I used the new Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds on a work trip last week which included four plane rides with close to 10 hours in the air, and yesterday while running the flail. So far I'm very impressed with them and consider them to be worth the price of admission.
First off, they're incredibly comfortable in the ear and by far the most secure and comfortable fit of any earbud that I've owned over many years. Secondly, the sound quality for music and noise reduction are exceptional. They are so light and inoffensive to wear which means that they'll get used a lot, and in combination with the wired Bose noise cancelling earbuds I've had for a few years, I have options. I was able to listen to music at 70% volume with the MX engine running at 2,600 rpm and the flail engaged, and nothing to restrict or get in the way of head movement. I could barely hear the engine or transmission which is a little weird, but I've always found it odd to run machinery when you can't hear it running. That disconnect can be discombobulating and even a safety issue.
I'm still figuring out the Bose app which has a lot of features to optimize the earbuds, but you don't need to have the app running to use the earbuds in noise cancellation mode or to listen to audio. One aspect of the earbuds which has a learning curve is the touch control feature on either bud. There's some finesse required which I'm still learning, so at the moment I prefer to control features through the app or the music player.
Earbuds with wires can be annoying when there's lots of head movement, and over the ear types are just too hot and bulky for my liking. They're fine when shooting, but even then, they can get in the way when shooting rifles.
