Now there’s something you just don’t see everyday: A pair of Bose on-ear headphones with a white design. But before you have a panic attack, the company has not ditched anything more than its typical black and gray sex appeal: The headphones maintain the same level of audio quality and construction hardiness that you’re used to. Best of all, the headphones only cost about $150, which strikes us a bargain, no matter the Bose name that comes attached. All in all, it’s a quality effort by a very respected manufacturer. For our full review of these excellent, mid-range on-ear headphones, check out the full headphone reivew below.
Design and Comfort
Bose OE2
As with any on-ear set of headphones, we did have our concerns about the OE2’s comfort level. Primarily, we wondered just how comfortable they would be after an extended playtime, not to mention during sticky situations, in which the pads can often become sweaty. Thankfully, hardly any of our concerns were valid. The headphones fit snugly on our heads, and the pads hardly bothered us at all. We have a feeling you could listen to the OE2s for hours before noticing any discomfort. Likewise, the pads weren’t too sweaty, though we have a feeling a jaunt down a Southern street in August may leave them slightly runny. Otherwise, the slimmer design than the OE originals means less weight on the head, but without a compromised construction. These are hardy headphones, and we have no doubt they’d make excellent little commuters.
Sound Performance and Quality
First and foremost, this is not a very sound-isolating set of cans. In fact, you won’t find much of that here at all, thanks to the on-ear design. If that sounds fine, though, what you will discover is a mountain of Bose-worthy performance at nearly half the cost of a comparable model. The OE2s performed exactly as we’d expect a pricer series too, producing a wide range of clear tones across the board. The highs were especially nice, as were the mids, which struck as particularly buttery and warm. The bass was pleasant as well, though it actually misses the typically bloated sound of other Bose headphones. There’s not quite as much boom, but it’s been replaced with more clarity: A trade we tended to enjoy. Still, the Bose OE2 headphones take a different approach to the Bose sound than Bose itself, producing a curiously strong performance with a unique twist.
Price: Real-Time Deals
We scan the best merchants daily to provide you with the lowest real-time prices.
Overall Value
There’s no doubt about the value of the cans, as they clock in at around $150 street. For that money, you’ll get brand name recognition, a killer and light design, as well as superb audio performance. We could name a few Sennheiser models that might produce bigger bass, but if you’re in the market for a cheaper set of Bose headphones, we really can’t think of a better option than the OE2s. These puppies come recommended, on-ear sweat or not!
