Bose AE2
Manufacturer: Bose Corp. Part number: 329532-0010
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- If you can't afford Bose's noise-canceling models, the Bose AE2s--and their improved design and sound quality--make for a good alternative at half the price.
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CNET editors' review
Bose AE2 price range: $134.95 - $149.95
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Edited by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 11/21/2010
The good: Lightweight and comfortable design; sealed earcups isolate wearer from ambient noise; headphones fold flat; detachable cord; detailed sound with well-defined bass.
The bad: Sound can be a tad brash.
The bottom line: If you can't afford Bose's noise-canceling models, the Bose AE2s--and their improved design and sound quality--make for a good alternative at half the price.
In the headphone realm, Bose is probably best known for its noise-canceling (NC) line of QuietComfort models. But it's long made some non-NC models, including an around-the-ear design as well as an on-ear design. Bose has shortened those names to AE and OE, respectively, and now the AE model reviewed here is up to version 2.
Formerly known as the TriPort, the AE2 still uses the same basic design, but Bose has implemented some significant design improvements. For starters, these headphones, like the noise-canceling models, now fold flat. Also, Bose has moved from a double- (running to each earcup) to a single-cord design--and the headphone cord detaches--which means you can wear these simply to cover your ears and muffle sound.
As noted, the Bose AE2s don't offer active noise-cancellation, but they do offer a tight seal and filter out a lot of noise from the outside world. When you put them on, the first thing you notice is that these are very comfortable headphones that have Bose's trademark plush, black leather earpads. They also feel lighter than your average full-size, closed earcup models from the likes of Sennheiser, Koss, and AKG. The headband is fairly thin and covered in a springy neoprene, which also helps increase the comfort level. A simple cloth carrying bag is included for storing the headphones. It's OK, but offers only minimal protection.
It's worth mentioning that Bose offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try before you buy. Also, if your headphones break for any reason, Bose tends to be pretty good about replacing them.
Compared with our memory of the old TriPorts (the "AE1," if you will), Bose has improved the sound on these new models. Overall, the headphones are very accurate and offer good, well-defined bass. We threw a bunch of tracks at them, including some Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, the Kings of Leon, some classical tracks, and a Brooklyn band called The National. The only small gripe we had was that--because these headphones are as detailed as they are--they tend to come off sounding a tad brash, overemphasizing instruments such as cymbals (it's a matter of taste whether you like that "extra sizzle" or not). They also make poorly recorded music sound worse because they accentuate the flaws in the recordings (the flip side is they make good recordings sound very good).
That small knock aside, we thought they were very good. Are they the best-sounding headphones we've tried for $150? Probably not. But the combination of their high-quality sound and excellent comfort level make them easy to recommend, especially to those who don't want to spend $300 for the QuietComfort 15s. Yes, the 15s do a better job at blocking out more airplane engine noise, but the AE2s are arguably more comfortable and cost half the price.
Freelancer Steve Guttenberg contributed to this review.
User reviews
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Quality does not match price. Look elsewhere.
by aoporto on April 24, 2012
Pros: Sound quality is OK, but not in line with what was paid.
Cons: Build quality is poor.
Summary: Unfortunately I'm finding the quality of Bose products does not match up with their great marketing and expensive price. My headphones look brand new, they are lightly used, but ...
Summary: Unfortunately I'm finding the quality of Bose products does not match up with their great marketing and expensive price. My headphones look brand new, they are lightly used, but the ear cusions are falling apart. They are out of warranty so new cushions will cost more $. They were not built to last and I've hardly used them. I will avoid Bose in the future; their quality is not enough to justify their prices. Sharper Image had great marketing, look what happened to them.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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What you know about them AE2's?
by ehc012 on March 21, 2011
Pros: -Most comfortable headphones on the market. Hands down. No debate.
-Not the best, but the sound quality is very rich in all areas. I think that the AE2's are a great choice for the ballad, classical, jazz, and very "vocalist" oriented music listeners. HaCons: -Wish the bass could give a bigger bang.
-Design could be better accounted for. It's too... bland. Simple would be a generous comment.
-It's hard/worrisome to put them away in your bag, because they fold a bit awkwardly.Summary: the AE2's are not the perfect headphones. But they are worth the buck, and are extremely comfortable. If I had to describe the AE2's sound and build quality ...
Summary: the AE2's are not the perfect headphones. But they are worth the buck, and are extremely comfortable. If I had to describe the AE2's sound and build quality in THREE words.....
Smooth. Comfortable. Rich.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awesome Headphones
by Ivancamara on April 22, 2012
Pros: -Very confortable
-Detachable cable (improves it's life and can be replaced with an iPhone version)
-Outstanding sound quality
-Nice noise sealingCons: -Bass is too low
-Useless carrying bag
-Design could be more stylishSummary: Bose AE2 sounds amazing, it has an awesome sound purity and quality, and it's also extremely confortable and light.
AE2's design is great. It fits with any head ...Summary: Bose AE2 sounds amazing, it has an awesome sound purity and quality, and it's also extremely confortable and light.
AE2's design is great. It fits with any head size and you'll get the maximum comfort even with large ears, like mine. Although it could be more stylish, it's not ugly or agressive, so you can use it anywhere.
I'd recommend it for everyday use, long trips (once it's very confortable and light, in addition to the outstanding sound quality), and maybe for studio use.
Bass is too low, but you can get a better bass by equalizing your software (yes, it gets much better), but you'll still going to hear some "rrrrs" when listening to some music styles, such as electronic, rap, hip hop or dubstep. -
Best earphone I've ever bought!
by Avisunk6 on April 13, 2012
Pros: Comfortable
Excellent details, especially for the guitar sound and human voice
High frequency sound is good also.Cons: Bass is not enough
Cable looks just like that of the cheapest earphone -
Great sound quality, excellent design, very comfortable
by TMcJilton on March 20, 2012
Pros: Excellent design
Very comfortable
Great, clean sound qualityCons: Very under driven low end
Useless carrying bagSummary: I purchased these directly from Bose to accompany a set of computer speakers I purchased (Companion 5) about 4 months ago. I use them during at night to enjoy music ...
Summary: I purchased these directly from Bose to accompany a set of computer speakers I purchased (Companion 5) about 4 months ago. I use them during at night to enjoy music from my computer without disturbing my fiance, or the neighbors. I am not a big Bose fan, but really liked the Companion 5 speakers, and owned a pair of Bose Tri-Port headphones in the past which I enjoyed using, so I decided to give these a try.
My first impression of the headphones was that they are nearly identical to the Tri-Port headphones, but had some great improvements on the old design. I very much like that these have only one cable to the left phone, but was disappointed that they made this a proprietary connector, however I wasn't surprised knowing Bose.
Upon listening for the first time, I was very surprised at the lack of low end response. My listening tastes are very wide, so I decided to try something with a very heavy bass line. There was still a lack of overall feel. The tone quality, and clarity was great, but there was just very little bass. At first, I though maybe they were defective, but I did read other reports that these didn't have the over powering low end response that the Tri-Port headphones produced. I am fine with this because I don't need it to be too heavy, I prefer a more flat tone, which can be rich when the music calls for it. However, the bass was surprisingly lacking. I decided that this was something I could live with, and that I would let the drivers break in a bit to see if they improve.
The second thing I noticed was how amazingly comfortable these were to wear. I continued wearing them for an hour and almost forgot they were there. This is a big deal. No matter how good your headphones sound, if they're not comfortable, it defeats the purpose of wearing them. This is one of my favorite things about this pair of phones. I have owned several other brands, even the Beats brand (which weren't very comfy at all), and these are by far the most comfy.
The overall design of these is great, and the fold flat feature would be very useful if they came with some kind of a case that took advantage of this. However, the bag that they come with doesn't do this. Folding them flat and then putting them in the bag is a bit of a task, and once in the bag, they never stay flat.
So far I am enjoying the sound and comfort, but after almost 4 months of regular use it seems as if the low end isn't going to get any better. I have run some sweep tests to see if the frequency response is there, and they do produce the low end very well, its just not really there when listening to music. I just feel like there should be a bit more of a full sound with these full sized headphones regardless of what type of music. This and the carrying case are my only two complaints. If you don't enjoy too much bass, these are an excellent choice. If you're like me and want a little more of a rich sound from time to time, you may want to give these a try in a retail store before making a purchase. -
Over rated,Save Your Money
by Audiosenor on February 19, 2012
Pros: Very comfortable headphones, sealed for home listening.
Cons: Overpriced and mediocre sound.
Summary: I have always wanted some nice home listening head phones. I thought by going with Bose, I couldn't lose. Bose has always been a favorite product of mine. Back ...
Summary: I have always wanted some nice home listening head phones. I thought by going with Bose, I couldn't lose. Bose has always been a favorite product of mine. Back in the 80s, I had the privilege of listening to my ex-girlfriend's parents hi-fi system with Bose reflecting speakers. I told myself, "I would like to have some of those speakers one day". It never happened, but I thought by buying some Bose headphones and paying good money ($162.00) from Best Buy, I would be giving myself an elevated quality listening experience like the one I had years prior for several years to come. I first tried them on my Panasonic Boom Box (XBS), which has awesome bass and nice highs. I had to really turn up the volume just to get decent audio. They were very flat, no fidelity. On my desktop and IPOD, they didn't perform any better. In fact, my Koss Porta Pros, which I paid forty dollars for, sounded much richer on the boom box, PC, and IPOD. I finally tried Van Halen's new album, on my portable Sony CD player, which has always brought out the best from my CDs. To my amazement, the Koss Porta Pros brought out EVH's "brown sound" much deeper and cleaner than the fully enclosed Bose AE2s. I could not hear the $120 price difference I was expecting. I am taking these back until I find headphones that can beat my Koss Porta Pros.
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Recording & Electronic Music "Notice the Difference"
by janetgomez on February 1, 2012
Pros: compact lightweight comfortable
Cons: none especially since I received them as a gift!
Summary: I have been using AKG 240 headphones for about 20yrs...the AE2 are a noticable improvement in sound & comfort. I use them with my Korg M3 synthesizer & to ...
Summary: I have been using AKG 240 headphones for about 20yrs...the AE2 are a noticable improvement in sound & comfort. I use them with my Korg M3 synthesizer & to monitor recording..Wow great balanced/smooth sounds!
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Midrange Drops out a lot!
by cinnder22 on January 7, 2012
Pros: Good sound (while it lasts
Good for cheap noise cancelation (the around ear keeps out background noise)Cons: Midrange drops out!
Summary: It's a good product until you realize, I can't hear the singing/talking! Then their horrible.
Summary: It's a good product until you realize, I can't hear the singing/talking! Then their horrible.
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The BOSE QC15's without the extra bulkiness and dough.
by markuscarcass on December 17, 2011
Pros: very detailed sound, extremely comfortable, lightweight, attractive look, detachable cord, fold flat design, relatively affordable, and they are very good at muffling sound.
Cons: no hard case included and these are very Fragile headphones. you really have to watch over these like crazy in order not to break them. the bass isn't too strong which is a matter of preference.
Summary: I had the BOSE Quietcomfort 15's which is what BOSE states as their best preforming headphones. I sold them and replaced them with The BOSE AE2's and let ...
Summary: I had the BOSE Quietcomfort 15's which is what BOSE states as their best preforming headphones. I sold them and replaced them with The BOSE AE2's and let me tell you that I didn't notice a big difference in sound between the two headphones. In fact I noticed parts of my music with The AE2's I never even heard before with The QC15's. only the bass was much stronger with the QC15's. for half the price of the Quietcomfort 15's the AE2's blow them out of the water. only the noise cancellation of the much more expensive headphones is superior, but the AE2's do a very good job at isolating sound.
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Awesome headphones
by alskmp3 on November 10, 2011
Pros: The audio is very crisp. The bass is fine, but if you need more then you will need an equilizer program on your device.
Cons: The price is a little much, but it is worth it.
When you first put them on, your ears will feel like you changed elevation by like about thousand feet. (they make you feel like you're ears need to pop.)Summary: These headphones are awesome, they feel great! My ears don't hurt after I use them for a couple of hours, and sometimes I forget they are on my head. ...
Summary: These headphones are awesome, they feel great! My ears don't hurt after I use them for a couple of hours, and sometimes I forget they are on my head. Which right there makes me happy for buying them. Also they fit my Huge head, of course the sizer is maxed out, but they fit. They sound great! The sound is crisp and the bass is awesome. I can actually hear different levels highs in songs and lows that I didn't hear with my old headphones. Maybe that is what is wrong with the other issues with the headphones, they can't hear the deep lows. But sense I am young my ears are still good. :)
Bose made an awesome headphone!
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Bose Corp.
- Part number: 329532-0010
- Description: Immerse yourself in your music with the improved audio performance of AE2 audio headphones. You'll hear smoother audio throughout the entire frequency range, from full lows to clear highs. AE2 headphones can enhance your listening at home and on the go from your favorite audio sources, including portable players and laptops.
General
- Product Type Headphones
- Width 6 in
- Depth 1.5 in
- Height 7.5 in
- Weight 4.9 oz
- Recommended Use Portable audio system,
Home audio system,
Notebook - Additional Features Detachable cable,
TriPort acoustic headphone structure,
Adjustable headband,
Bose acoustic equalization,
Foldable Headphones
- Headphones Type Headphones - Binaural
- Headphones Form Factor Ear-cup
- Connectivity Technology Wired
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x Headphones cable - Detachable
- Included Accessories Carrying pouch
Power
- Power Device None
- Battery None
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Bose Corp. products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Bose Corp.
- Address:
The Mountain, Framingham, MA 01701 - Phone: 1-800-999 2673
- Fax: 1-508-820-3465
