Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 Gets Auracast And LE Audio Beta
Bose is testing a free software update that adds Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast to the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen). The beta gives compatible phones and computers a newer way to send audio and allows the headphones to receive shared Auracast broadcasts.
This is a feature update rather than a new pair of headphones. Existing owners can switch it on through the Bose app, while anyone shopping for the $449 headphones now has an extra compatibility feature to consider alongside noise cancelling and USB-C wired audio.
Quick Reference
- Product: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Update: Bluetooth LE Audio support in beta
- New features: LE Audio unicast and Auracast reception
- Requirements: a compatible Android or Windows source device
- Headphone price: $449
- Update cost: free for owners
What Bluetooth LE Audio Changes
LE Audio is a newer part of Bluetooth designed around the LC3 codec. A codec is the method used to compress and unpack audio for wireless transmission. LC3 aims to work efficiently at lower data rates, which can help Bluetooth products balance sound quality, connection stability and power use.
LE Audio support depends on the complete chain. The headphones, phone or computer, operating system and Bluetooth hardware all need the right features. Installing the Bose beta cannot add Auracast to a source device that does not support it.
Auracast Is Bluetooth Broadcasting
Normal Bluetooth listening usually creates a private one-to-one connection. Auracast lets one compatible transmitter broadcast audio to many compatible receivers at the same time.
Possible uses include joining a silent television in a public space, hearing an announcement feed or sharing one source with several listeners. Availability still depends on venues and devices adopting Auracast, so the feature may be more useful in the future than it is everywhere today.
How To Try The Beta
Owners enable the feature in the Bose app after updating the headphones. Bose lists compatible Android and Windows devices for LE Audio use; support varies by device, software version and Bluetooth hardware.
Because this is beta software, it should be treated as a test rather than a finished feature. Bose warns that enabling it changes some shortcut behaviour, including temporary limits around Spotify Tap and the voice-assistant shortcut. Users who rely on those controls may prefer to wait.
What Does Not Change
The headphones still include active noise cancellation, Aware Mode, Bose Immersive Audio and Cinema Mode. Bose quotes up to 30 hours of battery life in Quiet or Aware Mode, falling to 23 hours with Immersive Audio.
USB-C wired listening remains the route for lossless audio from a compatible source. LC3 is designed for efficient wireless transmission, but it is not the same thing as an uncompressed wired connection.
Who The Update Is For
The beta is most useful to owners who already have a compatible Android or Windows device and want to experiment with Auracast. It is not a reason on its own to replace a working pair of headphones, especially if local venues and source devices do not yet broadcast Auracast.
New buyers should compare comfort, sound, noise cancellation and price first. The update is a useful extra, but the headphones remain a premium purchase at $449.
What The Terms Mean
Beta: a feature released for wider testing before its final version. LE Audio: the newer Bluetooth audio system built around low-energy radio features. LC3: the standard audio codec used by LE Audio. Auracast: Bluetooth technology that lets one transmitter send audio to many compatible receivers.
For more from Starting Out click here
