If you want a simple, lightweight wired headset for a call center, choose Sony ZX Series; if you need wireless listening with adjustable active noise cancellation, choose Bose QuietComfort 35. The Sony is the more straightforward option for a desk where a cable works. The Bose offers more ways to manage background noise and connect without a wire, but its features bring a different setup and charging routine.
• Sony ZX Series: Lightweight on-ear design, swiveling earcups, and a 3.5 mm wired connection. Its main trade-off is that it has no noise control and no built-in microphone.
• Bose QuietComfort 35: Bluetooth, active noise cancellation with three settings, and a dual-microphone system. Its trade-offs are the need to manage battery charging and a more involved app-based feature setup.
• Sony fits: Someone who wants a simple wired listening headset and can use a separate microphone for calls.
• Bose fits: Someone who wants wireless listening, adjustable noise cancellation, and voice pickup in the headphones.
The Sony ZX Series is a basic wired, on-ear headphone designed around uncomplicated listening. Its 30 mm dynamic drivers cover a stated frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and the 3.5 mm plug connects to compatible headphone jacks. That makes it a practical choice when you want to plug in and listen without relying on Bluetooth or charging a headphone battery.
Its 1.2-meter Y-type cord gives you a fixed connection to your device, while the swivel design makes the headphones easier to fold and pack. The lightweight on-ear construction may suit someone moving between a desk and a bag during the day. For a call-center setup, though, the crucial limitation is clear: the listed design has no built-in microphone, and its noise control is listed as none. You would need another way to handle calls, and you should not expect the headphones themselves to reduce background sound.
I’d consider the Sony for listening at a quiet workstation, travel, or other situations where a simple wired connection is useful. It is not a purpose-built call headset just because it can play audio; the microphone and noise-control limitations matter if you spend much of the day speaking with customers. Its cord is also a constraint if you need to move freely away from your device.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-14 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip the Sony if you need a headphone microphone, active noise cancellation, or wireless movement during calls.
Bose QuietComfort 35: Who It's For
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is a wireless, over-ear headphone with Bluetooth connectivity and active noise cancellation. Its three noise-cancellation levels let you choose among different settings rather than treating noise control as a simple on-or-off feature. For someone trying to focus in a shared workspace, that adjustability is a meaningful distinction from the Sony, which has no noise control.
For call-center use, the Bose has a more directly relevant feature: a dual-microphone system described as noise-rejecting and designed for voice pickup. That gives it a call-related advantage on paper, although the product details do not provide a guarantee about how it will sound in every office or how it will perform with every calling platform. Bluetooth frees you from the Sony’s cable, and the headphones also support voice access through Alexa. Bose Connect is used for connection management, noise-cancellation adjustment, personalized settings, and updates.
The stated battery life is 20 hours, so you’ll need to account for charging rather than treating the headphones as always ready. That may be a reasonable trade for a full day of wireless use, but it remains a real part of ownership. The Bose is the more feature-rich choice for someone who wants calls, wireless listening, and adjustable noise reduction in one headphone. It is still not a dedicated boom-microphone call-center headset, and the included microphone design is described as dual microphones rather than a boom.
Who should skip it: Skip the Bose if you prefer a no-battery wired headphone or specifically need a dedicated headset boom microphone.
• Best for a straightforward wired connection → Sony ZX Series. Its 3.5 mm plug avoids Bluetooth pairing, as long as your device has a compatible headphone jack.
• Best for wireless listening → Bose QuietComfort 35. Bluetooth removes the headphone cable from your work area.
• Best for adjustable noise reduction → Bose QuietComfort 35. It has active noise cancellation with three levels; Sony lists no noise control.
• Best for avoiding headphone charging → Sony ZX Series. It connects by wire and does not require a headphone battery for audio playback.
• Best fit for call-related microphone features → Bose QuietComfort 35. Its dual-microphone system is designed for voice pickup, while the Sony has no built-in microphone listed.
• Best for simple packing and portability → Sony ZX Series. The swivel design and lightweight on-ear construction suit a compact, uncomplicated setup.
• Best for a shared or noisy workspace → Bose QuietComfort 35. Its noise-cancellation settings give you an option the Sony does not provide.
• Best for using Alexa voice access → Bose QuietComfort 35. Alexa support is included, while the Sony is a wired headphone without a listed voice assistant.
Buying Considerations
The Bose is more aligned with call use because it lists a dual-microphone system, Bluetooth, and active noise cancellation. Still, make sure your calling device and platform work with the connection method you plan to use. The available details identify Bluetooth and app features but do not establish compatibility with every computer or call-center system. The Bose Connect app also plays a role in managing settings and connections, so it is worth considering whether you want that extra setup.
Comfort is another practical question, but the provided design details do not establish how either model will feel over a full shift on every person. Sony is lightweight and on-ear; Bose is over-ear. Those descriptions help distinguish the designs, but individual fit can still vary. If your priority is finding the best on-ear headphones for a call center, the Sony’s on-ear construction may be relevant, but its lack of a microphone makes it an incomplete call solution. If you’re searching for the best open-ear headphones for a call center or the best clip-on earbuds for a call center, neither of these models matches those categories: one is on-ear and the other is over-ear.
Think, too, about how you move through the day. A fixed cable can be a benefit when you want a simple connection at one desk, but it can get in the way if you step away while still listening. Bluetooth offers more freedom, while the Bose’s stated 20-hour battery life means you should include charging in your routine. Neither design is a universal fit; the better choice depends on whether your priority is wired simplicity or wireless features.
I would choose the Bose QuietComfort 35 for a call center because it combines Bluetooth, adjustable active noise cancellation, and a dual-microphone system intended for voice pickup. Those features make it the more complete option for work calls, though I would confirm that it suits my calling setup and keep its charging needs in mind. For a call center, I would take those call-focused features over the Sony’s simpler wired design. I’d choose the Sony instead if I mainly wanted basic wired listening and already had a separate microphone.
FAQ
Yes. Its listed features include a dual-microphone system designed for voice pickup. The product details do not specify performance with every calling application or in every work environment.
The Bose has active noise cancellation with three levels. The Sony lists no noise control, so it does not offer that headphone feature.
Yes. The listed battery life is 20 hours, so you should plan to recharge it as needed. The Sony connects by cable and does not require headphone battery charging for audio playback.
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