Everyone has gone wireless, including Bose. Earlier this year, the Bose SoundSport wireless earbuds (along with a few other headphones) were announced . I’ve been using the SoundSport Wireless for a couple of months now and here’s what I think about them:
Design and Build
From far the SoundSport Wireless look like your typical wireless earbuds. I was sent the black color to review. The ear tips (StayHear tips) don’t go all the way in your ear. They have ear tips to help you keep the buds in place. The 3 button mic and volume controls are located closer to the right earbud. The power button is on the right earbud along with indicator lights. At first look and feel of the earbuds, it looks like they will be difficult to keep in your ear, given the size and placement. As bulky as they look, the headphones aren’t heavy. The earbuds are very bulky (made of plastic) and visible when you’re wearing them. T
hey stick out of your ear. The plastic part of the earbuds (with the Bose logo) scratch easily. You probably won’t notice unless you look closely or it’s a huge scratch.
Experience
I love wireless earbuds, and this build is my favorite kind so far. I am not a huge fan of over ear clips and I’ve yet to try truly wireless earbuds this year. I take my time looking for the right ear tip sizes. It’s key in getting good noise isolation as well as keeping the headphones in when working out.
The StayHear+ tips Headphones have reached a point where we can ask for both comfort, and quality sound. When it comes to Bose you definitely expect quality sound as well.
Pairing the headphones is pretty easy (hold down the power button until the woman says “ready to pair”). The woman also lets you know what devices you’re paired to. You can pair the SoundSport Wireless to 2 devices at once.
While some people had SoundSports that malfunctioned due to extreme moisture, I never had a problem with the headphones shorting out on me or making pop/ clicky noises. Bose took care of the situation by updating and exchanging the headphones.
Sound
No surprise here, but you definitely get Bose quality sound in the SoundSport Wireless. It’s very natural sounding. There is a lot of clarity. You can tell that Bose also wants to give you some bass rhythm without it taking over the track. While it does an okay job of noise isolation, I’ve had headphones that do it better. You will definitely hear noise around you (maybe it’s intentional?)
Comfort
Like I said earlier, these headphones are lighter than they look. The earbuds do protrude a little too much out of your ear, but they don’t weigh you down. The StayHear tips are actually comfortable since they don’t go deep into your ear. There’s no tightness or pressure from the earbuds, which really helps when you’re on the dreadful treadmill for over 35 minutes. Bose also provides a clip to keep the cable from flopping around as you run. The clip attaches to the top of the back of your shirt. It’s the first time I’ve seen that on wireless headphones.
Battery Life
The SoundSport Wireless have great battery life. They charge via microUSB. You can charge them in a charging case, and charge the case as well. 15 minutes of charging through the case, gives you up to an hour of music If the SoundSport Wireless die out you can charge them on the go. The case also serves as more durable protection than the bag it comes in.
They have great standby time too. I charge the headphones every 3-5 (depending how active I am), but I use them at least a couple of hours a day.
Pricing and Availability
The Bose SoundSport Wireless headphones go for $149. Given the Bose brand, you expect the headphones to be in this price range. You can buy them from Bose.com
Overall
I see these becoming the go-to for many who are willing to shell out the cash for it. They are comfortable both for casual use and at the gym. I do wish they were a bit better at noise cancellation. But good sound, battery life, and lots of comfort make the SoundSport Wireless a top pick for gym headphones.
