Bose’s latest firmware update brings Auracast and Bluetooth LE Audio support to its flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2, marking a significant expansion for these emerging audio standards amid a limited rollout.
Bose has begun adding Auracast and Bluetooth LE Audio support to its latest flagship wireless headphones, marking a notable step for a technology that has been slow to spread beyond a handful of premium products. The feature arrives through firmware version 10.12.12 for the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2, where it is currently being treated as a beta release.
Auracast is part of the broader Bluetooth LE Audio standard and is designed to let one source broadcast sound to multiple compatible headphones or speakers at the same time. In practical terms, that could mean shared listening on a plane, audio for public announcements at an airport, or clearer sound in places such as lecture halls and venues. It can also be used at home, including for television listening without disturbing others, and some Samsung and LG televisions already include support in their menus.
The rollout is still limited. Bose is joining a small group of manufacturers that have adopted Auracast on selected products, alongside names such as Sony, JBL, Samsung and Sennheiser. Smaller brands have also started to appear in the market, but Bose’s entry matters because of the company’s reach and its status in the premium headphone segment. According to Bose’s support material, the firmware update is now being distributed and can be installed through the company’s updater tools.
The same update also adds improvements for wired USB listening, including better balance for gaming audio and chat, and stronger compatibility with web conferencing software. Bose spokesperson Tim Williams told The Verge by email that the standard QuietComfort Headphones Gen 2 should receive the beta firmware next, suggesting that the company plans to widen support beyond its top-end model. Bose’s own press materials position the QuietComfort Ultra line as its most advanced range, with the newest generation already advertised with refined noise cancellation, lossless digital audio and longer battery life.
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