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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For listening to music with quality sound and comfort at a more affordable price, the Audio Technica ATH M30X would be a useful choice, especially if you don't mind a wired connection and a less portable design. On the other hand, if you need wireless earbuds that offer excellent noise isolation, sound quality, and comfort for travel or exercise, and don't mind paying a premium, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds would be more suitable. The Bose also has active noise cancelling, a longer battery life, and is sweatproof, which the Audio Technica lacks. 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
- The Audio Technica ATH M30X has no clear advantages over the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
Advantages of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
- Very good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
7.6
8.6
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for music, while the Audio Technica ATH M30X is good.
Gaming
6.6
8.8
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for gaming, while the Audio Technica ATH M30X is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.3
5.1
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and Audio Technica ATH M30X are both poor for phone calls, though the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.9
6.0
The Audio Technica ATH M30X and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are both only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Audio Technica ATH M30X is somewhat better.
Noise Reduction
6.0
8.9
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M30X is only fair.
Battery
N/A
6.5 Hours
The Audio Technica ATH M30X does not have a battery. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has 6.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$89
$249
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Audio Technica ATH M30X has a price of $89 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds costs $249.
Build Quality
7.2
9.0
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has excellent build quality, while the Audio Technica ATH M30X has good build quality.
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Key similarities
TV and Video
7.9
8.1
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds to be very good for TV and video, while the Audio Technica ATH M30X is good.
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How the Audio Technica ATH M30X and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audio Technica ATH M30X | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$89 | $249 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audio Technica | Bose | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2014 | September 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.7/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.6/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.9/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 8.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 6.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 21 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 6.2/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 7.2/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 220 Grams | 7.7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
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 QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Christian Thomas | October 2023
"Bose put the time in to fix the major issues with the previous earbuds, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are very befitting of its price point. While you might be tempted to save a few bucks and go with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II on sale, fight the urge. There are enough upgrades here to justify the newer model."
Get a great deal on the Audio Technica ATH M30X or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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