The second-generation Bose QuietComfort Headphones are good, but don’t stand out

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones Gen 2 look a lot like all other Bose headphones from the past few years. Bose QuietComfort headphones used to be innovative. Bose's noise-canceling research is the reason the technology is where it is today, and its headphones set the standard.

They were the ubiquitous traveler's accessory. But over the past few years, it's felt like Bose has rested on that reputation, as other companies have caught up.