After testing Bose for a long time, I started to unlock specific use cases, even best noise-canceling buds Cannot match. Dog walks are blissfully better, especially with no trace of wind, which can blast into your ears when using transparency mode. I used to just roll with a bud for those situations, keeping one ear open for awareness. Now, I dread the idea of settling for mono sound on my morning walk, even if the traffic environment gets worse at times.
I soon found other unique ways these spaces were filled, from working in the office or kitchen to conversing with my wife on a walk to a store or chatting with neighbors over yard work. Why run out of tunes when you can have it all?
Bose is working on additional ways to add more value to its pricier buds. If you have a new Bose soundbar like the Smart Soundbar (8/10, Wired recommends), open earbuds can now serve as personalized surround sound speakers, creating a kind of AR experience between the soundbar in the room and the surround effects in your head.
Perhaps my favorite (and most foolish) case for Ultra Open came recently on a Thanksgiving trip to my wife's parents' house. American football is a staple of Thanksgiving in most homes, but not his. There's only one basement TV, no cable or antenna, and no one is interested in it. No matter! I had open earbuds and a phone, so I could keep an eye on the game while carrying on a polite conversation. The pinnacle came when I casually watched Tim Allen's The Santa Clause, interacted with family, and watched my alma mater win its first playoff game all at the same time. Now he is multitasking.
Ultra open earbuds are not always the right choice, and sometimes they are the wrong one. I think everyone needs a good pair of noise-canceling buds, and many may not be able to justify a second pair, especially with a $300 list price. This is higher than many flagship noise cancellers.
Still, I can no longer deny the benefits of a good pair of open ear buds, and these are the best I've found. To borrow a phrase, Ultra Open sparks joy, and I've come to rely on them on a daily basis. You win, Bose. I'm hooked.