Bose - QuietComfort Headphones vs Bose - QuietComfort SC
Between the QuietComfort Headphones and QuietComfort SC, the QuietComfort Headphones comes out ahead in several specs, while the QuietComfort SC wins on several specs. Overall, the QuietComfort Headphones scores 70.2 and the QuietComfort SC scores 70.2 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
These two are evenly matched on the broad strokes; the decision sits on which individual spec advantages weigh more for your use.
The QuietComfort Headphones does not pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec-table groups rather than the headline advantages.
The QuietComfort SC similarly does not carry a headline advantage on the popular specs — look at the full table for category-specific deltas.
Both ship with comparable battery life, driver size, active noise cancellation, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Bose - QuietComfort Headphones or Bose - QuietComfort SC?
The two products are effectively tied on the current Mars Score.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare the highlighted specifications against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Bose - QuietComfort Headphones if…
Bose - QuietComfort Headphones does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
Choose Bose - QuietComfort SC if…
Bose - QuietComfort SC does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Bose - QuietComfort Headphones wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Bose - QuietComfort SC wins
- No decisive advantages.
Spec comparison
Design
| Spec | Bose - QuietComfort Headphones | Bose - QuietComfort SC |
|---|---|---|
| Type | over-ear | over-ear |
| Weight | 240 g | 240 g |
| Water resistance | none | none |
Audio
| Spec | Bose - QuietComfort Headphones | Bose - QuietComfort SC |
|---|---|---|
| Driver sizeⓘ | 35 mm | 35 mm |
| Impedanceⓘ | 32 Ω | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivityⓘ | 98 dB | 98 dB |
| Active noise cancellationⓘ | true | true |
| Transparency mode | true | true |
| Spatial audioⓘ | false | false |
Battery
| Spec | Bose - QuietComfort Headphones | Bose - QuietComfort SC |
|---|---|---|
| Battery lifeⓘ | 24 h | 24 h |
| Fast chargeⓘ | true | true |
Connectivity
| Spec | Bose - QuietComfort Headphones | Bose - QuietComfort SC |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetoothⓘ | 5.1 | 5.1 |
| Multipointⓘ | true | true |
| 3.5mm jack | true | true |
| LDACⓘ | false | false |
| aptX HDⓘ | false | false |
Frequently asked
Which has better battery life, QuietComfort Headphones or QuietComfort SC?+
QuietComfort SC lasts 24 hours vs 24 hours.
Do QuietComfort Headphones or QuietComfort SC have active noise cancellation?+
Both models have active noise cancellation.
Which supports LDAC, QuietComfort Headphones or QuietComfort SC?+
Neither supports LDAC.