Jada Jones/ZDNET

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

---

Sony and Bose released flagship headphones this year, delivering new features, upgraded audio performance, improved battery capacity, and most importantly, the best active noise cancellation (ANC) in the industry. 

Bose was once undefeated in its noise-canceling capabilities, but Sony's WH-1000XM6 are a fierce competitor. Bose is back with a counterpunch in the form of the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) Can Bose reclaim the ANC crown from Sony? Are there other areas in which they're better?

Also: Bose's QuietComfort Ultra shows the company still outperforms Apple in one key area

Aside from strong noise cancellation, Sony and Bose offer different experiences and features to users, each excelling in categories where the other struggles. I've worn both models and highlighted the key features to help you make a buying decision.

---

You should buy the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 if...

Jada Jones/ZDNET

1. You want a sculpted sound out of the box

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) sound excellent, and while I still prefer the overall audio response of Sony's headphones, they each offer a slightly different tuning out of the box. Sony's sound is crisper and more analytical, but Bose's sound profile is suited well for long-term listening, especially while traveling. For some, that may mean the Bose headphones are a better buy. Bose's headphones sound more sculpted, pulling back the mids and prioritizing the bass and high frequencies. 

Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

If you're looking for a neutral sound profile, you won't get it from Bose's headphones. However, if you're looking for a consumer-friendly, bass-heavy audio response with good clarity in the high frequencies, the Bose QC Ultra 2 are ready to go without any tweaking.

2. You want USB-C connectivity

Both Sony's and Bose's headphones have analog inputs for wired listening. With the Sony headphones, you'll get a standard 3.5mm audio jack, while Bose's headphones have a smaller 2.5mm to 3.5mm jack that still works with the cable included in the box. However, the Bose QC Ultra 2 have a USB-C port that's compatible with high-resolution wired listening, which the Sony WH-1000XM6 lack. 

USB-C makes wired listening more accessible, as many new smartphones no longer have a headphone jack. In other words, you can connect the Bose headphones directly to a computer or another source using a USB-C cable. Unlike other headphones that swap a headphone jack for a USB-C port, Bose offers both, catering to modern sources like your smartphone, and analog ones like an airplane infotainment center. 

3. You want a more comfortable fit

Both headphones offer a very comfortable fit; however, I find the Bose headphones to be slightly more comfortable. Both headphones are similar in weight, but Bose's headphones seem to distribute the weight more evenly across the top of my head, while the clamp force is slightly lighter, and the earcups have softer padding. The end result is that while I'm happy to wear Sony's headphones for extended periods, I find that the Bose headphones remain more comfortable over longer periods.

Also: Bose just did what Apple couldn't with the QuietComfort Ultra headphones - and I'm sold

Again, the difference in comfort level is minor, and you'll likely find that other factors play a more significant role in your buying decision due to the minimal difference. Additionally, different head shapes mean that different headphones can be more or less comfortable for you. If you can find a place to try them on for yourself, it's worth doing so if you're concerned about comfort and plan on using your headphones for activities like long-haul traveling.

You should buy the Sony WH-1000XM6 if...

Jada Jones/ZDNET

1. You want better ANC

When they launched, the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones offered slightly better noise cancellation than Bose's first-generation QuietComfort Ultra headphones. Unfortunately for Bose, the ANC isn't all that different in its second-generation model, meaning that Sony still comes out on top.

Review: Sony WH-1000XM6

However, comparing noise-canceling capabilities between the two models is another area where we're splitting hairs. The ANC built into the Bose QC Ultra 2 is not only impressive, but it's also superior to that of everyone else in the industry, except for Sony. Bose's QC Ultra 2 block noise incredibly well, making planes quiet and other noise seriously dampened -- and easy to drown out with even medium-volume music.

If you want the single best noise cancellation the industry can offer, then the Sony headphones are the way to go, but if all you want is excellent noise cancellation overall, both headphones have what you're looking for.

2. You want a better overall audio response

The Bose QC Ultra 2 sound great, but the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones have a more neutral sound and offer more customization in terms of audio tuning. The EQ built into the Sony Audio Connect app is great. Even if you're not looking for neutrality from your headphones, you can tune them to your preferences, even approaching the same audio response that Bose offers. 

Also: Your Sony headphones have new tricks in a free update - but there's a catch

By contrast, the Bose QC Ultra 2 work with the Bose app, which is a solid app overall, but has a subpar three-band EQ with bass, mids, and treble bands that aren't labeled by specific frequencies. The lack of specific labeling means that you have limited options when it comes to tuning the audio response of Bose's headphones.

3. LDAC is important to you

Both models offer high-res audio via Bluetooth, but do so by offering different codecs. The QC Ultra 2 support Qualcomm's AptX Adaptive standard, which is great, but not as widely available as LDAC, which works with most modern Android phones. If you want wireless high-res audio and have a phone that supports AptX Adaptive, then you probably don't need to worry about LDAC. 

However, if you require wider wireless high-res support, then LDAC better serves your needs than AptX Adaptive. Just remember that the Bose headphones offer USB-C wired audio support, which could help bridge the gap for high-res listening when you want it.

Specifications

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

Sony WH-1000XM6

Audio modes

Noise cancellation, Aware Mode, Immersive Audio

Noise cancellation, Ambient Mode, Cinema (Sony 360 Spatial Sound)

Battery life

30 hours (ANC on)

30 hours (ANC on)

Wired option(s)

Stereo mini jack (2.5mm), USB-C

Stereo mini jack (3.5mm)

Bluetooth codecs

SBC, AAC, AptX Adaptive

SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3

Price

$449

$449

---