Is the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) worth the upgrade from the Audio-Technica R50x?
Verdict
Meaningful upgrade
The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) scores 5.4 points above the Audio-Technica R50x. That's a real improvement, though not the kind you'd notice on every track. It loses ground on value (8.7 to 7.5). On paper it adds active noise cancelling and usb-c. Worth checking: weight goes 207 g to 236 g and driver size goes 45 mm to 40 mm. That costs $190 more, or about $35 per point of score - steep unless the specific gains above are ones you care about. Worth doing if you're replacing anyway; harder to justify as a pure upgrade if what you have still works.
What actually changes
Sub-scores both products have, on the same 0-10 scale. Bars extend right for a gain, left for a loss.
- Sound8.48.2
- Value8.77.5
Spec differences
Only where the two genuinely differ - everything they share is omitted.
| Spec | R50x | QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | No | Yes | |
| Weight | 207 g | 236 g | |
| Driver size | 45 mm | 40 mm | |
| USB-C | No | Yes | |
| Driver | 45 mm dynamic | 40 mm dynamic | |
| Frequency response | 5 Hz - 40 kHz | 20 Hz - 20 kHz |
About this verdict
Direction matters here: this page answers "R50x to QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)". The other direction is a separate question with a different answer. Scores blend published review verdicts across over-ear and shift as new reviews land, so a marginal call today may not be one next quarter.