Over-Ear
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
68Good
$449
Full review dataBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones vs HiFiMAN Arya: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN Arya comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: HiFiMAN Arya - Outstanding overall at around $769.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Sound7.0
Noise cancelling8.5
Battery7.0
Calls7.0
Value6.5
HiFiMAN Arya
Sound9.5
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones | HiFiMAN Arya |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $449 | $769 |
| HearWiki score | 68 / 100 · Good | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2023 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | dynamic | Planar |
| Driver size | 35 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | - | 1 |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz | 8Hz-65kHz |
| Sound signature | - | Bright neutral |
| Impedance | - | 35 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 90 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | - |
| Bluetooth version | 5.3 | - |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | - |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | - |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 24 h | - |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 18 h | - |
| Full charge time | 180 min | - |
| Quick charge | 15 min = up to 3 h | - |
| Wireless charging | No | - |
| Features | ||
| ANC type | adaptive | - |
| Transparency mode | Yes | - |
| Companion app | Yes | - |
| Custom EQ | Yes | - |
| Wear detection | Yes | - |
| Controls | both | - |
| Voice assistant | built-in voice assistant support | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 254 g | 430 g |
| Water resistance | none | - |
| USB-C | Yes | No |
| Balanced connection | - | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 2 | - |
What reviewers said
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are premium over-ear wireless headphones that excel at adaptive noise cancellation and all-day comfort. With 24 hours of battery life, Bluetooth 5.3, and a lightweight 254g build, they're a solid choice for frequent travelers, though they lack high-resolution codec support and wireless charging.
- Pro:Outstanding adaptive noise cancellation
- Pro:Very comfortable for long listening sessions
- Pro:Long 24-hour battery life with quick charge
- Con:Only supports AAC codec, no aptX or LDAC
- Con:No wireless charging option
- Con:Slightly heavy at 254g
HiFiMAN Arya
The HiFiMAN Arya is a premium planar magnetic headphone known for its exceptionally fast, detailed, and airy sound. Its bright-neutral tuning delivers a highly resolving, spacious presentation with excellent technical performance, making it a strong choice for critical listening, though it requires a good amplifier to shine. With a comfortable open-back design and a relatively affordable price for its class, it balances high-end performance with accessibility.
- Pro:Excellent detail retrieval and transparency
- Pro:Wide, open soundstage with precise imaging
- Pro:Fast and articulate planar driver response
- Con:Bright treble can be fatiguing for sensitive ears
- Con:Needs a powerful amp to reach full potential
- Con:Open-back leaks sound and offers little isolation
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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