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AirPods Max vs. Bose 700/Sony WH-1000xM4：Which will win?

I have Bose QC 35II. I bought them for long international trips. Thus far they have always lasted me my whole trip. I live in Ohio, so the longest flights I've taken are to India, Singapore, Melbourne. For each long flight, I wore the headphones for as many hours as I needed... before falling asleep of course.

I'm not super price-sensitive, but these seem too expensive for my taste. Also, what is the deal with that case? I carabiner my bose headphones to the outside of my travel backpack (international) or just use airpods pro for domestic trips. Not sure how I'd carry that odd purse-looking contraption the airpods max was pictured with.

The Sony looks great as well and I would have preferred that because of USB-C and the ability to put my hand on the earcup and hear the flight-attendant... but it wasn't available when I was headphone shopping.
 
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blairh said:
The XM4's are literally half the price of the APM and considered best in class currently. Even if the APM potentially sound better, the enormous price difference alone is a dealbreaker for most. Plus the case for the APM is a joke for travel.
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Best in what class? Compared to what?
 
lordhamster said:
I have Bose QC 35II. I bought them for long international trips. Thus far they have always lasted me my whole trip. I live in Ohio, so the longest flights I've taken are to India, Singapore, Melbourne. For each long flight, I wore the headphones for as many hours as I needed... before falling asleep of course.

I'm not super price-sensitive, but these seem too expensive for my taste. Also, what is the deal with that case? I carabiner my bose headphones to the outside of my travel backpack (international) or just use airpods pro for domestic trips. Not sure how I'd carry that odd purse-looking contraption the airpods max was pictured with.

The Sony looks great as well and I would have preferred that because of USB-C and the ability to put my hand on the earcup and hear the flight-attendant... but it wasn't available when I was headphone shopping.
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The case Apple developed for these headphones is just unbelievable. Are these people so ensconced in their cocoon that they never travel? Talk about an epic fail. I'm not price sensitive for travel gear and consider headphones essential. But these new cans from Apple are not even going to be considered, simply because of the ridiculous case.
 
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blairh said:
They are your best option currently for ANC wireless over-ear headphones.
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They're your best option in the sub-$300 range but they're actually just decent sounding overhyped plastic headphones.
There are so many better sounding, more premium built headphones in the $500-$1000 range.

I don't think we should be comparing the Airpods Max to anything right now because we literally do not know how they sound yet. All we know is that they probably sound great and are built with premium materials.
 
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bobmans said:
They're your best option in the sub-$300 range but they're actually just decent sounding overhyped plastic headphones.
There are so many better sounding, more premium built headphones in the $500-$1000 range.

I don't think we should be comparing the Airpods Max to anything right now because we literally do not know how they sound yet. All we know is that they probably sound great and are built with premium materials.
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Is there a better SQ wireless headphone with ANC?
 
blairh said:
Is there a better SQ wireless headphone with ANC?
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The best sounding Wireless Headphones out right now, and I've tried them all as headphones are my hobby, are the Dali iO-6, Sennheiser Momentum 3, Shure Aonic 50, and NAD Viso HP70. The most expensive of these is the Dali iO-6 @ $499. Dali is a Danish Speaker company that has years of experience making award winning speakers. They created their headphones strictly for those who wanted audiophile sound on the go. It has little to no features and very weak ANC. The Sony XM4 is a step down from these 4 when it comes to sound. However, as you stated, they are currently the highest rated Wireless ANC headphones out due to their combination of price, best in class ANC, comfort, features, battery life, and excellent sound that can get close to the top tier I listed with the EQ in it's app. I have the XM4 and love them. Purchased them for $270. I won't immediately criticize Apple on the price as I haven't heard the Max yet. But at $549, they have definitely priced these in Audiophile territory. The early reviews will definitely let me know if Apple really focused on sound, the primary reason I purchase headphones, or, if this is just a money grab from celebrities and hard core Apple fans. I love Apple but will be really disappointed in them if these don't sound amazing. The sad part is, most will buy for status so there will be no pressure for Apple to improve if they are mediocre. Hoping for the best.
 
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Maukey said:
The best sounding Wireless Headphones out right now, and I've tried them all as headphones are my hobby, are the Dali iO-6, Sennheiser Momentum 3, Shure Aonic 50, and NAD Viso HP70. The most expensive of these is the Dali iO-6 @ $499. Dali is a Danish Speaker company that has years of experience making award winning speakers. They created their headphones strictly for those who wanted audiophile sound on the go. It has little to no features and very weak ANC. The Sony XM4 is a step down from these 4 when it comes to sound. However, as you stated, they are currently the highest rated Wireless ANC headphones out due to their combination of price, best in class ANC, comfort, features, battery life, and excellent sound that can get close to the top tier I listed with the EQ in it's app. I have the XM4 and love them. Purchased them for $270. I won't immediately criticize Apple on the price as I haven't heard the Max yet. But at $549, they have definitely priced these in Audiophile territory. The early reviews will definitely let me know if Apple really focused on sound, the primary reason I purchase headphones, or, if this is just a money grab from celebrities and hard core Apple fans. I love Apple but will be really disappointed in them if these don't sound amazing. The sad part is, most will buy for status so there will be no pressure for Apple to improve if they are mediocre. Hoping for the best.
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I honestly don’t get why someone would want wireless cans. I guess that’s because I would never wear over the ear headphones like that outside my house. When I wear them at home I want a wired connection for better sound. I am curious what leakage will be with AirPods Max. I have a pair of Audio Technica cans and they leak quite a bit.
 
Maukey said:
The best sounding Wireless Headphones out right now, and I've tried them all as headphones are my hobby, are the Dali iO-6, Sennheiser Momentum 3, Shure Aonic 50, and NAD Viso HP70. The most expensive of these is the Dali iO-6 @ $499. Dali is a Danish Speaker company that has years of experience making award winning speakers. They created their headphones strictly for those who wanted audiophile sound on the go. It has little to no features and very weak ANC. The Sony XM4 is a step down from these 4 when it comes to sound. However, as you stated, they are currently the highest rated Wireless ANC headphones out due to their combination of price, best in class ANC, comfort, features, battery life, and excellent sound that can get close to the top tier I listed with the EQ in it's app. I have the XM4 and love them. Purchased them for $270. I won't immediately criticize Apple on the price as I haven't heard the Max yet. But at $549, they have definitely priced these in Audiophile territory. The early reviews will definitely let me know if Apple really focused on sound, the primary reason I purchase headphones, or, if this is just a money grab from celebrities and hard core Apple fans. I love Apple but will be really disappointed in them if these don't sound amazing. The sad part is, most will buy for status so there will be no pressure for Apple to improve if they are mediocre. Hoping for the best.
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Thank you for this response. Sounds like you really know your stuff when it comes to this.

I will be anxiously awaiting the APM reviews. Sounds like if Apple can reach the same audio levels of the other models you mentioned, however while also matching the ANC performance of the XM4's, then it will truly be a new king in wireless ANC. However at the same time they will be a hard sell IMO as the Sony's are literally half the price and will be a more sensible choice for most.
 
Rogifan said:
I honestly don’t get why someone would want wireless cans. I guess that’s because I would never wear over the ear headphones like that outside my house. When I wear them at home I want a wired connection for better sound. I am curious what leakage will be with AirPods Max. I have a pair of Audio Technica cans and they leak quite a bit.
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Planes, trains, buses.
 
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Rogifan said:
I honestly don’t get why someone would want wireless cans. I guess that’s because I would never wear over the ear headphones like that outside my house. When I wear them at home I want a wired connection for better sound. I am curious what leakage will be with AirPods Max. I have a pair of Audio Technica cans and they leak quite a bit.
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Because wireless, or more to the point, all-in-one solutions where the sound can be tailored w/ DSP, will in time obliterate conventional solutions.

We've already begun to see this in the speaker world. Head over to audiosciencereview, gearslutz, and the like, and see all the chatter about active systems w/ DSP.

First it was the Kef LS50W at the entry level hifi $2500. Then right on its heels it was the Kii 3 at $16,000. Then it was the Dutch and Dutch 8c @ $12,000. Now folks are getting clued in to what Genelec is doing with their GLM system, and Neumann is now getting into that game, and there are sorts of other new and incoming solutions as of late.

These are basically the equivalent of wireless headphones - they include DAC/AMP/DSP (room correction), and in some cases, streaming functionality inside one solution. No separates.

The fact that headphones like this can shape the sound of the audio based on the shape of your cochlea, is next level stuff that is analogous to room correction in the speaker world.

This is the future of everything audiophile.
 
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Beau10 said:
This is the future of everything audiophile.
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Correction : this is the future of accurate / high fidelity / whatever pick your buzzword reproduction. And the only way to provide for truly effective surround sound simulation.

Some audiophiles are more interested in the process, a bit like vynil. Accuracy is a secondary concern to them (otherwise they’d instantly take the piss of headphones like the HD820).
 
Without listening to the AirPods Max, which I can't comment on. But both the Sony and Bose are absolutely rubbish in terms of SQ. I have a pair of Master & Dynamics MW65 when compare to my flatmate's XM4, the sound clarity is like comparing HD Ready (720p) and UHD (4k), of course the MW65 is UHD.

These 2 brands are totally hyped by YouTubers.
 
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blairh said:
Planes, trains, buses.
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Like I said, I’d never wear over the ear cans outside my house. Especially ones that leaked.

AustinIllini said:
We have no way of knowing until MKBHD says "So I've had the AirPods Max for about 2 weeks now
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God I hope review units go to people who actually know something about headphones. If iJustine (who tweeted that she loved them because they come in pink) gets a pair to review then Apple has lost the plot.
 
Rogifan said:
Like I said, I’d never wear over the ear cans outside my house. Especially ones that leaked.


God I hope review units go to people who actually know something about headphones. If iJustine (who tweeted that she loved them because they come in pink) gets a pair to review then Apple has lost the plot.
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Most people happily wear over-ear headphones during travel. Myself included. Hence why ANC is so desired.
 
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I originally had the Sony WH-H900N Hear On 2's that has seen better days, so I bought the XM4's not long after they were released to replace them because of all the glowing reviews ie better soundstage better ANC ect, & tbh i couldn't tell the difference in sound quality or the Active Noise Cancelling or the soundstage for that matter over my H900N's, so i returned them & bought the WH-H910N Hear On 3's for half the price, as they where on sale at the time of buying less than £200.

I won't pay £549 for Bluetooth headphones or for any headphones for that matter, as I'll get no benefit from them & one other thing the codec the Airpod Pro Max will use is AAC, won't have aptX or LDAC support.

I've no doubt most of the standard tech & Apple Youtube community will give these glowing reviews as the best headphones they ever listen to, moreso if Apple gives them out to the reviewers for free.

The proper Audiophile reviewers will say the sound quality isn't upto scratch for the price.

And one other thing this now gives the likes of Sony & Bose ect an excuse bump up the price of their next topline ANC headphones such as the XM5's & 800's because they don't want to be seen selling an inferior product compared to Apple, the same way smartphones manufacturers went once Apple released the £1000 iPhone 10.






​

 
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blairh said:
They are your best option currently for ANC wireless over-ear headphones.
Click to expand...
No they are not. B&W PX7 and Sennheisers sound better than Sony's. They have the best ANC but not the best sound, I listened to them. At least without playing with the EQ, the default sound output is not good.
 
Every persons hearing is different. A pair of headphones that has perfect sound for one person could be absolute rubbish for another. Until an independent sound engineer with the correct testing gear for headphones put's the airpod max through it's paces and compares the results against the best that's currently available, having someone say 'these headphones are great' is irrelevant because what is good for them might not be good for another.
 
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