The buds might be getting older; however, they can still compete at the top of the pack. The Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones may be an older set of workout earbuds. However, they are still popular today. These are durable earbuds for workouts with no need for the official IP rating. They are comfortable with using mid-workout. Bose SoundSport wireless headphones review is helpful to choose the best one. SoundSport Wireless is still a suitable choice for you.
- Date of release: 6/05/2016
- Price: USD 129
- Dimensions: 1.1 1 1.1 inches
- Weight: 22.7g
- Model Number: 761529-0010
- Waterproof: Sweat-resistant
What we love about Specifications and Tech Specifications
- Great fit
- Connectivity stability
- Quality of sound
- Controls that are easy to operate
- Sweat-resistant
What we don’t love about Specifications and Tech Specifications
- SBC as well as AAC only and no aptX
- Bulky
- There is no official IP rating
Style
The Bose SoundSport Wireless has a stylish and sporty design. They come in shades to suit your preferences and appear intelligent and well-crafted. However, they’re heavy and stick out of your ears after putting the earpieces on. This can be somewhat unsettling.
Comfort
- Weight: 0.05 lbs
- Clamping Force: 0 lbs
Bose SoundSport Bose SoundSport has a comfortable shape for the earbuds’ tips. They don’t wholly enter the ear canal, thus removing the discomfort that many listeners typically experience with in-ear headphones. The StayhereTips are more comfortable and spacious than the Stayhereand tips on the SoundTrue Ultra In-Ear and the QuietComfort 20. However, they can change directions while walking. This can result in some discomfort and even frustration, mainly when it affects the sound.
Controls
- OS Compatibility: Not OS specific
- Ease Of Use: Okay
- Feedback: Subpar
- Call/Music Control: Yes
- Volume Control: Yes
- Microphone Control: No
- Channel Mixing: No
- Noise Cancelling Control: No
- Talk-Through: No
- Additional Controls: No
The Bose SoundSport Wireless has a poor control system. They offer music/call, track skipping, and volume controls; however, they don’t have the best tactile feedback. The buttons are large and have been heavily coated with rubber to make them sweatproof. However, this also makes the buttons difficult to press, especially for volume control, unlike the more responsive and clicky in-line remote with the AKG N200.
Breathability
- Avg.Temp.Difference: 1 degC
Like most headphones in the ear, the Bose SoundSport Wireless headphones are very comfortable. They hold a bit of heat in the ear canal because of their design, making it slightly warmer, but there’s only a tiny increase in temperature that won’t make you sweat more than usual.
Portability
- L 2.4″ (6.2 cm)
- W 3.1″ (8.0 cm)
- H 0.9″ (2.2 cm)
- Volume 6.51 in3 (106.68 cm3)
- Transmitter Required: No
Its Bose SoundSport wireless is easy to keep in your bag, pocket, or purse. They’re a bit larger than regular in-ear headphones, but the cable isn’t large or heavy and doesn’t take up too much space. They’re also very portable, even more, significant than other in-ear wireless headphones.
Case
Type: Soft case
L: 3.5″ (9.0 cm)
W: 3.5″ (9.0 millimeter)
H: 1.4″ (3.5 cm)
Volume: 16.74 in3 (274.32 cm3)
The Bose SoundSport comes with the same tiny round soft pouch included in those with the wireless SoundSport In-Ear. It’s an excellent case to protect the headphone from scratching and normal wear and wear and tear. But, the soft material doesn’t shield your headphones from damage caused by water or physical strain.
Build quality
A few users have complained of issues with the quality of the construction of the headphones, which range from the rubber casing breaking into pieces to the cover of the charging port breaking off. While we don’t evaluate longevity, the device might be susceptible to cracking in time. However, the score of this box isn’t changing.
The Bose SoundSport has a satisfactory build quality. The earbuds are hefty and constructed of durable plastic that a few drops won’t damage. The audio cable has an adequate thickness, as well as the control module is covered with an elastomer layer to keep them sweatproof. However, the cable isn’t a flat one, or is it rubberized to make it more durable. It’s also less sweatproof as we’d like and can be damaged when exposed to regular humidity, which isn’t great.
MICROPHONE
Microphone Style
Integrated: No
In-Line: Yes
Boom: No
Detachable Boom: No
These headphones come with an in-line microphone connecting the left and correct drivers to the wire.
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE: 285.09 Hz
FR Std. Dev: 2.52 dB
FE: 2,248 Hz
Weighted THD: 38.586
Gain: 38.7 dB
The quality of recording from SoundSport’s built-in microphone is not excellent. The high level of LFE (low-frequency extension) signifies that your speech will be thin, and the low HFE can create a soft and airless sound. This can have a slight but detrimental effect on the clarity of spoken words recorded using the microphone.
Noise Handling
SNR: 18.8 dB
Noise Gate: Always On
Pink Noise Handling +Speech
Pink Noise Audio Sample + Speech
Subway Noise Handling + Speech
Subway Noise Audio Sample + Speech
The noise-handling capability of Bose SoundSport Wireless’ mic is adequate.
ACTIVE FEATURES
Battery
Battery Type: Rechargeable
Continuous Battery Life: 5.9 hrs
Additional Charges: 0.0
Total Battery Life: 5.9 hrs
Charge Time: 1.5 hrs
Power-Saving Feature: Auto-Off Timer
Audio While Charging: No
Passive Playback: No
Charging Port: Micro-USB
The Bose SoundSport Wireless has a poor total battery efficiency. The 6-hour battery life isn’t impressive. They require 1.5 hours to charge fully, and that’s a bit long given their limited battery lifespan. However, they come with an auto-off feature to slightly reduce battery usage. If you want wireless headphones with longer battery life, consider these models: the JBL Everest 110, the Anker SoundCore Spirit X Wireless, and the Sony WI-XB400.
App Support
App Name Bose Connect
iOS: Yes
Android: Yes
macOS: No
Windows: No
Equalizer: No
ANC Control: No
Mic Control: No
Room Effects: No
Playback Control: Yes
Button Mapping: No
Surround Support: No
It’s the Bose SoundSport Wireless that uses the similar app that is used they do with QuietComfort 35 and SoundLink Around-Ear II. It is sleek and elegant but offers a limited number of options. There’s an auto-off feature that you can adjust at various intervals, a primary multimedia player in the app, and the battery status. It’s not an equalizer, room effects, or other features that enhance the user experience that could differentiate this app from other apps.
CONNECTIVITY
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version: 4.0
Multi-Device Pairing: 2 Devices
NFC Pairing: Yes
Line Of Sight Range: 99.00 feet (30.18 m)
PC Latency:
(SBC): 249 ms
(aptX): N/A
(aptX HD): N/A
(aptX-LL): N/A
iOS Latency: 79 ms
Android Latency: 136 ms
This update was made on the 3rd of March, 2022, have been upgraded in Bench 1.5. Bench 1.5 with their latency has changed. The previous Test Bench 1.4 tests reported Android Latency’ as 196 ms. Our new test bench uses the average of 3 measurements instead of one, which results in a latency of 136 milliseconds on Android. In the end, we have updated our information to reflect the test bench 1.5 measurements.
It is worth noting that the Bose SoundSport Wireless supports NFC and multi-device pairing, which is fantastic. It allows you to connect them to an NFC-capable device or pair them with both your computer and mobile phone, allowing you to listen to music from both. Although these headphones are a pretty significant latency for PCs, the iOS and Android latency is significantly less, which is a plus. It’s worth noting that a few apps appear to be able to offset this.
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range: N/A
Non-BT Latency: N/A
These headphones only work with Bluetooth.
Wired
Analog Audio: No
USB Audio: No
Detachable: No
Length: N/A
Connection: No Wired Option
Analog/USB Audio Latency: N/A
Bose SoundSport Wireless Bose SoundSport Wireless has no wired options. If you’re looking for a similarly constructed wired in-ear, look into Bose SoundTrue Ultra In-Ear, the wired Bose SoundTrue Ultra In-Ear, or the wired Bose SoundSport In-Ear.
PC Compatibility
Analog: No
Wired USB: No
Non-BT Wireless: No
PlayStation Compatibility: PS4
Analog: No
PS4
Wired USB: No, Non-BT Wireless: NoAnalog: No
PS5
Wired USB: No, Non-BT Wireless: No
Xbox
Compatibility: No, Analog: No, Wired USB: No, Non-BT Wireless: No
Xbox Series X|S
Analog: No, XS Wired USB: No, Non-BT Wireless: No
The Bluetooth-only headphones don’t work on Microsoft’s Xbox One.
Base/Dock
Type: No Base/Dock
USB Input: No
Line In: No
Line Out: No
Optical Input: No
RCA Input: No
Dock Charging: No
Power Supply: No base \ Dock
Stability
The headphones are pretty solid inside the ear. The Stayhereand tips sit comfortably in the curves of your ear and will stay in place when you run or do moderate exercises. However, they’re not as sturdy as headphones with an ear hook like the JBL Endurance the Spr.
SOUND
Sound Profile
Bass Amount: 0.79 dB
Treble Amount: -1.92 dB
The Bose SoundSport Wireless has a highly balanced and neutral tone profile. They’ve got a hint of volume. However, it should not be a loud or overwhelming sound. They’re generally suited to a wide range of genres and content.
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation: 0.23 dB
The frequency response in this Bose SoundSport Wireless is great for multiple users. It also re-seats to ensure the consistent sound quality of treble and bass. If you get a perfect fitting and seal using the tips and techniques, you will hear the same sound quality each time you wear these headphones.
Raw Frequency Response
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.: 1.75 dB
Low-Frequency Extension: 12.78 Hz
Low-Bass: 0.69 dB
Mid-Bass: 1.64 dB
High-Bass: 2.61 dB
The bass quality that comes with the Bose SoundSport Wireless is excellent. They can create extremely rich rumbles and thumps. The bass range is almost flat, which results in highly balanced bass with only a little energy and kick.
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err: 1.62 dB
Low-Mid: 0.09 dB
Mid-Mid: -2.17 dB
High-Mid: 0.02 dB
The mid-range accuracy that comes with this Bose SoundSport Wireless is superb. The slightly reduced mid-mid range could push the vocals and the instruments that lead them towards the rear of the mix, emphasizing bass or kick instruments. However, the vocals and instruments within this range need to be clear and present.
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err: 1.95 dB
Low-Treble: 0.5 dB
Mid-Treble: -1.67 dB
High-Treble: -10.44 dB
The treble precision of the Bose SoundSport Wireless is excellent. The low-treble sound is neutral, flat, and constant. This means that vocals and lead instruments have a balanced quality and are articulate. However, the high and mid-trebles are slightly less consistent, which can cause some sounds (S and T sound) to be somewhat uneven.
Peaks/Dips
Peaks: 1.43 dB
Dips: 0.88 dB
Its mountains, as well as dips sound on these headphones, is excellent. Most of the range is pretty flat, with just a few sharp peaking in the treble frequency range that can cause some sound to be perceived as somewhat harsh or piercing. However, it shouldn’t be noticeable to most listeners.
Imaging
Group Delay: 0.16 – Weighted
Phase Mismatch: 1.47 – Weighted
Amplitude Mismatch: 0.3 – Weighted
Weighted Frequency Mismatch: 1.42
The image and sound quality of the Bose SoundSport are superb. As shown in the graph below, the group delay is always below our threshold for audibility, regardless of the high-treble area, and results in a crisp bass and transparent treble. This is different from other Bluetooth headphones that we’ve measured, including Google’s Google Pixel Buds, which feature a large delay for the group across both the bass and the treble regions. In addition, the L/R drivers in our SoundSport test device were well-matched, which resulted in precise and precise localization and placement of instruments and objects (footsteps or voices, drums, etc.) on the stereo images.
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.): N/A
PDF Size (Avg.): N/A
PRTF Distance: N/A
Openness: 7.9
Acoustic Space Excitation: 2.6
Like other in-ear audio stages, Bose SoundSport Wireless is not as good. Bose SoundSport Wireless is poor. Because earbuds don’t communicate directly with their pinnas, the soundstage is likely to be narrow and situated within the head of the listener rather than in front as with a loudspeaker. However, because the SoundSport is fairly open earbuds, they will sound more spacious and airy than closed-back in-ears.
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling: No
Speaker Modeling: No
Room Ambience: No
Head Tracking: No
Virtual Surround: No
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90: 0.159
WHD @ 100: 0.080
The distortion in the harmonics weighted with Bose SoundSport Wireless is excellent. Bose SoundSport Wireless is perfect. The frequencies are all within acceptable limits, which will produce crisp and clear audio reproduction.
Test Settings
Firmware: Unknown
Power: On
Connection: Unknown
Codec: SBC, 16-bit, 48kHz
EQ: No EQ
ANC: No ANC
Tip/Pad: Silicone (small)
Microphone: In-line
This is the setting we used to test the headphones. We believe that these results will be reliable and precise with these settings.
ISOLATION
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation: -6.62 dB
Bass: -0.1 dB
Mid: -3.85 dB
Treble: -16.14 dB
The isolation of noise from Bose SoundSport Wireless is very poor. Bose SoundSport Wireless is terrible, but this is expected because of the earbuds’ semi-open design. They will not do much to reduce the low rumble from plane or bus engines and won’t make much of the blocking background noise. Although they won’t block ambient noises, they could be helpful if you wish to remain conscious of your surroundings while listening to audiobooks or music. But, they hinder your ear and aren’t as comprehensive as The AfterShokz Trekz Air.
This could be an ideal choice if you have to be aware of your surroundings while running outdoors.
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft: 35.03 dB
The leakage of Bose SoundSport Wireless is low. Bose SoundSport Wireless is good. A general rule is that closed-back earbuds leak the least and open-back over-ears leak the most. Earbuds are in between, and this is similar to SoundSport. The leakage only occurs in the treble frequency, and the sound that leaks from the Bose is mostly S or T sound (speech or drums,) which will appear extremely thin. But the total volume of the leakage can be moderately loud. So if you blast your podcasts or music in a quiet space, there is a good chance that people nearby will hear a bit of the sound leakage.
More information
Few companies have a stronger hold on the audio consumer market than Bose. However, Bose’s Bose SoundSport Wireless was a difficult sell in 2020. The company has introduced two generations of wireless workout earbuds. It also bets that the future will be (totally) completely wireless. However, if you’re not looking for the latest features offered by wireless earbuds, then the SoundSport Wireless may suit your liking.
Editor’s note: This review was revised on the 15th of November in 2020 to answer questions about Bose SoundSport Free and the Bose SoundSport Free and Bose Sport Earbuds.
FAQ
What’s it like to make use of these Bose SoundSport Wireless earbuds?
After taking them out of the packaging, I thought, “There’s no way these will work.” Even though the ear tips inside your ear haven’t changed, it’s the housing. They were wired SoundSports were thin and beautiful and light, but these were big and heavy. It’s logical because all of the Bluetooth components must be moved somewhere. And that’s not even including the latest battery inside the device that powers everything.
Once you have them in, they pop over your ears to the point that you might think they will be ripped out. Despite the awkward fitting, the earbuds remain in their place even during workouts. The StayHearand sports tips are responsible for keeping your SoundSport Wireless workout earbuds in their area. They’re not the most elegant-looking tips, but they’re practical, and that’s all that matters. To the right of the one earbud is a button to pair them and turn the earbuds on. However, you’ll need to use the mic in-line and the remote for playback controls. The wire and control module are well-constructed and won’t flutter around, something you can’t say of the old Jaybird Earbuds.
The earbuds are rigid plastic, which is expected since they’re sweat-resistant. However, a handful of reports of users having problems with sweat causing damage to the headphones that’s not out of the realm of possibility, given that they don’t have the officially recognized IP rating. I have had a personal impression that these headphones have been fabulous. I tried them by running each for about two weeks, and they continue to perform flawlessly.
Bose comes with Bluetooth headsets, a small carry case that has the carabiner clip integrated into the case, a micro USB charging cable, two sets of different sizes of StayHear+ tips, and the user’s manual.
Are you have the Bose SoundSport Wireless stay connected?
SoundSport Wireless SoundSport Wireless connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth 4.1. It also has NFC for tapping-pairing. The range is average at 10 meters, and it works well enough. I noticed little or no skipping when I ran with my phone attached to my left arm (four times during the week), but there was no skipping when it was attached to my right. If you are averse to jumping music, ensure that you keep your phone to your right.
Similar to Bose QuietComfort 35 II and Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 SoundSport Wireless, the SoundSport Wireless headphones support just two Bluetooth codes: SBC and AAC. That means iOS gadgets can transmit audio of high quality to the earbuds. However, certain Android phones might not be able to stream high-quality audio. Android cannot correctly encode and store the AAC Bluetooth codec across its many supported devices, meaning that streaming can be inconsistent. Certain Android users might even enjoy better audio quality than SBC, the most common denominator for Bluetooth codecs.
How long will the Bose SoundSport Wireless headphones battery last?
It’s a good thing that the SoundSport Wireless last 6 hours 45 minutes with a single charge, which is more than the advertised battery life of six hours. It’s not ideal for continuous gaming; however, it lasted me throughout the week in actual use. It takes about two hours to charge the earbuds fully, and they cannot support quick charging.
How does sound the Bose SoundSport Wireless headphones sound?
I conducted all the tests while running using headphones connected to my smartphone.
If you’re looking for precision, it’s not a good idea to look into Bluetooth fitness headphones. The bass reproduction isn’t as exaggerated that it completely obscures the details of the music you listen to. It’s enough to keep your attention on the beat while you workout, but you’ll never be able to feel the rumble of your skull with these earbuds. To do that, you’ll have to think about beats powerbeats.
It’s not the ideal method. However, this is the main reason for this StayHear+ ear tip
ps. They don’t cause a suction feeling to your ears, leaving you with a good fit; however, they don’t eliminate background noise. If you’re looking for workout earbuds with a secure seal, you need to look at Jaybird X4, Jaybird X4, or Jaybird Vista instead.
Should you buy the Bose SoundSport Wireless headphones in 2022?
The Bose SoundSport Wireless is, for a long time, the preferred earbuds to work out for many athletes. They deserve their place on every list because their audio quality is superior to the majority of workout earbuds, even by standards of 2020 as well as the design is exceptionally safe.
Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones
Prices are listed in USD unless specified otherwise. Prices can change as time passes and may differ depending on the region. We cannot list Amazon prices on the website because they vary significantly in terms of country and currency.
Indeed, the cost hasn’t fallen as much as we’d like for decades-old headphones, but that’s Bose for those who want to. If you’re hesitant to try genuine wireless earbuds but are looking for an earbud that can be used in various ways, we recommend Bose SoundSport Wireless until 2020. Just be aware that it’s not without its flaws and drawbacks compared to other options.
Should I buy them or Bose Sport Earbuds?
The Bose Sport Earbuds are the company’s second set of wireless workout earbuds. They are more refined than those of the Bose SoundSport Free. The Sport Earbuds feature sleek designs and enhanced connectivity stability. They are Earbuds are water-resistant IPX4, and SoundSport Wireless is not. SoundSport Wireless are just water-resistant with no officially recognized IP rating. The SoundSport Wireless relies on a micro USB charging cable that is old-fashioned compared to USB-C charging. Bose offers newer, active drivers with Sport Earbuds for improved sound quality and Bluetooth 5.1 firmware to provide more efficient and energy-efficient streaming.
What are the differences between these and those of the Bose SoundSport Wireless headphones Free?
Bose SoundSport Free Bose SoundSport Free is Bose’s first truly wireless earbuds in that they do not connect via an electrical cable. Instead, each earbud functions independently from the other, and there is a primary receiver that will then send data to the second earbud. Battery life is significantly smaller with these Bose SoundSport Free earbuds compared to the SoundSport Wireless, but the charging case gives you an extra 10 hours of playtime on the go. The audio quality is excellent for the true wireless workout earbuds, but it’s not as effective without the issue of fluctuating connectivity stability.
Can they block out the noise?
Indeed, the Bose SoundSport Wireless earbuds don’t stop all external background noise. Suppose that’s what you’re looking for. You might be inclined to pay attention to the other wireless workout earbuds such as Jaybird Vista, Jabra Elite Active 75t Jaybird Vista, Jabra Elite Active 75t, or the JLab JBuds Air Icon.
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