What would recommend for someone looking for a pair that can be used both to record music (guitar, voice, etc… no latency) as well as listening to music (Pink Floyd, Tool, Brazilian guitar…) ? Thanks.
You want wireless or wired?
What would recommend for someone looking for a pair that can be used both to record music (guitar, voice, etc… no latency) as well as listening to music (Pink Floyd, Tool, Brazilian guitar…) ? Thanks.
This is basically consistent with my experience. I think I tried to lug the AirPods Max on a plane 2 times. The noise cancelling was better than that in the headphones you get in business class, but way below the Sony XM4 or even early versions of Bose QC.Hard disagree about active noise cancelation from the article. My major test for ANC is airplanes. The noise is generally not variable, but it's loud. My Sony XM2 headphones made it blissfully quiet - the type of silence where I could listen to piano music and not need to blast the volume. When those headphones began to break apart, I went for the Airpods Max. For general noise around the house the ANC is fine, but I was shocked at how bad they were for an airplane. If I turned my head a certain way then the performance was about what I remembered with the Sony XM2, but moving in any other orientation made it seem like there was practically no ANC at all.
So after flying for about 20 hours with the APM, I promptly bought the XM4 (6 wasn't available at the time, and I wanted the folding ability so I didn't consider the 5). I still use the APM around the house - they're more convenient with Apple devices, and the ear padding material is a lot cooler, temperature-wise - but the XM4 completely blows it away when it comes to noise cancelation. I'd give a slight edge to the Sony for audio quality, as well.
I'm open to seeing what Apple does with a version 2, but as of now, I have no plans to replace my APM with another, but I'll replace my XM4 with whatever the latest Sony is when the time comes.
XM6 still digs a little compared to the XM4, but it’s way better than XM5 which was too slim i think.Only thing I don’t like about the XM5 is the headband digs into my head after a while. Had to buy a cushion for it. Wonder which of these two are better on that regard.
Got an offer on PX7 S2e. Now, S3 is out and it is better than PX8.How do you like the B&W? Did you get the Px8?
Reminds me of when I downloaded the Bose app to be able to use the headphones a few years ago. It was 2 GB and when I would walk away from the computer it would decide to blast the sound to my coworkers.Come on EU - wring Apple's arm so they are forced to open up for seamless connection technology etc to the competition!
condensation?As someone who has owned the APM and XM4's both, the main benefit of the APM really is the quick connect integration. It makes taking phone calls a really nice experience. Otherwise, the lightweight and better reliability of the XM4 wins out.
My APM failed TWICE. The first time Apple replaced them. The second time, they told me to pound sand. DO NOT buy APM without AppleCare.
How do you like the px7 s2e? I read up on the s3 but I also read they are suppose to come out with a px8 upgrade this year but knows for sure.Got an offer on PX7 S2e. Now, S3 is out and it is better than PX8.
Well it arrived, and not surprisingly, I really like it. The sound is different from the airpods pro 2 I ususally use - I'm not used to cans. A quick fiddle with the EQ makes it more to my liking.I ordered mine a few days ago, and they were supported to arrive yesterday (23/6). I got an email in the morning saying just "your order has been cancelled" with no explanation as to why or anything.
I ordered again, and it's now due to arrive any minute now. It's £399 in the UK (including taxes) so possibly a bit cheaper than the US. I went for this rather than the Airpods pro max because the reviews were favourable about the sound quality, and they're much lighter (254g vs 385g). The other thing that put me off about the airpods was the ridiculous case.
I already have airpods pro 2, which I use in bed and can fall asleep with without hurting my ears when I lie on my side, so I know about all the advantages of seamless device switching etc but it's not such a big deal for me.
Well, I'll probably post a review in here. I've never had over-ear headphones (well not in the last 10 years or so), so it'll be a new-ish experience for me
Inelegant looking but more practical in terms of weight is their point. For example, for the type of user who doesn’t wear them for a very long time APM might be the better design for you. The biggest problem may not even be the weight as much as the price. The case for the APM is offensive and embarrassing.I'm reading this as the Sony headphones are actually better designed, as it's more comfortable, while Apple's only look better
MY OLD iPod had an equalizer. Why can’t my Apple ecosystem devices handle this ?
Sony recently came out with a new set of high-end over-ear noise canceling headphones, so we thought we'd compare them to the AirPods Max to see how Sony's 2025 headphones measure up to Apple's headphones that haven't seen a notable update since their 2020 launch.
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The WH-1000XM6 headphones are the latest in Sony's WH-1000X headphone series, and Sony hasn't gotten better at naming in the three years since the prior-generation WH-1000XM5 headphones came out. Sony increased the price when it launched the XM5 headphones in 2022, and the price is going up again. The XM6 headphones are now $450, which isn't too far off of the AirPods Max price if you get them on sale. Apple's retail price is still $549, but Amazon and other retailers often sell them for less.
With the XM5, Sony did away with the option to fold the ear cups in, but that's been reversed with the XM6. The ear cups do fold, so the XM6 headphones are more portable than the AirPods Max, which do not fold. The AirPods Max "case" has been derided for years for its silly, non-protective design, and the XM6 have a much better case. Sony's case has a pleasing, rounded design with hardshell protection for the headphones and a slim fit thanks to the folding design. There's a little pocket inside to hold a USB-C cable for charging, and to make the headphones easier to access, the case is magnetic instead of using a zipper.
Apple still wins when it comes to design because of the aluminum build of the AirPods Max, but the XM6 headphones are more comfortable to wear for long periods of time since they're lighter.
The AirPods Max have always had excellent sound quality, but the XM6 also sound great. Sony's headphones have an advantage because there is an option to adjust the EQ and fine tune sound through the Sound Connect app.
Both sets of headphones are about equal when it comes to Active Noise Cancellation, though the AirPods Max may have a bit of an edge. It's impressive that Apple's 2020 ANC is on par with 2025 ANC from Sony. The XM6 headphones have a Transparency mode like the AirPods Max, so you can have sound cut through when needed. Transparency works well on the XM6, coming close to the AirPods Max transparency. There's also a Background Noise option that plays music at a low level so you can still carry on conversations.
Battery life has improved since Apple released the AirPods Max, and the XM6 headphones last for up to 30 hours with ANC on. The AirPods Max only last for up to 20 hours with ANC active. Both the AirPods Max and the XM6 charge over USB-C, but AirPods Max also use USB-C for wired connectivity. On the XM6, there's a wired option, but you need to use a 3.5mm audio cable.
Music controls are swipe-based, so you need to swipe to change the volume and swap tracks. Sony did put a physical off button on the XM6 headphones, which isn't something that's available with the AirPods Max.
The AirPods Max have benefits in the Apple ecosystem like instant connection and fast device swapping, and that's something that's lacking with the Sony headphones. If you have a lot of Apple products and don't mind the weight of the AirPods Max, you might prefer them to the XM6. If you're not swapping devices often and prefer a more comfortable fit, the XM6 are the better headphones.
What do you think of Sony's latest headphones? Let us know in the comments below.
Article Link: Sony's New WH-1000XM6 Headphones vs. AirPods Max
Thanks! That sounds like my Bose 35s. Really loved them.My Sony XM4s are very comfortable. Must have worn them for thousands of hours over the years - I'm on my 3rd set of earpads! Many times I've fallen asleep with them on and woken up in the morning feeling refreshed and still wearing them, haha.
Only downside I can think of in terms of comfort is they can get a bit hot & sweaty in hot weather.
Also a fan of the Quiet Comforts. Have 35s, the newest QC, and the Ultra.They do, absolutely, look nice. I'm sticking with my Quiet Comfort's though. I'm the oddball in this battle. They're the most comfortable (to me), and I pretty much just stick to using them on airplanes anyway. AirPods Pro were eye opening, and the QCs were a step up in that regard.