Dive into our detailed exploration of two ANC headphones – the luxurious Bose 700 and the bass-lover’s dream, Sony WH-XB910N. We’ll dissect pivotal aspects such as connectivity, battery life, ANC, and more. So, if you’re angling for a comprehensive headphone face-off, you’re in the right place. Let’s get to it!
- Battery Life: 20 Hours w/ ANC
- ANC: Excellent Performance
- Sound: Slight Warm & Energetic
- Cost: $$$$
- Battery Life: 30 Hours w/ ANC
- ANC: Good ANC
- Sound: Full and Bass-Heavy
- Cost: $$
Table of Contents
Comparison Table: Sony WH-XB910N vs Bose 700
| Features | Bose 700 | Sony WH-XB910N |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Headphones | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Weight | 8.96 ounces | 8.8 ounces |
| Total Battery Life | 20 hours w/ ANC | 50 hours (30 w/ ANC) |
| ANC Support | Yes | Yes |
| Wired Connection | Yes | Yes |
| Fast Charging | 15-minute charge = 3.5 hours | 10-minute charge = 4.5 hours |
| Charging Port | USB-Type C | USB-Type C |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth Multipoint | Yes | Yes |
| Codec Support | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| App Support | Yes (Bose Music) | Yes (Sony Headphones Connect) |
| Customizable EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Included Case | Yes | Yes |
Battery Life & Charging
For superior batter life, the Sony WH-XB910N emerges as the clear winner, boasting an impressive 50-hour total battery life, extending to 30 hours even with active noise cancelling enabled. This edge in power endurance makes them a loyal companion for those long-haul flights or workdays, putting battery anxiety to rest.
On the other hand, the Bose 700 offers a respectable 20-hour lifespan with ANC, sufficient for most day-to-day usage. However, in a head-to-head endurance race, Sony clearly leads the pack, making it the better choice for digital nomads and frequent travelers.
When it comes to juicing up, both headphones are equipped with a modern USB-Type C port, minimizing cable clutter for multi-device users. However, it’s the fast-charging prowess where both truly shine. A mere 15-minute charge will add 3.5 hours of playtime to the Bose 700, while the Sony WH-XB910N outpaces with 4.5 hours of battery life from just a 10-minute charge. This fast charging capability is a lifesaver for those always on the move, ensuring your favorite tunes are just a quick charge away. Having the best ANC headphones is pointless without the power to use them. At least in the battery life battle, i’s clear that Sony WH-XB910N takes the trophy, offering superior battery life and faster charging.
Connectivity & App Support
In the landscape of seamless connectivity, the Bose 700 and Sony WH-XB910N each put their best foot forward, equipped with their respective perks and prowess. Both headphones offer the flexibility of a wired connection, allowing you to savor lossless, uncompressed audio when you desire, or when battery life taps out.
Both headphones embrace the convenience of Bluetooth Multipoint, yet, Sony WH-XB910N strides ahead with Bluetooth 5.2, a notch above Bose’s 5.0. This incremental upgrade ensures a more stable and efficient wireless connection, crucial for those seeking flawless, uninterrupted listening sessions.
When it comes to codec support, each headphone caters to the standard SBC and AAC codecs. However, Sony WH-XB910N ups the ante with LDAC support, offering the promise of higher-quality wireless audio for the discerning audiophile. For those craving more depth and detail in their audio experience, Sony’s LDAC support is a definite advantage.
Complementing their hardware, both headphones extend their functionality through dedicated apps. The Bose Music app allows Bose 700 users to customize EQ settings and access additional features. Sony mirrors this convenience with their Headphones Connect App, bringing similar customization options to the table for the WH-XB910N.
While both headphones offer commendable connectivity features, Sony WH-XB910N’s Bluetooth 5.2 and LDAC support nudges it slightly ahead, catering better to those who seek superior wireless audio and connectivity.
Design & Comfort
The Bose 700, weighing a lightweight 8.9 ounces, is a mix of sturdy metal and plastic, boasting an array of appealing colors including Black, White, Silver, and an enticing Triple Midnight. Its thick memory foam earpads and cushioned headband offer a comfortable fit, promising a relaxed listening experience for extended periods, a true blessing for office workers or audiobook enthusiasts.
Meanwhile, Sony WH-XB910N, marginally lighter at 8.8 ounces, presents a minimal and modern aesthetic in shades of black, blue, and gray. Despite the predominantly plastic design, the build quality does not falter, ensuring durability. The headphone’s portability shines through its foldable design, making it a convenient companion for those constantly on the move. Similar to the Bose 700, Sony’s WH-XB910N also provides a comfortable fit with ample cushioning on the headband and earcups.
Both headphones come with responsive touch controls and a protective hard case. However, the Bose 700’s touch controls are accessible on the earcup while Sony WH-XB910N includes a physical button on the left earcup for ANC modes. The Bose 700 offers a sleek and vibrant design with remarkable comfort, while Sony WH-XB910N counters with a more subtle, foldable design ensuring superior portability. The choice ultimately hinges on individual preferences for style, comfort, and functionality.
Sound Quality
The Bose 700 and Sony WH-XB910N headphones each bring their unique default EQ to the table, offering sound profiles that cater to diverse listening preferences. The Bose 700 presents a great sound quality and detail. It leans towards a slightly bass-heavy signature, providing an energetic low-end that will appeal to those who enjoy a bit of extra thump in their music. However, it doesn’t compromise on midrange accuracy, ensuring vocals and instruments stay clear and well-defined. The treble, though slightly recessed, maintains a good balance, preventing the audio from sounding overly bright or harsh. The ability to customize the EQ through the Bose Music app further enhances its appeal, offering listeners the flexibility to tweak the sound to their liking.
On the flip side, the Sony WH-XB910N, as part of Sony’s Extra Bass lineup, delivers a very bass-heavy sound signature, creating a powerful sub-bass rumble that can add depth to certain genres. However, this bass emphasis is offset by an overemphasized upper midrange and treble. While it will prove to be an enjoyable EQ for some listeners and bass heads, the bass might be too much for some. While the Sony WH-XB910N are some of the best bass-heavy headphones, the sound profile isn’t for everyone. Luckily, the Sony Headphones Connect App does enable users to fine-tune the EQ settings, allowing a more personalized audio experience. That includes Sony’s Clear Bass feature specifically for dialing in the bass response.
In total, Bose 700 offers a more balanced sound profile, making it suitable for a broader range of music genres, while the Sony WH-XB910N, with its bass-heavy signature, is likely to appeal more to fans of EDM, hip-hop, or other bass-focused music. Yet, the ability to customize the EQ in both sets of headphones ensures that listeners can adjust the sound to their specific preferences.
Which Headphones Have Better Noise Cancelling?
The Bose 700 and Sony WH-XB910N, both equipped with active noise cancelling (ANC), are designed to enhance your audio experience by minimizing distracting ambient noise. However, they differ significantly in actual ANC performance.
The Bose 700’s noise-cancelling technology presents top-tier performance, adeptly reducing sounds across all frequencies. The whir of an air conditioner, the rumble of a train, or even the chatter in a busy café, all these sounds fade into the background, making the Bose 700 a perfect companion for travel, work, or even just a peaceful home environment. It may not be the absolute best in class, but it still outperforms many of its competitors, including the Sony WH-XB910N.
Contrasting this, the Sony WH-XB910N, despite possessing ANC capabilities, doesn’t quite match up to the Bose 700’s capabilities. The Bose 700s demonstrate a superior ability to block out external noise, regardless of frequency. Thus, whether it’s the low-frequency hum of passing cars or the higher frequencies of office chatter, the Bose 700s are more successful in ensuring these sounds don’t intrude upon your listening experience.
For those seeking an immersive audio experience without the intrusion of ambient noise, the Bose 700 clearly has the edge over the Sony WH-XB910N. It’s not just about having the ANC feature; it’s about how effectively it’s implemented, and in this respect, the Bose 700 triumphs.
Conclusion: Bose 700 or Sony WH-XB910N Worth The Money?
The Sony WH-XB910N and Bose 700 are noise-cancelling headphones that both offer compelling features. Sony boasts superior battery life and fast charging, while its design is more subtle and its sound profile strongly favors bass enthusiasts. On the other hand, the Bose 700 stands out with a sleek design, a more balanced sound profile, and superior active noise-cancelling performance. Each pair has its unique strengths and will appeal to different users based on their individual needs and preferences. In the end, the choice between the two ultimately boils down to what features are a priority for you.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is a good option for those looking for a more upscale design and improved ANC performance. They outperform both of these headphones and have a long battery life. In comparison to both of these Bose noise-canceling headphones, the Soundcore Space Q45 is a more cheaper option that also has certain advantages.
- Battery Life: 20 Hours w/ ANC
- ANC: Excellent Performance
- Sound: Slight Warm & Energetic
- Cost: $$$$
- Battery Life: 30 Hours w/ ANC
- ANC: Good ANC
- Sound: Full and Bass-Heavy
- Cost: $$
Feature Comparison List: Sony WH-XB910N vs Bose 700
Headphone Design:
Both the Bose 700 and Sony WH-XB910N are over-ear headphones. Over-ear headphones, known for their superior sound quality and comfort, are a go-to choice for music enthusiasts. They encapsulate your ears entirely, providing immersive audio experiences and helping to block out ambient noise.
Weight:
The Bose 700 weigh 8.9 ounces, whereas the Sony WH-XB910N are slightly lighter at 8.8 ounces. While this difference is minimal, lighter headphones can provide added comfort during prolonged use, which gives the Sony WH-XB910N a slight edge.
Active Noise-Cancelling:
Both headphones feature Active Noise Cancelling (ANC). ANC is a sought-after feature, minimizing external noise and ensuring your music isn’t interrupted. This technology makes both these headphones a great choice for noisy environments.
Passive Playback:
Both the Bose 700 and Sony WH-XB910N support wired connections. This feature is useful when you’re unable to use Bluetooth, or when the battery is low. Having a wired option enhances versatility and ensures uninterrupted listening sessions.
Supported Codecs:
The Bose 700 supports SBC and AAC codecs, while the Sony WH-XB910N supports SBC, AAC, and also LDAC. Codecs determine the quality of sound transmitted over Bluetooth. The inclusion of LDAC in the Sony WH-XB910N allows for higher-quality wireless audio, providing a superior listening experience. This is particularly convenient for platforms like Tidal with lossless streaming.
Fast Charging:
Fast charging is present in both models. The Bose 700 offers 3.5 hours of playback from a 15-minute charge, while the Sony WH-XB910N goes a step further, providing 4.5 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge. This feature is a lifesaver when you’re in a rush, making the Sony WH-XB910N the winner in this category.
Charging Connection:
Both headphones use a USB-Type C port for charging. This is the latest standard in USB technology, offering faster data transfer and charging rates. It’s also reversible, making it user-friendly.
Bluetooth Connectivity:
The Bose 700 supports Bluetooth 5.0, while the Sony WH-XB910N comes with Bluetooth 5.2. Both headphones support Bluetooth multipoint. Newer Bluetooth versions offer better range and data transfer rates, giving the Sony WH-XB910N a slight advantage here. Multipoint Bluetooth allows connection to multiple devices simultaneously, a boon for multi-taskers.
App Support:
Both headphones come with companion app support – Bose 700 with the Bose Music app, and the Sony WH-XB910N with the Sony Headphones Connect App. These apps allow for EQ customization, enhancing your listening experience. It’s a tie in this category as both provide comparable features.
Included Case:
Both the Bose 700 and Sony WH-XB910N come with a hard case. Cases protect headphones from damage, particularly during travel, ensuring your investment is secure. Both companies understand this and include a hard case with their headphones.
Keith Collins has been writing for over 15 years for various publications. He’s a lover of music, home theater, and excellent sound quality. His fondness for technology in addition to his non-stop curiosity fuels his writing ventures.