today. The proprietary Stay Hear+ tips create a soft, secure fit – with no need to force them into your ears. The inline mic/remote lets you easily control your iPhone, iPod or iPad. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 16 hours of use, and a USB charging cable is included. And even when the power is off or the battery runs out, you can still use these headphones to enjoy Bose quality sound. What’s in the Box: Quiet Comfort 20i Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones, 3 pairs Stay Hear+ tips (S, M, L), Clothing clip, Rechargeable lithium-ion battery, USB charging cable and Carrying case.
Bose QuietComfort 20i Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones Key Features :
- Optimized for iPhone, iPad and iPod models
- Advanced noise reduction rivaling any full-sized headphone
- Aware mode for hearing what’s around you while enjoying your music
- Impressive audio performance from exclusive Bose technologies
- Long-lasting comfort plus stability from proprietary StayHear®+ tips
In-ear. Noise Cancelling. Better sound.
Consider them your go-to headphones, wherever you go. The first in-ear noise cancelling headphones from Bose give you more control over how you listen than ever before, in all kinds of environments. Block the outside world with full-on noise reduction. Or, choose Aware mode and let some of it in—all while keeping your headphones on and your music alive with Bose sound. Wherever your day takes you, QC®20i headphones keep you connected. To the beat of your music, and the pulse of what’s around you.
Lose yourself in your music. Or not so much.
With QC20i headphones, you can enjoy music on the go as never before, with an unprecedented combination of superb sound, advanced noise reduction and in-ear convenience. StayHear+ tips physically block some noise while our Acoustic Noise Cancelling technology electronically reduces most of what’s left. It’s just you and your music, even in noisy environments.
But there are moments when you may not want to be so cut off from your surroundings. Crossing a city street. Waiting for airline gate announcements. This is where Aware mode comes in. Instead of removing your headphones, just press a button, and you’re back in touch with the sounds around you—while your music keeps playing and you still experience some noise reduction.
Engaging sound
All this, plus Bose lifelike sound. Sound you wouldn’t expect from in-ear headphones. Our TriPort technology and Active EQ combine to give your music a depth and balance that keep your daily soundtrack fresh and alive. The subtle details shine through, too. So wherever you are, your music’s front and center.
Comfort plus
And your music’s even easier to enjoy when you’re not fussing with your headphones. Proprietary StayHear+ tips create a soft, secure fit with no need to force them into your ears. The mushroom shape spreads contact evenly across the ear for maximum comfort, and forms a gentle seal that contributes to the headphones’ full-spectrum noise reduction.
You’re in control
Controls are all at your fingertips. Use the slider switch on the control module to turn noise cancelling on and off. The 4-button inline remote, customized for iPhone, iPad and iPod models, houses Aware mode and volume buttons. In addition, the call answer/end button also enables music/video functions and voice commands.
Rechargeable battery
The built-in lithium-ion battery (located inside the module) charges in just 2 hours with the included USB cable, and delivers up to 16 hours playing time per charge. A battery indicator light displays power status. And, even if the battery dies your music still plays with performance equal to that of our regular in-ear headphones.
The headphones and cables fit nicely into the carrying case when not in use.
What’s in the box :
- QuietComfort 20i Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones
- 3 pairs StayHear+ tips (S, M, L)
- Clothing clip
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery and USB charging cable
- Carrying case
More detailed and purchasing information : Bose QuietComfort 20i Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones
Helpful Customer Reviews :
“Bose QC 20i Noise Cancelling Headphones Unboxing & Review by Gamamori”
“REVOLUTIONARY, NOT EVOLUTIONARY: THE BEST BOSE YET :
I don’t use the word “revolutionary” casually. Truth is, a product rarely qualifies for that accolade. But knowing as much as I do about noise-cancelling technology, I would not have believed that what Bose has accomplished with the QC20 series was even possible. In fact, I’d say they’ve created the best all-around earphone or headphone on the market today for everyday use with portable music players. Note that I said “best all-around” which is not to say it’s “best” in every category. If audiophile sound quality is your top priority, then look elsewhere, as both my Etymotic 4PT and Shure 530 series earphones sound better than the QC20s. However, those better-sounding ‘phones have other drawbacks in actual use (more on that later), and they now sit in a drawer while the QC20s go with me everywhere. Bottom line: if you’re looking for the best noise-cancelling on the market today, bar none, combined with very good sound, the ultimate in comfort and convenience, all in a very small, lightweight package, the QC20 is for you. This review will focus on a comparison of the QC20 with the QC15, as well as with the Etymotic 4PT and the Shure ES530, all of which I currently own and have used for some time. And please be sure to check out the “Design Flaw” section at the end of this review before deciding if the QC20 is for you.
Noise-cancelling: The QC20 is signifcantly better than my QC15. Look, I’ve used Bose QC headphones for years, but the QC20 actually made me gasp the first time I turned on its noise-cancelling circuit. I can only describe the effect as eerily silent, which seems impossible with an earphone that only lies against the opening of your ear, but doesn’t go into the canal or encircle your ears like headphones. (By comparision, I never thought the noise cancelling on the QC3 was all that good.) In addition to achieving great noise-cancelling in an “ear bud” type design, Bose has also made real strides is quieting the sounds of speech, which–along with crying babies–have always largely evaded the capabilities of noise-cancelling systems. The QC20 is by no means perfect in silencing speech (or crying babies) but it’s a clear step forward. My QC15s are going up for sale today.
Sound Quality: The sound of the QC20 is incrementally better than the QC15, but still lags behind the better in-ear ‘phones like my Ety 4PT and Shure ES530. To my ears (Your Ears May Vary), the QC20 sound a bit veiled by comparison, and while the bass is certainly there, its quality and tightness just isn’t as good. But let’s put this in context: I”m talking about A/A+ sound for the Ety and Shure vs. B/B+ sound for the QC20. Plus, there are the drawbacks to the in-ear canal earphones: they silence outside sounds almost completely, which I find dangerous when walking the streets of NYC… and there’s the incovenience of having to remove an earphone from the canal everytime you want to hear what someone is saying to you. The QC20 has an “aware” mode that allows in outside sound at the touch of a button. Also, with the Ety 4PT, I hear the microphonic thumping sound of the cable hitting my body when I walk–not as bad as earlier generations of the Ety cable, but still there. Finally, neither of these in-ear ‘phones are comfortable for long-term wear, such as a cross-country flight. Again, Your Ears May Vary, but I have to remove them after a couple of hours.
Comfort: My QC15 headphones are certainly comfortable, but the soft silicone of the QC20 ear tips rest so comfortably against your ear openings that you simply forget you’re wearing them at all. Most importantly, the Bose StayHear design of the tips keeps them in place, which is a huge deal for me. I have never been able to wear any ear bud design (and I think I’ve tried them all) because they fall out too easily. The Bose remain secure, but without force that would cause discomfort. The QC20s come with medium tips installed, but also include small and large sizes in the box.
Size/Weight: This is where the QC20 really trounces the QC15. The earphones store in a soft pouch that measures just 2.75 x 5 inches and they weigh next to nothing. As nice as the storage case is for the QC15, it just looks huge by comparison. I was concerned that the “battery/control bar” at the plug end of the QC20 might have size and weight that would make it clunky in use, but it’s small, very thin, and almost as feather-weight as just the cable itself. The bar measures just 1″W x 3.5″L x 1/4″D. Weight is only 3/4 of an ounce, including the end cable and plug. That end cable is just long enough to allow for easy folding of the bar against the back of your phone or music player and easy insertion into your pocket.
Convenience: Minimal size/weight make the QC20 a “take everywhere” earphone. Includes a super lightweight lithium battery that runs for 16 hours on just a 2-hour charge from USB. (Bose includes the required USB to micro-USB charging cable.) The earphones will continue to function with a dead battery, but without noise-cancelling and with somewhat degraded sound quality… still, better than nothing. The integrated microphone makes it a perfect headset for use with iPhone and other cellular phones. (Note that you must order the QC20i for use with Apple products.) The microphone also includes an “Aware Mode” switch that allows in some outside noise, like traffic sounds–convenient AND an essential safety feature if wearing these in a city environment.
Design Flaw: The silicone eartips do not simply slide on and off the earphones. There are two slots cut into the silicone that fit over two small plastic tabs on the earphones and hold the eartips firmly in place. When trying to change the medium eartips to the small ones, I broke one of those tabs, and this was after reading the instructions, and following them as closely as I could. Bose provided an immediate exchange for me, so no problem there, but if you buy the QC20 and need to change the eartip size, I’d recommend getting on the phone with Bose customer service, which is superb, and let them guide you.
One final tip: if you buy directly from Bose, either online or at one of their stores. you get a 30-day, no questions asked, money-back guarantee they don’t offer if you buy elsewhere. Use the ‘phones all you want and, if you’re not satisfied after a month, just return them for a full refund. Since new models of Bose products are never discounted anywhere, that risk-free trial is a big advantage to buying direct. Just be prepared for the fact that you will NOT be sending these earphones back! 😉
Bottom line: overall, the QC20s are five star earphones with an asterisk due to the plastic tab design. Thanks for taking the time to read my review and I hope you find it helpful in making a buying decision. Again, if you look at the second post in the comments section, you will find my updates to this original review. — Charles Nordlander”
“LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!! :
I’ve owned the BOSE IE2 headphones pretty much since they came out (what, 4 years or so?). And I’ve loved them. By far, they are the most comfortable pair of in-ear headphones I’ve ever and have yet to own–and believe me, I’ve tested a LOT of headphones.
Recently, I lost my last pair. When these came out, I was hoping to that these might replace my IE2’s. Well, they do for some things, but not all things. For endurance workouts, I’m going to have to find something else, which I’ll explain later.
The thing I loved about my IE2’s was the comfort level. These have nearly the same design, but the part that goes into your ear is a little bit wider to help isolate the noise. There is a little bit of pressure on the inside of my ears, but I can still wear these for HOURS before I need to pull them out. Not as many hours as the IE2’s, but these are still impressively comfortable.
Sound quality is amazing, and just on par with the IE2. And that is without turning on the noise canceling features. When I do turn them on, I can sum up the experience with this: WOW!
New to this headset is the little brick at the bottom of the cord. This is what controls the noise canceling, so the IE2’s obviously don’t have this. With other noise canceling devices, these are usually closer to the ears themselves. Usually, these are pulling on my ears, making them very uncomfortable. DEAL KILLER. But I don’t have this problem with this one. It has a rechargeable battery, instead of replacing it with some AAA’s that add weight and bulk. BRAVO, BOSE!! It makes this very light and doesn’t add too much unneeded weight.
I’m concerned about this brick bouncing around if I take it running for extended distances (I may not look it, but I run marathons). So, I’m probably going to pass on these for being my go-to gym and marathon headphones, unfortunately. BOSE has come out with an athletic version of the IE2, I will probably go that route.
Also, compared to the IE2, this cord is THICK and stiff! I was a little surprised to see this when I opened it up and I got a little concerned, but they haven’t bothered me. In fact, the thickness makes it so it doesn’t hop in my pocket and tie itself into knots, like most headphones. In the end, I like and appreciate the extra stiffness and thickness.
Now, for my review of the noise canceling. In a word: AMAZING!! This blocks out a TON of noise. I can mow my lawn with these in and I can barely hear the mower. In a car, forget it, you cannot tell me whether the car is on or off if you have these running. I’ve owned a few noise canceling devices and this blows them all away. Seriously, when I turn these on, I tune out the real world, and sometimes I need that.
So, my hats off to another fantastic BOSE product. It isn’t just the device, but the company itself. My BOSE equipment has not always worked flawlessly (I’m pretty rough on them and use them all the time), but whenever I’ve called customer support I’ve always been taken care of. I’ll stand behind a company who isn’t afraid to stand behind their product line.
$300 is a bit pricey, but I consider these worth it. I love them!! — James Duckett”
More detailed and purchasing information : Bose QuietComfort 20i Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones
