Bose QuietComfort 3 Headphones

Dan Sippy, Jan 31, 2007 1600 hrs IST

It is once in a blue moon that we have headphones to review; even rare if that's something from Bose. Yes, we have QuietComfort 3 Headphones. Let's hear it guys.

Expert Rating:

Brilliant noise cancellation, Amazing sound quality, Good accessory bundle, Sturdy.

Expensive, Replacement of accessories expensive, No volume control.

Write Review

Check Specification

E-Mail Print

EXPERT REVIEW

The next step in Bose noise cancellation headphones, the QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones, is here. With unmatched noise cancellation as well as amazing sound quality, the QC3 is currently the best by Bose and they're proud of it. Bose has not been releasing many of their new products here, the QC3 being among the few. We at Techtree had the privilege to review it, so let's see what the Best of Bose is like.

The beauty of the QC3 is that when you wear it, you can feel its superiority to the normal headphones. This happens even without switching it on. Bose's latest technology enables QC3 on-ear headphones to give you the same level of acclaimed performance as the QC2 around-ear headphones. Ideal for frequent travelers, especially those who are frequent flyers, the QC3 solves the problem of constant ambient noise while traveling.

Bose's amazing new technology has embedded two different types of noise cancellation in a pair of headphones - Active and Passive. Passive Noise Cancellation, which is simpler than Active, is done simply by the headphones covering your ears, thereby drowning out the surrounding noise.

Active, on the other hand, is a bit complicated. The headphones have been constructed in such a way that they have a tiny microphone on each side that detects outside noise before it enters your ears. Then the noise cancellation circuitry does its magic by inverting the captured signal and merges it with what you are listening to, thereby canceling most of the noise created in the area.

Features

Unlike its predecessor, the QC3 has been made to fit the ear perfectly and not cover it. This makes the headphones more acceptable to be worn outdoors without the look of a DJ-on-the-move while walking down the road. To enhance the noise cancellation, a special type of foam has been used as the ear cushions which is known as "memory foam." The memory foam shapes according to your ear, thereby giving more effective passive noise cancellation.

USER COMMENTS

by priyank kaushik, chandigarh, on Oct 18, 2008 10:42 PM, Report abuse Reply

What is the purpose of these kind of costly item reviews, is there anybody in India who can afford to buy this.

by srini1973, chennai, on Feb 01, 2007 01:07 AM, Report abuse Reply

There are two category peoples - one looks quality (don't bother about price!) and the other looks quantity!

by Shan, Tvm, on Feb 01, 2007 11:57 AM, Report abuse

i have em, they sounds unbeatable, i don't bother about price, cuz my brother sent me a pair of these from usa, they actually cost a lot less in US, they only $ 200

by parteek, ludhiana,india, on Mar 21, 2007 07:20 AM, Report abuse

Face it, Bose SUX!!!! Go for sennheiser px100, i have those and trust me, they sound infinitly better than bose. But one tiny prob, these dont have noise cancellation. but no bose headphone can rivel these! you could go for a $20 pair koss. they have a lifetime gauranty.

by DJ Blaze, Mumbai, on Sep 04, 2007 07:01 PM, Report abuse

I have this one. The way it fits the ears is very comfortable and the noise cancellation is good enough. Though I havent heard the Sennheiser one. It cuts off the low freq aircraft engine noise very well.

by Anoop, Kochi, on May 29, 2008 03:44 PM, Report abuse

I have never seen TT reviewing Sennheiser or even mentioning about it anywhere. Most of the review in TT is biased, but they can't help it coz if they don't do a biased review, they wont get any the hardware review, its a sad case in india(even with digit, chip magazines)

by Anonymous, NA, on Feb 03, 2007 01:35 AM, Report abuse Reply

man you read my mind!!!!!!!!! by the way tell every on you know who wants to buy the Bose pairs that a pair of Shure se310 are way better they actually stop about 30-37 decibels. And thats a LOT

by DJ Blaze, Mumbai, on Sep 04, 2007 07:09 PM, Report abuse

Hello Guys, I recently purchased the Creative HN-700 headphones with Active Noise Cancelleation Technology, same or similar to technology used by Bose Quiet Comfort. Since I have experienced the noise cancellation some time apart on both headphones, I can't really comment on their equivalence, but as far as I can remember, both have almost equal effect. Also the Creative headphones have really superb sound quality with all tones produced remarkably well and no cracking (I am not strictly an audiophile). They work on AA batteries. So you don't have to carry a charger and different plugs along. They have a volume control button on the headphones. They are foldable and occupy very less space and come with a leather-like material carrying pouch. The connecting cable has gold-plated pins but is the standard 3.5-mm type and not any proprietary one unlike Bose. You also get the dual plug adapter for airplanes. The build quality overall is pretty good. Very comfortable to wear due to flexibility. And now the most pleasant aspect, the price. I purchased them for Rs 1725/-- from Croma, Malad (W), Link Road, Mumbai 400064 I feel they are real value for money and not in any way inferior to the Bose ones in terms of Noise cancellation. I plan to go to In-Orbit Bose Showroom and compare them both side by side and will post an update then shortly.

by Dr. Parag Shah, Bombay, on Jun 02, 2007 07:07 PM, Report abuse Reply

Hi Did u find any differene betwen the QC3of bose and Creative

by Mukund, Del, on Jul 01, 2007 05:11 PM, Report abuse

Audiophiles will never touch Bose products. If anybody has healthy budget for headphones then plz go for Senheiser headphones. I can't find the reason why most of the Indian audio reviews have a fetish for Bose products. While all hi end products like NAD,Marantz,B& W, Jamo,Wherfedale,Zolida,Arcam to name a few are available in India

by Sourav, Kolkata, on Feb 01, 2007 11:17 AM, Report abuse Reply

can u give me some details about senheiser? price? type? availability etc?

by Urahara, Karakura, on May 30, 2007 10:23 AM, Report abuse

Can we start manufacturing these in India and then sell to Indian Markets at an more "Indian" price? For not-rich enthusiasts like me, earning in Indian Rupees and paying for something in USD-equivalent amounts is almost suicidal! More shockingly, these are cheaper to buy in the US !!!

by BPB, Pune, on Mar 30, 2007 06:32 PM, Report abuse Reply

Excellent idea for entrepreneurs.

by Entrepreneur, Mumbai, on May 03, 2007 10:23 AM, Report abuse

why we purchase this headphone which is so expensive as compare to its features; there are so many indian brands available at very competative price; like Intex

by subhash, delhi, on Feb 16, 2007 03:19 PM, Report abuse Reply

bro., personally i tell you there no other kind of headphones which can be really compared to boss sounds, bose sounds way far better then anything else of planet, i am not sure if ET's have something better the bose,

by parteek, ludhiana,punjab, on Mar 21, 2007 07:13 AM, Report abuse

I want to know all the types of head phones available in the market

by AkshayN, Chennai, on Mar 11, 2007 09:15 PM, Report abuse Reply

can i have your entire range of headphones please?

by shailendra shuk, allahabad, on Mar 06, 2007 09:28 AM, Report abuse Reply

good

by Anilkumar, bangalore, on Feb 09, 2007 01:26 PM, Report abuse Reply

i hv seen most of the reviews from techtree are directed towards so call the uneducated class, ofcourse guys audiophile wont buy any bose shit, even if they sell it for free!!! agree on dt too that ppl india have hyped up bose bose name

by rocky, delhi, on Feb 03, 2007 12:43 PM, Report abuse Reply

Ya...have tried them at one of the bose stores...they are god enough...this would be the first thing i ll be going for...when i get some more money!!

by Vishal, New Delhi, on Feb 01, 2007 10:45 AM, Report abuse Reply

what do u mean good enough ??.. ******
** Message edited by moderator **

by rip, Delhi, on Feb 01, 2007 03:02 PM, Report abuse

Filthy Rich? Well U can still kiss all our A$$es after that!! :D

by YourDad, Your Home, on Feb 01, 2007 05:00 PM, Report abuse

Lol, please don't be ignorant, Bose products are 0% Value for money, totally not worth it. Try out other brands, as someone said here most of the indian audio reviewers have a fetish for Bose products or are they are all ignorant.

by Anonymous, NA, on Feb 03, 2007 01:40 AM, Report abuse

True.. I bought a pair of Sennheiser PX 250 headphones and they had great noise cancellation for 1/3 the cost.. Now I am using Shure E4cs..and the passive noise cancellation beats the active type hands down, only problem is that they cost a lot more!

by BxVelocity, Cochin, on Feb 01, 2007 06:00 PM, Report abuse Reply

I've a Frontech cordless hdfone. Its pretty good w.r.t clarity, costs just 1k & has a built in FM as well. (bt only 15 day warranty). Bt its been a yr n no complaints. haaaa!

by kwidlake, Mumbai, on Feb 01, 2007 04:27 PM, Report abuse Reply

Hey these headphones are really awesome...specially when to travel...the ambient noise gets cut down...and the sound quality becomes all the more good...thogh expensive...but Bose has lived up to its promise

by Sakshi, New Delhi, on Feb 01, 2007 10:41 AM, Report abuse Reply

insanely priced for a pair of headphones, also what is this battery 6k, cord 1k, who buys this stuff?

by doc, Bangalore, on Feb 01, 2007 07:25 AM, Report abuse Reply

Yet again a lame review for a lame Headphone

by Sennheiser, NA, on Jan 31, 2007 08:55 PM, Report abuse Reply

Actually only if you were an audiophile would you "not think of buying the QC3". This is the poorest article on anything that i have come across anywhere.

by Abhishek Nath, Bangalore, on Jan 31, 2007 05:43 PM, Report abuse Reply

i agree on that. audiophiles will never touch bose. you can check on forums like head-fi.org what audiophiles think about bose

by not audophile, mumbai, on Jan 31, 2007 07:37 PM, Report abuse

hmmm i think you maybe right bout that..

by Anonymous, New Delhi, on Jan 31, 2007 06:11 PM, Report abuse Reply