Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used. Used, the Bose QuietComfort 25 is the better pick: it ranks #135 of 308 over-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 3.8/5), against #142 (rated 3.7/5) for the Bose QuietComfort 45. If you want one new, the Dan Clark Audio E3 ranks #1 at $2,299.
What the Bose QuietComfort 25 does well: Measured response gives it a very good Harman preference score of 77 with a 2.25 dB spread. Watch for: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
What the Bose QuietComfort 45 does well: Excellent noise cancelling and a comfortable, light 0.5 lbs (240 g) build. Watch for: Discontinued.
Buy the Bose QuietComfort 25 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, start with the Dan Clark Audio E3 instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bose QuietComfort 25 | Bose QuietComfort 45 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Ranked | #135 of 308 in Over-Ear Headphones | #142 of 308 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Closed | - |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | - |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (196 g) | 0.5 lbs (240 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 76 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.25 dB standard deviation | 2.29 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.55 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.63 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.8 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+2.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.1 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 24 hours |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Bose QuietComfort 25:
- Bose QuietComfort 25 vs Bose QuietComfort 35 II
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II vs Bose QuietComfort 45
- Bose QuietComfort 20 vs Bose QuietComfort 25
- Bose QuietComfort 20 vs Bose QuietComfort 45
- 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Headphones In Full
Bose QuietComfort 25 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Measured response gives it a very good Harman preference score of 77 with a 2.25 dB spread. Bass sits close to target and holds down to 20 Hz, so low end sounds full without bloat.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. A 5.9 dB peak near 6.1 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
Full Bose QuietComfort 25 review and specifications →
| Released | 2014 (12 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.25 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 77 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.8 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.55 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (196 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.4 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 | +11.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 44 Hz | -11.3 dB | 0.44 |
| Peak | 8,885 Hz | +3.1 dB | 2.73 |
| Peak | 6,317 Hz | -5.7 dB | 5.73 |
| Peak | 471 Hz | +2.1 dB | 4.74 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -1.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,321 Hz | -2.2 dB | 3.62 |
| Peak | 2,242 Hz | -1.8 dB | 2.57 |
| Peak | 3,113 Hz | +3.6 dB | 5.38 |
| Peak | 3,879 Hz | -2.0 dB | 6.00 |
- 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