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Read our full Bose Ultra Open Headphones review.

If you want to use open-back headphones but don’t want to sacrifice the best possible sound quality, the Bose Ultra Opens compare easily to in-ear options. You just have to pay.

It’s hard not to be at least a little stunned the first time you try the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds – they simply sound way better than any pair of open earbuds have any right to. Sure, they can be a little further away depending on angle (easily adjustable) and have less punchy bass than some in-ear models (a plus for some people), but despite their quirks, they more than deliver sonically. Mashable contributor RJ Andersen writes in her review: “The sound was well balanced, and even with my ear completely uncovered, I didn’t notice any issues with distant or muddy sound. Instead, the Ultra Open headphones sounded clear, natural, and quite lush.

While they sound great right out of the box, Bose gives you the option between stereo and immersive audio (that’s Bose’s spatial audio setting) once you connect it to the companion app. Of course, you’ll also have access to four EQ presets and a custom EQ setting. For $300, we expected to be impressed, and we were based on sound alone.

But Bose didn’t stop there. Although the Ultra Opens share the same armband-like design as our best headphones, we found no uncomfortable pinching or compression, even after hours of use. They stood out as the most comfortable pair of open-back headphones we’ve tested. The thoughtful design extended to the on-ear controls, which feature a button at the top of the battery body that sits outside your ear. The result was a control that was as easy to use as a touch control, but much less likely to be triggered by accident.

For all their good, the Ultra Open headphones aren’t quite perfect. Their battery life is inferior, their mic quality wasn’t great during calls, and their IP rating makes them the least suitable for outdoor workouts. (As IPX4 earbuds, they have an unknown degree of dust and splash resistance, meaning they can handle sweat well, but might not do as well if you’re out in heavier rain). Still, while they’re not the most robust pair, they have the most premium sound – if you train mostly indoors and don’t find yourself on very long runs very often, these drawbacks are workable.