By Bria Scott, Howard University and Ford Media Intern
Founded in 1964 by Dr. Amar G. Bose, the innovative creator sought to introduce sound quality similar to live music experiences leading to global connections. Today, the audio company produces home theater and music systems, including speakers for automakers and professional setups for entertainment venues. Although, their latest product, the QuietComfort Earbuds, may trump them all.
For the program, I communicated directly with Rashaan Josey, Global Director of Technical Sales, Bose Automotive Systems Division, who spoke with Automotive Rhythms and Ford Motor Company interns from Howard University about the power of experience and hard work. A story that starts different from most, Mr. Josey received his career inspiration from a short conversation with his aunt long before this path was considered. That brief discussion turned into five years on the Bose global team while visiting six countries. He now believes that representation can do more than inspire; it can incite action. Mr. Josey, a youthful and intelligent African American, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he received an electrical engineering degree. He is also the recipient of a master’s in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan and currently holds executive education credentials from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
The conversation during our internship was one that we were looking forward to for more reasons than one. When you think Bose, you automatically imagine sound! In a world of crying children, cat naps in between flights, and zoning on assignments, there is always a need to block out the noise. The concept of noise-canceling headphones has become more popular such as the case with Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds. For young adults like us, any chance to hear about something new in the world of tech is an exciting moment, and it showed. But what about those who did not receive the opportunity for an in-depth discussion with Mr. Josey? How do they secure details regarding the exciting QCs? Don’t worry, I stopped by Best Buy to test out a pair, and whether you are an established brand user or not, these earbuds are sure to please.
First of all, let’s start with the design. I am a huge fan of clean, sleek styles and the soapstone color does just that! Offering lightweight earbuds is a change from what we have seen in other wireless earpieces. With three different ear tips included with purchase, comfort is delivered immediately. In proper Bose form, I was given a live concert experience, and sound quality far better than I expected. Plus, the combination of lifelike undistorted sound, combined with ultimate silence, makes the experience that much better.
When it comes to exercising performance, don’t worry because they will not slip out while you are power walking or running. They also won’t interfere when you are sweating it out, either. Like most, they are protected against light moisture levels, so sweaty workouts or light rain won’t bring any problems. As for convenience, we all love an easy transition, especially when the phone is on the other side of the room. Hand controls come preset but can be changed as well—double-tap the left for noise-cancellation and the right to play and pause music. Holding down the covering of the left ear will allow a readout of the battery life, which is a nice change from the earbuds unexpectedly dying in the middle of a song or call.
What is all the sound and noise-canceling about? Well, since you asked, that is the best part. With adjustable noise-cancellation, it is easy to go incognito on the sound with a range of 0-10, making it perfect for a quick phone conversation. And speaking of conversations, taking a quiet call is not always the easiest, especially in public places. The microphone system is perfect for capturing your voice and adjusting to the surrounding noise, so now you will be heard loud and clear without screaming over the background noise. When you find your happy medium, you don’t have to look like a crazy person tapping the earbuds to find it again. You can set any level as your “favorite” and use a double-tap to switch between them.
Despite the shortlist of complaints that the QuietComfort Earbuds offer, I would be wrong to skip over one major detail. As convenient as the charging case may be with the charging cable and several bud sizes, the case is quite bulky and makes compact convenience an issue. Although necessary, carrying it around in a fanny pack or small bag may be a bit harder, but prepare to make room either way. One bonus of the large size is the twelve hours of battery life from the charging case, which is in addition to the six hours you are already given.
It was hard for me to leave this fabulous pair of earbuds at the store, but the best news came not long after my review. After learning about the great attributes that the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds offer, I cannot wait to try them out in my chaotically loud home, in the airport, or just throughout life in general.
Thank you Bose for taking the time to speak with the Automotive Rhythms and Ford Motor Company interns at Howard University. I look forward to my very own set of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds to earn bragging rights come Christmas and to tune out the noise of jealousy.
