Why these Bose headphones are still the best I've listened to - even though they're a year old

Jada Jones/ZDNET It's been almost a year and a half since Bose released its latest flagship over-ear headphones, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. I was loyal to the QC Ultra from their Oct. 2023 release until the new, shiny Sonos Ace stole my attention last June. But later that fall, I took my QC Ultra from their case, threw them on, and wondered why I ever forgot about them. Also: The best headphones of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are still my favorite, from their sporty and casual design to their excellent sound and advanced noise-canceling properties. Since their fall 2023 release, Bose has implemented a series of app software updates and one headphone firmware update that's enhanced the QC Ultra's performance, but there's always room for improvement. All of the heavy hitters -- Bose, Beats, Apple, Sony, and Sonos -- have released flagship headphones within the last three years. They're all great in their own right, but Bose's check every ... Read full article.