Bose
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
$449
Released 2023-10
Best Over Ear Headphones · head-to-head
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones is cheaper at $449. Every spec and price links to its source.
Audio-Technica
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
—
Released 2022-04
Which is better: the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $449 | — |
| Brand | Bose | Audio-Technica |
| Released | 2023-10 | 2022-04 |
| ANC | Yes | No |
| Driver (mm) | — | — |
| Battery hr | 24 | 64 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Wired option | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (g) | 250 | 307 |
| Release | 2023-10 | 2022-04 |
Sources — Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: headphonecheck.com (verified 2026-06-15). Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2: headphonecheck.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- ANC: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones true vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 false
- Battery hr: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 24 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 64
- Bluetooth: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 5.3 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 5.0
- Codecs: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Weight (g): Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 250 vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 307
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Three whitelisted testers (SoundGuys, Tom's Guide, What Hi-Fi) reviewed the original 2023 QC Ultra Headphones. All three rate the ANC best-in-class, comfort excellent and sound entertaining, while flagging the $429 price. SoundGuys measured 27h37m runtime and ~87% real-world noise reduction and praised battery; Tom's Guide and What Hi-Fi call the 24h battery only decent, not class-leading. Immersive Audio splits opinion. (3 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Class-leading active noise cancelling; Comfortable, lightweight foldable design; Rich, entertaining sound quality.
Flagged: High $429 price versus rivals; Only-decent 24h battery, not class-leading; No USB-C wired audio listening.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2
Three whitelisted outlets recommend the ATH-M50xBT2 as a strong no-ANC pick. Only SoundGuys published measurements: 64 hours 51 minutes of battery at 75dB(SPL) and an Isolation / Attenuation sub-score of 3.4. What Hi-Fi and MusicRadar are listening-based reviews with no published measurements, and both praise the sound, build and value. Note the age spread: What Hi-Fi's review dates from October 2021 and MusicRadar's from August 2023, so only the SoundGuys page has been revised recently. The panel splits on isolation, on comfort, and on how heavy the bass is. (3 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Sound quality is balanced and powerful enough for both studio monitoring and casual listening; Good value at the price; Long battery life — SoundGuys measured 64 hours 51 minutes, MusicRadar lists improved battery life as a pro.
Flagged: No active noise cancellation; Bass can feel heavy or thick — before run-in and over the cable per What Hi-Fi, "a bit too much" at times per MusicRadar; Wired mode is a pass-through that bypasses the onboard electronics, so EQ and the ear-cup controls do not work passively.