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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you often travel or work in noisy environments and prefer wireless convenience with active noise cancelling, the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones are suitable despite the higher price; they offer excellent noise isolation and are optimized for air travel comfort. However, for a budget-friendly option, the Koss Porta Pro offers very good sound quality, though they lack noise cancellation and are wired, which might limit mobility. The Bose have better build quality, built-in microphone quality for calls, and can be used wirelessly, but the Koss are lighter and possibly more portable for everyday carry. If you prioritize sound for music and don't mind the ambient noise, Koss Porta Pro is a classic choice without the premium expense. 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 Ultra Headphones
- Excellent for gaming
- Excellent for TV and video
- Best in class for air travel
Advantages of the Koss Porta Pro
- The Koss Porta Pro has no clear advantages over the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones.
Key differences
Gaming
9.3
6.4
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for gaming, while the Koss Porta Pro is only fair.
Phone Calls
5.3
4.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and Koss Porta Pro are both poor for phone calls, though the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
6.8
The Koss Porta Pro and Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones are both only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Koss Porta Pro is somewhat better.
TV and Video
9.0
7.6
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for TV and video, while the Koss Porta Pro is good.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for noise reduction, while the Koss Porta Pro is poor.
Battery
29.0 Hours
N/A
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has 29 hours of battery life. The Koss Porta Pro does not have a battery.
Cost
$429
$49
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has a price of $429 and the Koss Porta Pro costs $49.
Build Quality
9.0
6.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has excellent build quality, while the Koss Porta Pro has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
8.3
8.2
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and Koss Porta Pro are both very good for music.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and the Koss Porta Pro compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones | Koss Porta Pro |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$429 | $49 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Koss | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2023 | January 1, 1984 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.3/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 4.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.3/10 | 6.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 29 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 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 | Yes | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7.4/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 6/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 255 Grams | 63.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Christian Thomas | January 2024
"The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a credible step up from previous Bose ANC headphones, and they're built to hang tough with the competition for years into the future. No waterproofing is a bit of a letdown, but these headphones have the technical chops to make most quite happy."
Koss Porta Pro
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Headphones.com
Sebastian Taboada | February 2022
"It’s clear to see why these have been such a popular choice amongst listeners for nearly four decades. It’s a charming pair of headphones that delivers a truly enjoyable listening experience and one that I think punches well above its weight."
Get a great deal on the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones or the Koss Porta Pro
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 Koss
Koss is an American headphone manufacturer established in 1953. In 1958, they created the first set of stereophones, that is headphones with stereo sound, and in 1984 they released the world-famous Porta Pro, a set of on-ear headphones that has remained essentially unchanged for more than 30 years and that is still made, sold and loved by many audio enthusiasts around the world today.
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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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