Wired earbuds are popular again. We’ve been noticing it since last year, but it’s really hard not to notice so many people using wired earbuds nowadays. They’ve gotten so popular, in fact, that a company who hasn’t made one in 11 years is going back to the category. We’re talking about the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds.
That’s right, Bose is making wired earbuds for the first time in over a decade. And, unlike every other wired earbuds we’ve used over the years, this one has built-in noise canceling, so it filters out noise similar to modern wireless earbuds, while eliminating the need to regular charge another device.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds looks a lot like modern wireless earbuds, so the earpiece lodges a bit below the surface of the ear canal, while silicone stabilizer wings on the outer are designed to anchor it to your ears and keep it from falling off. Of course, it’s wired, so it’s a lot easier to find when an earbud does fall off. Instead of the 3.5mm connector that was the standard back when Bose still made wired earbuds, it uses a modern contemporary USB-C, ensuring it will work with all new smartphones, some of which have done away with the traditional audio jack entirely. Of course, using USB-C means they’re able to cram in additional functions which would have otherwise been impossible with traditional audio connectors.
For instance, the mic is equipped with two mics on each earbud, which pick up outside noise for the built-in noise canceling tech. It uses a simpler version of the same QuietControl technology from the outfit’s wireless earbuds, allowing it to filter out environmental noises that could otherwise detract from your listening experience. The ANC has only three modes that you can cycle through using a button on the inline remote, namely Quiet (minimize noise in the environment), Aware (boosts sounds in the vicinity that you may want to hear), and Off.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds claims to deliver analog audio via its USB-C connection, although it does have the outfit’s proprietary SoundDesign digital signal processing, so we’re not sure how all of that works. According to the outfit, that onboard DSP allows it to produce crisp, clear sound with support for lossless audio listening. While the earbuds can accept source input at any sample and bitrate, playback is fixed at 24-bit/48kHz. Like all wired earbuds of old, there’s no companion app for this one. Instead, all functions are onboard, with control available solely on the inline remote.
Aside from the buttons on the remote, it also comes with a microphone that handles voice calls. According to Bose, it’s designed to pick up voices naturally without the need to hold the inline remote close to your mouth, so you should be able to take calls as conveniently as modern wireless earbuds. Other features include IPX4 rating for water resistance, three sizes of swappable ear tips, two sizes of swappable stabilizers, and a carry case.
The Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds is available now in three colorways, priced at $99.
