Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) vs Sennheiser HD 505

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

Comfort is a near-universal win — a light ~262g build, soft glasses-friendly pads and low clamping force make these one of the easiest flagship ANC headphones to wear all day. The design, dimensions and case are carried over unchanged from Gen 1, with only updated leather-style materials and a slightly more premium feel.

• After two months of daily use these are the best-feeling headphones the reviewer owns — wearable for very long stretches where many headphones get uncomfortable after two hours.
• The headphones weigh in at 262g — lightweight for a pair of premium ANC over-ears, where rivals often sit between 280 and 300g.
• Around 260g with a soft-padded headband, the ear cups fold inward on a proper hinge and drop into a hard-shell carry case with a magnetic clasp.
• The ear cups fold in, making the case significantly more compact than much of the competition — a real win for regular travellers.
• Bose has stepped up the build with aluminium elements and sturdier plastics while keeping the headphones light — a long-standing critique partially addressed.
• This is an iterative refresh: the dimensions, case and controls are identical to Gen 1, with the changes limited to a slightly different leather-style material and what Bose calls an updated design.
• RecordingNOW measured Gen 2 at 262g, around 8g heavier than the Gen 1 it tested — still light, but not a weight reduction.
• Reddit owners back up the comfort: they fit super nicely and are really light, with leather and build quality that feel top-notch and premium.
• The pads do not have the thickest foam, so passive (ANC-off) noise blocking isn't class-leading, and warm weather can mean airing the cups out occasionally.

Sennheiser HD 505

The HD 505 reuses the proven HD 500-series chassis: a featherlight 237g frame, cushy earpads and gentle clamp that make it one of the most comfortable open-backs in its class. The trade-off is a functional plastic build that doesn't feel premium.

• Refreshingly light at 237g without the cable, with solid (if not premium) build and cushy earpads.
• It largely sticks to the HD 500 series' tried-and-tested design, keeping it compatible with first- and third-party accessories.
• Lighter and gentler than the HD 600 — it has the least clamp pressure on the table and is more comfortable than the rest.
• In a minor upset, the HD 505 is more comfortable than the HD 600 thanks to slightly gentler headband compression plus its lighter 237g weight versus 260g.
• The softer earpads give a better seal for larger ears and glasses wearers, though that matters less on an open-back.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

At an unchanged $449 the QC Ultra 2 sits head-to-head with the Sony WH-1000XM6 and AirPods Max. It wins on ANC and comfort and undercuts the AirPods Max, but trails Sony on battery and software — and with the near-identical Gen 1 now heavily discounted, the value case depends heavily on how much you weigh the new battery, USB-C audio and refined sound.

• Forbes tested more than 25 pairs and named the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) the best wireless headphones overall.
• Gen 2 launches at $449 in both the US and UK — exactly the same as Gen 1's launch price, a small step up from the older $429 QC Ultra.
• Against the AirPods Max 2 the Bose gives 30 hours of battery to Apple's 20, weighs about 120g less and costs $100 less — the more practical daily driver.
• Versus the Sony WH-1000XM6 it's a genuinely close call — Bose wins comfort and ties on ANC, but Sony pulls ahead on battery life and the depth of its app and automation.
• Because Gen 1 is roughly 90% the same headphone and now sees steep discounts (as low as $299 on Black Friday), a discounted original can be the smarter buy for value hunters.
• A reviewer writing an ANC buying guide rated a rival as the headphone to get — yet still found the QC Ultra more impressive in certain ways, making it a difficult choice at this price.
• For travel and desk work the QC Ultra 2 is reviewers' clear pick — the comfort, ANC and battery make them the headphones owners reach for all the time.

Sennheiser HD 505

At $250 the HD 505 is the cheapest genuine entry into Sennheiser's open-back lineage, but it lands in a brutal price band: the older HD 6XX/HD 600 and the new HD 550 both make a strong case against it, and Beyerdynamic and HiFiMan add more pressure.

• The HD 505 competes in a crowded segment against Audio-Technica, Beyerdynamic and others in the sub-$300 price range.
• It slots in beneath the benchmark HD 600 series while ticking plenty of boxes for music fans chasing sonic quality on a budget.
• For around the same money you can get a used HD 650 or a new HD 6XX/HD 600 — any of which gives a truer representation of the source.
• The HD 6XX is meaningfully less expensive and remains the indisputable value king — not just in Sennheiser's lineup but in headphones at this price range.
• For $20 more the new HD 550 might steal some of the 505's thunder with even stronger bass and arguably less annoying treble peaks.