Passive Pooh, active hui!

I have really taken me a lot of time the Bose QuietComfort 20i to test for "paces", as the saying goes. To advance to stake once the conditions of the test: I've been using for many years in-ear headphones, but Logitech / UE. Currently, the Logitech UE 900, formerly the 10th These are not just classify the mainstream Ultimate Ears triple.fi said models is probably known each Interesting new Bose headphones.

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Passive mode:

To then also again take up the first part of the title: In passive mode, ie without the battery-based noise reduction and Co, the QuietComfort 20i sound really ... modest. Anders you can not say it really. My 35-euros-in-ears from Sennheiser there were not really bad, have suppressed only inherently less noise. Who even over long distances (ie without the possibility of recharge) wants to hear good music, the 2/3 saves from price and better accesses to the Shure SE215, or similar models. One problem that unfortunately is typical Bose. At least confirmed my colleagues who have to do much in the audio field: Without active measures, it is simply nothing dolles.

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Active mode / ANC:

But we come to the Active mode: The active noise canceling (ANC Active Noise Cancellation) is amazing - Honestly! Once activated are particularly constant and deep sounds, such as in an airplane or webs occurring, strongly suppressed and are hardly perceive more at normal music volume. In very brief noises and generally higher tones and the efficiency decreases somewhat. One major drawback: The ANC is sensitive to wind, which can be reflected in a known digital camera wind noise. Even on short-term changes in air pressure / sound waves (eg slamming doors Bahn) the ANC reacted partially with a loud crack, the leaves a short flinch. Although this is really a special case, still expandable.

The sound is in active mode also significantly better, indicating for sound optimization in addition to an ANC on the use of pre-amplifiers (pre-amps) and equalizers (EQ). To operate the sound QuietComfort 20i even relatively neutral and can be provided a good players, well adapted to your own preferences. Only really powerful bass they can not represent, it remains rather dull wummernd.

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Conclusion:

The QuietComfort 20i are hard for me to judge. The build quality is top, the sound in the active operating well and the ANC always works almost on truly exceptional high level. On the cons list, unfortunately, are just two problems the ANC (see above) and in passive mode really only average sound. If by ~ 12-16 hours once the battery is all, so that listening has arrived quite far down.

Who is passively on best sound I would advise rather Logitech UE or Beyerdynamic look, these also offer passive a passable suppression of ambient noise. Those who, like airplanes is very common in noisy environments go, but could really find a nice companion to the QuietComfort 20i.

Power for me 3.5 stars because of the price in my opinion is just too high, if for once the battery is empty and one headphone in Natura "must hear".