Short answer: the Focal Azurys. It ranks #81 of 134 over-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 3.5/5) at $430 and is still sold new; the Bose QuietComfort 35 II ranks #83 (rated 3.4/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
Why pick the Focal Azurys: A preference score of 70 with only 2.29 dB of deviation from the Harman target makes this a reasonably smooth closed-back, and the midrange from 200 Hz to 3 kHz sits within about 1 dB of target so vocals and guitars sound natural. Watch for: A 11.9 dB dip near 9.7 kHz takes the edge off cymbals and sibilance, and treble overall sits about 1 dB under target, so the top end is a little dull and closed in.
Why pick the Bose QuietComfort 35 II: Active noise cancelling and a 20 hour battery make it a practical choice for commuting and flights. The tradeoff: Bluetooth 4.0 and no aptX or LDAC support limit wireless audio quality and connection features compared with newer models.
Buy the Focal Azurys. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Bose QuietComfort 35 II is discontinued.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Azurys | Bose QuietComfort 35 II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $430.00 | $359.99 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #81 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones | #83 of 134 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 70 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 69 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.29 dB standard deviation | 2.61 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.81 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wireless and wired |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | - |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 26 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB SPL/mW | - |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (306 g) | 0.5 lbs (240 g) |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Battery Life | - | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Focal Azurys:
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II vs Fairphone Fairbuds XL
- Sennheiser HD 599 vs Cooler Master MH752
- Sennheiser HD 650 vs Sennheiser HD 599
- Sennheiser HD 600 vs Sennheiser HD 599
- Audio-Technica ATH-M60x vs Sennheiser HD 599
Prices on this page were last checked October 10, 2026 at 5:37 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
Focal Azurys: $430.00 Amazon eBay
Older models: the Focal Celestee (ranked lower, rated 3.4/5) and the Focal Elegia (ranked lower, rated 3/5). See every Focal Elegia, Celestee and Azurys generation.
Pros: A preference score of 70 with only 2.29 dB of deviation from the Harman target makes this a reasonably smooth closed-back, and the midrange from 200 Hz to 3 kHz sits within about 1 dB of target so vocals and guitars sound natural. Bass runs about 3.7 dB above target in the sub-bass and 2.6 dB in the upper bass, adding punch to kick drums and bass lines. At 26 ohms and 100 dB per mW it runs loud from a phone, and it weighs 306 g with a built-in microphone for calls.
Cons: A 11.9 dB dip near 9.7 kHz takes the edge off cymbals and sibilance, and treble overall sits about 1 dB under target, so the top end is a little dull and closed in. The extra low end leans warm, which can thicken male vocals and bass-heavy mixes. It is wired only, and the Sennheiser HD 620S has a higher rating for much less.
Full Focal Azurys review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.29 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 15Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 70 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 26 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB SPL/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (306 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -3.9 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 | -3.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 185 Hz | -1.3 dB | 0.78 |
| Peak | 9,293 Hz | +2.5 dB | 1.66 |
| Peak | 4,836 Hz | +3.9 dB | 2.99 |
| Peak | 3,460 Hz | -2.8 dB | 3.99 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,331 Hz | +1.5 dB | 1.61 |
| Peak | 519 Hz | -0.6 dB | 2.00 |
| Peak | 74 Hz | +0.7 dB | 2.61 |
| Peak | 39 Hz | -0.4 dB | 1.54 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Bose QuietComfort 35 II: $359.99 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Active noise cancelling and a 20 hour battery make it a practical choice for commuting and flights. Bluetooth with SBC and AAC suits iPhones, and a wired connection is available when the battery runs out. At 240 g it is light for an over-ear with a built-in microphone, and its preference score of 69 in crinacle’s measurement is respectable for a noise cancelling model.
Cons: Bluetooth 4.0 and no aptX or LDAC support limit wireless audio quality and connection features compared with newer models. The Focal Azurys has a higher rating as a wired closed-back, though it lacks wireless and noise cancelling. The design dates from 2017, and the Fairphone Fairbuds XL offers newer Bluetooth, aptX HD and a longer battery at a lower price. Discontinued.
Full Bose QuietComfort 35 II review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.61 dB standard deviation |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 69 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.81 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (240 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.3 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 | +2.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 99 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.26 |
| Peak | 1,332 Hz | +3.2 dB | 0.62 |
| Peak | 2,633 Hz | -4.5 dB | 3.08 |
| Peak | 5,938 Hz | -5.2 dB | 6.00 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,646 Hz | +3.7 dB | 0.99 |
| Peak | 4,334 Hz | -2.3 dB | 3.66 |
| Peak | 7,076 Hz | +2.6 dB | 5.94 |
| Peak | 6,213 Hz | -3.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons