Bose
Framingham, Massachusetts, United States · founded 1964
Pioneer of consumer active noise-cancelling headphones; the QuietComfort line (since 2000) helped define the category. Founder Amar Bose donated the majority of the company's stock to MIT (his alma mater and former employer) in 2011 as non-voting shares — MIT collects dividends but has no voting rights or governance role, so the company stays privately controlled and independent.
Bose Corporation is a major American audio manufacturer best known as a pioneer of consumer active noise-cancelling headphones. Founded in 1964 by MIT electrical-engineering professor Amar Bose, the company built its reputation on research-driven audio engineering and its QuietComfort line, which helped popularize noise cancellation in personal audio. Today its consumer catalog spans over-ear and in-ear noise-cancelling headphones, true-wireless earbuds, portable and home Bluetooth speakers, soundbars, and aviation headsets, alongside an automotive OEM sound-systems business. Bose remains privately held and independent: it sells direct-to-consumer online and through major retail partners, having closed most of its Western retail stores in 2020.
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At a glance
- Type
- Manufacturer
- Founder
- Amar Bose
- Founded
- 1964
- Headquarters
- Framingham, Massachusetts, United States
- Price range
- Premium
- Makes / sells
- headphones, earbuds, wireless-earbuds, speakers, soundbars, home-audio, aviation-headsets, automotive-audio
- Known for
- active-noise-cancellation, true-wireless-earbuds, over-ear-anc-headphones, immersive-spatial-audio, aviation-headsets
- Website
- www.bose.com
Notable products
- QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) — Flagship over-ear ANC headphones launched September 2025, ~$449; adds Immersive/cinema mode and wired hi-res playback, up to 30h battery with ANC on.
- QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) — Flagship true-wireless ANC earbuds (2025); widely reviewed as class-leading noise cancellation, with Immersive Audio and CustomTune calibration.
- QuietComfort headphones (original line, since 2000) — Product family that helped pioneer and popularize consumer active noise cancellation.
- Bose aviation headsets (e.g. A30) — Long-running professional/aviation noise-cancelling headset line.
Carries
Sources: Bose Corporation — Wikipedia · Amar Bose '51 makes stock donation to MIT — MIT News (2011) · Bose donates majority of Bose Corp. stock to MIT — CNN Money (Apr 29, 2011) · Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) review — TechRadar · Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review — TechRadar · Bose Corporation Announces Sale of Bose Professional to Transom Capital — GlobeNewswire (2023)