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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize comfort and active noise cancelling for long flights or commutes and don't mind a moderately higher price tag, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II would suit you better. They are known for their comfort, superior noise isolation, and are sweatproof, making them a good option for exercise as well. However, the Grado GT220, although a bit pricier, delivers slightly better overall sound quality and comes with a longer battery life in the case, plus they offer wireless charging — a convenient feature that Bose lacks. Neither is optimized for gaming or TV due to latency, but for music and calls, Bose provides a more comfortable fit, while Grado offers higher sound quality. 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 QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Good for music
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Grado GT220
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.4
6.3
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good for music, while the Grado GT220 is only fair.
Phone Calls
5.1
6.9
The Grado GT220 is only fair for phone calls, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
8.8
The Grado GT220 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
TV and Video
6.2
5.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair for TV and video, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
5.3
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has 7 hours of battery life. The Grado GT220 has 5.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$199
$259
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the Grado GT220 costs $259.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.5
5.1
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and Grado GT220 are both poor for gaming.
Build Quality
9.2
8.8
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II to have excellent build quality, while the Grado GT220 has very good build quality.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the Grado GT220 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | Grado GT220 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $259 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Grado | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | September 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 6.4/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 6.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | 36 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | No | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9.2/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | September 2023
"Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but the question was whether they’d be competitive in an area of the market where rivals have never been more capable. The fact that the company has not only managed to implement a successful redesign, but also push the envelope for noise-cancelling and sound quality in such a highly competitive category simultaneously is truly impressive."
Grado GT220
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Dig into reviews and images
Major HiFi
Alex Schiffer | October 2020
"With its superb and functional interface and its highly satisfying imaging, Grado has shown a new talent for delivering a solid true wireless system, and with future improvements, has the potential to really be one of the best."
Get a great deal on the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II or the Grado GT220
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 Grado
Grado Labs is a small, family-owned, business based in Brooklyn New York that specializes in high-end, boutique, dynamic headphones and turntable cartridges. They boast a particular house sound, that is to say their products have a particular sound signature unique to Grado, that some audiophiles seem to really like and are unable to find anywhere else. Their high-end headphones are all hand made, completely in house, from a variety of exotic woods and materials going so far as to making one of their most popular products out of hemp.
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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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