Gaming headphones come in a range of price points and quality, from less expensive ones to the premium ones. Bose has also entered the gaming headphones niche with their Bose’s Quiet Comfort 35 II gaming headset. In this article we will give an in depth analysis and tell you whether these Bose Headphones are good for gaming.
The short answer is yes, they are good in some ways but Bose is also new in this niche and it shows. Bose’s Quiet Comfort 35 II gaming headset has Bose’s much-coveted active sound canceling but overall as far as gaming headphones are concerned, they might be of poor value for money.
The Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II gaming headset has a lot of features on offer and is definitely worth considering.
Features Overview
Bose’s Quiet Comfort QC35 II headphones have been available for a while and were the company’s flagship noise canceling headphone with a premium price tag. And it was only natural that the company forayed into the gaming headset market. The rebranded Bose’s Quiet Comfort 35 II gaming headset comes packaged with the original over-ear QC35 II along with two accessories.
The first is a removable wired, “noise-rejecting” boom microphone module that connects to the PC and other gaming consoles via 3.5mm AUX port; it has Discord and TeamSpeak certification. Secondly, you can also get an optional desktop controller dial that lets you control and monitor the mic.
The main advantage of the Quiet Comfort 35 II gaming headset is that it can be considered as a 2in1 gaming and lifestyle headphones. You can take off the wired mic and use it as your everyday, Bluetooth headphones. Furthermore, it is also perfect for your work from home needs, as you can use it to attend to voice calls and video meetings.
Now we will expand upon all the features that are required of a gaming headset and see how Bose matches up.
Sound Quality
Naturally, the sound quality is the first feature that you’ll consider when buying a gaming headset and for the most part, the Quiet Comfort 35 II gaming headset does not disappoint. The main selling point of these headphones is their noise-canceling feature that very few gaming headphones currently have.
These gaming headphones come with Bose’s patented Acoustic Noise Cancelling™ technology which uses both active and passive noise canceling techniques. This allows for crisp and crystal clear audio output that is adequately balanced.
However, the Quiet Comfort 35 II gaming headset lacks the dynamic surround sound visualization that is a must have on the medium to high range gaming headphones nowadays. However, the importance of this feature depends on the use and expectations of the users.
These headphones are perfectly fine for a lot of games especially those that require clear sound or have a solid soundtrack. However, for heavy action games like Call of Duty, QC 35 II Gaming headset definitely lacks the wow factor, and simply does not pack the punch that many gamers will be used to.
When it comes to virtual surround this headset simply cannot keep up with some of the more popular brands. But then again that might have been Bose’s strategy all along. We believe that QC 35 II gaming headset is meant to be an all rounder that excels in areas that are lacking in other gaming headsets.
While other headsets do offer virtual surround sound, they also lack in clarity and miss out the minor details. So when you are listening to music, watching a movie or taking a Zoom meeting, you will find the Bose QC 35 II gaming to be head and shoulders above the competition.
So to summarize, gauging Bose’s gaming headset’s audio capabilities depends on your intended use. If you want a headset for games that require clear sound and are sound track intensive and is also perfect for everyday use then this might be the perfect headset for you.
However, if you want a gaming headset with dynamic virtual surround sound then you might be better off with other premium brands.
Microphone
As we mentioned earlier, the QC 35 II Gaming headset comes with a wired microphone that can be connected to the PC, PS4, Xbox, or Nitendo Switch. The QC 35 II already has a headphone but most players prefer to use wired microphones to reduce lag. Even the most minute audio lag in Bluetooth headphones can be an issue for gamers.
Wireless gaming headsets do not rely on Bluetooth but rather come with their own wireless dongle that can be connected to the console. So essentially, for gaming purposes the QC 35 II Gaming headset is not exactly wireless. But to be fair, the company has never marketed it as a wireless gaming headset. If you are not gaming though, you can use simply use this as a Bluetooth headphone.
Overall the wired microphone is really good and at par with the best out there.
Design Features
Design and comfort is where Bose’s QC 35 II Gaming headset really shines. The build quality is excellent and has a light and comfortable design. In contrast to other gaming headsets, it has smaller earcups that are more comfortable and can be easily worn for longer periods. This headset is truly designed to be versatile and its “lifestyle mode” is excellent for everyday use.
The active noise cancellation is another feature that really sets it apart as very few gaming headsets have them. It is not very useful for gaming to be precise, but it is an excellent feature to have if you are on the move. And Bose really knows how to build a superior active noise cancellation .
Battery life
As far as battery life is concerned, Bose promises up to 20 hours of battery life in wireless and 40 hours when wired. And we know that it is a little strange for the headphones to have a limited battery life in wired mode. And while 40 hours might be a lot of time, hardcore gamers can actually play for very long periods of time.
Overall, the 20 hours of wireless battery time is sufficient and at par with other headsets in the same range.
Other Features
Bose’s QC 35 II Gaming headset supports features like Google Assistent and Alexa, both these features can be used through the built in microphone. Although this feature is rather irrelevant for gaming purposes, it can be quite useful when you are on the move or just chilling at home.
You can also get the optional PC dial controller, this connects to the PC via a USB, and has an AUX port to allow you to connect the QC 35 II Gaming headset. This can be quite convenient, since connecting the AUX directly with the PC can be a chore. Secondly, the dial can also be used to adjust the volume and “self-regulate” your voice in the microphone.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has been helpful in answering any question related to Bose’s gaming headphones. In conclusion buying or not buying depends on your usage. If you want an excellent allround headphone that can be used as a gaming headset then Bose might be a very good option for you.
However, if you want a specialist gaming headset then you might be able to find better value for money in other brands.
