We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-04 · 5 min read · Independent comparison
If you want proven active noise cancelling with three adjustable levels and voice control for audiophiles who care about tuning the quiet around them, choose Bose QuietComfort 35; if you need marathon battery life and a team-spirited over-ear for game days and long commutes, choose SOAR Collegiate Active.
• Bose QuietComfort 35 — biggest strength: Three levels of active noise cancellation you can dial in yourself, plus Alexa voice control and a noise-rejecting dual-microphone system. It's the more refined listening tool of the two.
• Bose QuietComfort 35 — biggest trade-off: Battery is rated around 20 hours, and the app-based setup (Bose Connect, firmware updates, Bose AR) means there's a bit more to manage than a simple pair-and-go headphone.
• SOAR Collegiate Active — biggest strength: Up to 40 hours of playtime and Bluetooth 5.3, with a quick 1–2 hour charge. Great for all-day listening without babysitting the battery.
• SOAR Collegiate Active — biggest trade-off: It relies on a single ANC mode and 32mm dynamic drivers — no adjustable cancellation levels, no voice assistant, and no companion app features listed.
• Pick Bose QuietComfort 35 if you want granular noise control and voice access on a lighter headphone (0.23 kg).
• Pick SOAR Collegiate Active if you want team colors, long battery life, and a pressure-free fit for game days, tailgates, and travel.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 is built around control. Its headline feature is three levels of active noise cancellation, which means you're not stuck with one fixed "quiet" setting — you can lean harder into blocking out a plane cabin or a busy office, or ease off so you can still hear what's around you. For someone chasing the best hifi stereo headphone experience for audiophiles, that adjustability matters, because how much noise you remove changes how the music sits in front of you.
Who should buy it? Someone who wants a lightweight over-ear (0.23 kg) with tunable noise cancellation, voice control, and app support. Who should skip it? If you mainly want the longest possible battery life and a simpler, app-free experience, the roughly 20-hour rating and the setup steps will feel like extra work.
SOAR Collegiate Active: Who It's For
The SOAR Collegiate Active is a game-day headphone first and a general-purpose one second. Its ANC is designed to cut the roar of a crowd, traffic, or a loud sports bar so you can follow commentary or music with clarity. Where Bose gives you three cancellation levels, SOAR gives you one — simpler, but less flexible depending on how noisy your surroundings are.
Battery is where it pulls ahead on paper: up to 40 hours of playtime, with a quick charge in 1–2 hours. If you're the type who forgets to plug in, that headroom is genuinely useful for a full day of travel, tailgating, or working through a long stretch without a top-up. Bluetooth 5.3 keeps the wireless connection current, and 32mm dynamic drivers are tuned for bold, punchy sound — the kind that suits sports audio and bass-forward music.
Comfort is a stated priority: lightweight over-ear cups with soft ear pads meant for all-day wear, and both wireless and wired listening options. It's aimed at a teen audience and comes in team colors, so much of the appeal is the collegiate look. Who should skip it? Anyone who wants adjustable noise cancellation, a voice assistant, or app-based personalization — none of that is here.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for tunable noise cancellation → Bose QuietComfort 35. Three levels beat a single fixed ANC mode when you move between noisy and quiet places.
• Best for voice control and smart features → Bose QuietComfort 35. Alexa, the Bose Connect app, NFC pairing, and Bose AR support all live here.
• Best for all-day comfort sessions → SOAR Collegiate Active. The lightweight, soft-padded, pressure-free fit is pitched at long game days and tailgates.
• Best for call clarity → Bose QuietComfort 35. The dual-microphone noise-rejecting system is a listed feature; SOAR doesn't list one.
• Best for team-spirited, sports-first listening → SOAR Collegiate Active. Team colors and crowd-blocking ANC are the whole point.
• Best for flexibility without an app → SOAR Collegiate Active. Pair it, charge it, wear it — no firmware or companion-app steps.
• Best for audiophiles who want to shape the quiet → Bose QuietComfort 35. In my opinion, tuning the noise floor is what separates a listening session from background noise.
I'd buy the Bose QuietComfort 35. For audiophiles, the three-level noise cancellation, voice control, dual-mic call clarity, and app-based tuning give you more ways to shape what you hear — and the lighter 0.23 kg build plus a wired option make it the more versatile over-ear for focused listening and work. The SOAR Collegiate Active is the better pick if battery life, team spirit, and a simple setup are what you actually want; 40 hours is a real advantage. But if sound control is the priority, Bose wins my vote. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
There's no single answer, but in my opinion the Bose QuietComfort 35 is the stronger pick for adjustable noise cancellation because it offers three levels and a dual-mic system. The SOAR Collegiate Active is worth considering if you value longer battery life instead.
The SOAR Collegiate Active lists up to 40 hours of playtime and a 1–2 hour quick charge, well ahead of the Bose QuietComfort 35's roughly 20-hour rating. If runtime is your deciding factor, SOAR is the one to look at.
Both are over-ear designs, but comfort depends on fit. The SOAR Collegiate Active is explicitly built around soft ear pads and a lightweight, pressure-free fit for all-day wear, while the Bose QuietComfort 35 is the lighter headphone by weight at 0.23 kg.
No. The Bose QuietComfort 35 lets you adjust between three cancellation levels and toggle it through the Bose Connect app, while the SOAR Collegiate Active applies a single ANC mode. Both use active noise cancellation, but only Bose gives you control over the intensity.
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