Comparison: AirPods Max vs Sony XM4, Sennheiser Momentum and Bose NC 700

[SBlue1]

Has anyone compared the AirPods Max to Beats Studio? I’m looking for over the ear headphones, and I like the ability to quickly switch between Apple devices due to the H1 and W1 chips respectively.

I ordered the Beats Studios but returned them due the lack of Apple custom audio level setup. It was in the small print that it didn't work though. Now I am waiting for the new version of the Studios and hoping they will include this. AirPods Max do use this and they sound way better that the Beats but they are also way out of my price range.

Now what I recommend to anybody buying headphone over $200 is to test your hearing first anyway. Something like the free Mimi hearing test app. No need to buy expensive headphones if your hearing is less then 90%. And if your hearing is down buy something that uses Apples audio level setup. Here is a list of headphones that can use this feature: https://support.apple.com/en-mide/HT211218

 

[anthony13]

One of the big advantages I've noticed while testing the APM vs the XM4 the last 2 days has been the ease of switching between devices with the APM. With multiple Apple devices around, it's effortless to switch to any of them with the APM. This is a huge practical advantage compared to the Sonys, where you have to do the bluetooth dance to disconnect from a device before switching to other ones. (I know you can connect to 2 devices on the XM4s, but it's much more cumbersome.) The Max also just sound SOOOO good. Trying to find a way to justify keeping both of them...

You can connect the XM4’s to 2 devices at once using the connect app.

 

[I7guy]

You can connect the XM4’s to 2 devices at once using the connect app.

But not the xm3’s.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

In all the hullabaloo about the 'case', I haven't taken notice if it also charges them. Should any case provide charging, or incorporate the Apple case?

No charging, but the 'case' puts them in a deep sleep, low power mode. In case anyone else wasn't aware.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Has anyone compared the AirPods Max to Beats Studio? I’m looking for over the ear headphones, and I like the ability to quickly switch between Apple devices due to the H1 and W1 chips respectively.

Noise reduction is better. And, if you wear them just for the ANR with no music playing, they’re quieter then as well. Instead of 17 discrete levels of volume, the digital crown gives you more continuous volume control. The same control you’d get using the touch volume controls on the Apple Music interface. Just now noticed as I flip back and forth between the two, the same loudness on both sounds better and more balanced on the AirPods Max. Not an audiophile, it just sounds more comfortable to listen to.

Speaking of flipping back and forth, I put on one pair, then the other back and forth and the audio always automatically comes out of the one I’m using I’ve also noticed how much the Studio’s touch your ear, which wasn’t really a problem for me. However, now that I have the AirPods Max standing OFF from the ear, it’s certainly a preference now. Instead of a big broad mashing of the entire ear area, the contact is around the ear. As for weight, they’re heavier, but I’ve worn these for hours with no problem, your mileage may vary. Also, I feel the band of the Studio’s more than the mesh of the AirPods Max.

The charging port is on the right side, still, so if you have to use them while charging, that’s familiar. The microphone is in the earcups, not the cable, though, so if you’re used to holding that cable dingly bit to your mouth to ensure your clothes aren’t affecting the mic, there’s no more of that. Your controls are ALL on the right, so that’s another thing to get used to. Volume/Siri/skipping forward and backward via the crown is easy to get used to, though.

When you use them for wired audio, it’s a little different. So, you know the Studio’s cable dangly controls volume when you’re wired (you see the volume interface change). But, the click controls on the left earcup are disabled. With the AirPods Max, when wired, there’s two separate levels of volume control. The iOS interface controls 0 to 100% and the digital crown controls what 100% is (with a little audible “pop” when you get to the max. And, just like you should removed the cable when you’re done using them with the Beats Studio, you should do the same with the AirPods Max, too.

The last thing I can think of checking right now is the cable dangly mic, MUCH improved. Much less static, much higher quality, and really good vocal isolation. There’s Christmas music playing in the next room that the Beats Studio mic picks up (along with a large amount of hiss), but the AirPods Max gives you just your voice. I can see why calls would be much improved with these.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Also wanted to mention, I had the Beats Studio prior to the current ones (ok quality, for the really good sale price I paid . And I liked how thin they packed. The current Beats Studio fold, but the earcups don’t twist, so it’s a much thicker total package. The AirPods Max with the earcups twisted is about half the thickness, at their widest point, of the Beats Studio in the case. I welcome the thinness.

 

[turbineseaplane]

But they are too damn heavy

Apple really needs to focus on getting the weight down and the price down..

At the minimum the former, but hopefully the latter as well.

 

[MrSkoTA]

As usual, the people who actually have these love them, and the people who have to justify not getting them, are hating on it. No one is making you buy these. It’s ok to sit this one out.

I love mine and the case is slim and easy to use. I look forward to what Apple has in store for the AirPods Max line.

Can you control EQ with them through iTunes/Music on Mac? I personally use iTunes and find that my tuning of audio makes any headphone quality superior than the default.

 

[Sanpete]

The case is huge, ridiculously huge, bigger than the MW2's, and didn't fit well in my backpack. I travel (or used to travel) a lot, and the Sony's were just far more compact. Also, the MW3's had a quirk where I turned my head, and the music would pause. I updated the firmware, tried to turn off that feature, and I just could not make that super annoying behavior go away.

You can get, cheaply from many sources, a case that will fit the Senn MW3s (or any other headphones) more closely, soft or hard.

Didn't have any trouble disabling the auto-pause with the MW3. May depend on what the app is running on.

 

[flofixer]

With all the returns I've been seeing, does anyone know how much would Apple re-sell those for?

 

[C. Robert]

What do they do that other headphones can't do? What new thing did apple come up with to make these worth so much. AirPods and AirPods Pro raised the bat for in ear wireless headphones. These do nothing better and a lot worse.

 

[mrow]

Sony has always been the best at noise cancellation, and the ‌AirPods Max‌ are truly competitive.

This is a pretty bold and subjective claim on the part of the reviewer since years of reviews from dozens of reviewers that I’ve read say the Bose ANC is better than Sony.

 

[TheDreaded26]

Noise reduction is better. And, if you wear them just for the ANR with no music playing, they’re quieter then as well. Instead of 17 discrete levels of volume, the digital crown gives you more continuous volume control. The same control you’d get using the touch volume controls on the Apple Music interface. Just now noticed as I flip back and forth between the two, the same loudness on both sounds better and more balanced on the AirPods Max. Not an audiophile, it just sounds more comfortable to listen to.

Speaking of flipping back and forth, I put on one pair, then the other back and forth and the audio always automatically comes out of the one I’m using I’ve also noticed how much the Studio’s touch your ear, which wasn’t really a problem for me. However, now that I have the AirPods Max standing OFF from the ear, it’s certainly a preference now. Instead of a big broad mashing of the entire ear area, the contact is around the ear. As for weight, they’re heavier, but I’ve worn these for hours with no problem, your mileage may vary. Also, I feel the band of the Studio’s more than the mesh of the AirPods Max.

The charging port is on the right side, still, so if you have to use them while charging, that’s familiar. The microphone is in the earcups, not the cable, though, so if you’re used to holding that cable dingly bit to your mouth to ensure your clothes aren’t affecting the mic, there’s no more of that. Your controls are ALL on the right, so that’s another thing to get used to. Volume/Siri/skipping forward and backward via the crown is easy to get used to, though.

When you use them for wired audio, it’s a little different. So, you know the Studio’s cable dangly controls volume when you’re wired (you see the volume interface change). But, the click controls on the left earcup are disabled. With the AirPods Max, when wired, there’s two separate levels of volume control. The iOS interface controls 0 to 100% and the digital crown controls what 100% is (with a little audible “pop” when you get to the max. And, just like you should removed the cable when you’re done using them with the Beats Studio, you should do the same with the AirPods Max, too.

The last thing I can think of checking right now is the cable dangly mic, MUCH improved. Much less static, much higher quality, and really good vocal isolation. There’s Christmas music playing in the next room that the Beats Studio mic picks up (along with a large amount of hiss), but the AirPods Max gives you just your voice. I can see why calls would be much improved with these.

Thank you so much!

 

[Unregistered 4U]

What do they do that other headphones can't do? What new thing did apple come up with to make these worth so much. AirPods and AirPods Pro raised the bat for in ear wireless headphones. These do nothing better and a lot worse.

I would say that these pretty much raised the bat for over ear wireless headphones. No other headphones have raised the bat higher.

This is a pretty bold and subjective claim on the part of the reviewer since years of reviews from dozens of reviewers that I’ve read say the Bose ANC is better than Sony.

I was thinking the same. Bose was generally known for noise reduction, Sony, while good, is new to the quality NR game. They certainly haven’t ALWAYS been known for NR.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I would say that these pretty much raised the bat for over ear wireless headphones. No other headphones have raised the bat higher.

I can’t for the life of me see what they have brought to the market that we haven’t already see before?

 

[synergize]

Just received the Sony XM4 last night, after about 6 hours of listening I am pleased. The X4M are super lightweight, after 10 minutes you forget you're wearing them. The best feature after the sound is the Sony HeadPhone App, an adjustable EQ with two custom settings you can create for your music preference; plus 6 or 7 offered by Sony that are quite good. The sound is refreshing, full, and accurate and they are a pleasure to wear, and you can switch them OFF. The useable (bluetooth) distance from the 12 Pro is superb, through several walls and 50 feet from the iPhone they still sound excellent. At 1/2 the price and 1/3 less weight the Sony X4M is a viable option, keeping them for sure! They come with a real case too...

 

[SBlue1]

What do they do that other headphones can't do? What new thing did apple come up with to make these worth so much. AirPods and AirPods Pro raised the bat for in ear wireless headphones. These do nothing better and a lot worse.

Besides better sound, ease of use and the best NC? They use iOS 14 Headphone Accommodations, which no other over ear headphones have. This is such a great game changing feature for so many people that I wish it would be added to tvOS and MacOS.

 

[dukebound85]

thanks for your time and effort MR! I still would like to see comparison yet done by a sound engineer in a sound room, objective measurements ... also interesting that you find the AirPods most comfortable, there's a thread which seems to contradict or at least question that statement ...

I agree. This is a very subjective review.

 

[dukebound85]

Besides better sound, ease of use and the best NC?

quite debatable

 

[SBlue1]

quite debatable

Agreed. But I trust HiFi and Music sites more than a tech site and its users to help me make my own decision. But they are not in my price range anyway. I stopped spending money on guitars and other music gimmicks as I get older so I am hoping for a new updated version of Beats Studios supporting Headphones Accommodation for the next Black Friday sale.

 

[C. Robert]

Besides better sound, ease of use and the best NC? They use iOS 14 Headphone Accommodations, which no other over ear headphones have. This is such a great game changing feature for so many people that I wish it would be added to tvOS and MacOS.

They don’t have better sound. That is subjective and ease of use? They don’t fold, they don’t have a headphone jack, they’re heavy, they don’t have an off button, and the battery life is on the low end.

 

[C. Robert]

I would say that these pretty much raised the bat for over ear wireless headphones. No other headphones have raised the bat higher.


I was thinking the same. Bose was generally known for noise reduction, Sony, while good, is new to the quality NR game. They certainly haven’t ALWAYS been known for NR.

They didn’t raise anything but price in my eyes. Aluminum? Plenty of headphones are aluminum or other High grade materials. They have mesh from a hookers stoking on them. I guess that’s high end.

 

[kirk.vino]

They don’t have better sound. That is subjective and ease of use? They don’t fold, they don’t have a headphone jack, they’re heavy, they don’t have an off button, and the battery life is on the low end.

They do have better sound. They can be wired via lightning to 3.5mm cable, they’re not THAT heavy, they don’t need the off button, as they don’t drain the battery. Apple, as usual, understates the battery life, I get more than 20 hours on them.
The bottom line: don’t get them, nobody’s forcing you to!
Many seem happy with the Sony XM4, even though their soundstage is mediocre at best.
Whatever floats your boat!

 

[Edsel]

Should I get the AirPods Max? Because these are on sale and I could save $1.00.....

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[I7guy]

Should I get the AirPods Max? Because these are on sale and I could save $1.00.....

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