Bose Embraces the Rising Trend of Wired Earbuds

After Apple made the bold move to eliminate the headphone jack from the iPhone in 2016, many users embraced Bluetooth earbuds and never looked back. However, wired earbuds have made a surprising comeback this year, reversing a five-year decline in sales. This resurgence can be attributed to their newfound popularity among younger audiences, reminiscent of the revival of tape decks and vinyl records. Celebrities have been spotted sporting wired earbuds, and social media is buzzing with the trend.

Wired earbuds offer distinct advantages: they don’t require batteries, ensuring they last longer than their wireless counterparts, and their long cables make them less likely to be misplaced compared to a single earbud. After more than a decade, Bose has re-entered the wired market with the Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds, which are anything but outdated.

These $99 earbuds connect via USB-C, eliminating the need for an additional dongle with modern smartphones. This connection also enables active noise cancellation (ANC). Unlike traditional 3.5mm or 4.4mm analog connectors, which lack the power for ANC, these new Bose earbuds draw the necessary power directly from the USB-C port, making them a modern solution. Previous Bose wired models, like the QuietComfort 20, relied on a battery pack for ANC, but these new earbuds simplify that process.

While there are a few other USB-C wired headphones with ANC, options are limited. The Belkin SoundForm ANC Wired Earbuds are available at a lower price point, but reports suggest their noise cancellation is not very effective.

One of the biggest perks of wired earbuds is their simplicity. There’s no need to worry about pairing, charging, or navigating an app. Just plug them into the USB-C port of your phone or computer, and they’re ready to go.

The noise cancellation performance, while not on par with Bose’s Bluetooth models, is still commendable for the price. They effectively block out low-frequency sounds like air conditioning, though they struggle with higher-frequency noises, such as conversations. When ANC is active, there’s a slight hiss, but it’s only noticeable when no audio is playing.

Sound quality is impressive, with clear vocals and punchy bass that doesn’t overpower other instruments. While it would be nice to have some EQ options to tone down the high-end brightness, the wired connection ensures low latency, making them great for video watching. They also support high-resolution audio at 24-bit/48kHz, and the difference in sound quality between CD quality and high-res streams is noticeable, especially with music like The Beatles’ Rubber Soul.

The in-line remote features three buttons for volume, playback, and noise-canceling mode, all of which respond quickly and have a pleasant rubberized feel. The earbuds come with three sizes of ear tips and two sets of wings for a customizable fit, ensuring comfort during extended use. They also have an IPX4 rating, making them suitable for light rain or workouts.

Despite the advantages of wired earbuds, they come with their own set of challenges. If the 4.2-foot cable isn’t managed properly, it can snag on various objects, leading to frustrating moments. During my time with the Bose earbuds, the cable caught on everything from kitchen drawers to my pocket, and even a stranger in line at a coffee shop.

Cable noise is another issue, as vibrations can travel up the cable and be heard in the earbuds. However, the insulation on these cables does a better job of minimizing this effect compared to older, cheaper models.

Wind can also be a problem, as the microphones for ANC pick up wind noise, which can be distracting. While ANC does a decent job of cutting out low-end wind sounds, the higher frequencies remain prominent. Turning off ANC in windy conditions is often the best solution, though it sacrifices some noise cancellation.

Call quality isn’t the strongest feature either. The microphone, located on the in-line remote, tends to pick up a lot of background noise, making these earbuds less ideal for calls in busy environments.

While I’m not ready to fully embrace wired earbuds again, the Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds offer a compelling mix of ease of use, USB-C convenience, low latency, high-res audio support, and solid sound quality. For anyone looking for an affordable wired option with ANC, these earbuds stand out as a top choice.