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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 offers effective noise cancellation and is ideal for air travel and use during exercise, boasting superior comfort and built-in controls. Its wireless capability with AAC codec support makes it versatile for both Android and Apple users. On the other hand, the HifiMan Sundara, with its open-back design, provides a more expansive soundstage and overall better sound quality for a pure music listening experience, but lacks features like a mic, active noise cancelling, and wireless connectivity. Consider the Bose if you need versatility and noise cancellation for various environments, or choose the Sundara for high-fidelity listening in quieter settings. 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 Bose Quiet Comfort 45
- Very good for phone calls
- Best in class for air travel
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the HifiMan Sundara
- Excellent for music
- Good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.4
9.3
The HifiMan Sundara is excellent for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is only fair.
Gaming
5.5
7.2
The HifiMan Sundara is good for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
Phone Calls
8.0
4.9
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is very good for phone calls, while the HifiMan Sundara is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.3
7.8
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the HifiMan Sundara is good.
TV and Video
5.8
8.8
The HifiMan Sundara is very good for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is poor.
Noise Reduction
10.0
2.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is best in class for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Sundara is poor.
Battery
22.5 Hours
N/A
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has 22.5 hours of battery life. The HifiMan Sundara does not have a battery.
Cost
$260
$279
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 has a price of $260 and the HifiMan Sundara costs $279.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.2
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 and HifiMan Sundara both have very good build quality.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 and the HifiMan Sundara compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort 45 | HifiMan Sundara |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$260 | $279 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | HifiMan | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2021 | May 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.5/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 7.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 22.5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 10/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 235.8 Grams | 394.6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
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."
HifiMan Sundara
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Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | July 2023
"The HiFiMan Sundara is the set of headphones to get if you want high-end audio, but don't want to shell out a king's ransom for it. These planar magnetic headphones are comfortable, straightforward, and excellent performers."
Get a great deal on the Bose Quiet Comfort 45 or the HifiMan Sundara
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.
About HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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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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