Bose QC20 QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise-Canceling In-Ear Headphones for Apple

Defect after 2 years. The left side is breaking apart and making ridiculous noise. Can't use any more.

I purchased a pair of the QC 20 headphone back in 2016, and I absolutely enjoyed using the product. The noise cancelling is fantastic! However, since it is 2020, I cannot wait for Bose to release a new model!

I purchased these in September 2013 and the noise cancelling still appears to be better than the new Bluetooth wireless earphones like the Sony wf-1000xm3, which I was seriously considering purchasing to replace the Bose earphones after a crack appeared in the wiring. However, after a few months of looking at the pros and cons of buying the wf-1000xm3, I decided to purchase another QC20 because I personally like the Q tips and unlike Bluetooth earphones, they don't drop out. To fix the crack in the wiring, I wrapped the cord with nylon string. The rubber casing fell off two months ago, but it doesn't affect the performance of the QC20. Also, the clip broke about a year to two years ago.

First let me be clear, my two-star review is not because of the performance (i.e. sound quality) of these headphones. The sound is phenomenal and the noise cancellation is excellent. Wearing these completely eliminates the air conditioning rumble in the office or the turbine noise on a airline flight. they are comfortable for wearing for long periods, although you may have to try more than one of the rubber pieces to find what works best for you. The whole reason for the two stars is that the durability of the cable is poor. I found "liquid electrical tape" at Home Depot and am using it to hold the cable together, but it is only a matter of time before this fails. Bose should have made the cable connections much more robust, this is, after all, portable headphones. When the cable completely fails, unfortunately I *will* buy a replacement, but I would gladly pay more for durability. Also, when using these for a phone call, I am constantly getting comments that people cannot hear me, so the microphone is apparently not very good.

I've had 2 pairs, the first failed after about 14 months and the second set I had repaired after about the same period which I've then subsequently had to glue/repair myself.

The problem stems from two things, one a clear design flaw. The three weak points are the 90 degree angle jack, both sets of mine failed there, then there is where the wire goes in to the battery. With all the bending it fails there too followed lastly by the other side of the battery for the same reason.

If they lasted they would be worth the money as they are comfortable, the NC is great, and the sound is good. Due to the build quality issues however they clearly aren't so I ended up getting the wireless Bose with the neck battery and they are better. Be warned however with those too, high levels of heat (like when I'm on holiday) causes the glue to melt and the covers for the neck brace come away, on to my second pair of those lesson learnt.

I purchased these in August 2015 before I was going to China. Long airline rides to and from Asia and Europe are transformed into pleasant soundscapes that by the top-notch noise cancelling technology in these headphones. They have been one of the best investments for entertainment I have ever made. I have used them for running for the past 5 years, and they have never missed a beat. The earbud cases came apart in 2017, but I just glued them back together and I haven't had an issue since. To avoid that problem, always remove the buds by grabbing them from in your ears, rather than tugging on the cord. It has taken this long (as of June 2020) for the battery to show any signs of age by not lasting quite as long as it used to. By that I mean it only lasts for 6-8 hours instead of 14-18. They are finally one their last legs, however, because the connection to the battery case and the cord to the earbuds has gone through too much pinching and bending over the 1000+ hours it has spent in my pocket. I have started to notice that the audio cuts out if it is not in the exact right position to complete the circuit over the worn out wires. If it weren't for that reason, these earbuds would last another year at least, until the battery would succumb to the fate faced by all batteries. Everyone should purchase Bose audio equipment. I will purchase another soon.

I received these NC headphones as a gift from my wife. They were awesome when traveling on airplanes as you couldn't hear anything around you. I've only had them for 3 years and they were sparingly used. Now I can't get sound out of the right earbud. I believe the cable is damaged since I only hear things intermittently. Therefore these headphones cost me $100+ per year. I doubt I've used them more than 50 x. I wouldn't recommend them based on their lack of durability. I'm now out of warranty and instead of fixing them Bose offered to sell me a new set. No thanks!

I bought these headphones 4 years ago. I've used them for multiple travels and used them at home on a regular. The other day, I thought about testing my products batteries because of curiosity. I played music at the 2 notches below maximum volume (don't want to blow speakers) and ran it for as long as possible. I got 17 hours and 34 minutes. After 4 years. I understand that this product is not cheap, but the all sources say "up to 16 hours". After 4 years of usage, I was able to get this product to last 17 hours and 34 minutes. This makes this product the only product I've ever found to "do better than advertised".

Sound : I'm no audiophile like when I was younger but from over 15 years of listening to music and appreciating rap music, rave music, drum and bass and productivity work music; I can honestly say that these earphones produce good sound. Would they compare the same with the best of the best for clarity and tight bass? Probably not, Bose tune headphones for the general public, they're not meant for music production.

Durability : These are corded and should be treated as such, I work in quite controlled professional environments so I don't really run into durability problems with any of my products but I would not recommend taking this to the gym.

Comfort : The design is good, it does not fall out of my ears, and it's very compact so you don't have a lug a small box around with you unlike headphones.

Value : Although expensive, I have chosen to use these QC20's over my noise cancelling headphones because it does almost the same job and with great sound. This product is probably the greatest investment I've ever made to my travelling gear arsenal.

Once you active the noise cancellation, you feel like the world is yours.

The noise cancellation is amazing, far better than the early QC2 headphones I had. Flip the switch, and the outside sounds disappear. They're really comfortable to wear and stay in place. BUT... the microphone is awful. Every single phone or video call ends up with people saying "I can't understand you, it's really muddled." So they're great for music, but REALLY bad for two way communication, which is a big disappointment for the price. Bose, put some attention to the mic next time and not just the earpiece!

I've had these for about two months and these have maybe saved my relationship. They've definitely saved my sanity. I was at wit's end with my partner's snoring. We'd tried a bunch of stuff to get him to stop snoring and they weren't working. There were times I'd fantasize about smothering him with a pillow (sleep deprivation is no joke!). I decided to try these out, sure they wouldn't make a difference, but confident in the 30 day trial period. I can still hear the snoring if I really strain to, but why would I do that? The noise just goes quietly into the background and I naturally don't focus on it.
On a recent hot night, we had the box fan in the window on full blast. It was pretty loud. White noise, but pretty loud. I turned on my headphones and was shocked that the fan noise totally disappeared.
I don't use these outside of bed. The battery pack seems a little bulky and I already had regular headphones that I like (and are cheaper and I'm not in fear of breaking), so I don't really have a commentary on how the sound is on these (I only listen to podcasts or nature sounds). You also can't sleep on your side with these on (back sleeping only). And the light on the battery pack is kinda bright for nighttime. All these things aside, I still am in total love with these headphones.

These headphones are the tops in every category except durability. I have used Bose products for over 20 years, enjoying three sets of the over-ear QC2 and finally getting a pair of the QC20, which I've loved. I TAKE CARE of my products but the wire emerging from the battery pack has broken and a person at a Bose retailer told me that my only recourse was to buy another pair. I don't have an extra $250, yet these earphones are-were an integral part of my life. I am so disappointed and at a loss. Buy these earphones only if you have the means to replace them every few years.

Noise cancellation is just "ok" on the product but the weirdly shaped battery makes it hard to move around or workout - it easily gets caught on any pockets causing the unit to fall out. After a few months of light usage, suddenly the noise-cancelling feature breaks completely. When I reached out to the customer support team, they kept trying to up sell me on another product or recommending I use their replacement program and pay close to retail. No matter how much I explained to them the situation, they kept reading from the same script, not understanding that they're not answering my questions properly.

Perhaps it's time to consider another company.

I’ve had these headphones for a year now and I love the sound quality that is Bose’s, but now I’m experiencing some issues with the design. The noise canceling battery has proven to be a bit heavy when using the Jack attachment for my iPhone, when I plug in the headphones music automatically plays and if I move the phone it will disconnect when I’m on a call and also it will randomly play different music or Siri will come on without me prompting. While I love these headphones I now am bummed I have to search for a lighter alternative because they only work when I don’t move around or touch the phone.

I have had these for 18mts now. Sound quality is very good. But at about 14 mts the adhesive joining the earpiece failed and they fell apart. As they were more than 12 mts old the retailer refused to replace them. So I had to glue them together myself. Not good when you pay more than $350 for headphones. Now the mode button has stopped working. I was expecting these to last much longer.

Brought 6 months or so now, my word, they knock the pants off everything out there.
I get sent a lot of earbud/phones to review, which I usually give away.
I brought these and they are superb, costly yes but faultless.

Hi,
I have got the amazing QC30, since 24/12/2017..
The Quality of sound, battery duration, noise cancelling, connectivity, wight, controller, everything were excellent. I have been using it for my work calls, media, meeting calls, walking time, podcast.
The only problem is the battery life & the covering material!!
I have replaced the device on warranty 4 times for the same problem. but now unfortunately the warrantees has ended!!
the covering materials has gone off the device completely, the inner parts are completely exposed!!
the battery can't be charged, the red light is on.
I'm hesitant to purchase a new one and facing the same problem at the same time I couldn't find a suitable device like that !!

The product is amazing. Whether travelling, on the computer or just wanting some quiet time at home the headphones are in daily use. one negative only. They are diligently replaced in the case after use and now the cable to the buds has cracked. Not Sure of solution

I’ve had these for many years used outside baling hay riding bike all temps all conditions now they are deteriorating at a fast pace, Bose will not back product up and replace them I have to purchase new one.

I bought a pair of these three years ago and they were showing wear so I replaced them. They do not neutralize the low frequency noise as well and BOSE engineers will not admit it. I called to explain and they are either lying or they don't care - just like any other manufacturer. I am no longer romanced by their products and I own a lot of Bose stuff. There is clearly a difference in the engineering of these newer units.

I was half expecting these earphnes to die out on me. Either the battery or the ear piece, sound quality, general electrical faults. But no, nothing.
I'm happy with the money I spent on these. I just hope the current models are made with the same quality control they were 2 years ago so you can enjoy them the same I have.

This is not an audiophile earphone btw, please note the sound is not true and comes out boosted. I have no issues with this since my purpose for these headphones is not to produce or do sound engineering work but rather enjoy music in various scenerios.
I bought these as travel companions and as a traveling consultant can honestly say they have been my best friend during lonely times. Music has kept me sane and the catalyst to escaping reality into my own imagination has more than been fascilitated by these beauties.

Highly recommend... Keep up the hard work Bose <3

I had this for more than two years now. I've tried multiple headphones, this are just superior! I had them in white, and now in black. The sound is crisp, clean and the noise cancelling is phenomenal, great for flights! Just ordered new wireless headphones.

At first they worked great ! Then not so much - all of a sudden the green lights don't come on and they are not noise cancelling as they were

I am having it for 4 years and I use it about 3 to 5 days a week. Great in all ways

I bought the product 5 years ago, now the cabling especially connecting to the phone-jack is breaking.

Purchased them two years ago, comfortable love the noise cancelling however the right ear bud came apart and they are rendered unusable. Considering the price for these, a disappointment.

First got these in 2011 and replaced them in 2015. I can’t say enough about how good the quality and fit are. In most “noise canceling” headphones (my family members’), there’s an uncomfortable feeling of built up air pressure and that noisy scratchiness as the ear piece moves slightly. These are audibly seamless except for the incoming sounds. I wear them working out, running etc and they stay put. Recently I switched to using them instead of an ear piece for phone calls for work and the microphone works phenomenally well. I also want to give a shout out to Bose’s customer service which immediately responded when I pointed out that their website had not made it clear how to order the correct size replacement rubber earbuds. They apologized and offered to send me the correct size (hello? who does that anymore?). Treat yourself with these, take care of them and they’ll last for years.

My phone battery normally lasts all day and into the evening - when using the QC 20 headphones I lose 50% of battery capacity in just over an hour. Two stars because I do enjoy the sound but otherwise it was a poor investment.

I have had this headphone for a couple of years and hoped that they would last longer than they did. The left ear no longer works. I've been very caring with my headsets. I wear them on airplanes and don't leave them hanging from the outlet when I get up - put them away in the case before moving. I need new headphones.

These headphones produce amazingly high quality sound and tonal range. The noise-cancelling capabilites are impressive. When you need comopact, lightweight, excellent quality sound - and noise cancelling - this is the only way to go.

I bought these as a replacement for the same headsets that I lost on a trip. They work great. I use them primarily at the gym to drown out the ambient noise and the music they play that I don't like. I also love them while flying. They do an excellent job of cancelling the jet engine noise.

I actually bought these not realising that they had a jack and where not actually wireless when I’ve got an iPhone. Bought an adapter and actually love how effective they are and I don’t have great hot heavy cans over my ears.
Works great with my Mac laptop also.

They're great, even though they are noise cancelling you can still hear important things around such as if someone calls your name. Great for travelling as it cuts out engine noises and have good quality sound.

I bought this a while back and love it! Great sound quality!

I received the headphones as a gift! They are great headphones and I love them so much!
Sound quality is great and I can't even hear my coworkers

I received the QC20 free when I purchased an aviation headset. I used the QC20 for three days of airline travel (three separate flights with about 5 hours of total use) and a day around my house. The obvious major downside is the fact that they're wired. The apple version did not come with a lightning adapter. The sound quality is excellent - just what you would expect from Bose. The noise-cancelling worked well in a relatively quiet environment - around my house with minor background noise. In the back of a noisy airplane, the noise cancelling was only slightly better than another brand of in-ear wireless headphone (without noise-cancelling) that I use regularly. If you need noise-cancelling for a noisy environment, go with an over-the-ear headset over these.

It’s eerie how well the noise cancelling works. I had two people having a full-on heated conversation outside my office door - I could see them, but I could BARELY hear them at less than 10 feet away. Great product!!

These are great-fitting and great noise-cancelling phones if you travel by car, rail or plane.

Sound is “ok” only. Battery lasts very long without recharge which i think is super important if you travel often, and especially if for business.

The rubber of the “battery” case peeled of quickly, which i fixed easily with some black tape.

True big downside is that there is apparently no option to repair them. My cable broke, but while the rest is fine including the battery, Bose Europe does not repair them, which is against my conception of sustainability.
Admittedly, i have used them a lot, and handled with little care, that is why I still gave 5stars.

Bose suggested that i buy a new pair, but for that to happen, i am now waiting for a newer version of this earphone, with better sound and maybe some more repair options and/or wireless (but same run time )
Suggestion: The earphone could come with a cable to a battery case, but the case would also be a bluetooth receiver, making them not truly “wireless” but “unplugged”. And please, no horrible “necklace”

I've been a Bose noise cancelling customer since just after the original QC10s came out. I travel for a living, and spend a lot of time in planes, and part of the routine is to settle my gear, settle my backside into the seat, pull out the Bose headset, and tune out the noise.

These headphones work great in airplanes, airports, factory floors, noisy office environments, and, strangely enough, under a motorcycle helmet that doesn't block the wind very well. The noise is cut to a whisper in all environments, music and calls are clear, and the only problem I've had with normal operations is with the microphone (it sometimes needs to be held close to my mouth for my caller to hear me clearly).

That's the good news. Now, the bad.

The QC20 comes with a nice, tactile rubber covering for the electronics/battery pack. This rubber membrane gives a nice feel to the package, and keeps it from sliding around if it's stuck in a pocket or pack.

The rubber peels off. It started pretty soon after I got the headset, but as time's passed, the rubber skin has peeled pretty badly (see pictures for example of how bad it is right now). It's annoying, and leaves the hard plastic chassis unprotected.

This seems to be a general problem with Bose products - the rubber skins they apply seem to peel pretty easily (see the QC30 reviews for examples elsewhere).

Bose: other than, "out of warranty, buy a new set," do you have any suggestions?

I have had mine a while and love the sound quality and noise canceling on an airplane. I am really unhappy however, with the rubberized feel of the wires. They catch on everything and pull because they are so sticky. For this money, the wire should be awesome. Also not a huge fan of the little box. The pigtail is too short, so on an airplane, that box dangles and pulls on the mini plug. Bose should redesign with braided cord and a pigtail that is at least 1 ft long.

I bought these headphones about a year ago. Great product, long battery life, great ANC feature. However, it's been some weeks that the battery is failing me; it barely lasts a few hours (max 3 and a half) and the battery empties over night...

What a shame...!

I admire this in ear i wish it is a totally wire free but with sleek design just like apple i dont want apple i hate it but i wish bose got a sleek design i hope for it ill wait i feel u gonna make it happen.

I loved the head phones the first year or so! Noise canceling was great. Charging and run-time was great (7 hrs no problem). I don't use the head phones daily but I do travel so find myself using them a couple times a month. Bose provides a nice travel case for them as well. I might question the design of the case now that I see what it has slowing done to my wires. Headphones cut in and out now and I'm in the market for a new pair I guess. I expected a high quality sound which I feel I got but they were not made with same same consideration. I'd have to question the amount paid for product received.

I love the QC20 when its first out of the box. Noise Cancellation is the best, ear comfort is great, and sound quality is top notch. But they are not well made. The rubber lining around the batter will be the firs to peal off. Then the volume button will stop working. On my first pair, the pigtail wire started to fray. But the worst is that after 18mos of usage, you will start to get a loud squeal that really hurts your ear coming out of the speaker. This has now happened to both of my units. At $250 a pop, you would think these would last longer and they would not have this audio problem. I don't know why it occurs, but it makes the device useless once this happens. I'm not looking at alternate in-ear noise canceling head phones. If these were built better, I would buy again, but having gone through 2 pairs, it's time to find a longer lasting alternative.

I do not recommend these headphones. They make a loud humming noise when in noise cancellation mode. This happens when the headphones are connected to a device. It doesn't matter if the device is a free standing device or a desk top Apple computer plugged into a power source. Bose did offer a 25% discount off the purchase of another pair of headphones but not the newest model of course. I would have to send back the defective headphones they sold me and give them yet more money. Not an acceptable solution.

How can it be an Apple device without a lighting input? Makes no sense.

I have a set that is on its 7th year and still works great!
Great sound; the best noise cancelling ear buds ever - one of the best purchases I have ever made - use them almost daily!
They are so good I recently bought a 2nd pair just in case..

I had bought this pair 2 years back great performance but the audio wire give away in 2 years and the service center refused to repair on the pretext its unrepairable.

Work outside in hard condition
From heavy rain too - 30 snow storms
Really impressive buildings quality.
I can break everything not manged to break these yet after 3 years of owning them.
Must buy for working round motor vehicles such as snowmobile.

I have an older pair of Bose noise-canceling headphones that I use at work, but they're kind of big and bulky, and I wanted something more compact for international travel. The technology in these earbuds is phenomenal! The older headphones are fine, but they really do best with blocking out "constant" noise (airplane, jackhammer, etc.) These earbuds really block out almost everything, even if it's not a constant sound. They worked amazingly for a 43-hour travel window to Africa, kept a charge and everything (I didn't have them on noise cancelation the full 43 hours, but didn't have to recharge 'til we got there). Then they worked amazingly while out on safari for nearly 2 weeks, where we were camping with lots of wild animal sounds that might have kept me awake. Instead, I slept like a baby. They are comfy, good sound quality (even with the noise cancelation turned on) and have continued to be a great investment now that I'm back at work and needing to more effectively block out boisterous co-workers. :) I guess they're not "cheap" but for me they are 100% worth the cost.