u/Commercial_Taro_7770

background: i've been a bose person for like 4 years. had the original QC earbuds, then the QC earbuds II. loved them. wasn't looking to switch. then the QC it's charging case started acting up and i figured since i had to buy something anyway i'd at least try something different

went back and forth for a while. almost just bought the QC earbuds 2 again. almost got the sony wf- 1000xm5. ended up landing on the buds 4 pro mostly because i moved to a galaxy s24 last year and figured the integration might be worth trying

the ANC comparison (because that's why anyone buys bose)

ok so this is the part i was most nervous about because the QC earbuds II genuinely have some of the best noise cancellation i've used. the buds 4 pro are not worse. i want to be careful here because i was ready to say bose still wins and i don't think that's true anymore. on my subway commute the low frequency rumble gets handled really well. in a loud coffee shop they both kind of struggle with voices but the buds 4 pro hold up. if you're cross-shopping these specifically for ANC you don't have to compromise

sound quality

this is where i noticed the biggest difference from bose. the QC earbuds have always been a little on the warmer, bassier side which i liked but sometimes felt a bit thick in the mids. the buds 4 pro are more balanced out of the box. clearer mids, still enough low end. i listen to a lot of hip hop and r&b and they handle both well without feeling overproduced. the EQ in the app also gives you real control if you want to adjust.

fit

bose fit was always fine for me. the buds 4 pro took maybe two days to feel natural. different shape than i was used to. once i switched to a smaller ear tip they locked in and now i actually forget i'm wearing them

what i miss about bose

call quality on the QC earbuds II was really good. the buds 4 pro are also really good tho. also the bose app is worse imo. samsung's wearable app has more features

bottom line

if you're coming from bose and wondering whether the buds 4 pro are worth considering.. yeah they are. especially if you're on android. the ecosystem stuff with my s24 is genuinely useful, not just a gimmick. for best noise cancelling earbuds in 2025 i think this is legitimately a two-horse race now and samsung is one of the horses

happy to answer anything, especially for people in a similar situation coming from bose or sony

In 8 months I am going to Lyon to meet my partner's family. Right now my level is between A1 and A2, time is realistically 30 minutes a day, budget is limited. I want to not fall out of an everyday conversation and at least understand when people ask about work, the trip, food.

Stack I already have in place. Pimsleur in the morning with headphones for pronunciation and listening, because I need to hear and speak, not just read. Promova app for scenario-based french speaking practice, scenarios like dinner with the family, small talk with the parents, explaining what I do for work. In the evenings French TV with French subtitles, as a way to learn french online without a daily tutor and within budget.

The main worry is exactly the transition from apps to real people in Lyon at normal speech speed, with swallowed endings and liaison, which textbooks barely cover.

What actually worked for you in the last couple of months before your first real meeting with a native speaker's family, to get the ear adjusted to normal speed?

Ciao a tutti! I have been learning Italian for a few months now, and the further I go, the clearer one thing becomes: no single app covers the whole job, they do not replace each other, they complement each other across different pieces. I am putting together my small stack and I wanted to sanity check the experience with people who have been learning longer than me.

Here is what I have so far. For the daily habit and short 5 minute touches of the language I run Duol͏ingo, purely so I do not miss days, nothing more than that. For structured grammar and a step by step program I am looking at Bab͏bel, especially their A1-B1 course. For vocabulary and natural sounding phrases I like the Mem͏rise format with live audio from native speakers, it sticks in the ear better than dry word cards. As an extra tool I run Pro͏mova app with short lessons and scenario dialogues for italian speaking practice, it is convenient when there is no time for a long session but the goal is to learn italian online in a steady rhythm without week long drops.

I have also heard a lot about Ros͏etta St͏one for an immersive approach and Lang͏uage Tran͏sfer as a solid free foundation, but I have not tested those myself yet.

Question for people who have pushed past A1: what specific app and resource stack actually worked for you on Italian?