Side by Side Comparison of: Bose vs Amazon

One highly undermentioned, undervalued, and immensely important feature of this product is it's durability.As you may or may not be able to see, I purchased this product in my sophomore year of high school (about 3 years ago?).I have finally taken the time, after they broke a few weeks ago, to write my grateful review.These headphones have stuck by my side for coming close to four years. There's not much I can say, other than the fact that these headphones all of the close to 4 years either in my pockets, jostled by my keys, or drenched in sweat during a run, or just swung around aimlessly.Quality product Bose.Quality.

First off, I am a bose fan, but not a fan of their prices. I have tried countless other earbuds for going to the gym. After a while they will either fall out of your ears, or the cable gets disconnected so you only hear music in one ear. This is not the case with the Bose Freestyle Earbuds.Invest in these earbuds and you will not be disappointed! The sound is as good as you would expect from any Bose product. The earbuds fit very comfortably and do not hurt, or rub. They stay in place too!I wish I had purchased these earbuds years ago. It would have saved me a lot of money and frustration at the gym. Highly recommended.

So far these are great in-ear head phones, I have used these in my Samsung galaxy S3 and have had no complaints regarding the microphone quality. When using these in-ear headphones to listen to music I feel that the music sounds fantastic, there is a bit of lack of bass, but once I got used to it I began to appreciate all of the other subtle sounds that I couldn't hear before in my previous in-ear headphones.Another benefit of these in-ear headphones is that they can be used on the Xbox One in combination with the Xbox One Headset adapter. I must say, they sound much better than the Xbox one stereo headphones that I've purchased in the past - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IAVDQCK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1The main reason I bought these headphones was because traditional over the ear headphones tended to add discomfort due to my glasses. So I bought these to use on my Xbox One as a microphone and stereo headset and they work better than I ever imagined for this purpose. I have no complaints about my voice quality when playing online and I can hear sounds that I havn't heard before when using the Microsoft brand Xbox One Stereo Headset.My only complaint is that the in-ear headphones only come with three sizings and none of them seem to be comfortable for over 1 or 2 hours, which is a problem if I am using them for gaming. I've recently discovered that once they get into their natural seating position in my ears that this is no longer a problem.

WOW! What a difference in sound these ear buds make compared to less expensive, drugstore kinds. I cannot get over the difference in sound, bass, treble. The variances between vocals and instrumental music is incredible. I look forward to working out even more now because that's the only time I really wear ear buds.However, I'm not crazy about the StayHear tips on the ends of the buds themselves. As a matter of fact, I hate them. I have very small inner ears. Typically, the small rubber discs on a drugstore or generic brad will fit me perfectly. On the Bose set, the small tips fit the inside of my ear well but the tips themselves do not. I tried the medium size today and with those on, the ear buds barely fit on the inside but the StayHear tips fit the best.Finally, why I chose these ear buds versus the more expensive ones Bose has to offer. Ultimately--money. I think $100 for a pair of ear buds is outrageous, but I bought them and I will never go back to an off-brand or generic pair again. As I said above, I typically wear my ear buds only in the gym, so the microphone offered in the pairs for $130 is unnecessary for me bc I don't talk on the phone when I'm at the gym. I would have liked the remote volume controller that the $130 pairs offer, but I can just as easily increase or decrease the volume on my phone itself--that's what I do now and that works just fine.

The ear gods have finally heard me!!! Maybe they lacked the ability to hear my pleas for better fitting ear buds because they also suffer from stupidly small ears as well. In any case, these headphones work like a freaking charm!!! For the first time in years, I have been able to turn my neck, bend down, run 5 miles with EASE AND NO FEAR of the little suckers falling out of my ears. I no longer look like a sleeping snowman while donning huge headphones or walk like Frankenstein to prevent ear buds from popping out. I bike and run in a city, so I appreciate that you can hear outside noise pretty well. I guess it could be a deal breaker if there were a screaming baby in the room, but for the way I like to use it, the sound quality is fine. The only thing I might change would be the connector plug that goes into the device. The wire comes straight out, instead of making a 90 degree bend and I can see that it might be a weak point in the design. I am already dreading the day that my kid finds them and decides to use them for herself....

I don't consider myself an audiophile, so take this with a grain of salt :)Overall I found the audio quality to be good, with good bass and clear audio in general.I use these headphones while lifting weights and sweat has been a problem for previous headphones - so far (1 month in) I haven't had a problem with these headphones filling with sweat - the rubber ear insert seems to be designed in a way that discourages that. They fit snugly in my ear and I've never had a problem with them falling out.Overall I think they're a great purchase and would recommend.

Too bad. As comfortable as these are, I cannot say the same for the sound. It's lacking too much bass for my liking, and when I tried with the Bose Medium StayHear with Tips, Pair of 2, the bass muffles all the mids and highs. If you want an extremely comfortable (and rather solidly built) pair of earphones and do not care for the sound quality, get these. I do love that they include a SUPER NICE case to carry the earphones with.

Excellent ear buds. I must have deformed ears because regular ear buds never stay put in my ears -- especially not when I'm running or working out. These are awesome though. They never fall out yet are wicked comfortable. They also still let enough ambient sounds through so that I can hear cars approaching or people talking to me (as long as my music is playing quietly enough). The wires are thinner than I'd like -- I have a hunch they won't last long. (These are my second of Bose ear buds ... the first set had to be replaced because the wire insulation -- which are thicker than on these -- hardened and cracked, though they still work well ... I use them for yard work now. Oh, and the original set is something like 5 years old, so they did last plenty long to be happy with them.) Sound quality, of course, is exceptional. Well worth the premium price ... though that's the only reason I knocked off one star: I suspect they could be about $20 cheaper. In fact, Bose would probably sell a whole lot more at that price.

I have never owned headphones of this design before. I was a little hesitant prior to purchasing these. I didn't imagine that this design could possibly stay snug in my ears while running. To my disbelief, they actually stay in! Unlike standard "plug style" ear-buds which hurt my ears and would always inevitably pop out, these actually stay snug in the ear and are very comfortable! No more jamming rubber plugs into my ear canal!I've had Bose speakers before. The sound is good. Not the best, but far better than a sub $20 pair of ear buds. As with most Bose products, they are probably overpriced, as you are paying a premium for the name. They are not noise isolating so ambient noises are very audible, which can be a pro or con depending on the environment.I have only had them for a couple weeks so I cannot comment on the long-term durability of these, although the cord does feel very thin and flimsy. I can't imagine them lasting forever.My only other complaint is that the plug, which also seems cheap, is not a right angle, which is annoying when putting my device in my pocket while working out.Overall, they look and sound good and stay in your ear. They can be had for under $100 without the microphone which is still a pretty decent value in my eyes. Oh, and did I mention? They're comfortable!

The most important thing you need to know about these is that they do not block outside noise. The way the buds are situated, they rest on the ear but do not enter the ear cavity. These are ideal for a quiet environment. I use them for music production and for listening at home. These are not good for exercising outside. On a plane these would be terrible. I have a pair of creative labs in ear buds that I use for that stuff.I did purchase the in ear tips that come on the expensive model. They don't work well with these. The sound is extremely dull and the bass gets multiplied in a bad way.Biggest complaint I have is that the input is jack is straight and not at a right angle. I feel that over time, the cord will get messed up by my phone being in my pocket.Also, I feel that these are probably the safest for the ears. That is a huge concern for me. In ear buds are a recipe for ear damage. I can listen to these at a moderately low volume and hear the full spectrum of the music. I listen to mostly trance.

This is the third set of Bose In-Ear headphones I have owned. The first two sets were IE-2's and I wore them both out. The first set I pinched the main cord between my chair and desk and sheared off the conductors. The second set the cord jacket pulled out of the boot by the right ear phone. I regularly wear these headphones in excess of 8 hours a day so if they last a year or two I consider it well worth the $100.As far as audio quality they are the best in ear headphones that I have listened to. However I am not really interested in audiophile-grade equipment so when I say they "sound great", take it with a grain of salt. They sound very, very good, in my opinion better than my Grado SR-60's.Where these headphones really shine is in the comfort factor. They are the only in-ear headphones I can leave in and feel comfortable. The tips nest in your ear in a very natural way and that is one of the main reasons I have been a repeat customer.However, about this particular model, I am disappointed in a couple things. The cord length is about 6" shorter than the original ie-2's that I had and I often wish I had that length back. Also the headphone plug has a straight boot on this model whereas my previous sets had a nicer plug that angled off to the side at about 45 degrees. If I had both those features back I would rate 5 stars.

I have owned Bose earphones for 5 years now. Have replaced them twice due to wear and tear. This is my third purchase and I thought of trying their new style over the standard ones.They are good but for some reason I am taking some time getting used to them compared to the previous ones. No issues with sound quality or earbuds; they are awesome.First of all its a little light compared to the standard http://www.amazon.com/Bose-627476-0020-IE2-Audio-Headphones/dp/B003XU6H8I/ref=pd_cp_e_2 ones; because its completely made of plastic - even the base of earbuds. Secondly, the plug-in is straight and not L shaped like previous ones. And the volume control buttons are not easy to use like previous ones; need to press the buttons a little harder. May be I am just used to the older ones; so might take time getting used to these.4 star is in comparison to its standard ones; but of the entire lot; Bose earphones are the best ones I have ever used. I am an extensive music listener; I keep my ears plugged in atleast 8 hrs every day and sometimes at a stretch of 10 hrs during long flights - and these headphones never hurt my ears.

I both LOVE and HATE these headphones. The actual headphone part is the best headphone out there. I love the gel ear insert as it fits it into my ear both comfortably and securely. I also like that it doesn't actually insert totally into my ear which allows me to both hear my music well, but also be able to hear other sounds. If I'm walking on the street, I don't want to completely drown out what is going on around me. Also, I think these are aesthetically pleasing and theHowever, the headphone jack is extremely long and weak. It is long such that it sticks out from my phone and can get caught on my pants. One little tug to get the phone out of my pocket and the end of the jack gets caught on some fabric and it's bent. As soon as this happens, the audio connection is never the same. I still use these, but they cut in and out. I have to use my finger to hold the jack to one side to ensure a solid connection - which is a pain. This is actually my 3rd pair. My first pair was the MIE2i set which had the jack bend at a 90 degree angle which protected it from getting caught. I bought another pair after maybe 2 years of hard use because they just wore out (which I was OK with). Then I got set and they quickly broke - in like 2 weeks. Thinking it was my fault, I bought another set like it and it broke within a week. I don't spend another $130 on another set that will break too. The older ones I loved were discontinued, but I finally found some refurbished MIE2is which I bought as a replacement.Annoying that the headphones can be 99% awesome, but 1 design

Let me preface this critique by saying that I love these earbuds. That being said, after almost a year of owning this product I have found their durability is not as strong as you might think, since the product is "Built heavy-duty to stand up to your active life."Comparing these earbuds to several other brands that I've spent time with such as the regular apple pods, JayBird, SkullCandy and Sony:The Bose Freestyle Earbuds have the BEST fit, the only pair of earbuds I have EVER owned that stay in, without fail, for the entirety of every workout. To me, this is paramount, more important than style, comfort, and even sound quality.However, there's no real compromise because compared to most other sports-fitness brands (sony and skullcandy's in particular) I find the Bose has a noticeably better sound quality, clearer mediums and the bass doesn't sound overpowered like in the sony's.Compared to the JayBird X (which is the earbuds I switched from) there is a catch-22. The JayBirds, being wireless, are more convenient and (in my opinion) more comfortable HOWEVER the Bose stays in your ear and maintains a seal much more effectively throughout a workout. On top of that, I find that the Bose let's in just the right amount of ambient noise so that I can wear them while on a road and still maintain control of my surroundings. And on the note of sound, I think the Bose and JayBirds have a pretty comparable sound quality, with JayBirds having an edge maybe a little bit when the seal is perfect (but I favor the consistency of Bose).There is one downside I'd like to touch upon; when I bought these earbuds, I took notice in the advert of "Built heavy-duty to stand up to your active life." Since buying them, I've been using them at-least twice a day for workouts, everyday and then throughout the day while I'm at work. I get a lot of use out of them, but have always been careful with them. I have a waterproof case that I carry them in when not in use, I don't use them near water, and dry them off after workouts. My pair still sound great but the microphone and function buttons have space between them, which I believe sweat unavoidably gets into. This has caused my microphone and button "pod" to stop working. They are no longer able to change songs, adjust volume, or speak into. This, of course, is not earth-shattering but for the amount of money I paid ($125 at the time) I would have hoped for a more durably designed and appropriately marketed product.

I have to start this review with the fact that I like the fit in the ear and the sound and I suppose those are the most important things. However, there are a couple of small things I don't like about these headphones. One is the fact that they changed the rubber in them. My old ones that I've had for a couple of years have a very soft, pliable, rubber in the cord. The new ones have a stiffer slicker cord. I suppose it's asthetics but I don't like the way they feel. They probably changed the rubber in the cord because people were complaining about the cord breaking or peeling or something. The second thing and more important is I don't like the plug. The old plug was at right angles. In other words, the cord angled out to the side, it was really nice and kept the plug end from getting caught on everything. The new headphones have a straight plug that sticks out over an inch and I'm afraid I'm going to break off the plug if I catch it on something or damage my phone. All in all, it's a good solid product but they have tweaked them in the wrong direction. The price has gone down $10 from when I bought them a couple of years ago and I was happy about that but I'd gladly give them the $10 back for a better design.

I have been through so many different headphones in the last few years that I probably dont remember half of them. The most expensive pair I have ever purchased before these were around $40. I've never owned a pair of Bose before, but I am always hearing the brand and it has a well established high reputation in the audio industry. After reading the reassuring reviews, I decided it was time to spend some extra $$$ and buy a pair that I would not lose (due to the price). I paid an extra $30 for the call/control option for my Galaxy Note, simply because I am used to this feature as many headphones come standard with. Here is what I think of the product in order of importance in my perspective:Comfort- It doesnt matter how good headphones sound if you can't keep them in your ear right? These are the most comfortable in-ear headphones I have ever tried on. They come with 3 sizes, (SM MED LRG). The large fit my ears perfectly, and never fall out. I give them a 10 for comfort.Sound- These headphones sound good and clear, but I feel there are better sounding headphones for the price. The bass is a little bit low for me, as I like to listen to rap music often. I guess if you dont care for much bass, then they would be great for you. Also, they do not have noise-cancelling feautures, but do still block out a small amount of noise. On a scale of 1-10, with the Iphone and Galaxy headphones being a 5, these would be a 7.5.Conclusion- If you like having your headphones in your ears for long periods of time, and arent a bass fanatic, these headphones are worth it. The comfort is unmatched, but is slightly inferior in sound compared to others at this price. Also, the additional $30 for the mic seems pretty steep (30% increase), and I would most likely not purchase these headphones again in respect to the price/value ratio.

EDIT: Lost my first pair without the inline mic, so I bought this again, with the inline mic for iOS. Unfortunately, the mic DOES NOT WORK. Right out of the box, the mic is not functioning on my iphone6. I tried the apple buds, and the mic worked on those, so I know this is an issue with the Bose headphones specifically, and not with my iPhone. Pretty disappointed.These headphones hold a special place in my heart. I have the kind of ears that in-ear headphones do not stay in. Even with minor jostling from turning my head or slowly walking and headphones would come flying out of my ears. Over the ear headphones are just not a comfortable option for getting your sweat on in the gym or on a run, so I've been desperate to find in-ears that actually stay in. I tried some skull candy's that wrap around the ear and those were fine, though the wrap around would get uncomfortable after 30-40 minutes. Then I tried Yurbuds, and thought I was really on to something. Your buds are in-ears with little attachments that enter into your ear-hole and were actually pretty great at staying in my ear on trail runs and at the gym. The problem was that after a few months, they attachment would get loose with all the sweat/wax that normal wear had exposed them to and eventually I would lose them and be left with normal in-ear headphones again that fall out.These Bose headphones stay put! the attachment technology is great. And the sound quality is amazing (bass comes through nicely, volume goes very high without distortion, making them great for planes as well), just as Bose products are known to have. They also have a little blue slider that makes tangled headphones virtually a non-issue. Been using these for 3-4 months (at least 5 hours per day, at least 3-4 hours of getting sweaty per week) and no issues.

I don't know why I haven't learned to trust my instincts on purchases like this. I've been looking at these for awhile trying to decide if I should pull the trigger. I finally did and now I regret it. The sound quality is just OK; sounds a little muffled like there's too much bass no matter what setting I try on the equalizer. I kind of expected something a little more impressive from a Bose product at this price point. But even worse is what I was worried about all along; the stupid wings on the buds. I prefer a solid, snug fit and no matter which size I use the buds feel bulky and loose as if just resting on my ear rather than being held in place. Granted I have small ears but most other ear buds I've tried come with a lot more than 3 size options and usually a few different shapes as well. It's really a ridiculous design that assumes every ear is going to get a good fit with just 3 generic size options. I'm tempted to cut the wings off but then I definitely can't return them. Ugh, I'm definitely frustrated and disappointed with these.

The sound quality is above average, but the things fall apart so quickly that you don't get long to enjoy it. I've had theee pairs, and each time wire casing leading into the speakers frays quickly (on the order of 2-4) with daily use and can lead to sudden loss of power to one or both speakers. Bose may be sound engineering masterminds, but they seem completely incapable of producing a product with any bit of material integrity.

Bought two pairs of these a year ago and they were great, 5 Stars.The pair I received today have significantly less bass than my previous two pairs. Wondering if this is just a lemon or has Bose quality control gone down hill? Either way, I won't be buying these again and I'll be returning these for a different model.Too bad Bose has stagnated in their innovation as of late. I used to revere them as a top drawer electronics company. Where are the bluetooth in-ear phones? I bought a pair of SoundPEATS QY7 from Amazon for $25 and they sound impressively good. Thing is, I like Bose's StayHear tips more than 'bullet' ear buds.

9 months in they started to fail. The jack has lost its connection integrity and the sound drops out constantly. You have fumble with it in it socket to get the sound back. It will drop out of one ear entirely the majority of the time. After 2 months of struggling to use them, I've given up and started shopping around for a replacement pair. The sound quality is excellent but the durability mentioned elsewhere really is an issue. For $130, I expected and needed a durable item. I travel and live overseas at the time of this writing. Going through the hoops of a warranty is damned difficult and I've had little support from Bose. Not a fan. Will likely drop Bose entirely until the issues of quality is addressed, especially at this price point.

These are the second pair of headphones that I because the first pair did not hold up for longer than 12 months and I wanted to give it a second chance because I really like the Bose brand. I run a lot and I need some type of music to keep me going during training and for a while these were the go to for me. The headphones worked great at first but over time they started to come apart at the connections. I used these to train for my ironman and they were great sound and they stayed in my ears. Overtime as the rubber coating over the wires started coming apart the music started cutting in and out driving me crazy. I was very disappointed because I paid 150 dollars, I really liked them and now I am stuck on the market again looking for other brands that might be able to hold up to the training I have to do for ironmans and marathons.

The Bose headphones have some great qualities and some terrible qualities, depending on what you're looking for.Pros: The most comfortable in-ear headphones I have ever owned. They produce great sound quality and the microphone works very well with my iPhone. In a QUITE environment, they are perfect and you can wear them for hours without knowing they are in.Cons: ZERO noise canceling- I don't mean some I mean zero. If you have any background noise you will hear it; regardless of how loud you play your music.My recommendation: If you're like me, you listen to your headphones at the gym, on planes, and places that will inevitably have background noise. If you like in-ear headphones buy the Shure SE215 headphones. They are about the same price, have similar sound quality, and will completely eliminate background noise. I find the Shure foam earbuds to be very comfortable and once you find the right size and preference with foam / silicone ear bud fittings; they are perfect.I bought the Bose headphones because I lost my Shure SE425 earbuds. I just found them and will be using them in place of the Bose earbuds- they are $300 and well worth the cost if you use your headphones on a regular basis.Like I said- extremely comfortable but not the ideal headphones for me. I was pretty disappointed with them and thought I would get a much better product for $125. Would return them, but past the 30 day refund date.

EDIT: Had to reduce my 5-star rating after some use, because they started to have a clicking sound when I walk, as if there's a "tap" with every step I take. I can't figure out if the noise is originating from the wires, or inside the earbuds themselves, or what.Previous review (still all true except for the current clicking problem):Excellent sound quality, including bass. They don't get very loud, and are not noise-cancelling so you still hear outside noise with them on. This makes them perfect for walking, running, biking, etc., since you still want to be aware of your surroundings while moving. They stay nicely in your ears with the design, and there's a clip where you can clip the wire to your shirt to keep the weight of the wire from tugging on the earbuds.

I bought these at the end of 2015 and while they sound great. The volume is rather low with this set, also the buttons for volume and mute/skip control fall apart. I only use them while at work in an office environment so they never got dirty or over used or anything like that. The buttons while they are hard plastic and the housing is also hard plastic, there is a soft rubber material that holds the buttons in place, this breaks apartment pretty quickly. Its pretty cheaply put together. Not worth the money at all.

This is my second purchase of the (VERY expensive) Bose headphones. While the sound quality is excellent, this is the second time the microphone has died, rendering them useless for car use. I have tried contacting Bose but cannot get through on the 800# without interminable waits. Once again yesterday, after waiting on hold for close to 30 minutes, I was told that I was not in the right department, and was transferred to the "right" department. After another long wait, that dept. was closed for the day. There is no way to email them. And the community forum will not allow me to post about my problem, instead finding what they consider a "similar" problem (which is not). I used to love this company, but if this is the best they can do with $130. headphones, I will never purchase another Bose product.

Let me just say the sound quality is good for earbuds. It's very difficult to get good bass with in-ear buds but these definitely did the trick.Now the bad. These things fall apart after approximately 13 months. They reduced their warranty to 1 year in the US, and the plastic coating on the wires starts flaking off quick. On my old pair it came off but they still worked; on my second pair, it broke around the headphone jack area and my sound in one ear began cutting out.I called Bose support and could not understand the operator on the line. I asked to be transferred to a manager. She transferred me to French-speaking support either by mistake or to spite me. However the French speaker on the other end of the line spoke English better than the previous support representative. He was incredibly nice and replaced my headphones for free despite me exceeding the warranty. I appreciate this, but I want you to know that others may not be so forgiving as to replace these headphones when they go out in 1-2 years after normal usage.

I've listened to the older model of these headphones and was blown away. However, the set of headphones I received did not perform like a normal Bose product. I have other Bose headphones and Bose speakers and feel that these don't come close to what I was expecting. I'm not sure if Bose as a company just made lower quality headphones or if Amazon is selling 2nd tier products. At this point, I ended up putting these away, seeing as how my standard apple headphones beat the Soundtrue headphones in terms of quality. Absolutely not worth the $80.

45 days after purchasing these earbuds at $129.00, the inline control/mic ceased to work and the left earbud has static and sound going in and out. Unfortunately, I'm unable to return them. The return policy has expired.

sound quality is very good. Ear buds stay in place better than anything else I've experienced. Microphone is a lot more useful than I thought.UPDATE (4/24/15) - well that didn't last long :( Haven't even had these 6 months and the microphone already stopped working this morning. Going to contact Bose about getting a replacement and will update review accordingly. Not too happy that such an expensive product has this short of a lifespan.UPDATE #2 (5/12/16) - so after I had Bose replace the earbuds in May of 2015, 1 year later they are broke again. The right earbud stopped working, and since it's past their 12 month of initial purchase replacement policy, I now am the proud owner of $140 left ear bud. If I could give this a negative review I would. Total piece of crap.