Wireless Bluetooth headphones are starting to become more appealing nowadays due to their functionality and convenience, but that is not to say that wired headphones have lost their appeal. For Bose, the SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II is proof of that. Check out our review of this audio gear below.
Design and Construction
If you think that the Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II looks familiar, that is because it sports a similar design as the rest of its headphones family. If we’re going to be frank, it looks just like the SoundLink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II we reviewed last month, only simpler. That said, you may consider the SoundTrue as the wired cousin of the SoundLink.
Since it doesn’t pack the same features as the SoundLink, the SoundTrue AE II is as simple as it gets, but that’s a good thing as well. It has an adjustable headband with foam underneath and covered with faux leather.
The bands end at a pair of swivels that hold the plastic cups. Nothing fancy is going on here and just features a 2.5mm headphone jack under the left cup and the Bose branding on both.
The interior is similar to the SoundLink AE II with soft faux-leather padding with cloth interior labeled for the left and right ears. If you’re the type who doesn’t care about the left and right ear placement, you might want to reconsider as the cups are angled a bit forward for a more appropriate fit.
Altogether, the SoundTrue AE II is snug yet light on both the head and ears. This makes it comfortable to use in long periods like when you’re just chilling at home, long flights, or stuck in traffic somewhere.
Design-wise, Bose has never been the aggressive type and prefer to keep a signature theme for all their products. It’s a good thing for a Bose purist but might not appeal to those who want something more different. On the bright side, it comes in two colors – Charcoal Black and Navy Blue.
Connectivity
Being a wired headphone, the SoundTrue AE II only features a detachable cable with inline remote (Volume Up, Play/Pause, Volume Down) and microphone. Speaking of the cable, it’s thin but feels durable. It’s also very long so you might find yourself rolling parts of it to avoid dangling. A cable organizer will serve you well for this.
You should take note of the headphone’s device compatibility as there are two models – one optimized for iOS, the other for Android. Our unit is for iOS devices and the result is that volume controls don’t work on Android but the microphone and play/pause work just fine.
Sound Performance and Call Quality
Like the rest of the Bose products we reviewed in the past, the SoundTrue AE II produces good audio quality, but that is already expected given its lineage. Probably the right question to ask here is how good it is.
With the SoundTrue AE II, it’s the kind that doesn’t want to just blast sound and overwhelm your ears but rather would prefer to hit the sweet spot – rich and powerful at the same time. There’s no noise-cancelling but the padding in the cups is also effective in blocking out a good deal of external noises.
Lows are clean, full, and can provide that lingering deep rumbling that is good for hip hop and party music. Mids and highs, on the other hand, are detailed and crisp without become too harsh or piercing even in high volumes, making it great for delivering Jazz, instrumentals, Rock, or RnB music.
As for calls, quality is good as the microphone can pick up our voice without having to talk louder than normal. From the receiving end, voices are loud and clear, and the padding blocks out external noises, you can concentrate more in the call.
Conclusion
The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II is a good pair of wired cans that can satisfy audio lovers who listen to a wide range of music genres. It doesn’t have the benefits of a wireless headphone but it comes with in-line microphone and controls which should be enough for casual users. Another pro is the price, at Php8,900, it’s cheaper compared to the Bose SoundLink AE II which is at Php14,500. It’s still pricey but if you can extend your budget for this one, you won’t be disappointed.
The Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II is available in Bose Stores and authorized dealers nationwide.
Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear Headphones II specs:
Dimenssions: 7.5 x 6.0 x 1.5″
Weight: 184 g
Detachable inline remote and microphone cable
Carrying Case
What we like:
* Comfortable
* Light weight
* Good sound quality
* Comes with carrying case
What we didn’t like:
* Cable length too long
* Not universally compatible with iOS and Android
* Pricey
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