There has been a huge jump in the number of brands and the variety of audio products that are on offer today. Many of them have made fairly large leaps in the quality of equipment they offer. But, for most high-end audio equipment makers, the story is all about incremental improvements in multiple areas - ergonomics, materials, connectivity protocols and of course, fidelity. Each of these changes add up to improve the convenience and listening experience. This is the story with Bose's latest SoundLink around-ear headphones II. 

Bluetooth has become the wireless protocol of choice for audio and its versatility has meant that every brand now has a range of equipment featuring it. The new Bose SoundLink around-ear headphones make good use of the latest Bluetooth protocol. The best feature being that the headset allows you to connect two devices simultaneously and switches seamlessly between the two connections. Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC (near field communications) are the connectivity options offered.

Build Don't be deceived by the SoundLink around-ear headphones' looks. It is not one of Bose's active noise cancelling headphones like the QuietComfort series. But, the good news is that this headset manages to cut out a lot of the ambient noise, even in-flight cabin noise. The SoundLink around-ear II is a pair of plain and simple over-the-ear phones with excellent, well-padded ear-cups that sit perfectly around your ear. The construction of this new pair of headphones feels very light (just 149 gms), yet sturdy, although all of its body has been made out of polymers. Bose says that the materials used include glass filled nylon and corrosion resistant stainless steel (we guess for the headband arms). The ear cups seem to feature memory-foam cushions within perforated leatherette. 

The battery, Bluetooth connector and the simple volume and play/ pause buttons have been neatly integrated into the sleek ear cups of the SoundLink around-ear headset. Two body colour options are available - black and white, and the phones come with a carry case too. The case has a small pouch which stores the USB charging cable and an audio cable, just in case you run out of charge and need to use the headset like a wired one. However, the cable doesn't feature in-line controls.

In use Turn on the Bose SoundLink by flipping the power button located on the right ear cup and the head set comes alive with a female voice announcing the percentage of charge remaining and the phone it is connected to. Connecting is a snap using Bluetooth and the new version allows for two devices to remain connected, though you can stream music or other audio only from one device at a time. We had our test unit connected to a laptop and a smartphone simultaneously listening to music, watching videos and taking phone calls.

But, during our testing, connecting via Bluetooth to an Apple MacBook Pro was erratic and error prone.

Leaving the headset on your ears and forgetting about it is a distinct possibility with its low weight and the lightness with which it sits on your ears. The battery is meant to offer 15 hours of uninterrupted audio playback on a full charge. To charge the battery fully will take three hours, but a 15-minute quick charge offers two hours of playback time. On a full charge, it can easily play over 250 tracks and even last through some of those interminable, intolerable long haul flights.  

Reproduction Bose doesn't give out rated output numbers for its audio products and we aren't going to hazard a guess. But, benchmarking the reproduction quality of the SoundLink around-ear headphones II to its peer group will work. Bose has mastered the art and science of miniaturizing its drivers and this headset also benefits from the expertise. But, Bose's products also manage defy their size and surprise you with their sheer loudness, though that is not the way this SoundLink headset behaves. To hit the right spot, the drivers are angled slightly within the cups to direct the audio correctly into your ear. 

After streaming multiple genres of music and other audio content on this headset, the impression we got was that the reproduction quality is well balanced with a tonal bias towards treble notes. There was no song, across genres, where the sound stage was too loud to a point of distorting reproduction. However, bass levels are suppressed to an extent that may not be appreciated by some listeners, especially those that prefer techno, hip-hop, rap and related genres. Some of the other headsets in the same price range will offer higher bass levels. We prefer lower bass levels and it was ideal for genres like Classical, Rock, Jazz, Orchestras and of course, phone conversations. 

Talking of which, Bose has built into the SoundLink around-ear wireless headset's processing two independent abilities - one is Active EQ and the other is Adaptive audio adjustment. Essentially, these assists manage to raise volume levels under loud ambient conditions especially while taking calls and also improve the tonal balance of the song being played. Even at full volume these headsets don't feel too loud to listen to. So, you don't miss active noise cancellation. And this would also be why you don't get tired over prolonged use. 

Overall, the SoundLink around-ear II offers excellent reproduction clarity, albeit with lower bass levels. Also, involving digital processing to assist in maintaining consistency means some amount reproduction losses in the transition. 

Bottomline We would recommend these new cans to all audiophiles out there, who seek the comfort of streaming their music wire-free from their device. The only issue with the new Bose SoundLink around-ear wireless headphones II is its price tag. The number of options that are available in this range is huge. 

Price : ₹ 21,150

Love : Build, On-ear comfort, Balanced output

Hate : Pricey, Lower bass reproduction

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