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Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

Bose · Audio · 138 threads · 61 long-term reports · re-checked Oct 9, 2026 · how we decide →
Risky Buy
46%of 570 owners recommend it
Px8 S277%
HDB 63075%
Category average49%
Noise Cancelling Headphones 70046%
#12 of 15 wireless headphones we track
13% of reports < 12 months old
~1 in 6 bluetooth failures
Evidence: High570 owner opinions · 61 long-term
Price
$149.95
Where to buy →

Buy only if you prioritize all-day comfort and strong noise cancellation over long-term reliability.

Good ANC and comfort out of the box, but ~1 in 6 long-term reports mention a failure and only 46% of owners would buy again.

Stronger buy if you value

comfort and sound quality matter most to you and you're willing to accept some reliability risk.

Weaker buy if you value

reliability is non-negotiable — the Sony WH-1000XM4 at $248 has no comparable failure pattern.

What the 727 mentions are about

grouped into themes · share of opinionated mentions
comfort · 42
sound_quality · 43
noise_cancellation · 41
sound_quality · 26
call_quality · 24
SOUND_QUALITYSound quality is a recurring highlight, with owners calling the tuning clear and well-balanced.
NOISE_CANCELLATIONNoise cancellation is a recurring strength, often cited as the main reason owners chose the NC700.
COMFORTComfort comes up repeatedly, with many owners praising the fit for long listening sessions.
SOUND_QUALITYSound quality also draws complaints from a vocal minority who find the tuning thin or over-processed.
RELIABILITYReliability is a vocal minority concern, with bluetooth and firmware reboot-loop issues most cited.
COMFORTComfort complaints surface from some owners, particularly around clamping force or ear-pad wear.
RELIABILITY~1 in 6 report the bluetooth failing, months 0–24 — usually outside warranty.

The failure mode

~1 in 6

~1 in 6 long-term reports mention a failure, most within the first 25 months. Bluetooth and firmware reboot-loop issues are the most cited components. Warranty resolution leans unresolved — the majority of reported cases landed outside warranty or went unresolved. That said, the NC700's 11% serious-failure rate is well below the 24% baseline for the 15 wireless headphones we track.

11% report a serious failure. Typical for audio: ~24%. More reliable than most of its category.

Most common concern: Sound quality also draws complaints from a vocal minority who find the tuning thin or over-processed.

Based on observed owner reports, not a sampled failure rate. ~1 in 6 of the long-term owner reports we analysed mention a failure — not the same as ~1 in 6 of units failing.

How sentiment ages

The honeymoon

Early ownership sentiment is cautious — only 32% of early posts are positive, suggesting a learning curve or initial friction.

A year of ownership

Long-term sentiment rises notably to 65%, meaning the headphones genuinely grow on owners who get past early issues.

Where to buy

Discontinued — out of production; anything still on sale is remaining stock. Successor: Bose QuietComfort Ultra

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Buy this instead if…

Sony WH-1000XM4 — you want a more-recommended option — it sits well above the NC700's 46% repurchase rate — with no comparable failure pattern at $248.

We’ll tell you if Reddit changes its mind.

Verdicts re-weigh with every crawl — if this one moves tiers, watchers hear first.

How it compares in Audio

See all Audio verdicts →
Anker Soundcore Space One Buy If~1 in 4 failure rate$99.99Apple AirPods Max Stay Away~1 in 2 failure rate$419Apple AirPods Pro 2 Risky Buy~1 in 3 failure rate$182.34Apple AirPods Pro 3 Risky Buy~1 in 7 failure rate$199Bose QuietComfort Ultra Risky Buy~1 in 3 failure rate$327.99Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Stay Away~1 in 2 failure rate$299Bose QuietComfort 35 II Risky Buy~1 in 3 failure rate$378.99Bose QuietComfort 45 Risky Buy~1 in 5 failure rate$168.96Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Buy If~1 in 21 failure rate$749Focal Bathys Risky Buy~1 in 7 failure rate$749.95Sennheiser HDB 630 Strong BuyNo failure pattern found$490.16Sennheiser Momentum 4 Buy If~1 in 3 failure rate$229.95Sonos Ace Risky BuyNo failure pattern found$339.92Sony WF-1000XM5 Stay Away~1 in 3 failure rate$249.99Sony WH-1000XM3 Risky Buy~1 in 4 failure rate—Sony WH-1000XM4 Risky Buy~1 in 3 failure rate$298Sony WH-1000XM5 Stay Away~1 in 3 failure rate$199.95Sony WH-1000XM6 Stay Away~1 in 3 failure rate$458
Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 vs Soundcore Space One →Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 vs AirPods Max →Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 vs AirPods Pro 2 →

Questions people keep asking

Is the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 worth it?

Reddit's verdict is Risky Buy. Buy only if you prioritize all-day comfort and strong noise cancellation over long-term reliability. Good ANC and comfort out of the box, but ~1 in 6 long-term reports mention a failure and only 46% of owners would buy again.

What is the most common complaint about the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700?

Sound quality also draws complaints from a vocal minority who find the tuning thin or over-processed. The recurring failure shows up in about 1 in 6 long-term owners: ~1 in 6 long-term reports mention a failure, most within the first 25 months. Bluetooth and firmware reboot-loop issues are the most cited components. Warranty resolution leans unresolved — the majority of reported cases landed outside warranty or went unresolved. That said, the NC700's 11% serious-failure rate is well below the 24% baseline for the 15 wireless headphones we track.

What should I buy instead of the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700?

Reddit's usual alternative is the Sony WH-1000XM4 — if you want a more-recommended option — it sits well above the NC700's 46% repurchase rate — with no comparable failure pattern at $248.