Bose is one of the leading names in premium audio equipment, but I see a lot of folks picking up a pair of Beats or Skullcandy these days. They are usually cheaper and known for their colorful and funkier designs. The new SoundTrue range by Bose is clearly a response to that trend.
I tested the new Bose SoundTrue around-ear headphones II (there's also an on-ear variant) for a few weeks. While the sound and ergonomics are terrific, it's also a tad expensive than others on the shelf.
Design
The first thing that will strike you when you pick up a pair is how lightweight the headset is. It's incredibly light, and you can wear it for hours together without feeling any discomfort. Mind you, it's not flimsy and, of course, you wouldn't expect that from a Bose pair. The build quality is great and the design of the SoundTrue AEII is straightforward and neat. It's pretty easy to adjust the headphones, and they fold flat to store when not in use.
Similar to the headband, on the insides, the cups pack in a leatherette-coated padding making the headphones very comfortable. The cushions also provide isolation keeping ambient sound out to a great extent.
The navy blue pair that I reviewed looked great and is probably the best color variant amongst black, white, and mint blue. From the photos, the white one too looks very classy. The SoundTrue AEII are clearly more vibrant and youthful than what Bose has been selling as yet, but some would still prefer the classy black for this premium pair.
The headphones feature a detachable cable that includes an inline remote to control the music playback on your phone. There's also an integrated microphone for taking calls.
Sound
When it comes to Bose, that the headset would sound pretty good is a given really. This SoundTrue pair too did not disappoint. I listened to diverse genres of music, and the headphones sounded good across the board.
I'm not an audiophile, but I found that the mids sound a little muddled. The bass response is terrific and the sound is crisp and well-defined on high volumes, but when you are listening to vocal-heavy titles, it's a hit and miss. It's quite apparent while watching a movie or a video – the vocals are weaker than the background score for example. In gaming though, the extreme bass and the punch augments the experience.
Extras
The Bose SoundTrue around-ear II headphones come with a leatherette carrying case in the same color as the headphones. It looks quite nice and is a neat addition. The casing thought isn't very strong, so don't expect it to safeguard the headset in extreme storage.
Summary
There's a lot to like about the SoundTrue around-ear II headphones. It's one of the lightest and most comfortable options in its segment and are perfect for all-day listening. It's also a great set of cans – if not the best - when it comes to sound quality. However, all that comes at a price – a tad more than what you'd want to shell out for this.
