Sony and Bose have been battling it out for noise-canceling supremacy the last few years. Bose has taken the lead once again with its $300 flagship earbuds.

Though they lack some features found on other earbuds of this price, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 make up for it with astounding noise cancellation and sound quality.

Adaptive sound, smarter ANC, and a refreshed design make the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 the best wireless earbuds for noise cancellation.

If you're willing to splurge on the best noise cancellation you can get on a pair of earbuds, the $299 Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are for you. If you'd rather have longer battery life, wireless charging and more advanced audio, go for the Sony WF-1000XM4 or the new AirPods Pro.

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are one of the best wireless earbuds out there — and, most significantly, they deliver noticeably better active noise-cancellation than any other noise-canceling wireless earbuds to date. The more pocketable design is a welcome update, too.

The true wireless Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II set a new standard for in-ear active noise cancellation while delivering a powerful, bass-forward audio experience.

Bose does a lot of things right with the QuietComfort Earbuds II, starting with class-leading noise cancelation that puts them above all others. The bonus is they'll also fit better and give you a sonic boost, too.

If it’s supreme noise blocking you’re looking for in your next set of true wireless earbuds, the QCE II is the choice. With the updates Bose delivers here with the help of CustomTune, not only is the ANC noticeably better than the previous model, but overall audio quality and ambient sound mode are also improved. Sure, I’d like more than six hours of battery life and conveniences like multipoint connectivity and wireless charging should be standard fare at this point. For $299, I’d expect some of those basics to be included and Bose passed on them.

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 offer great sound and their 30% smaller buds, 40% smaller case [compared to previous model], along with a two-piece Fit Kit system is a major attraction for users. Although there is no multipoint Bluetooth pairing, wireless charging and no support for aptX Adaptive audio codec, these buds will be especially attractive for users looking for great noise canceling experience.

They are smaller, lighter, more discreet and easier to fit and carry about. They have good controls, solid battery life and are stable and comfortable to wear for extended periods. They sound better with good, easy-listening audio and plenty of bass, though they still have Bose’s signature “clean” sound which can’t match the sonic highs of the very best available.

The QuietComfort Earbuds II are objectively the best noise-canceling earbuds you can buy. Bose has successfully fended off Sony, Apple, Google, and Samsung and made meaningful progress with ANC in this form factor. They certainly don’t come cheap, and I can’t predict how long the QC Earbuds II will remain at the top; Apple is about to release its second-generation AirPods Pro and promises its own noise-canceling advancements. But these sound fantastic, fit comfortably, and do an unmatched job at silencing the outside world — especially voices. Reputation vindicated once again.

If you want the absolute best noise canceling you can get, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are the earbuds to buy. While they leave out some big features like multipoint pairing and earbud tracking, there are plenty of other reasons to sign up, including excellent sound, good controls, and ample ways to customize your experience.

There are a couple of odd quirks, like the inability to use the left bud without the right and the lack of wireless charging, but they sound fantastic and have the best active noise cancellation of any true wireless earbud we’ve tested. At $279, those shortcomings could be decision-makers for single-bud users, but if you want stellar ANC and outstanding sound quality, they deliver in a big way.

The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds 2 are available in stores at a recommended retail price (RRP) of $299.99. This places them in the upper league of in-ear Bluetooth headphones, going up against the likes of Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX, the second generation Apple AirPods Pro, and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3.

Out of the box, they have a slight u-shaped sound profile, which delivers a touch of extra thump, rumble, and boom to mixes. It doesn't bloat vocals and instruments, which sound clear, accurate, and detailed. If you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust them to your liking. They're in-ear headphones, and their passive soundstage isn't very immersive due to their design.

Bose may have long held the title of "king of ANC," but that title is complicated by the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. It has great active noise cancelling (ANC) and some fascinating features, but weird sound choices, and a sky-high price make for a poor value.

Bose has revamped its flagship noise-cancelling earbuds in a big way and they’ve never sounded better

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 have put the master of noise-cancellation tech back on top, taking the competition right to Sony. Not only has Bose managed to implement its redesign well, the company has also improved on the noise cancellation of its flagship buds while also making it sound even better than before. Battery life and call quality aren’t anything to write home about but, if you can afford to splurge, these are arguably the best noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds you can get.

The Bose QC Earbuds 2 has a clear and major appeal: do you want earbuds that let you mostly eliminate outside noise and give you some peace and quiet? As someone who constantly works at coffee shops and spends chunks of the year in very dense and crowded cities like Tokyo and Hong Kong, I can say that yes, I very much appreciate the best-in-class ANC.

If you're looking for the best noise cancellation money can buy, these Bose earbuds deliver and then some. They aren't cheap, but with a refined sound, improved design and comfortable fit, they are a very attractive option for anyone with a premium budget.