ANCBuddy 2.2.0 lets you switch compatible Bose QC Ultra headphones between Still and Motion from the Mac menu bar while Immersion is active. The current release does not advertise Cinema Mode control, so Cinema remains a Bose-app setting on supported Gen 2 hardware.
Still, Motion, and Cinema at a glance
| Setting | Best suited to | ANCBuddy 2.2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Still | Sitting at a desk, watching a screen, or listening in one place | Available when the connected QC Ultra exposes the setting |
| Motion | Walking or moving while keeping the soundstage in front | Available when the connected QC Ultra exposes the setting |
| Cinema | Video with clearer dialogue and a theater-like spatial presentation | Not currently advertised; use the Bose app |
These modes are related but not interchangeable. Still and Motion describe how the immersive soundstage behaves as you move. Cinema is an additional Bose listening mode designed around video and dialogue.
What Still and Motion mean
Bose Immersive Audio creates a wider soundstage from the audio already playing:
- Still anchors the soundstage in a fixed position. It is the natural starting point when you are seated at a Mac or watching a film on one screen.
- Motion lets the soundstage follow your movement so it remains in front while you walk or move around.
Bose says its Immersive Audio can work with normal stereo content; it does not depend on one particular spatial-audio format.
Switch Still and Motion from your Mac
With a supported QC Ultra paired to macOS:
- Open ANCBuddy from the menu bar.
- Choose Immersion as the listening mode.
- Select Still or Motion when the segmented control appears.
- Wait for the Bose device to confirm the change before switching again.
ANCBuddy shows this control only when the connected device exposes the compatible setting. It does not display a disabled switch on products or states where Still and Motion are unavailable.
Cinema Mode on Bose QC Ultra Gen 2
Bose documents Cinema Mode for QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2nd Gen and QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen. Bose describes it as a video-focused mode that spatializes normal stereo, keeps dialogue clearer, and balances background effects without requiring Dolby Atmos or another special content format.
To use Cinema Mode today:
- Update the Bose product if needed.
- Open the Bose app on iOS or Android.
- Go to Modes.
- Select Cinema Mode.
ANCBuddy 2.2.0 does not claim to activate or configure Cinema Mode from the Mac. This page documents that boundary so a Cinema-related search does not lead to a false product promise.
What still belongs in the Bose app
Keep the Bose app for Cinema Mode, firmware updates, initial product setup, custom modes, Multipoint settings, hardware shortcuts, and settings ANCBuddy does not expose.
For the broader decision, review the Bose QC Ultra app for Mac page. For all normal desktop controls, use the complete Mac control guide.
Download ANCBuddy for a 14-day free trial. A permanent license is $9.99 once, with no subscription.