Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs JBL Live 780NC

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QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) compared with Live 780NC

	BoseQuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)	JBLLive 780NC
Overview
Released
Released	September 2025	March 2026
Sound
Type
Type	Over-ear	Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Driver size
Driver size	–	40 mm
Back
Back	–	Closed
Impedance
Impedance	–	32 ohms
Spatial audio with head tracking
Spatial audio with head tracking	Yes	–
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	SBC, AAC and aptX Adaptive	SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	Yes	No
Drivers
Drivers	–	40 mm dynamic with compound diaphragm; 10 Hz–40 kHz response and 98 dB SPL sensitivity at 1 kHz
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	Quiet Mode (full noise cancelling) and Aware Mode with ActiveSense, now smoother at damping sudden noise spikes; noise cancelling adjustable or fully off in the Bose app; CustomTune tailors sound and noise cancelling to your ears; wind block in custom modes	True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0, Ambient Aware and TalkThru
Audio features
Audio features	Bose Immersive Audio (Still keeps the virtual speakers in place as you turn your head; Motion lets them follow) and Cinema Mode; up to seven custom modes; adjustable EQ in the Bose app; lossless USB-C audio at 16-bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz; aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound devices, which Bose says adapts to lossless audio and low latency; Gaming Mode	Spatial Sound, Personi-Fi 3.0, Low Volume Dynamic EQ and Auracast; LDAC maker-confirmed, SBC, AAC and LC3 confirmed by Les Numériques
Hearing health
Hearing health	–	Personal Sound Amplification and left/right balance; VoiceAware own-voice monitoring
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 30 hours	Up to 50 hours
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 23 hours with Immersive Audio on; up to 45 hours with noise cancelling and Immersive Audio off; tested by Bose at 75 dB SPL; low-power standby when laid flat or put in the case; can be used while charging	Up to 80 hours with ANC off or 50 on; calls 33 hours with ANC off or 28 on; 870 mAh, 3.7 V lithium-ion battery; two-hour full charge
Fast charging
Fast charging	15 minutes gives up to 3 hours with noise cancelling on and Immersive Audio off (Bose's test footnote gives 2.5 hours); full charge in up to 3 hours	Five minutes supplies up to four hours; UK page's hours label is erroneous
Design
Weight
Weight	264 g	260 g (better)
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.4	6.0
Two devices at once
Two devices at once	Yes	Yes
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	Yes	Yes
Controls
Controls	On the right ear cup, a Bluetooth/power button, a multi-function button (play, pause, skip, calls and modes) and a capacitive volume strip (swipe for volume; touch and hold for a shortcut to Immersive Audio settings, Spotify Tap or the voice assistant); on-head detection pauses and resumes audio, answers calls and wakes the headphones	Customisable button and touch controls
Microphones
Microphones	Four microphones for calls, two on each ear cup	Maker prose, PDF and US press table say six microphones including two beamforming call microphones; current UK specification table instead lists four
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Around-ear (circumaural) with an adjustable headband; removable protein leather cushions; plastic and aluminium build with polished metal yokes; folds for the carry case	Foldable over-ear design with metal hinge, silicone headband and soft ear cushions; closed back confirmed by Labo Fnac
Dimensions
Dimensions	–	Outer cushions 98.6 × 80 mm, inner 60.4 × 41.5 mm; cushion height 23 mm
Works with
Works with	Bose app for iOS and Android; multipoint connection to two devices; Google Fast Pair; Spotify Tap; SimpleSync with a Bose Smart Soundbar or Bose Smart Speaker	Two Bluetooth devices; optional Smart Tx transmitter sold separately; supplied 120 cm USB-C-to-3.5 mm cable is analogue and requires power, without USB digital audio or passive listening (Les Numériques)
Colours
Colours	Black, White Smoke, Driftwood Sand and Midnight Violet at launch; Bose UK now also sells Cherry Chocolate, Desert Gold and Olive Green	Black, White, Sand, Green, Blue, Purple and Orange
In the box
In the box	Headphones, carry case, 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm audio cable, USB-C to USB-C cable (99 cm), safety sheet	Headphones, USB-C-to-3.5 mm analogue cable, carrying pouch, warranty and quick-start guide. Maker US March 2026 shipping schedule corroborated by Les Numériques' March retail availability; UK announcement followed in May. Current UK RRP £169.99 differs from the £179.99 launch price