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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds feature active noise cancelling and are suitable for exercise because they are sweatproof, which the Etymotic ER4XR lack, making Bose ideal for noisy environments and physical activities. Bose's stemless design offers better phone call quality and are noted for comfort, but they have a lower overall sound quality compared to Etymotic, which provide superior sound and noise isolation quality due to their deep in-ear fit. Etymotic's cable is detachable and they support a wired connection, unlike the wireless-only Bose. However, Etymotic earbuds are less portable and have no built-in controls or microphone for calls, which could be inconvenient for some users. 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 Earbuds
- Very good for air travel
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Etymotic ER4XR
- Very good for music
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.1
8.0
The Etymotic ER4XR is very good for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is good.
Gaming
5.6
6.2
The Etymotic ER4XR is only fair for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is poor.
Phone Calls
6.6
4.7
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair for phone calls, while the Etymotic ER4XR is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.5
7.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Etymotic ER4XR is good.
TV and Video
6.0
7.4
The Etymotic ER4XR is good for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair.
Battery
7.0 Hours
N/A
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has 7 hours of battery life. The Etymotic ER4XR does not have a battery.
Cost
$199
$234
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has a price of $199 and the Etymotic ER4XR costs $234.
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Key similarities
Noise Reduction
9.1
9.1
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and Etymotic ER4XR are both excellent for noise reduction.
Build Quality
8.9
9.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Etymotic ER4XR to have excellent build quality, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has very good build quality.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and the Etymotic ER4XR compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds | Etymotic ER4XR |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $234 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Etymotic | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2020 | June 1, 2016 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.7/10 | 4.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 6.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.8/10 | 4.1/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 9.1/10 | |
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 | 5.4/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.5 Grams | 4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Lily Katz | March 2023
"The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds is a great do-it-all option for anyone, so long as you can afford it. This is a great alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM4. You can choose the degree of noise canceling, and enjoy premium features like automatic ear-detection. These earbuds merit an IPX4 rating, making them a fine workout companion."
Etymotic ER4XR
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | May 2015
"The Etymotic ER4XRs' top qualities are the detail and definition of the midrange, rewarding the closest listening. While the soundstage is large rather than gigantic, the excellent separation and spatial precision mean you can dive deep into music just as much as when wearing a pair of full-size open-backed headphones."
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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 Etymotic
Etymotic Research is an American based research, development and manufacturing company founded in 1983. They invented the first insert earphones that were used for the diagnosis and research of hearing loss and other auditory disorders. They went on to pioneer the market of high fidelity, isolating, in-ear earphones.
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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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