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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If budget is a concern, the Sony MDREX15AP earbuds are much less expensive and offer very good comfort and excellent portability. However, these earbuds lack wireless functionality, active noise cancelling, and their overall sound and mic quality is not as high as the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones. The Bose headphones, while more expensive, provide excellent sound quality, best in class comfort, active noise cancelling, and are suitable for air travel and watching TV due to their low latency and virtual surround features. If you frequently make calls or attend meetings, note that the Bose mic quality is only good, not excellent, and their score for calls and meetings is poor. For sports, the Bose's exercise score is fair, and they are not sweatproof certified, making the Sony earbuds a possibly better choice for high-intensity activities despite their lower overall feature set. Choose the Bose if you prioritize immersive sound experiences, comfort, and noise isolation; choose the Sony if you prioritize budget, portability, and use during exercise. 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
- Best in class for air travel
Advantages of the Sony MDREX15AP
- The Sony MDREX15AP has no clear advantages over the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones.
Key differences
Gaming
9.3
6.7
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for gaming, while the Sony MDREX15AP is only fair.
Phone Calls
5.3
3.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and Sony MDREX15AP are both poor for phone calls, though the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
5.4
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is only fair for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDREX15AP is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
7.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for noise reduction, while the Sony MDREX15AP is good.
Battery
29.0 Hours
N/A
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has 29 hours of battery life. The Sony MDREX15AP does not have a battery.
Cost
$429
$20
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has a price of $429 and the Sony MDREX15AP costs $20.
Build Quality
9.0
8.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has excellent build quality, while the Sony MDREX15AP has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
8.3
8.3
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and Sony MDREX15AP are both very good for music.
TV and Video
9.0
9.3
The Sony MDREX15AP and Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones are both excellent for TV and video.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and the Sony MDREX15AP compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones | Sony MDREX15AP |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$429 | $20 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2023 | March 1, 2014 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
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 | 3.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.3/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 4.6/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 255 Grams | 3.1 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
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."
Sony MDREX15AP
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Make It Sound Great
Pete Anthony | June 2022
"At the ultra budget $10 price-point (and we’ve seen the no-mic version go for as cheap as $7), I’d say these are a decent option if you’re looking for a passable pair of earbuds for basic use that’s as cheap as possible. I wouldn’t say they feel or sound as good as some of the ultra-budget alternatives out there – of which there are a few at this point – but some might disagree. I will say though that the cable is a little bit nicer than those of that same competition."
Get a great deal on the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones or the Sony MDREX15AP
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 Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
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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