Comfort
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For me the size M fits at the first attempt. The soft material of the crescent-shaped bracket I can with a handle good position in my ear and in fact this provides a tick better grip without the ear disturbing. As with all in-ear ensures the complete ear canal once kind muffled noise and touch the cable are increasingly passed on to the ear. This is the Bose not unlike my 30-euro expensive Sennheiser ear plugs. Only the seat is just a little bit better.
Unfamiliar with the Bose is that at the end of the cable about 9 * 3cm great little box is mounted on the cable in which the battery and the power switch is housed. The handling of the headphones will be affected by this small box entirely. At least here you have another reason why an outdoor use is not the main purpose of the headphones. However, if you find yourself very little moves you. Most appropriate location for storing this box, a rule is to use the headset with mobile devices such as smartphone yes or MP3 player and then discard the device and the box next to each other
Near the ear plug itself is another still much smaller box, about 4.5 cm long and less than 1 cm wide. Here controls for the iPhone / iPod control are housed. There is also an extra model which is designed for Android smartphones that then I think 2 instead of 3 buttons have (look for suitable model when buying, i in the name stands for the i-series at Apple). Furthermore, one finds here a switch where you can change the amount of noise reduction, more later.
Noise reduction
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Putting the headset on so the result shall first as with any in-ear headphones on. The environment is somewhat dull, but still present. If you switch the power switch to the larger box, so you can experience a true sound miracle. Any environmental noise, including the headphone dull intrinsic noise disappear almost completely. Now as I write the review on my PC with the window open I quietly road noise and a neighboring house construction is at the drilled in several hundred meters away. Everything falls silent and I hear practically nothing. The effect is more than amazing.
I have now tried this effect at various points and over again I was amazed. In Cubicle for example you can hear the colleagues almost no more, ringing noise and other conversations are almost completely gone. Alone that's why I sometimes the headphones to like worn around concentrated eg working on a document even without additional music in the office. And all this without additional music, alone the switched headphones reduced to a previously unimaginable degree me all outside noise. Especially in office that leads but sometimes also to that one no longer hears that one was addressed. This is even more startling when you hear no music and really just enjoy the silence. Such situations to defuse something has housed in the small control box a switch of a so-called attention mode turns on, the effect is so that higher pitches are no longer so strongly filtered and just voices then penetrate again to Bose. This is just in the office might find it useful if you do not want to completely dive into silence.
Noise reduction compared Bose QC 15
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A friend of mine has the QC 15, so I was very curious about a direct comparison and have even loaned me his headphones to a couple of hours. In contrast to the in-ear the QC15 is a classic around-ear headphones, so encloses with its fabric upholstery the ear completely and sits on the ear. This has so far been the reference instrument for noise reduction at Bose. The more astonished I was that the QC20 significantly better noise reduction for my taste reached as the QC15. In the background noises created by me for this test (especially radio and various TV programs) the filtered in-ear always noticeably better than the noise out of the QC15.
Music enjoyment
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Even when switched off, you can hear the music QC20. According to self-promotion of Bose quality sound, after all, is reproduced (are) corresponds to that of our normal in-ear headphones. I would like to say, if this is so, I strongly advise the purchase of normal in-ear Höhrer Bose from. Although the sound is quite acceptable and better than many totally approve in-ears or even many original accompanying ear something higher, but even my 30-euro Sennheiser sound much more harmonious and brilliant. To do so would not invest so much beleibe.
The Bose has but yes a one switch, and you hardly operated this one has, of course, on the one hand the amazing noise reduction, on the other hand the headphones unfold now a not held by me for possible brilliance. So I've never heard my smartphone. Wow. Here my latest hymn ends on the cheap Sennheiser. The Bose sound just great. Even comparing with the QC15 my friend I have to say that the QC15 no little worse sounds and despite in-ear. For a long time so the belief that good headphones a certain size due to design need to sound fully satisfying. I believe that no longer is effective immediately. I'm not saying that the music enjoyment would be significantly better than the QC15 Now, honestly, I higher form because no notable difference and that alone is indeed remarkable enough. Since moreover, the noise reduction is much better, is the little QC 20 In-Ear in my eyes the much better headphones. I like that is can not hear the music Ohrwärmer therefore much longer in-ear wearing than the closed models.
The overall volume, in particular in connection with my smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S3), is satisfactory for me, though in no case so that the ear would fly me. Who always listens to music at maximum volume, should definitely before buying in a store for this volume even know if one enough.
Battery Life
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Noise reduction and listening pleasure requiring juice out of the battery. In all my attempts I could operate the headphones at least good 5 hours. Exact time but I unfortunately can not provide because I had the headphones between then loaded again. This can be done on a PC using the supplied USB cable. Much more practical, however, the smartphone charger and it is good that Bose has chosen exactly this micro-USB port, so it is a good chance the move to charge the battery and prolong the pleasure with the headphones.
Whether one can reach the specified Bose 16 hours I have not checked. I could always easily at least one day exxessiv listening to music without loss. Therefore, my 5 hours is not to be understood as a limit but as confirmed by my statement. It was then still enough battery available for me unknown time. I think that's a good basis for a long-haul flight, the I in the test period but unfortunately had not now.
Conclusion
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Madness! If I had to summarize my conclusion in a word, then in this. The noise reduction is unbelievably good and quality music clearly and precisely with active noise reduction. Bose can this feat pay well, but who really wants a good set of headphones with effective noise reduction should definitely consider purchasing into consideration. I can not imagine that there is a better headphone me. One of the best ever, the QC15 is in any event now plunged my feeling from the throne. Strong buy recommendation from me and full 5 points.
Update 09/19/2013
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Unfortunately, I have today just 6 weeks of use the first defect complain: the small plastic clip with which you can secure the cable at shirt is now just so broken. The plastic seems the permanent pressure through the built-in spring unbearable. This should not happen as early course. I had the clip has never used ...
Actually, I would now deduct half a point ...
Update 12/11/2014
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Pops are especially produced for trains according perceptible on the left earphone. So it is no longer fun.
Contact Bose was by mail two weeks unanswered, by phone, however it worked for a queue of about 20 minutes and you have quick and smooth offered me the return shipping and anschließdenen exchange. I hope that my replacement headphone now more easily by holding, at the price I would have a more than one year you expect good service life. I have therefore reduced the rating by 1 star.
I will report if another defect should occur as long as I do this is the headset in order.
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Personal notes to the conclusion: must test a world first before the launch is not every day. Thanks to Amazon and the manufacturer Bose that I could do this with the headphones. Therefore, I will not deny that I got made available as part of Vine program the headset charge for the test. I will, however, no restrictions or requirements for my vote made by the program, except that I have to create it within 4 weeks. My ratings under such privileged tests are my honest opinion and not a letter of thanks. I have in the past, such testing products wipe rated 1 to 5 stars, precisely as I personally believe to have to evaluate the product and how I would have done it even with a voucher.