Listen like never before with QuietControl 30 wireless headphones. Breakthrough technology lets you set your own level of noise cancellation, so you can control how much of the world you want to let in - or how quiet you want your surroundings to be. Volume-optimized EQ gives you balanced audio performance at any volume, while a noise-rejecting dual-microphone system provides clear calls, even in windy or noisy environments. Connect easily to your devices with Bluetooth and NFC pairing. QuietControl 30 wireless headphones feature a lightweight neckband design that conforms to your body for all-day comfort and wearability. A lithium-ion battery gives you up to 10 hours of wireless listening per charge. And the Bose Connect app helps you manage your paired devices and gives you enhanced control. Available in Black.
I've been waiting for these earbuds for a long time, and I have to say I'm somewhat disappointed so far. The sound quality is good, and the noise cancellation is excellent (although not as good as the QC 20s or QC 35s, surprisingly). And they are much more comfortable than they look--you might think that the neck band would be problematic, but it's so light that you forget it's even there, even after hours of usage.
So there's a lot of good here. And just one drawback, but it's a doozy: Bluetooth connectivity.
I experienced it first when walking from room to room when the QC 30s were paired to my iPhone. I thought maybe the Bluetooth range wasn't great--not ideal for a $300 pair of earbuds, but not a deal breaker. But this morning I paired the QC 30s with my brand new Apple Watch, and the same exact thing happened. I experienced the dreaded sound of drops, skips, and re-starts while going for a jog--it was if I'd been morphed back into the early 90s and was trying to jog while balancing a portable disc player on one elbow.
To me, lousy Bluetooth connectivity IS a deal breaker. I can live with less noise cancellation effectiveness and a weak Bluetooth signal range, but it absolutely HAS to work with the Apple Watch (or any smart watch that is right there on your person). Unless this is a known issue that Bose plans a firmware upgrade for, I will probably end up exchanging these to see if I needed up with a defective unit. If the same problem continues, then I guess I'll be returning these altogether and waiting for the QC 40s debut. Disappointed but still optimistic that maybe I just got a bad pair--will update this review accordingly.