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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If price is a major consideration and you need portability with active noise canceling for noisy environments, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are a great option. However, if you're focused on sound quality and listening primarily at home or in quiet spaces, the HifiMan Sundara headphones, though usually a bit more expensive, offer superior soundstage and fidelity, making them better suited for critical listening sessions. The Bose earbuds are more versatile for everyday use, including calls and exercise, while the Sundara's over-ear design is less practical for active use but excels in providing an audiophile experience. 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 Ultra Earbuds
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the HifiMan Sundara
- Excellent for music
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.6
9.3
The HifiMan Sundara is excellent for music, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good.
Gaming
8.8
7.2
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for gaming, while the HifiMan Sundara is good.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
7.8
The HifiMan Sundara is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is only fair.
TV and Video
8.1
8.8
The HifiMan Sundara and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are both very good for TV and video, though the HifiMan Sundara is somewhat better.
Noise Reduction
8.9
2.5
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds is very good for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Sundara is poor.
Battery
6.5 Hours
N/A
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has 6.5 hours of battery life. The HifiMan Sundara does not have a battery.
Cost
$299
$279
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds has a price of $299 and the HifiMan Sundara costs $279.
Build Quality
9.0
8.2
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 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 Ultra Earbuds and HifiMan Sundara are both poor for phone calls.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds and the HifiMan Sundara compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds | HifiMan Sundara |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $279 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | HifiMan | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | May 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.7/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.2/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 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 | 21 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.9/10 | 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 | 6.2/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 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 Ultra Earbuds
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Dig into reviews and images
Soundguys
Christian Thomas | October 2023
"Bose put the time in to fix the major issues with the previous earbuds, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are very befitting of its price point. While you might be tempted to save a few bucks and go with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II on sale, fight the urge. There are enough upgrades here to justify the newer model."
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 Ultra 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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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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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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