After long-term testing of Bose, I began to discover specific use cases that even the best noise-canceling headphones can’t match. Dog walks are wonderfully better, especially with any trace of wind, which can ruin your ears when using transparency mode. I used to roll with one button for those situations, with one ear open for awareness. Now, I recoil at the idea of settling for mono sound on our morning walk, even if the traffic sometimes damages the atmosphere.
I soon discovered other idiosyncratic ways these buds fill the void, from working in the office or kitchen while chatting with my wife to strolling through a store or chatting with neighbors while gardening. Why kill the tunes when you can have it all?
Bose has been working on additional ways to give its expensive buds greater value. If you have a new Bose soundbar like the Smart Soundbar (8/10, WIRED recommended), the Open Earbuds can now function as custom surround sound speakers, creating a sort of AR experience between the in-room soundbar and surround effects. in your head
Perhaps my favorite (and silliest) case for the Ultra Open came on a recent Thanksgiving trip to my wife’s parents’ house. Football is a Thanksgiving staple in most homes, but not theirs. There’s only one TV in the basement, no cable or antenna, and no one else is even casually interested. It doesn’t matter! I had my Open Earbuds and my phone, allowing me to stay on top of the games while still having a polite conversation. The pinnacle came while I was casually enjoying watching Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause, chatting with family, and watching my alma mater win its first playoff game all at the same time. Now that is multitask.
Ultra Open headphones are not always the right choice and many times they are the wrong choice. I think everyone needs a good pair of noise-canceling headphones, and many may not be able to justify a second pair, especially one with a list price of $300. That’s higher than many flagship noise cancellers.
Still, I can no longer deny the benefits of a good pair of open-back headphones, and these are the best I’ve found. To borrow a phrase, the Ultra Open sparks joy and I have come to rely on them daily. You win, Bosé. I’m hooked.