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Bose QuietComfort Ultra — CustomTune ANC · Immersive Audio · aptX Adaptive
Bose

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

CustomTune ANC · Immersive Audio · aptX Adaptive

93
/ 100
From $429
VS
Sennheiser HD 800 S wins by 2
Sennheiser HD 800 S — Open-back
Sennheiser

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Open-back

95
/ 100
From $1,699
Specdex verdict

Sennheiser HD 800 S takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Bose QuietComfort Ultra lands at 93 and Sennheiser HD 800 S at 95. That puts Sennheiser HD 800 S ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Bose QuietComfort Ultra if…

  • ✓Best comfort in class
  • ✓Excellent ANC
  • ✓Immersive Audio spatial feature

Pick Sennheiser HD 800 S if…

  • ✓Reference-level detail
  • ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • ✓Long-term ownership appeal
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound quality

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sennheiser HD 800 S leads on sound (95 vs 92).

Noise cancelling

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

ANC strength for commute and travel

Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on anc (96 vs 0).

Comfort

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Long-session wearability

Bose QuietComfort Ultra leads on comfort (98 vs 88).

Value for money

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Bose QuietComfort Ultra more score per dollar ($429 vs $1,699).

Bose QuietComfort Ultra 93
vs
95 Sennheiser HD 800 S

Score breakdown

Bose QuietComfort Ultra
93
anc 96
sound 92
comfort 98
battery 86
features 90
Sennheiser HD 800 S
95
anc 0
sound 95
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50

Specs side-by-side

Bose QuietComfort Ultra versus Sennheiser HD 800 S — full spec comparison
Spec Bose QuietComfort Ultra Sennheiser HD 800 S
Driver
35 mm dynamic
—
Battery
24 h (Immersive Audio off) / 18 h (on)
—
Weight
253 g
—
Codecs
SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
—
Type
—
Open-back

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Pros
  • +Best comfort in class
  • +Excellent ANC
  • +Immersive Audio spatial feature
Cons
  • −Bose app fiddly
  • −No USB-C audio (3.5 mm + Bluetooth only)
  • −No LDAC support

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Pros
  • +Reference-level detail
  • +Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • +Long-term ownership appeal
Cons
  • −Requires amplifier (most)
  • −No active noise cancellation
  • −Impractical for commuting

FAQ: Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Sennheiser HD 800 S

Which is better, Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sennheiser HD 800 S? +

Sennheiser HD 800 S scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Bose QuietComfort Ultra worth the price? +

At $429, Bose QuietComfort Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in comfort.

Is Sennheiser HD 800 S worth the price? +

At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800 S delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in battery.

Does Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sennheiser HD 800 S last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for sound quality, Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sennheiser HD 800 S? +

Sennheiser HD 800 S — leads on sound (95 vs 92). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Bose QuietComfort Ultra or Sennheiser HD 800 S? +

Bose QuietComfort Ultra — leads on anc (96 vs 0). ANC strength for commute and travel.