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Bose QC45 — Over-ear · 2021
Bose

Bose QC45

Over-ear · 2021

88
/ 100
From $329
VS
Bose QC45 wins by 1
Sonos Ace — TV Audio Swap · Dolby Atmos · Wireless Home Theater
Sonos

Sonos Ace

TV Audio Swap · Dolby Atmos · Wireless Home Theater

87
/ 100
From $449
Specdex verdict

Bose QC45 takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Bose QC45 lands at 88 and Sonos Ace at 87. That puts Bose QC45 ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Bose QC45 if…

  • ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • ✓Premium build
  • ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)

Pick Sonos Ace if…

  • ✓Unique TV Audio Swap with Arc soundbar
  • ✓Great ANC
  • ✓Spatial audio
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Winner by scenario

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

Sound quality

Sonos Ace

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sonos Ace leads on sound (90 vs 88).

Noise cancelling

Sonos Ace

ANC strength for commute and travel

Sonos Ace leads on anc (90 vs 86).

Comfort

Tie

Long-session wearability

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Value for money

Bose QC45

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Bose QC45 more score per dollar ($329 vs $449).

Bose QC45 88
vs
87 Sonos Ace

Score breakdown

Bose QC45
88
anc 86
sound 88
comfort 87
battery 82
features 84
Sonos Ace
87
anc 90
sound 90
comfort 88
battery 84
features 92

Specs side-by-side

Bose QC45 versus Sonos Ace — full spec comparison
Spec Bose QC45 Sonos Ace
Type
Over-ear
—
Release year
2021
—
Driver
—
40 mm dynamic
Battery
—
30 h
Weight
—
312 g
Codecs
—
aptX Lossless via Snapdragon Sound

Bose QC45

Pros
  • +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • +Premium build
  • +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
  • −Battery varies by codec
  • −Some are Bluetooth-only
  • −Price creep vs previous gen

Sonos Ace

Pros
  • +Unique TV Audio Swap with Arc soundbar
  • +Great ANC
  • +Spatial audio
Cons
  • −Swap feature only works with Arc/Arc Ultra
  • −Sonos app issues
  • −Heavy

FAQ: Bose QC45 vs Sonos Ace

Which is better, Bose QC45 or Sonos Ace? +

Bose QC45 scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Bose QC45 worth the price? +

At $329, Bose QC45 delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sound.

Is Sonos Ace worth the price? +

At $449, Sonos Ace delivers a Specdex score of 87 — strongest in features.

Does Bose QC45 or Sonos Ace 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 QC45 or Sonos Ace? +

Sonos Ace — leads on sound (90 vs 88). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Bose QC45 or Sonos Ace? +

Sonos Ace — leads on anc (90 vs 86). ANC strength for commute and travel.