Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 vs QuietComfort Ultra
Audio · 2,091 owner opinions across both productsA close call.
Reddit rates both Risky Buy. The split is what you want: the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 — buy only if you prioritize all-day comfort and strong noise cancellation over long-term reliability. The QuietComfort Ultra — buy only if you prioritize all-day comfort and reliable noise cancellation over long-term durability. Today's gap is $178: $150 for the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 against $328 for the QuietComfort Ultra.
Built from 2,091 owner opinions across both products · 161 long-term reports · how we decide
What owners say
46% would buy againof 570 owners
First 6 months 32% → long-term 65%+33of 61 long-term owners
48% would buy againof 1,521 owners
First 6 months 40% → long-term 57%+17of 100 long-term owners
The QuietComfort Ultra's record runs 1,521 owners against 570 for the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 — weigh the thinner side accordingly.
What you’ll regret
The bluetooth
~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.
Typically reported months 0–24 · 61 long-term owners
The bluetooth_connectivity
~1 in 3 long-term reports mention a failure, spread across bluetooth connectivity, ear cushions, and audio output, typically appearing within the first 1–13 months. Warranty outcomes are nearly split: 37 resolved versus 36 unresolved, so resolution is not guaranteed. Serious failures run at 22%, just below the 24% baseline for wireless headphones we track — about typical for the category.
Typically reported months 1–12 · 100 long-term owners
These are the share of long-term owner reports that mention a failure, not the share of units that fail — owners with working units mostly don’t post.
Price and value
Gap today: $178 — Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 is the cheaper buy.
Price links carry an affiliate tag. It never changes the verdict.
comfort and sound quality matter most to you and you're willing to accept some reliability risk.
comfort and sound quality matter most and you can live with a real but roughly even warranty resolution record.
Questions people ask about this matchup
Which is better, the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 or the QuietComfort Ultra?
Reddit rates both Risky Buy. The split is what you want: the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 — buy only if you prioritize all-day comfort and strong noise cancellation over long-term reliability. The QuietComfort Ultra — buy only if you prioritize all-day comfort and reliable noise cancellation over long-term durability.
Which is more reliable, the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 or the QuietComfort Ultra?
The Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, by the numbers: 11% of its long-term reports mention a serious failure against 22% for the QuietComfort Ultra. What separates them is what fails — bluetooth on the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, bluetooth_connectivity on the QuietComfort Ultra. Warranty outcomes differ more: 51% of QuietComfort Ultra claims were resolved against 30% for the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.
Is the QuietComfort Ultra worth $178 more than the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700?
At $328 against $150 today, the QuietComfort Ultra costs 119% more and carries the same verdict tier.
Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 full verdict →QuietComfort Ultra full verdict →All Audio verdicts →