There is a lot of debate about which is the best set of consumer noise-cancelling headphones. The two main camps are divided between the Bose QuietComfort 15 (QC15) and Monster Beats Studio by Dr. Dre. Both have the same retail price ($299.99), and each have their own pros and cons.
Doing research on each of these headphones will reveal a lot of information, some of which are informed, but most of which are bandwagoned opinions I have tested both of these headphones, and I finally chose the Bose QC15.
Both of these headphones compete very well against one another, and each has their own features that may or may not be a deal-breaker for you. As far as sound goes, both are pretty much on par with each other and will give you an excellent auditory experience. You will be able to pick out sounds and nuances of your music that you have not heard before. Many people have said that the Beats has a slight edge on bass, which may be true but for me it wasn’t a night-and-day difference.
26 comments
I own the bose qc15 because i was after a updated version
of the bose qc2. the bose qc15 are way awesome
the reason i like them is they fit perfectly on my small head
my dad hd650 do feel much bigger on my head even though
there a little wider and longer than the bose qc15 but not by much
also i updated my ear pads with a set of beyerdynamic velor ear pads
and they are much more comfy than the normal leather ear pads
also my bose qc15 are hooked to the fiio e17 and e12 amp combo
the e17 is used for when on the labtop
the e17 and e12 are both used when useing a portable cd player
yes i still listen to cds.
also you can fine tune the treble and bass boost
on both amps. wich is way cool if you want to turn down the treble
or increase the bass as you see fit.
also i used my dad hd650 here is comparison to them.
the hd650 are bigger in size
they have a open echoy deep dark fuller sound to them
but they are louder over all.
i had to turn down the amp volume.
from the settings i have for the bose qc15
the qc15 sound warmer and brighter
and also have crisp detailed clear sound to them
but you can listen to them on a low volume
and still get great sound out of them.
even though the hd650 is an open back audiophile headphone
i still prefer the warm bright of the qc15
also its sound great with all the music i listen
no hip hop rap or rnb or heavy metal
or moden radio music.
i perfer old pop and rock tunes
and the bose qc15 sounds awesome
for a non aduiophile the bose qc15 are great
also they have noice cancelling with high end headphones
just don.t have and also the bose qc15 is great for portable devices
over all. high end headphones are tricky to work with
because some are better than others and they all sound diffrent
with diffrent genres of music.
and i prefer an ovel ear cup over a full circle ear cup
so something like the beyerdynamic t1.s might sound total awesome
but not with all music and the size of the ear cup might feel huge on me i can tell you the t1s are 10cm ear cup all round
but qc15 is 10cm long and 8cm wide so these suite me more
also with high end headphones you might need a high end amp
the fii0 e17 might not cut it with a 600 ohm headphone
you can get high end low impedence headphones
but they are big and bulky and no noise cancelling feature either
i know the bose qc25 has the ablity to listen to music without a battery but it won.t sound as good as it does when the noice cancelling is on.
also every headphone is diffrent and every person is diffrent
so what might suite me might not suite someone else here is a example
you might find someone who loves the beyerdynamic dt880s
and someone might love the hd650s they both sound very diffrent
and suite diffrent music genres
but someone who has listen to both the hd650 and dt880s
might like the lesser sounding qc15 because they act like a closed back warm bright sounding of the hd650 well thats what i found
i will never give up my bose qc15 unless it breaks due to old age
but other than i think they beat high end headphones
for diffrent reasons other than not sounding a good a high end headphone. but everyone ears and hearing is diffrent
This article is just what I was waiting for. I needed a real comparison between Bose and Beats and it appears that all the points you have enumerated are just what I was expecting in headphones that cost that much. I love music and privacy, lightness and comfort and Bose definitely “beats” Beats.
Bose have always been preferred over beats. The noise cancelation on the Beats suck and Bose is the absolute winner in comfort. In terms of bass, when something is too bass heavy, then all other sounds are drowned out. BOSE OVER BEATS. Not even a competition there.
I’ve listened to probably hundreds of audio systems, speakers, headphones over decades. I just recently decided on Bose QC25 headphones after listening to many others. They are just unreal in every facet, great sound and noise cancelling. Worth every penny to me. Bose is Bose, enough said.
[…] The silicone fins create a seal which helps keep out noise. The noise isolation is closer to passive around-the-ear headphones, but is nowhere near the level of active noise-cancelling headphones like the Bose QuietComfort headphones reviewed here. […]
Very good review. Thanks
I bought the Bose QC15 Custom Color headphones and love them. They are a million times for comfy than the beats. The beats have better bass, IMO, but the qc15s rock it too. Sound is amazing.
I did the TEST at the mall on Dec 23 with loud people, christmas Music, loud Tv's on sale etc.
Beats might get a tiny better bass sound BUT BOSE was quite in off , your senses are switch to to rest mode it was so owesome just to hear my mind. I spend $275.00 x 2 One for me at home one for my wife at work. Thanks BOSE for give me peace.
hey guys i really cant decide between the new beats studios (2013 version) or the qc15…..
help??
BEATS ARE THE BEST
They're really not… They just look better
You *HEARD* 10Hz with the Bose headphones? Umm…no.
Ummmm…. Yes.
I just picked up the Bose QC15's over the Studio's and so far I'm pretty stoked breaking them in now. I use them in a factory and they pretty much block out 85% of the sound. Turn up the volume all the way you aren't hearing nothing!
Nice article. I am gonna buy bose qc15.
Well I have been buying bose for over 10 years and what I can tell you is this, bose stands bye it’s products. I broke my first pair of bose QC15 headphones at the gym and returned them. I told the lady it was my fault, she replaced them “NO QUESTIONS ASKED” now lets see beats audio stand by their product like bose . Fat chance of that! Go bose you can’t go wrong!
[…] Why I Chose Bose QC15 Over Beats Studio Headphones @ OCModShop […]
I actually don't think you're allowed to say "Blackeyed Peas" and "good music" in the same sentence. It has been known to cause spontaneous combustion from all the methane found in bullsh*t. On the subject of the article, I love Bose. Spendy stuff, but the audio is superb. I have a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, and I wouldn't dream of getting on a plane without them.
I can't believe what I'm reading. Dr Dre knows audio, and the Beats are way better than any Bose or even that European Seinheisser crap. Beats have the most bass and the best sound. Who cares if the lady on the bus can hear my Blackeyed Peas?… at least she gets exposed to good music.
That's why beats have very poor miss and highs, the bass is muddy and overpowering, and if you are comparing beats to sennheiser and say beats are better… You sir are phycho… Bose and beats are nowhere near comparison. First, the QC-15 noise cancelling is phenomenal. The studio sucks. It only cancels 30% at the most. All of the frequencies are even, when beats are all centered around bass. Sure, maybe dr. Dre knows audio, but monster and dre do not know how to make a pair of good headphones that are worth $300
Pfft! Bose has been around a whole lot longer than Beats, preferred sound system by NASA, built in sound system in many luxury cars, awesome surround sound system in home theaters, and the list goes on. Beats has nothing on Bose. Bose is like the pioneer on audio. "Dr. Dre knows audio" is just a funny way to advertise Beats so it can sell.
I need to think a lot at my job, and the large telescopes are really loud. I use Bose headphones all the time just to make everything silent.
Great article. Cheers. Will being going Bose!
In my opinion noise cancelling doesn't work that well, adds lots of static and has too many compromises. Get a good pair of isolating in-ears. It's going to sound better AND block out much more background noise.
There isn't any static with the Bose QC15… that's the beauty of it. I use them at work even without any music playing just so I can think… you'd be surprised how much distracting noise is around you.
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