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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds offer active noise cancellation, making them excellent for air travel and environments where you want to block out surrounding noise. They are wireless, which provides convenience and freedom of movement, and are suitable for exercise, being both sweatproof and providing a secure fit with silicone fins. Additionally, they support wireless charging and have an app that allows equalizer customization. On the other hand, the HifiMan Sundara headphones, suitable for an audiophile-grade listening experience, boast an open-back design which greatly enhances soundstage, but this also means they offer minimal noise isolation. Being wired headphones with a lengthy cable and requiring a more substantial power source, they're less portable and not designed for exercise or travel but will offer a superior music listening experience at home. The HifiMan Sundara's planar drivers deliver precise and high-fidelity sound, which is preferred if audio quality is your primary concern. 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 HifiMan Sundara
- Excellent for music
- Good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.1
9.3
The HifiMan Sundara is excellent for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is good.
Gaming
5.6
7.2
The HifiMan Sundara is good for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is poor.
Phone Calls
6.6
4.9
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair for phone calls, while the HifiMan Sundara is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.5
7.8
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the HifiMan Sundara is good.
TV and Video
6.0
8.8
The HifiMan Sundara is very good for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is excellent for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Sundara is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
N/A
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has 7 hours of battery life. The HifiMan Sundara does not have a battery.
Cost
$199
$279
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has a price of $199 and the HifiMan Sundara costs $279.
Build Quality
8.9
8.2
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and HifiMan Sundara both have very good build quality, though the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has somewhat better build quality.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and the HifiMan Sundara compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds | HifiMan Sundara |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $279 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | HifiMan | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2020 | May 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.7/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 7.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.8/10 | 4.5/10 | |
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 | 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 | 5.4/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.5 Grams | 394.6 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."
HifiMan Sundara
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Dig into reviews and images
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 Earbuds 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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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