22/06/2022
PERFORMANCE AND BATTERY LIFE – BETTER THAN EVER?
As well as being far more customisable, the noise cancellation in the 700s is as effective as you’d expect from its pioneer, with no feeling of suction or unpleasant hissing to report. Background noise is dampened to a minimum on the higher ANC settings with your music paused, and all but entirely unnoticeable when it’s playing. I should say that I haven’t worn them during a flight yet – the real test for any noise cancelling cans – but Bose is still top of the class in this department.
Audio quality hasn’t had the same dramatic overhaul as the headphones’ design and noise cancelling capabilities, but I think they’re subtly a bit more balanced than the QC35 11s. They’re punchy and sharp, with each instrument being given ample room to breathe, and bass never knocks your head off its neck.
HAIM’s new single ‘Summer Girl’ gives an appropriately warm performance, while Slowthai’s ‘Nothing Great About Britain’ kicks and snarls throughout its three-minute runtime. The 700s have range, make no mistake.
And yet, I still think Sony’s headphones are a more fun listen overall. Their sound is more spacious, more inviting, and richer in bass. You won’t be disappointed with Bose’s latest, but they don’t quite knock Sony off its perch.
The 20 hour battery life, while not the best you can find, is pretty good, and it helps that you’re always notified how much juice you have left when you turn the headphones on. Nobody wants to start plugging in wires these days.
