The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 combine powerful noise cancellation with comfort and clear sound.
They come with 11 levels of noise control, touch features, and voice assistant support, making them great for daily use.
I’ve been using them for a couple of years at work and in the gym, and today I’ll give you my full and honest review.
Key Features
Before I share my experience, here are the main features:
- Bose Music App: Lets you customize settings and keep the headphones updated.
- Noise Cancellation: 11 levels so you can adjust to your surroundings.
- Touch Controls: Simple to use for music and calls.
- Voice Assistant: Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.
- Microphone System: Four mics that make calls clearer even in noisy places.
- Bluetooth 5.0: Connects to two devices at once, with a range of about 33 feet.
- Battery Life: Lasts up to 20 hours on one charge.
My Experience
I’ve been using the Bose NC 700 headphones for a little over two years, and now I’ll share my experience with them and how I use them.
Connecting the Headset
To get started, you’ll need to download the official app from the App Store or Google Play.
Once the app is installed, you can start using the headphones.
To turn them on, press the button on the top right side of the headset.
Next, open the app and connect the headphones to your phone.
Don’t forget to explore the helpful features in the app.
For example, if you tap on the “Tips” button, you’ll find a guide on how to use the headphones.
That’s straightforward!
How I Use the Headset
Now I’ll share some of my own thoughts and experiences with the headphones.
To adjust the volume on the NC 700, just swipe up or down on the right earcup.
I find this feature handy, but it did take me some time to get used to it.
To be honest, I used the volume buttons on my phone for about six months before I realized I could do it right on the headphones.
To pause a song, just tap once on the right side, in the same spot where you adjust the volume. Here’s me showing that:
This feature is useful, but there’s one thing I don’t like. When I’m doing sports, like pull-ups, I sometimes pause the music by accident or even turn the volume all the way down.
To change the track, swipe left or right on the right earcup.
While this feature is nice, it was a bit tricky for me at first since you can’t see where to swipe. Sometimes I touched the back of the earcup instead of the front and wondered why the track didn’t change.
So I’d say the touchpad is great, but it does take some time to get used to. It can also cause mistakes if you’re working out, changing clothes, or moving around a lot.
One thing I really like, though, is that you can answer calls with it. Just double-tap on the right side when a call comes in.
If background noise makes it hard to hear your music or calls, you can block it out by pressing the button on the left earcup.
I think the noise cancellation is excellent. It blocks out most background sounds, like the hum of a vacuum or the noise on a bus.
You can also adjust it to different levels, not just on or off. There are 11 levels, and you can change them through the app. Sometimes it’s useful to leave a bit of noise so you can still hear what’s going on around you.
Additional Tips
I love bass. When I first started using these headphones, I felt like my bass-heavy songs didn’t sound as deep as I expected. I even wondered if there was a way to fix it.
And there is.
Just open the Bose Music app and adjust the EQ settings:
This feature works great. I set the bass to 7 out of 10, and now it sounds much better.
If you ever have connection problems, like not hearing sound from the headphones, check the source. Sometimes the audio plays from the other device when two are connected at the same time.
Just disconnect one of the devices and it should work fine.
Main Issues with the Headset
Even though I really like these headphones, there are a couple of issues that can be pretty annoying.
The first one is with the voice control button. When you take the headphones off, you might press it by accident. This can trigger calls from your contact list without you noticing. It’s especially embarrassing if it happens in the middle of the night.
For some reason, I haven’t been able to turn this off. Even though it’s disabled in the settings and on my phone, the headphones still activate it. Feels like a bug to me.
As I mentioned before, if you’re changing clothes, fixing your hair, or working out, you might accidentally answer a call, pause your music, or change the volume.
These are the main frustrations I’ve had with the headphones over the past couple of years. Other than that, they’ve been great.
Pros
- Easy to use. The app and touchpad make the controls simple and always within reach. You just need a little practice at the start.
- Nice design. The grey version looks good, and there are other colors too.
- Strong noise cancellation. It blocks background sounds really well, and you can adjust the levels as needed.
- Good battery life. Lasts at least 15 hours, sometimes up to 20.
Cons
- Voice control button. Its position makes it easy to press by mistake, which can lead to accidental calls when taking the headphones off.
- Sensitive touchpad. It activates too easily, so you might change tracks, lower the volume, or answer a call by accident while moving around.
- Air-tight fit. The headphones can make your ears hot if you wear them too long, especially during workouts.
Pricing
At the time of writing the price is: $259.99.
To Take Home
The Bose NC 700 is a standout when it comes to noise cancellation.
I’ve been using it for about 2–3 years and I can easily recommend it.
It does have some downsides, like the voice control button, the tight fit, and the sensitive touchpad, but overall it’s a great pair of headphones.
The noise cancellation, in particular, works really well at blocking out distractions.
Thanks for reading!