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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are a more portable, stemless earbud design with active noise cancellation, making them excellent for commuting and traveling; they provide a solid, versatile audio experience suitable for most music genres. On the other hand, the HifiMan Sundara are premium over-ear headphones with an open-back design, offering a wider soundstage and a more immersive listening experience, especially for critical listening at home or in a quiet environment; however, they don't have noise cancellation and are less versatile for outdoor use. The Sundaras are also typically used with a dedicated amplifier for optimal sound quality, meaning additional investment and less portability, whereas the Bose earbuds are more straightforward to use as they pair directly with mobile devices. 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
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the HifiMan Sundara
- Excellent for music
- Good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.4
9.3
The HifiMan Sundara is excellent for music, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good.
Gaming
5.5
7.2
The HifiMan Sundara is good for gaming, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
7.8
The HifiMan Sundara is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
TV and Video
6.2
8.8
The HifiMan Sundara is very good for TV and video, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Sundara is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
N/A
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II 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 QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the HifiMan Sundara costs $279.
Build Quality
9.2
8.2
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the HifiMan Sundara has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.1
4.9
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and HifiMan Sundara are both poor for phone calls.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the HifiMan Sundara compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | HifiMan Sundara |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $279 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | HifiMan | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | May 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 7.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | 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 | 6.5/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9.2/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 394.6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
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."
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 QuietComfort Earbuds II 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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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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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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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