Bose QC20 QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise-Canceling Earbuds for Apple Devices

Even though I was worn at the Bose store, I purchased these for use under my helmet while riding a motorcycle. Their ability to cancel road, wind, engine, and other low frequency buffeting noises exceeded my expectations. I compared them to Etymotic ER4 and 30db ear plugs. The Etys stock out too far out of the ear for comfortable helmet use, but their sound quality was superior. I’d give the Bose 5 stars, but sound quality wasn’t awesome (just good), the battery isn’t replaceable, and their sound isolation isn’t great. They made a good product, why not allow for a snug fit inside the ear canal? FYI - I stuffed the mic section into my helmet and made a phone call. It was amazing. I could speak softly at 65 mph and the other person said it sounded like I was using a car Bluetooth system. I tried using them on a lawn tractor, but they did not perform well. They couldn’t handle the noise level and lack of sound isolation was poor. Offer a replacement battery and fix the ear fitment and you’ve got a perfect product.

Even though I was warned at the Bose store that they weren’t designed for such use, I purchased these for use under my helmet while riding a motorcycle anyway. Their ability to cancel road, wind, engine, and other low frequency buffeting noises exceeded my expectations. I compared them to Etymotic ER4 and 30db ear plugs. The Etys stuck too far outside the ear for comfortable helmet use, but their sound quality was far superior. I’d give the Bose 5 stars, but sound quality wasn’t awesome (just good), the battery isn’t replaceable, and their sound isolation isn’t good. They made a good product, why not allow for a snug fit inside the ear canal? FYI - I stuffed the microphone section into my helmet and made a phone call. It was amazing. I could speak softly at 65 mph and the other person said it sounded like I was using a car Bluetooth system. I tried using the active noise canceling on a lawn tractor, but they did not perform well. They couldn’t handle the noise level and lack of sound isolation was poor. Offer a replacement battery and fix the ear fitment and you’ve got a near perfect product.

The sound quality on these is decent, the noise cancelling works really well in very specific circumstances, and the earphones are well made. But there are some serious design flaws:

1. The large battery pack is right by the headphone socket, so if you try to put your phone or device into your pocket it gets caught on the battery pack and yanks the earphones out of the socket.

2. The earphones cancel a certain type of noise very well - mid/low frequency rumbles like airplane noise. But other types of noise are still very audible, particularly someone speaking nearby. The noise cancelling has no effect on this.

3. A well documented problem is the popping, which is particularly bad on trains - whenever another train passes, whenever the noise of the train is particularly loud, whenever the doors open and close there is a loud and disturbing pop.

4. The earbuds are slightly elongated vertically, which makes all three sizes fit slightly too loosely in the ear. It also means that earbuds from other headphones won't fit these ones, so you can't swap them for ones that do fit.

These made my flight from Toronto to Edinburgh much more enjoyable. Whether watching Netflix or sleeping these did a great job of almost eliminating aircraft noise and were very comfortable. I’ve used them for about 10 hours so far on the first charge.

After only using the headphones on 10 trips, the light indicator is green and says it is fully charged, yet when unplugging the device and using the switch to turn on noise cancelling there are no lights. Very disappointed for the price point and the number of uses. They did work great when they worked properly.

I bought it about a year ago. I love it and use it every day. Sadly, someone stole them from me last week. I'm literally distraught. These headphones are a big part of my life.

The adapter part of the headphone broke easily. Bose charges too much money for their products with cheap parts. Sounds good but you can't hear if it's broken.

I used It during my flights and the sound is quite good...

I have been complaining about bose headphones for a number of years now but looks like this hasn't been fixed yet. I first tried their in ear headphones back in 2014 and noticed immediately that the volume is not loud enough.

I must admit, their noise cancellation is one of the best and above par. However, they need to improve sound quality. Add some bass, more treble and most of all more loudness

I bought these 5 months ago. I use them mainly when commute. Whenever a bus goes over a bump the headphones produce a crackling noise. Quite uncomfortable noise. Wish I had used them more. Would have returned them on time. It never happened with another pair I have for my Samsung phone. To add, the same headphones for Samsung phone sit comfortably in my ears and stay there. The Apple version keep falling out. Overall the old pair is much better than the new ones.

I bought these headphones for doing field work, where I'm often on noisy boats and planes. The noise cancelling is amazing, they work great, and are comfortable and most headphones don't fit my ears. My only complaint is that I bought them in 8/2017 and they only lasted until 4/2019, at this time I only have sound in one ear. They did offer me $50 off a replacement pair.

I love Bose headphones, I have these for when I travel on planes and cannot use the Bluetooth. My only criticism is that, since the headphones are made specifically for either Apple or non-Apple products, the Apple-friendly headphones should have the Apple cable. Having to us the Apple adaptor sucks. Otherwise, I don't have any issues with these headphones.

I've had these headphones for almost a year. The noise cancelling feature allows me to feel isolated without distracting noises, like screaming children.

These are simply the best cancelling headphones you can buy. Yes, they are expensive, but worth it. Most comfortable earbuds EVER. You can sleep with these buds in your ears. Only concern, be mindful when fold them back in the case, the wiring can fray.

The internet is full of stories of the headphone jack breaking due to poor design. Bose refuse to repair or replace. Do yourself a favour and avoid this product.

I've had these earbuds for about 2.5 years now. I love the way the ear piece fits in the ear, I have small ears so I was happy they came with 3 sizes to choose for the earpiece- small, medium, large. These stay in when I am working out, hiking, or jogging, which is a must for me.
I am very sensitive to noises when I fall asleep, so the noise cancelling function paired with white noise or ASMR works like a dream.
About a year ago, I accidentally put these babies through a full washer AND dryer cycle, and they are STILL fully functioning!!! Sound is still great, noise cancelling still works. Would highly recommend these earbuds.

Finally! A pair of earphones that stay in my ears and have amazing sound, oh, and not to mention they are extremely comfortable for long hours. When working out, cleaning, working or simply relaxing I don’t have to constantly adjust them; no ear aches either.

The noise cancellation is very good with extremely good battery life! I went for a few runs outside during prime traffic hours (don’t worry the sidewalk and highway are separated by trees, so I don’t have to be on high alert.). Five minutes into my run I turned on noise cancellation and was amazed how the busy world around me came to abrupt silence. Noise cancellation really focuses you into whatever task you’re doing. It’s just you, your music and your task. Shoot, I even enjoyed noise cancellation without the music, despite the slight hiss you hear when music isn’t playing. Noise cancellation is so enjoyable I now can’t go to work without these earphones. Sometimes at work I sit right next to a portable A/C unit so all day I hear constant blowing. I never realized I heard that blowing until I shut on noise cancellation and voila, it was gone.

Now everything isn’t perfect with these earphones. My only complaint is the battery unit. It tends to get in the way. Especially, when taking your phone in and out of your pocket. My fear is that with time the battery and cord will develop a shortage from the constant pulling and bending you take it through. Also, when I put my phone into my workout sleeve I have to take an extra few minutes to organize my phone and earphone's battery into the sleeve. This gives me the impression that Bose didn’t design these earphones for a lot of moving activity. You may want to consider an alternative if you’re really active and sweat a lot. If you don’t mind the being a little careful then you should be ok.

Overall, I highly recommend these earphones. I don’t find them to be overhyped even with the steep pricing point. You definitely get what you pay for!

I purchased these about 2-3 years ago, after owning 1 pair prior to that. After about 3 months, the rubber film encasing the batter and power module started to peel off, then a month later the entire module opened and split open. I sent one pair back, they sent me another, and the same exact thing happened. The volume controls don't work properly nor does the talk/mute button. A waste of money for something that costs a fraction of what it costs to build it.

Pros: not wireless (safe), good noise cancellation
Cons: 1) earbuds too big for my ears and difficult to insert and caused a lot of pain in just a few hours. 2) wire twists up to your chin and impossible to untwist it. 3) don't like the color (black/blue), very masculine looking, I wanted white which is not available anymore.
Overall: Due to pain will definitely return ASAP and I'm disappointed that it wasn't designed for females in mind.

the tips don't fit very securely, therefore sometimes a pair of good "noise isolation" headfones cuts out the sound better

however, they cut out most voices including my annoying neighbour
which was the purpose, so i might use them again just for this

i recommend that bose looks at a pair of "panasonic ergo" headfones and JVC marshmellow to see how to build a great shaped set of headfones

that style of headfones + noise cancelling would be perfect

I've had these headphones for nearly 4 years now (I have the original ones) and I've convinced many friends to get their own. Overall, these are amazing and make flying and commuting so much more enjoyable.

My only complaint is that the rubberized cord is tearing at bottom of the power pack and where the cord connects to the jack. I've tried to keep these headphones in excellent condition and always use the case, so this is disappointing. I suppose it's considered "wear and tear" but I would have hoped my $300 headphones lasted longer than the headphones that came with my phone (and that I use daily and do not keep in a case). Otherwise, the noise-cancelling still works well, but I'm starting to hear some feedback which can be fixed if i wiggle the cord a bit. Hopefully they fix this issue in later designs.

I have had this just over a month now. The sound is fantastic, I have just used the noise cancelling feature on a flight. Unbelievable! I would highly recommend them and will definitely be buying another pair as a gift to a family member

We have the original over-head Bose noise cancelling headphones which are brilliant. I wanted the in-ear version for my daily train commute to block out conversations around me more than for listening to music. They don't work; I can hear conversations perfectly, they just sound more distant. Some days, the headphones regularly pop, which is uncomfortable. Music quality is ok, but I have to the turn the volume up high to block out sounds around me given the noise cancellation doesn't work. I've tried to get use to these, always make sure they're fully charged. I regret buying these. I'm just outside the 30-days ownership so stuck with them.

I've had these earbuds for about three months and I use them every day constantly,
pros:
-great sound quality
-the noise cancelling works really well
-the battery lasts for like 16 hours and takes not even 2 hours to fully charge
-if the battery dies they still work as normal earbuds
-fits comfortably and stays in
cons:
-the battery is a little annoying but after a while, you get pretty used to it
-pretty expensive

overall if you have the money and you use earbuds a lot and think you would use the noise cancelling a lot then go for it, but the only thing wrong with it after you buy it is the battery is annoying and you will get used to it but its always still irritating but I think its worth it

We have the original over-head style noise cancelling headphones, which are brilliant. I wanted the in-ear version for train commuting. Hugely disappointed. The noise cancelling doesn't really work - i can hear other people's conversations quite clearly, they just sound slightly more distant. On some journeys, the headphones frequently pop, which is uncomfortable. The noise cancelling unit is cumbersome and awkward relative to the overall size of the product. Sound is fine, but i have to turn the volume up quite high to hear well and block out external noise. I've tried getting used them but really don't like them. I'm now just passed the 30-day refund so stuck with them. I'll be putting them on eBay.

The sound cancelling capability is really great. Challenge is that the rectangular control device on the wire is close to where it plugs into the phone. This makes it tricky to place your phone in a pocket as the rectangle gets in the way and hangs up on clothing. It would be better if they could locate this farther up the wire. Ultimately I had to replace these earbuds because the wiring entering this control device became damaged inside the plastic coating. Customer service was great though and I was given a discount on the replacement.

I bought these as well as the QC35 as sometimes I am really trying to travel as light/compact as possible and the QC35 case is a little large. These are good, but nowhere near as good as the QC35 for noise cancelling. I can hear a lot more of the plane engine noise with my QC20s. I'd recommend spending the extra and getting the QC35 unless you really don't want to full headphones. The extra cost and inconvenience to carry a larger product yield much better noise cancelling ability.

Also, for Apple device it's annoying that you have to carry the extra dongle to convert these to a lightning connection. And once you're using them you need another dongle to charge at the same time. This is a lot of dongles, wires and connections. All things considered wireless is best, and the QC35s are the best game in town.

I already have the normal Bose earbuds and also the noise cancelling headphones which I just love to use when flying as they completely get rid of all that awful noise, it is unbelievable how quiet everything is, I tend to keep them on even when I’m not listening to anything.
I wanted something more compact to fit in my handbag and these fit the bill perfectly.
Great price and delivery and they work just as good as the headphones.

I bought these a month ago really for plane travel which I have not yet but the few times I have worn them they have been great. Noise cancelling took me a little time to get used to but have been on a couple of really full and noisy trains and it has helped me completely switch off. That are also really comfortable to wear compared to other headsets I have tried. Love them.

These little headphones will change your life! They're small, light and incredibly comfortable. You can put them in your pocket or your bag without any issue so they're great for traveling. I'm sure you're thinking, they can't really be great at noice cancelling and that's where you'd be wrong. These things block out everything and I refuse to fly without them. Whether its the roar of the engines or an unruly 2 year old in the row behind you, these are an absolute must for traveling. Finally, I've had these for over 200 flights and they're still going strong so durability has really blown me away - I'd hardly say I'm gentle with these.

Recipients of phone calls constantly complain of very poor voice quality. These very expensive headphones DO NOT work properly!
I will contact Bellevue WA store to return.

I like the Bose heritage design that only the QC20 can have. It's special. I like the noise cancelling feature and of course, the aware mode. I can either delete or amplify my environmental sounds when I need to. Sound is okay. It has the genuine Bose sound with nice Bass. Though being nearly 5 years since these were released, I'm sure there should be a next series of these. Using a lightning to 3.5mm converter with a battery pack makes everything seem so bulky and heavy.
Also, referring to many other reviews it seems that the durability of these headphones

When I bought these my primary use was to block out the sound of the train and airplane. I use them for just about anything! They are small yet powerful when it comes to noise cancelation. A truly amazing product by a truly amazing company.

I've been using Bose headphones"with many different styles"for more than 10yrs and I've really enjoyed the treble and the bass level match so well with the lyrics

On my second pair after returning the first pair under warranty. The sounds is fantastic and the noise cancelling feature really works great but the design is horrible! Why would you bend a wire at the port is beyond me! Just over a year on second pair and wire at port began to fray and wires at the noise cancelling switch has similar issue. Now looking for another pair on headphones :(. Expect more from a $250+ product

Bought these a month ago and must say have had no problems the battery unit can be a little inconvenient but this is outweighed by the the sound quality and noise reducing capabilities

I bought these for my holiday as the overear headphones are too bulky and not so easy to pack. Great on the plane, especially with the noise cancellation button. I wouldn’t say it blocks all surrounding noises out but it definitely dulls them. Took me a while to get used to having something in my ear, but after a while you dont notice. Came in a nice black case to keep them secure but its a bit on the small size so have to bend the cables to get them in. Great sound and perfect if your always on the move!

Had these for 3 years and I love them. I also have the QC 35 headphones but I prefer these for travel because they're so small, easy to pack, and more comfortable to wear on long flights. You can rest your head on a pillow, unlike with over-ear headphones. They're excellent at blocking out background bass drone. They only slightly block out voices. Great for phone calls in busy places.

My only complaint is that when I plug them into my iPhone and put the phone on the desk next to my laptop or anything electronic, I get electronic feedback hummmmm. Not super loud but enough to be distracting. I use the dongle. Interestingly, if I put my finger on the metal base of the phone near the dongle the hum goes away instantly. Customer service just said this was normal. It's annoying, especially on calls. But for airline travel they're great.

These were given to me as a gift and I must say, it is perhaps the best gift I've ever received. One issue.....they block out so much background noise that I cannot hear when someone in the house is talking to me, like I could when I wore regular ear buds in the past. These block out so much background noise that I wear them while meditating.

My wife bought me these Headphones for christmas 2016 and I was very happy with the way that they fit and the superb sound quality. Just after a year, the right speaker stopped working, which was very frustrating as the remote control had packed up shortly before this. Christmas 2017 my wife bought me a replacement pair of headphones which also lasted just over a year before the right speaker stopped working. I think that sweat is getting into the ear bud and shorting out the speaker because if I blow into it for a few seconds the speaker starts to work again but at a lower volume than the left speaker. However, it doesn't last for long and stops working again.

I got these for Christmas and they are great. Almost as good as my £300 Bluetooth Noise Cancelling around ear big phones. Almost.

Wife got me these Dec. 2016. By December 2017 had to replace them because the casing was coming loose. After a few month wait I got the replacement, and by Dec. 2018 they starting clicking and making static sounds and the volume and play/pause button stopped working. Called, they said they can't replace them and they are out of warranty so I should buy new ones.....not likely. I would love to give more stars for sound quality and comfort, but those aspects did not last long enough to merit a high rating. So disappointing compared to the way they were fresh out of the box. major bummer...

I purchased the QC20 about 8 months ago and the noise reduction feature works great. Unfortunately, the plastic casing's glue did not hold and the ear buds shell come apart. The warranty does not cover this. Bose has recognized the lack of quality by offering an insurance policy to cover problems beyond what the warranty covers.

Got these as a gift and after a year and a half of use, the wire for one earbud is coming apart. I take great care of my electronics and always store them in the case. This should not be happening with a pair of headphones that cost 250$.

I have had my Quiet Comfort 20 Headphones for 3 years and I love them! In this day and age of quick and disposable products I am more than happy to pay more for a quality product. I have not had any issues with the wires or static as some others have mentioned. They are comfortable enough to sleep in, the battery holds a good charge, and when I wear them on the airplane it is like I am the only one on the plane. It would be nice if Bose offered a bit more of a sale around the holidays.

Had mine for 3 years and loved them. Unfortunately I’m now getting ear piercing feedback from the right one as soon as I turn on the noise cancelling. Started As an intermittent problem in aircraft but now it’s constant. Real shame.

I bought these years ago and they work great every time. Nothing beats Bose sound quality. Sometimes the module is annoying and gets in the way (also makes it hard to put your phone in your pocket with the module) so I would say if that part could be improved, that would be great. I love this for airline travel for the noise reduction and they stay in fairly well while jogging (I do wear a buff though). I'm impressed with the battery life for the noise cancelling.

Love the noise cancelling. I can't travel without them. It's amazing when your headphones ACTUALLY cancel out the noisy engine sounds etc. of the airplane without having to blast your music at full volume :)

Also great when working in Cafe's where there are many people (chattering / coffee / background noise etc.) if you want to focus on what you are doing.

Super comfortable, great sound and the ANR is the best that I have discovered.
The switch to put the ANR off is a great feature. I wasn’t sure about getting headphones that are not wireless but I’m glad that I did. I use a lot of noisy tools for my work and these were great at masking the noise and letting me hear my music.

This was the second set I have had as I lost my first set ! Very comfy for king flights great sound . Great to cut everyone and everything on flights .