These are not really the same size class, and that is the honest framing here. The Bose QuietComfort 20 ranks #468 of 668 in-ear headphones by sound quality; the Bose QuietComfort 45 ranks #142 of 308 over-ear headphones by sound quality.
What the Bose QuietComfort 20 does well: Measured response gives it a solid Harman preference score of 69 with a 2.63 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. Watch for: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
The case for the Bose QuietComfort 45: Excellent noise cancelling and a comfortable, light 0.5 lbs (240 g) build. Watch for: Discontinued.
One note: the Bose QuietComfort 20 is discontinued and no longer widely available new.
Buy the Bose QuietComfort 20 if you want a in-ear headphones. Buy the Bose QuietComfort 45 if you want a over-ear headphones instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose QuietComfort 20 | Bose QuietComfort 45 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Ranked | #468 of 668 in In-Ear Headphones | #142 of 308 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | Over-ear |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | - |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.63 dB standard deviation | 2.29 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.12 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.63 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.1 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Weight | - | 0.5 lbs (240 g) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 24 hours |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Bose QuietComfort 45 compares with other leading options:
- Bose QuietComfort 25 vs Bose QuietComfort 45
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II vs Bose QuietComfort 45
- Bose QuietComfort 20 vs Bose QuietComfort 25
- Bose QuietComfort 20 vs Bose QuietComfort 35 II
- Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back vs Meze Empyrean II
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Bose QuietComfort 20 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Measured response gives it a solid Harman preference score of 69 with a 2.63 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. A 5.6 dB peak near 7.5 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
Full Bose QuietComfort 20 review and specifications →
| Released | 2013 (13 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.63 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.12 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -7.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +3.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 154 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 888 Hz | +5.7 dB | 1.32 |
| Peak | 1,798 Hz | -5.3 dB | 2.41 |
| Peak | 5,947 Hz | +4.8 dB | 3.69 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +7.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,134 Hz | -3.1 dB | 4.32 |
| Peak | 37 Hz | -1.0 dB | 2.29 |
| Peak | 209 Hz | +0.3 dB | 1.78 |
| Peak | 60 Hz | +0.6 dB | 2.44 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless Discontinued eBay
Pros: Excellent noise cancelling and a comfortable, light 240 g build. The measured tuning scores 76 on the Harman scale with a 2.29 dB spread, with clean bass about 2 dB above target that extends to 20 Hz and mids close to neutral.
Cons: Discontinued. A 9.1 dB dip near 8.7 kHz and an upper treble lift make cymbals sound uneven, and the original release had no EQ beyond a later bass and treble slider. There is no high resolution codec beyond AAC.
Full Bose QuietComfort 45 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Battery Life | 24 hours |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.29 dB standard deviation |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.63 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (240 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -2.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 161 Hz | -2.2 dB | 1.15 |
| Peak | 5,490 Hz | -7.7 dB | 2.06 |
| Peak | 4,242 Hz | +3.5 dB | 0.24 |
| Peak | 2,328 Hz | -5.2 dB | 2.15 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -7.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,352 Hz | +2.9 dB | 1.93 |
| Peak | 390 Hz | +0.5 dB | 2.32 |
| Peak | 6,508 Hz | -1.0 dB | 5.04 |
| Peak | 70 Hz | -0.1 dB | 1.97 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons