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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize value and primarily use headphones for listening to music while stationary, the Audio Technica ATH M30X is a solid choice with good sound quality and at a significantly lower cost. However, if you highly value comfort, portability, and the flexibility of both wired and wireless use, the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 may justify its higher price. The Bose also offers active noise cancelling for travel and an integrated mic suitable for calls, which the Audio Technica lacks. For immersive and critical listening, the Audio Technica might be preferable, but for versatile everyday use including commuting and calls, the Bose stands out. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Audio Technica ATH M30X
- Good for music
- Good for TV and video
Advantages of the Bose Quiet Comfort 45
- Very good for phone calls
- Best in class for air travel
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.6
6.4
The Audio Technica ATH M30X is good for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is only fair.
Gaming
6.6
5.5
The Audio Technica ATH M30X is only fair for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
Phone Calls
4.3
8.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is very good for phone calls, while the Audio Technica ATH M30X is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.9
9.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica ATH M30X is only fair.
TV and Video
7.9
5.8
The Audio Technica ATH M30X is good for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0
10.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is best in class for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M30X is only fair.
Battery
N/A
22.5 Hours
The Audio Technica ATH M30X does not have a battery. The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has 22.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$89
$260
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audio Technica ATH M30X has a price of $89 and the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 costs $260.
Build Quality
7.2
8.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has very good build quality, while the Audio Technica ATH M30X has good build quality.
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How the Audio Technica ATH M30X and the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M30X | Bose Quiet Comfort 45 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$89 | $260 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Bose | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | September 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.6/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.9/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 22.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 3 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.1 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 10/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 7.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 220 Grams | 235.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Audio Technica ATH M30X
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Jasper Lastoria | August 2023
"The Audio-Technica ATH-M30x is a great choice for anybody that needs a decent set of over-ear studio monitors. While the frequency response is not totally spot on, it works for basically every situation reasonably well. The sound quality and reasonably good comfort promote its candidacy as a great pick for $69 USD."
Bose Quiet Comfort 45
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | November 2022
"If you want a set of wireless over-ear headphones you can put on, deploy noise-cancelling on your commute or at your desk and largely extinguish the outside world for up to 24 hours, the Bose QC 45 has the edge over most of the competition at the price."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M30X or the Bose Quiet Comfort 45
About Audio Technica
Audio Technica is a 60-year-old, Japan-based, professional audio equipment manufacturer. They started off making phonograph cartridges and have expanded their scope of products ever since to include extremely popular models of microphones and headphones. They have been the official audio equipment supplier of several editions of the Summer and Winter Olympics and every edition of the Grammy Awards since 1998.
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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