These Bose Ultra Open Headphones Are Currently $179.
If you’ve ever wanted to wear in-ear headphones that don’t actually fit into your ears, the Bose Ultra Open Headphones might be the weird choice you’ve been looking for. These open-back headphones fit around the ear rather than sitting inside it, letting in ambient noise. This makes them ideal for jogging, walking, or commuting—essentially situations where you want to hear your music, but also the car speeding around the corner. And for the next six days or until they sell out, Woot is offering refurbished versions of these headphones in black, moonstone blue, and white smoke for $179, which is much cheaper than Amazon’s current price of $261.99 .
Since they are refurbished they may have some wear, but they have been checked and cleaned to function properly. You also get Woot’s 90-day limited warranty, which is shorter than Bose’s standard warranty but fair for price reductions, and if you’re an Amazon Prime member, shipping is free (otherwise it’s $6). Please note: Woot only ships within the contiguous 48 states.
Bose doesn’t skimp on sound quality: despite the open design, they deliver reliable sound with real power and clarity. The bass won’t rumble like in-ear headphones, but you’ll still get that signature Bose balance. They also have Immersive Audio support, which adds spatial depth, although according to this PCMag review , it’s a bit inconsistent depending on what you’re listening to and can feel gimmicky. They also support Snapdragon audio with aptX Adaptive and work especially well with podcasts and soft playlists. However, the biggest downside is that they don’t have noise cancellation, which, again, is important to some extent, but still worth noting if you’re used to ANC headphones. Battery life is about 7.5 hours on a single charge (with Immersive Audio turned off), and the charging case provides nearly two full charges, which is pretty decent. If you’re someone who prioritizes awareness and comfort over complete soundproofing—and doesn’t mind a pre-loved gadget—this deal makes a pretty compelling case. If you prefer to listen with noise canceling and being on a plane, these probably won’t be for you.