Bose QuietComfort 2 Consumer Headphones

Pros: Comfort level, sound quality
Cons: Price, durability

My father was actually the one to buy these headphones. The first time he brought them home I said wow they look really comfortable, and they were. I tried them on and as the almost vacuum seal went over my ears my father stated how much he paid for ...

Pros: Very comfortable over-the-ear comfort. Excellent sound. Hard carrying case.
Cons: These are not small or sleek. Mine kept slipping off during the flight. Expensive.

I'm not exactly comfortable when I travel. Especially when it comes to flying on planes. The crowding, the vibrations and especially the noise are what send me into a near constant state of nervousness. When recently faced with traveling overseas to New ...

Pros: great bass, great sound isolation, very comfortable
Cons: lousy, lousy, lousy detail
high-frequency is muted

I hate to be what Arnold Schwarzeneggar would call "da party poopa," but if you're going to spend three bills on a pair of headphones, you might want to think twice before you buy these.  That's not to say these headphones are all bad.  With ...

Pros: Really eliminates background noise, portable, battery efficient, lightweight, comfortable, 30 day guarantee
Cons: Very pricey costing $300, must be on to hear sound

Note: bose.com has a new promotion on their website which offers a Bose® portable CD player and free found shipping if a QuietComfort 2 is purchased prior to February 29, 2004. As a frequent traveler between Honolulu and the East Coast, I needed to ...

Pros: Quality, dual-duty noise cancellation and great stereo sound.
Cons: High price, bulkier than most headphones.

I had tried numerous "noise-cancelling" headphones and either they didn't work or they drowned out sound by "fooling" the ear with high frequency sound pressure. That type of cheap headphone had turned me off on the whole concept, but then in came Dr. ...

Pros: My husband LOVES these!
Cons: Expensive, does not cancel any noise for me!!!

THE CLAIM Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headphones Proprietary Bose technology electronically identifies and reduces unwanted sound while faithfully preserving the audio or tranquility you desire. TriPort® acoustic headphone structure ...

Pros: Sound is good, very comfortable, they work as advertised
Cons: Expensive, not good for quiet listening environments

I work at a university, in systems support. The office I work in is full of white noise, mostly from the server room nearby. One day, one of the professors came in wearing these Bose headphones plugged into an Apple iPod. I was curious to try out the...

Pros: Comfortable, convenient, and compact. Powerful noise reduction cuts out even the loudest sounds!
Cons: Rather expensive (but worth it)

I received the Bose QC2 headphones as a gift from my brother-in-law, and I have to say that they are simply the best headphones I've ever used. The sound quality is incredible, the headphones themselves are comfortable and easily stored, and the noise ...

Pros: Great noise cancellation, good audio reproduction, comfortable, no wind noise.
Cons: Expensive, somewhat bulky, no auto-shutoff with no audio present.

I had picked up a set of SonyNC headphones for $49 at Costco, and was very disappointed. Poor noise cancellation, and the over-the-ear style was very susceptible to wind noise when walking outside.I returned them, and spent the big bucks for a ...

Pros: Comfortable. Relatively lightweight. Slight noise reduction. Good sound.
Cons: Only slight noise reduction. Hissing sound. Have to carry a small battery pack.

[update Dec 31, 06] It's been years since I first wrote this review. I needed a headset to block out sound and be able to listen to recordings. For less than the newest Bose QuietComfort headphones, I bought the SENNHEISER HD650. Unbelievably great ...

Pros: Very comfortable to wear. You will feel less tired after a long flight!
Cons: Poor sound quality.

As of now, June 2004, I am no longer recommending the Bose Quiet Comfort Headphone. While passing through the San Francisco airport on a return trip from Taiwan I happened across a store displaying the Sennheiser PXC-250 noise canceling headphones. ...

Pros: Really comfortable, blocks out office noise great when listening to a cd (even softly)
Cons: Expensive, the "noise cancellation" without a music source doesn't work for office noise

NB I am not an audiophile, so this review is not about the sound quality. I bought the headphones because I work in a busy, noisy office and I wanted to block out the office noise. Also, although I don't consider $300 cheap, it's not ...

Pros: Excellent sound reproduction; quality manufacture.
Cons: Price; wires; lack of audio pass-through.

I must admit that I'm still on the 30-day trial period (I've had them for almost three weeks now).

First of all, as a college student, plunking down 334 simoleons (including tax and S/H) for a pair of headphones seems like a lot. I was very...

Pros: Comfortable, good noise reduction, detachable/replaceable cord, sound decent
Cons: The battery, occasional sensation that I need to pop my ears, some sound distortion (negligible)

After owning a pair of Sony MDR-V500's for nearly five years, it was finally time to replace the uncomfortable noise blasters. Walking through Denver International Airport, I spotted the Bose stand and decided I'd give a $300 pair of headphones a whirl ...

Pros: Staggering bass and a spectacular soundstage
Cons: The price is high, but worth it for the audiophile

I’ve always hated headphones and looked upon them as a necessary evil when playing through loudspeakers was not possible. My biggest complaint is that headphones could not equal the same listening experience when compared to a high end stereo ...

Pros: Unbelievable performance, excellent sound.
Cons: Higher priced and somewhat bulky battery compartment.

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to get an upgrade to business class on a flight to London. I sat down with my briefcase nearby, so I could get some work done on the plane. I grabbed my portable CD player and Sony V6 headphones and began to relax....

Pros: Exceptionally light and comfortable. Unbelievably effective noise reduction.
Cons: Cost may seem an issue, but you actually get more than you pay for.

I fly a lot and I've owned and used a variety of noise canceling headphones; including the Sony MDR-NC20 and MDR-NC5. Of the two, the NC20 had better audio but lost the highs that the NC5 seemed to excel in. Both headphones irritated my ears. The cups on...

Pros: fantastic sound, can wear for hours without fatigue, payment plan takes edge off. battery life
Cons: bose reputation (semi improving by me)

As I am typing this, I am yet again listining to the addicting Al Jarreau. Those of you that are familiar with his voice know how his tone and pitch can change in a heartbeat, and how he can be a nightmare for a loudspeaker (or in this case for a ...

Pros: Comfortable, great sound, Bose Quality and fit.
Cons: Battery pack is a bit cumbersome, expensive!

My new job requires me to travel quite frequently. My existing 'bud' style earphones were not doing the job on the long flights so I upgraded to a pair of kenwood 'studio' style headphones ( where your ear is encompassed by the pod ). These had great...

Pros: Comfortable, functional
Cons: Bulkier than ear-buds, battery powered, $$$

I bought a pair of Bose noise reducing headphones in November 2000. I fly a lot and they've allowed me to enjoy listening to music, DVD's, and even the occasional in-flight movie. (Now, if they could do something about airline food...)

It...

Pros: Comfort, good buying experience
Cons: Average performance

B is for the strong Bass sound that is a signature of Bose.
O is for overpriced for the overall listening experience.
S is for Simplicity of construction and use.
E is for Excellent direct sales service and guarantees.
Or let's try...

Pros: Effective, well made, does as advertised
Cons: Bigger than expected

Let me start off by saying I have ears that will not keep earphone buds in ... no matter what I've tried. Thus, since the early days of the Sony Walkman, I've been using foldable headphones, mostly the small ones. Problem with them is that I don't get a...

Pros: Amazing noise cancellation and fantastic sound make these a must buy for travellers!
Cons: Pricey

On a trip to London a few years ago my wife and I were bumped up to first class and were given a pair of the Bose headphones to use for the flight. I thought...cool....and proceed to put them on. Then I thought....WOW!!!!! These headphones are simply ...

Pros: A Godsend to frequent fliers!
Cons: Expensive

I was skeptical of their value after trying out a set of Zoss speakerphones that are supposed to do the same thing. Also, they do not seem to do much standing in the laundry room (for a test at home). But if I never use these for anything but airplane...

Pros: Comfortable and effective
Cons: Price. Can't be used as headphones when Off.

First, read the “Con” reviews. They make some valid points. Then read the “Dentist” review. He has an excellent description of this product. I’m going to try to cover a few other details.

If you’re reading this review, this product...

Pros: comfortable, credible noise cancellation for the most part....
Cons: sound quality, won't work without batteries

These headphones are very comfortable, and do a credible job of electronically reducing noise while on an airplane.

Keep in mind that the noise reduction circuitry works well to reduce the loud engine groan and even the general cabin sound,...

Pros: Blocks almost all ambient noise. Very comfortable even for long periods of time.
Cons: Bass response was lacking. Battery pack a little big.

With the help of these awesome albeit expensive travel companions. For $300, they are a bit on the pricey side, but worth every penny and more if you travel often or on long haul flights. I regularly travel over the pacific on 10+ hour flights and...

Pros: Does exactly what the company claims!
Cons: The pads makes your ears "heat up" after extended use.

I'm a special agent assigned to a one of President cabinet members. This particular cabinet member travels almost as much as all of the rest of the cabinet combined! So to say I know some of the pilots from United, American, and Delta Airlines by first...

Pros: Noise reduction, sound quality, battery life, built-in amp
Cons: Dead batteries prevent use

I tried the Bose headset on faith. The concept of noise-reduction for my daily train commute was very intriguing. I had previously tried headphones up to ~$50 (Koss) that were much better than the open-ear crap that come with walkmans. You'd think...

Pros: Excellent ambient noise masking.
Cons: Price

One of my biggest complaints with airline travel is the noise. The constant drone of aircraft engines and other ambient noises can make it difficult to hear anything clearly and this noise actually causes fatigue. So. When I heard of noise cancellation...

Pros: more effective sound suppression than competitive products across wide range of sounds
Cons: less portable than Koss. too much sound suppression is also slightly dangerous

The most harmful sounds are the low frequency ones--these are usually the loudest. Our ears adjust for the low frequency, but it damages the ear the most. I suffer from hyperacuity (sensititive to noise) and tinnitus, so sound suppression is important...

Pros: comfortable, noise reduction works well, single wire design, supports cell phones with mobile kit
Cons: must turn on for music listening, not wireless, not all noise reduced

Please read review here: http://bit.ly/1sjFCq Please read through the review and check out my full detailed review ( http://bit.ly/1sjFCq ) which offers videos, photos, and sound tests before going with ...

Pros: Great noise reduction, especially on airplanes! Nice sound reproduction.
Cons: Expensive

I first experienced the Bose Quiet Comfort Noise Cancelling Headphones while waiting for flight in the Denver airport. Bose had a booth set up in the middle of the airport. I put on the headphones and turned on the noise canceling switch. I was...

Pros: Comfortable, great noise-cancelling headsets
Cons: Major defect in cushion earpieces. Bose refuses to address problem.

A few years back I became a huge advocate for the Bose QuietComfort headphones that have been selling for $299. Based on my original experience with these headphones I posted a rather lengthy, positive review concerning their quality in both sound ...

Pros: REALLY cancel noise; comfortable; great sound quality
Cons: Expensive; short chord (without adding attachment)

I'm a military pilot, often flying 14-16 hour missions around the world on notoriously noisy tanker & transport aircraft. With the Bose Noise Canceling headphones plugged into my laptop computer's DVD player, I can watch movies, play computer games or ...

Pros: Incredible soundstage and noise reduction.
Cons: Expensive, bigger than most of the new style headphones on the market.

I purchased my Quiet Comfort 2 headphones in Dec, 2005 just in time for a short flight to Memphis. I enjoy good equipment and have owned Bose products in the past (301 series 2 speakers to be exact) and was always pleased with them. Having flown ...

Pros: Effective, sturdy, great sound quality
Cons: Requires a AAA battery, so carry a spare

I work in a noisy environment with several pumps running around the clock. I would much prefer to listen to music than wear simple ear plugs so I decided to buy the Bose Quiet Comfort 2 headphones. I figured they came with a 30 day guarantee and a 12 ...

Pros: Very comfortable to listen for listening to music.
Cons: Poor attenuation and bulky.

I bought them for the noise reduction. I must say I was a little disappointed. I evaluated them in many industrial noise areas. Low frequencies such as large air handling systems seem to be amplified! In general high noise areas they reduce at about 9 to ...

Pros: Recommended for airline travel Comfortable and great noise cancellation Nice hardcase
Cons: None come to mind at the moment

After trying a few different noise cancelling headphones, I finally bit the bullet for the Bose QC2. The clincher was the offer of a Bose CD MP3 player for "free" with purchase...it seemed to make the high price tag more palatable. This is an ...

Pros: Does exactly what it says
Cons: none

I usually look at Epinions before I buy. I'm so glad I didn't take the majority opinion and got the Bose QC headphones. I did read a lot of reviews and critiques of the QCs, and every single one of them said the same thing -- compared to the other...

Pros: Excellent sound quality - high quality feel.
Cons: Distortion at ridiculous volume levels.

I have owned a number of Bose products in the past and trust their quality and ingenuity. So, I didn't necessarily worry about 'going out on a limb' to fork out $300 for the Quiet Comfort 2 Noise Canceling Headset. The quiet comfort 2 is less ...

Pros: Very comfortable. Very trendy.
Cons: Noise cancellation is a joke. Over-priced.

I'll start out by saying that I bought these solely for the noise cancellation technology, not the music quality. I've been wearing drugstore-variety foam earplugs when I'm on aircraft for the past five or six years. I was lead to believe that these hea ...

Pros: Very good bass (a little emphasized), very good noise reduction, lightweight, excellent overall sound.
Cons: Cheap mechanical design and cheap materials caused premature failure.

I bought a pair of the Bose QC2 for $299 about three years ago. They are still about the lightest full-ear coverage noise cancelling phones available, so you can wear them for comfortably for long time periods. The bass is full and deep, but a little ...

Pros: Good sound & noise reduction, relatively comfy, long battery life, carrying case
Cons: Too expensive unless you're going to use them a lot

First of all I fly A LOT (more than 50K miles a year) and for this reason alone these earphones are worth the money. I'm sure most people will have the opinion that they are too expensive, but in the end worth it, but I feel they are simply too ...

Pros: It works as advertised, and maybe even better.
Cons: It ain't cheap.

I travel a fair amount, living in Hawaii, and the trips to the mainland always take 4 hours or more. Since we take the red eye often, I wanted something to let me sleep. I had used the older sharper image unit and a newer unit and thought they worked ...

Pros: -Works extremely well -Battery life is good -Quality construction
Cons: -Price may be an issue for some -Does not block out normal talking -Bulky

I fly quite a bit, and these headphones are essential to cut down on all of the ambient noise. In fact, I didn't realize the amount of noise pollution until wearing these headphones. Even with no music source (as in during flight takeoffs and ...

Pros: Impeccable Bose quality sound
Cons: Hairline cracks in plastic; price

Sound is something that is very important to me and quite fun. Being known as the surround sound nut among my friends, I am the person normally called to set up systems and make adjustments to their equalizers. Thanks to my wonderful employer, I have ...

Pros: Best of breed for the frequent flyer. Exceptionally comfortable & quiet
Cons: Cost is 3x that of similar units. Some ambient hissing. BULKY

I am actually sitting at my keyboard wearing the BOSE headset. I am currently in a hotel room with a very loud A/C unit and they definitely quiet things down. I also have a set of the Brookstone ANR headphones and have been comparing the two.
...

Pros: Amazing noise cancelling effect
Cons: Price; eats AA batteries for lunch

These would be pretty amazing for frequent flyers in coach. (Business class and first class on AA get use of these for free now...some other airlines will follow suit I am sure.)

Slide them on and flick the switch and this subtle hissing,...

Pros: • Sound cancellation • Battery life • Sound quality • Very comfortable
Cons: • Not easy to access volume control • Cord could be longer

Had the earlier version (before the QuietComfort 2) and had some problems with the ear pads. Bought these headphones and so far been very impressed. • Sound cancellation is excellent • Battery life is excellent • Sound quality is ...

Pros: Comes with a good package of accessories, well made
Cons: Noise canceling needs work, portability

I purchased the Bose Quiet Comfort headsets three months ago because of two factors. First, I travel back and forth from California to New York often so long hours on the Airplane can really tire me out. I decided to invest in noise canceling...

Pros: Wonderful Sound
Cons: Not Easily Portable and They Will Spoil You

I thought all headphones were the same and no headphone could deliver sound comparable to a home system. Bose has proved both these assumptions wrong with their QuiteComfort Headset.

I tried the set on in a Bose showroom. Rather than unhook...

Pros: comfort, sound quality, light weight
Cons: price, short cord

Living in New York City, one is constantly bombarded with honking horns and other loud noises associated with urban life. This noise is not only unpleasant, but potentially dangerous to one's sense of hearing. I bought the Bose "noise-cancelling"...

Pros: light, effective
Cons: pricey, dangerous?

I received the Bose QuietComfort Acoustic Noise Cancelling (their misspelling) headset as a gift from a friend who knows of my sensitivity to noise and of my satisfaction with other Bose products (though not with their prices).
The headset was worn...

Pros: Does exactly what they are designed to do: Cancel out background noise.
Cons: Slightly bulky and receptive to interference from other units.

I started a new job 2 years ago where expected travel would be between 60-80%. After a puddle jumper flight between DC and White Plains, NY, I was deaf for about 30 minutes due to the prop noise.Considering the amount of travel I would be doing ...

Pros: Better than foam ear plugs, but only "cover" the noise when you're playing music
Cons: Inferior product, frames crack and break, and support is inadequate

I am an airline pilot and felt that the $300 investment would be worth it if they helped save my hearing. After more than a year of use, and having to return them twice I would not recommend them to anyone. I don't think I've tried to take better care ...

Pros: Comfortable, pretty good sound quality, great to use on jets with no extraneous noises
Cons: Cost, lackluster sound for price, poor noise cancellation in many situations

Let me preface this review with the facts that I worked for Bose for a long time (great experience, but not the subject of this review) and that I got to compare the QC2 side by side with offerings from Sony, Aiwa, Sennheiser, Etymotic, and Shure. The ...

Pros: Very comfortable, decent battery life (at least 30 hours),
Cons: Pricey

I do not want to go into detail description of this product because the other reviewers have done that. I just want to comment on my experience with Bose customer service. I bought these in February of this year and after 3 months of use the indicator ...

Pros: comfortable, blocks external sound
Cons: needs a battery, no good sound at all, very expensive for this ugly sound quality.

first i must say i don't own this headphone but i compared it to my $84 sennheiser hd280pro which is a closed headphone that also blocks external sound but not electronically and i must say the quietcomfort2 block better external sounds and is much more ...

Pros: Most effective noise canceling of several I tried. Very comfortable for extended use.
Cons: Pricey. Thin delicate wires. Inconvenient waist clip battery pack.

My wife and I bought them from the Bose store (90 day return guarantee) for a 5 hour flight from Hawaii to California (and back). We were sold after one hour. I used them with my iPod. My wife used hers to watch a DVD movie on her PowerBook.

...

Pros: great for air travel, at the gym, very restful
Cons: looks a bit goofy, my husband steals them from me

i travel maybe 6 airline flights a year, and also use them at the gym 2-3x/wk. i've had them for 2-3 yrs and still haven't had to change the battery.

the noise cancellation only works for the low frequency sounds, like the airplane or...

Pros: Peace and quiet. Good for inflight movies. Reduces noise strain. Acoustically detailed.
Cons: Bulky. Warm on the ears. Take up room on a carry-on. Price.

Noticeable noise reduction in the "drone" of the airplane engines. Note: REDUCTION not elimination. Higher frequencies still get through (like people talking or announcements over the intercom). But, in order to clearly hear what is being said the ...

Pros: Reduces extraneous noise about 90% comfortable earphones
Cons: Overpriced thin delicate wires not wireless; wires could be longer

This is useful for reducing noise, it seems to cut outside mowers and dishwashers by about 90% pretty useful for reducing the noise of leaf blowers, washing machines, and power machinery.
They would be even better if they were wireless, unless you...

Pros: Great Sound No engine noise on airplane
Cons: white noise distracting at low volumes

I travel at least once a month to europe the last few times with these head phones the trip was more relaxing. You can seriously hear absoultly NO engine noise with perfect sound and with the airplane adapter i was able to watch tv on the airplane. I...

Pros: I was amazed from day one. If you fly, this is the ONLY one
Cons: Cost

I feel I'm behind the wave of techno junkies even though I've been in the tech field for years. Maybe I like to wait until "they" get it right. Bose did just that. I tried friends and families v2 of the headphones and was impressed at their ability to ...

Pros: Great bass response, Comfortable, Does a good job of reducing low frequency noise.
Cons: Expensive, Does little at reducing higher frequencies.

I am an engineer, not a great music buff, but I do appreciate the fine sound reproduction of the Bose headset. The bass response was particularly impressive. I bought the headset for it's noise canceling abilities. Having been tormented by the...

Pros: High quality, great sound, comfortable fit
Cons: Expensive, battery pack thingy dangles in the way often (but has a belt clip)

I bought these headphones for travel and quiet music listening at home--and they deliver beautifully. I've found myself listening to all my CDs again just with these headphones just to hear them in this "new" way--sound quality is awesome. My...

Pros: Really keeps out low frequency sounds.
Cons: Doesn't naturally reproduce instruments/music.

Bose came really close with these, but because they don't correctly reproduce the sound of the instruments, they aren't very good for jazz or blues, or any other music where the tone of the instruments is part of the experience. They seem pretty good...

Pros: Advertised brand name
Cons: Super expensive, bulky, requires batteries, annoying anti-noise hiss

I'm a frequent airplane traveler. After repeatedly seeing all the Bose advertisements for the anti-noise headphones, I decided to take the plunge and bought one for $299. I immediately was disappointed that the headset was big, bulky and heavy (required...

Pros: Rich, Impeccable Sound. Don't believe the weird ( or paid ) Anti-Bose Cult.
Cons: Sometimes have to adjust a cup if bass too deep.

Hadn't bought anything Bose in eons. Lately, I've read all sorts of anti-Bose reviews of several products. All have either been suspiciously vicious or just a tired old Tech Nerdy I'm-Smarter-Than-You diatribe about the fact that Bose uses their own...

Pros: Comfortable, Sounds Good
Cons: Pricey, Poor Customer Support

I have had the QuietComfort Headsets for 9 months now and they have been a blessing. I really like the comfort, noise reduction and sound quality. On the downside, the yoke broke as I was using them, after being on hold with Bose Customer Support for a...

Pros: Fit of ear pieces excellent ... general sound quality very good.
Cons: Do not eliminate intermittent sound, thus do not give the silence claimed in literature.

Expecting something exceptional from Bose the end result was disappointment and the headphones were returned.
Having been mostly struck with the advertising being related to aircraft noise and the promised "silence" offered
the headphones went...

Pros: For home, Sennheiser HD 570 recommended when compared to Bose QC2.
Cons: Bose QC2 are convenient and comfortable at three times the price.

Just comparing sets of phones, as I have both. Equipment: Sony Discman (now 20 years old, made back when Sony made fine components, and this Discman STILL functions just fine), run into a Kenwood receiver. Disc: Pretenders "The Isle of View," at -17 dB, ...

Pros: descent noise canceling
Cons: Will break apart if you look at them the wrong way! Cheap, Cheap, and Cheap!

Bought my QC2 about 1 year ago. Love the noise canceling especially on long flights. Unfortunately, this past month, one of the plastic 'cover' that holds the metal headband broke. I though maybe somebody hit the headset and broke it, but upon closer inspection, I notice a LOT of tiny plastic cracks all along the plastic pieces on both side of the headset. I'm really disappointed in BOSE for cutting costs on such an important piece... I would imagine they would have paid the extra $0.10 that it would cost to use a better grade of plastic... Never buying BOSE again (it is not worth spending this much money for something that breaks apart all by itself!)

Cheap quality and expensive. I absolutely do not recommend these headphones because they will not last...

Update
A friend of mine bought a set a few weeks ago. I had a look at it, and it seems they changed the design. Only time will tell if the change will do the trick. If it help, old = beige, new = grey. This might be the way to tell the old version from the new version (not 100% sure on this though).

Pros: Superb job of reducing noise, excellent audio quality.
Cons: Price.

I use the Bose QuiteComfort 2 headphones while riding San Francisco Muni's buses and light rail vehicles, and on BART. They have been simply wonderful! They reduce the noise to such an extent that I can listen to my music and podcasts at fairly low volume levels. Prior to the Bose headphones, I used two different types of Apple iPod earbuds, one designed to reduce noise. Neither were effective; I would arrive at work with my ears ringing. The Bose headphones have very good audio quality, block out sound very well, are comfortable and last quite a while on one rechargeable AAA battery.

Pros: comfortable ear pad; some noise reduction
Cons: limited durability - will break after 300 hours.

I totally bought 3 QC-2 2 years ago; one for myself, two for my brother and his friend. In 2 years, 2 of the three have had the same problem - the plastic structure connecting the sliding metal piece and the ear pad got broken. When my brother first complained that to me, I thought he must have unknowingly sitting on the headset. 6 months later, when my own headset's plastic started to show cracks, I realize it is not my brother to blame - it is the poor materials used by Bose to blame. I have used for the QC-2 for a total of fewer than 300 hours; similar usage on my brother's QC-2.

It is a shame that Bose saves money on the wrong ends! I will never buy Bose products again.

Pros: Excellent sound quality
Cons: Price and durability

They do exactly what they say, very comfortable and the sound quality is fantastic, however I must admit the frame is rather shoddy. After 6 months of use, the plastic covers just above each ear piece has completely broken
away.

Pros: Very light and comfortable
Cons: Super pricey - **no audio unless you have battery-draining noise canceling turned on**

I bought these headphone and was immediately impressed by their light and compact design. However, about a half hour later, I was boxing them back and preparing to return them, and here's why: in order to listen to audio, you have to have the noise canceling turned on. This is like designing a car such that you require the air conditioning to be running in order to be able to drive the car(!) - and ironically, the headphones are so well insulated that you find that the noise cancelling actually sometimes closes out too much noise. The bottom line is this: there is no reason for noise canceling to have be turned on for the audio to be working. This was a very bad design decision by Bose, and possibly a remnant of the legacy design for these headphones, which were military issue headsets for helicopter pilots, and where the everything was likely drawing power from the same source.

I decided to instead purchase the slightly less expensive Bose Triport headphones, which have been outstanding.

Pros: You do not hear a buzz like other noise cancelling headphones I've tried or bought
Cons: The annoying red light flashes saying low batteries

Price:
The price of the product was a big initial hurdle. I justified the expense by telling myself that I travel internationally a lot, travelling a lot I was able to claim it as a tax deduction.

Cancelling Noise:
On the aeroplane the QQ2 eliminates the lower end noises. You still hear the background noise such as the high pitch hissing of the ventilation system. You will have trouble hearing the air stewards talking to you.

Music:
While listening to music you find that you don't need to turn the volume up really high as you normally would. The clarity is better than anything I've ever heard before, in headphones or hifi systems.

Negatives:
I hate that the red light starts flashing when the battery is supposed to run low. It starts flashing even when there's 4 hours of use left. It attracts unnecessary attention.

Pros: Noise Cancellation, Can unhook the audio cable
Cons: Super pricey - **no audio unless you have battery-draining noise canceling turned on**

Great pair of headphone, YOu can unhook them if you do not want to listen to music and just want to take advantage of the noise cacellation feature. I fly alot and this system is used by my airline but I use my own. By far one of the best on the market but could be improved by adding more noise cancellation and better battery life. I would purchase these again.

Pros: Comfortable fit; interest free financing; return policy; replaceable cord; able to listen at lower volumes.
Cons: A little pricey.

I went from working alone in my own home office to a distractingly loud office shared by 15 people and noisy office equipment. I purchased the Bose QC2 headphones hoping to reduce the chronic noise fatigue I was experiencing. While certain voices, and other higher pitched noises still come through, I found that the QC2 headphones have nice isolation particularly when used with environmental nature CD's. I wasn't really sure they were helping until I took them off and noticed how loud my surroundings really were.
With the noise cancellation feature I am able to listen to CD's at a much lower volume, thus preserving my hearing.
At $299, if the cord is damaged it can be replaced without suffering a total loss.
Interest free financing and return policy made me a buyer.

Pros: Much-improved sound quality, very comfortable, good battery life, nice case
Cons: Cost (though I got mine free through AMEX Rewards)

Many of the more negative reviews listed for the QuietComfort 2 are actually for the original QuietComfort model. The QC2 is head and shoulders above the original QC, especially in sound quality. I think that Bose heard the masses and did their homework on the newer model.

I'm a bit of a headphone hog and I have dozens of headphones, plus at least eight different types of portable headphone amps. One of the noise-cancelling headphones that is constantly compared with the QC2 is the Sennheiser PCX-250. The PCX-250 is a good set of noise-canceling cans, but they are and entirely different style of headphone. They are supraural (on the ears) as opposed to circumaural (around the ears) like the Bose. Many people find that supraural headphones are too finicky re position and band tension, mainly because the cushions rest on your ear. The QC2 cushions rest on the area around your ear (unless you have pretty large ears).

Try them both out before you buy either one, but don't skip the QC2 because you read a review here that actually references the original QCs.

Pros: Super quiet, great case, perfect acoustics
Cons: Not cheap - but worth it. Must be powered on.

I have owned other headphones that had noise canceling capabilities but none came any where close to this sweet unit. Plug them in or just use them on their own to kill the sounds of the jet engines. You'll want to travel with a spare AAA battery though as these must be powered on in order for any audio to come through. Battery dies and you are out of luck. On the good side, I find the battery life exceeds three round trips across the US. There's a convenient pouch inside the case that holds several extra batteries. When used to view on board movies (comes with multiple adapter plugs also store in the case) you can actually enjoy the show!

There's room in the case too for my iPod Nano too!

If you are like me you'll just be disappointed to hear the cabin crew tell you to stow your electronic devices as suddenly you are reminded of just how noisy the cabin has been during your trip.

Pros: Great sound, comfortable, nice case and extras.
Cons: Pricey, not all that compact

I was looking for a good set of headphones to use with an iPod, particularly at the office and traveling. Sound quality was a must, portability somewhat important (but I HATE earbuds), and noise reduction a nice to have feature since I do fly cross-country several times a year. Since I have always liked the Bose speakers I own, I decided to give these a try.

These headphones and not as compact as some, but do fold flat and come with a hardshell carrying case. The sound quality, however, is spectacular: great bass response and very crisp highs, even at lower volumes. They are also very comfortable. The noise reduction is much more efficient with steady noise sources, such as jet engines, than with random noise sources, but overall pretty good. At $299 they are pricey, but worth it in my opinion.

Pros: Sound. AAA Battery. Noise Canceling. Over ear comfort
Cons: Bulky, feedback howl at times and very poor build quality

I am just about to start my third pair of QC2 headphones in 3 years. I use them on flights quite frequently. The sound quality is very acceptable for in flight as well as MP3/4 and Computer/DVD. There is a thoughtful impedance switch to alter input setting for airline use which some others do not have. The noise canceling is very effective with bass roar from engines but less with middle frequency air noise. They do provide a welcome relief from annoying children and babies though. The unit runs on AAA battery so you cannot get caught with no power as on QC3's. The units has three downsides for me, in ascending order of importance: Bulky in case, they howl with feedback if you accidentally fall asleep and cover one earpiece by putting your ear to a pillow, they fall apart. I have had two units fail now. The original problem they said was a design flaw, now it looks like a plastic weakness. Both times, I picked them out of the case and they fell apart in my hands. Never had this with the Sony's but prefer Bose sound so now going to try Sennheiser PXC-350.

Pros: Runs good for about 2 years.
Cons: Earphones pad come apart after 2 years with glue sticking to your ears.

Yes the earpads are very soft and comfortable
BUT they start coming apart in less then two years.
Apparently they use a glue that moisture causes them to come apart.
You would think Bose for the huge price would do a better manufacturing effort.
Plan obsoletion must be their game.
I have search high and low for replacement parts from them and can't find anything.

Pros: Great sound, noise cancelling, very comfortable.
Cons: PRICE! They HAVE to be on to hear anything.

I waited three years too long to purchase a pair of the Bose Quiet Comfort 2 headphones but now that I have them, everything will be ok. I have to travel a LOT for work and now that I have a pair of these, my travel days don't seem as bad. The long flights between Vancouver and Chicago *4 hours) used to be a killer, but now it's almost enjoyable. The "ambient noise cancelling" is great and I say that because it doesn't take out true noise (like babies crying) but it's great for that annoying hum of planes and fans.

This is the third pair of noise cancelling headphones I've had (Aiwa were first, then Philips HN110) and it's not that they wear out, but your ears can only be uncomfortable for so long before you have to move onto the Bose which I could easily sleep in or wear for hours in comfort.

Summary: It's debatable if they're worth the $299 USD price tag, but they are great to travel with. If you're main use will be at home, forget it and look at other less expensive pairs that have a wider range of sound.

Pros: Not any really.  A major disapointment.
Cons: Battery must be on to use, poor sound quality, way overpriced.

I received these for Christmas from my wife.  As soon as I tried these, I was suspect of the audio quality.  I have a fairly high-end system, which includes both analog and digital.  I tried these headphones for several hours with both sources and was unimpressed.  I then decided to compare them to ear-buds I had accumulated over the years from various MP3 player purchases.  In every case, the "free" ear-buds provided FAR superior audio playback.  The Bose have virtually no bass (what is does have is completely muddied) and the highs had no "depth".  I tried several different ear-buds/phones and they were all superior.  OK then, maybe the product's forte' is the noise-cancelling technolgy.  I won't dispute they reduce noise, but after 20-30 minutes of having the headphones on, my head would start to "fatique" as I felt a building pressure inside my head, as if I had a head-cold.  I believe this is being caused by sounds not perceptible to us, but still "loud" enough to cause pressure on the ear-drum and eventually (quickly) causes fatique. 

Pros: NONE
Cons: Bulky, expensive, do not work well

Don't waist your money in this product. Ear plugs are more effective in noise canceling and cost almost nothing. Most of the BOSE noise cancelling is achieved through the large size of headphones that cover your ears.

Pros: Adequate sound cancelling
Cons: Absolute the worst workmanship

Overall the worst workmanship I have ever seen. The top (over the head) split is several places and has been held together by tape. The ear pads (both) separated from the body and were held back in place by superglue. The sound kept cutting out of the left side and needs a good slap to get it to work again. You should expect better at these prices.

Pros: Work well.
Cons: Fall apart!!!

I own a QC-2. In 2 years, the plastic hoop connecting the phones as cracked to a point that soon they will break . A know problem waiting for BOSE to reply to my complaint for such a high priced item you get

I will never buy Bose products again.

Pros: Good sound if you have two hands free to keep the headphones on.
Cons: Cheap headband will break and make the earphones useless

I'm the third person in our office who has had the headband on these earphones break right abouve the ear cup. In my case, one side broke, the other is cracked. They are a little over a year old, so Bose wants $60.00 to repair them. $60.00 to repair an obvious design problem? Whoever designed these turkeys forgot to consider the stresses the earphone incur then they are put on or removed and designed them in a way that guaranteed they would break.

Spend less money and get better quality

Pros: Good symbol of Conspicuous Consumption ("I can afford to flush $300 down the toilet")
Cons: Time bomb due to latent defect in mechanical design

I have recently joined the long list of Bose QC-2 buyers who now own a useless piece of junk -- due to the failure of a poorly designed plastic swivel that attaches the earcup to the headband. In addition to many identical QC-2 frame failures reported on this forum, if you search on "Bose & complaints" you will find dozens more. The Bose "customer service" response is to offer to replace the defective product with another for a mere $100. I view this as a reward for bad corporate behavior. Shame Dr. Bose, shame!  

Pros: none
Cons: Could not belive they get 300 for this

After placing them on my ears, i had a loverly convesation with my wife sitting 10 feet away.
These cannot cancel any street noises and I sent them back for a full refund