Bose Returns to Wired Earbuds With $99 USB-C ANC Model

The launch comes as wired earbuds are making a small comeback. According to The Verge, sales rose this year after five years of decline, helped by younger listeners’ interest and celebrity sightings. The report also cites practical advantages: wired earbuds do not need a battery and are harder to lose than a single wireless earbud.

Bose’s earlier wired ANC model, the QuietComfort 20, used a 3.5mm jack and relied on a rechargeable battery in its cable. The new model uses USB-C, so it can connect to current phones and computers without an adapter, and The Verge says the port supplies the minimal power ANC requires. The report notes that most wired earbuds, including inexpensive models and high-end in-ear monitors, rely on passive isolation because analog connectors do not provide enough power for active noise cancellation.

In The Verge’s review, the earbuds were simple to use: they need no pairing, charging, or companion app. The in-line remote has three buttons for volume, playback, and noise-canceling mode selection. The package includes three ear-tip sizes and two sets of wings, and the reviewer found a comfortable, secure fit that lasted for hours. The earbuds are IPX4-rated for light rain or exercise, support 24-bit/48kHz high-res audio, and use a wired connection for low latency.

The review found the noise cancellation solid for the price but below Bose’s Bluetooth earbuds, which have three microphones per side versus two on the wired model. The wired earbuds blocked low-frequency sounds such as air conditioners and truck rumbles well, according to the review, but had difficulty muting nearby conversation. A slight high-end hiss was audible when ANC was on and no sound was playing. The reviewer also described clear vocals, punchy bass, and a somewhat bright high end, with no EQ options because there is no app.

The Verge reported that call quality was not great and wind noise was distracting. The 4.2-foot cable could catch on drawer handles, keyboard edges, clothing zippers, bag straps, pockets, and other objects, and cable noise traveled up the cable when it rubbed or bumped against something. The review said the cable insulation minimized that effect.

Bose’s $99 price places the wired earbuds in a small field. The Verge cites Belkin’s $30 SoundForm ANC Wired Earbuds, which reportedly have weak noise canceling, and an Audio-Technica wired ANC model released in Asia earlier this year. The report says the Bose model’s main appeal is combining ANC with the simplicity of a wired connection, even as the cable brings familiar frustrations.