The ANC is incredibly good, my girlfriend was stood next to me in the street speaking quite loudly and I couldn’t hear anything
Praise
Headphones
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
Best ANC Headphones for Commuters
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are Bose's 2023 flagship ANC headphones, built around best-in-class noise cancellation and a new Immersive Audio spatial mode. They pair 35mm angled drivers with multi-mode ANC and 24-hour battery life at a $599 CAD price point on Amazon.ca (ASIN B0CCZ1L489).
18 mentions · 6 threadslast mention Jul 20257.5/ 10
ClearPick Score
Decent
Score informed by 18 owner mentions across 6 Reddit threads · see every quote ↓
8 positive3 mixed7 negative
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Best ANC Headphones for Commuters
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
~$599 CAD est. on Amazon.ca
View on Amazon.ca →Opens Amazon.ca · Affiliate link✅ Ships to Canada
✅ Prime eligible (most orders)
✅ 30-day Amazon returns
✅ No extra cost to you
Every mention, sourced
Real comments from Reddit, linked to the original thread. Nothing paraphrased.
Comfort is awesome, portability is awesome too and their battery is more than enough for me, tho still a little behind Sony 30h battery and Sennheiser monstrous 60h battery life.
Praise
The call quality is terrible, people say I'm quiet, sometimes it doesn't pick me up at all and it sounds bad overall ... The battery time is terrible, probably because it's always processing, it also doesn't help that they charge super slowly
Complaint
First day using them they disconnected from my bluetooth 2x and my music paused a few times too during my shift. It got pretty annoying.
Complaint
This actually is a very good headphone. One of the better ANC products out there.
Praise
Agree that the call quality is dismal - been unusable for me since day 1. Staggering how little BOSE care about this given they knocked the ANC-call-quality out of the park with the amazing NC700’s.
Complaint
I actually disagree with every single criticism you listed. The Bose QC Ultra is absolutely fantastic. ... My one gripe is the lowest volume setting is too low and the next level up is too loud.
Praise
I'm considering replacing them (I can hear the creak whenever I'm on the move) but also this is criminal for a product this expensive...
Complaint
I have the QC ultra, air pod max and the new Sony xm6. ... Boy was I impressed all over again. From premium build quality, to superb noise cancellation and great music producing ability.
Praise
I just recently purchased the Ultras and yes, creaking on my pair but only on the left cup when I'm walking around. the headband also creaks too. ... I got them exchanged twice at 2 different retailers and while the headband creaks less on the replacements, the left cup still creaks here and there.
Complaint
The ANC buzz isn't terrible but it is there. If you toggle between ANC on and ANC off in a dead silent room, you'll notice a huge difference. It's not a problem when you have music playing (which is how they should be used).
Mention
honestly XM5s and Momentums both felt like they cheaped out on the materials, even bose to some extent but it still felt more premium than the other two.
Comparison
The problem with Bose Quietcomfort Ultra is ANC bumping sounds. While you are walking, running or commuting on nasty roads. Unfortunately, it is unusable for me, I will have to switch to Sony again.
Complaint
Bose does not know how to make microphones, I've used QC35, QC45, QC Ultra and none, I mean none of them had a decent mic. You can't talk on the phone wearing one of them.
Complaint
I have had APM, M4’s, and xm4’s, the QC Ultras are by far my favorite. ... the only two that I could stand the whole day of wearing were these and the APM’s—but the QC Ultras sound so much better.
Comparison
I have been using QC Ultra at home whereas I have been using Xm5 at work ... XM5 is hands down best for that Teams call in a noisy environment. QC Ultra...I actually enjoyed it at the office noisy environment for music but that mic is horrible compared to xm5
Comparison
Same deal here, I can’t detect any hiss whatsoever from my QC ultras. More importantly for me, the soundstage on the Bose is significantly wider than the XM5, with a bit more clarity and separation.
Comparison
The Bose Ultras are much better - for me - than the Sonys were. The sound is better (once you dial back the overbearing bass a bit) and the ANC is very effective.
Comparison
✅ What Works
- Soundstage and clarity praised as wider/better separated than the Sony XM5 by several owners
- Considered by some the most comfortable all-day ANC headphone they've tried, ahead of AirPods Max and XM4
- Premium build and noise cancellation praised as "fantastic" by satisfied long-term owners
⚠️ Worth Knowing
- Creaking noises from the ear cups and headband are a recurring complaint, sometimes persisting even after an exchange
- Call/mic quality draws frequent criticism, with some owners reporting being hard to hear, especially in noisy environments
- ANC can produce audible "bumping" sounds tied to footsteps or head movement that some owners find distracting
- Battery life and charging speed remain a comparative weak point versus rivals
ClearPick Verdict
Owner feedback on the QC Ultra is genuinely split — 8 of 18 mentions positive, 7 negative, 3 mixed — with build quality, call quality, and comparisons to the Sony XM5 the most frequent themes (3 mentions each). Creaking noises from the ear cups and headband are a recurring complaint, reported by multiple owners even after an exchange for a replacement pair. Call/mic quality also draws criticism, with some owners saying they sound quiet or muffled to callers, and the mic underperforming the Sony XM5 in noisy environments. Some also report ANC producing audible "bumping" sounds tied to footsteps or head movement. On the positive side, soundstage and clarity are praised as wider and better separated than the XM5, and comfort is rated highly by many long-term owners over rivals like the AirPods Max. A strong pick for listening comfort and sound quality; buyers who prioritize call quality or take a lot of calls in noisy environments should weigh the recurring mic complaints first.
