What you need to know
- Bose has launched new $99 USB-C wired earbuds that bring active noise cancellation without needing a battery.
- The earbuds draw power directly from your device and support lossless playback with output fixed at 24-bit/48kHz.
- Bose offers Quiet, Aware, and ANC Off modes, with an inline remote for playback, volume, calls, and ANC controls.
Bose has just launched a new pair of wired earbuds that come with active noise cancellation as well.
While there are plenty of benefits to using the best wireless earbuds, including ANC and the convenience of a completely wireless listening experience, I’m still one of those people who prefers wired earbuds. But I’ve mostly stayed away from them over the past few years because they usually miss one of the features I rely on the most with wireless earbuds: active noise cancellation.
However, it looks like Bose might have just fixed that problem for me.
Bose today unveiled its new Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds. Just like other USB-C earbuds, these plug directly into the USB-C port on your phone, tablet, or computer for instant audio. There’s no requirement to use an app, and since the earbuds draw power directly from the connected device, there’s no battery to charge either.
Bose says the earbuds use its proprietary SoundDesign digital signal processing technology to deliver crisp and clear audio, alongside support for lossless audio playback.
The earbuds support the USB Audio Class 2 protocol, meaning they can accept source input at different sample and bit rates, while playback output is fixed at 24-bit/48kHz. You also get the usual benefit of lower latency that comes with using a wired connection.
For noise cancellation, Bose has fitted dedicated microphones on the back of the earbuds that listen to the surrounding environment and help reduce unwanted noise. There’s also a physical inline remote for controlling playback, volume, and calls, as well as switching between the different noise cancellation modes.
There are three listening modes available. Quiet mode reduces outside distractions using ANC, while Aware mode lets you hear more of what’s happening around you. There’s also a straightforward ANC Off mode if you don’t want to use noise cancellation at all.
Just like most in-ear earbuds, the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds come with soft silicone ear tips and are rated IPX4 for water resistance.
The earbuds will be available in Black, White Smoke, and a limited-edition Dewdrop Mint colorway. Bose has priced the Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds at $99 in the U.S., with pre-orders starting today through Bose and Best Buy. They’ll begin shipping on October 15.