The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II has been called by the manufacturer as a “design refresh.” However, it’s more a of “design update” than a major overhaul. When looking at it from an exterior standpoint, it bears a good resemblance to its noise-canceling and wireless cousins, them being the QuietComfort 25 and the SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless II. Even though not much has been changed with regards to the design, it is still worth the look.
The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II Does Not Improve on Much Because There’s Nothing Much to Fix
In terms of design, the biggest change you can find on the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II is the headband. It is now almost twice as thick when comparing it to the original model. Aside from the headband, the earcups now have a shape that’s a bit different from its predecessor. Overall, the unit feels much sturdier than ever before.
It comes with a weight of 6.4-ounces (181-grams), and it’s a little heavier than the SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless II. However, it still manages to feel quite light when worn, especially for a full-sized headphone.
The company is known to give great comfort when manufacturing around-ear headphones, and this trend continues with the SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II. In fact, this pair may even be the most comfortable unit you can purchase in today’s market. Just like the previous iteration, this newer variant will be able to fold flat and comes with the same carrying case with its standard packaging.
It should also be worth noting that the headphone cord is detachable. Said cord comes with an integrated three-button remote as well as a microphone (for making phone calls). The device is available in two models: one is compatible for iOS devices and the other for Android. While the microphone can be used for either iOS or Android phones, there are some controls that only work with specific handsets (such as the volume controls).
Even though the headphone does not have any active-noise cancelling (ANC) feature, it still provides a pretty tight fit which does a pretty good job in filtering out outside noise. Sound performance is pretty great as it delivers accurate, well-defined bass. It also has a fairly open-sounding performance for a closed-back headphone. However, sound signature delves more on the clarity rather than the bass. Hence, bass-heads may want to look elsewhere if they want more low-end kick.
Overall, the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II delivers a smooth and comfortable experience, but has now been placed inside a sturdier build. Even though they don’t offer ANC, it still delivers well in the noise-cancellation department.