Bose QuietComfort headphones are worn for hours, on planes, in offices and on the train, which is why they wear out in a predictable order: the ear cushions first, then the headband padding, then the battery and the charging port. Almost all of that is repairable, and none of it needs a new pair.
Blue Apple repairs Bose headphones at Rijnstraat 76-H in Amsterdam. Every model has its own page with the repairs we offer for it: start at the Bose headphones repair page.
What usually goes wrong with Bose headphones
- Ear cushions that flake or peel. The synthetic leather breaks down with sweat, sun and time. Flaking cushions are uncomfortable, and they also stop sealing against your head, which weakens the noise cancelling.
- Headband padding that is compressed or torn. The padding on top of the band flattens and the cover can split, which makes the headphones sit lower and press harder.
- Battery that no longer lasts a flight. After a few years of daily charging the battery gives much less than it did. A battery that runs flat within an hour or two is worn.
- Charging port that is loose or dirty. A cable that has to be held at an angle, or a charge that comes and goes, is a worn USB-C port, or lint inside it.
- Sound on one side, or noise cancelling that hisses. Check the ear cushions and the microphone openings first. If one ear is quiet or the cancelling hisses on its own, a driver or a connection inside the cup may have failed.
The Bose models we repair
Every model below has its own page, with the repairs we offer for it and what each one costs.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, Bose QuietComfort Headphones, Bose QuietComfort 45, Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.
Repair or replace?
Bose headphones are expensive to replace and cheap to refresh: new ear cushions or a new headband pad costs a small fraction of a new pair, and the difference in comfort is large. A battery or a driver is a bigger job but still far below the price of new headphones. We say after the diagnosis if the headphones are too far gone to be worth it.
Looking after your headphones
- Replace the ear cushions when they start to flake. It protects the noise cancelling as well as your ears.
- Keep them in the case. A bag with keys and a charger is where the headband and the cups take their damage.
- Do not leave them in a hot car. Heat is the fastest way to age the battery and soften the cushions.
How a repair works at Blue Apple
Open your model on the Bose headphones repair page, choose the repair and you see the price straight away. You can bring it to our workshop at Rijnstraat 76-H in Amsterdam, have it collected (pickup and delivery) or send it by post. If your fault is not in the list, the custom repair form lets you describe it, and we come back with a price before any work starts.
Questions about Bose repair
Does worn ear padding affect the noise cancelling?
Yes. The cancelling depends on a good seal around the ear; a cushion that has flaked or flattened lets sound in and makes the cancelling less effective.
Which Bose headphones do you repair?
QuietComfort Ultra, QuietComfort Headphones, QuietComfort 45 and Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, each on the Bose page.
In short
Ear cushions, headband padding, the battery and the charging port can each be replaced on Bose headphones, and the result is far cheaper than a new pair. See the Bose headphones repair page for the models and repairs, or send us a request. You will find us at Rijnstraat 76-H in Amsterdam, and you can call 020 239 11 93 with a question first.
