AirPods Max review: Top-notch sound, noise canceling and a hefty price tag
www.cnet.com
The AirPods Max are over-ear wireless headphones with top-notch sound and noise canceling. They are comfortable but heavy, and the smart case is controversial. The headphones have a premium build quality and impressive sound. They have adaptive noise canceling and transparency mode. The battery life is rated up to 20 hours. They have automatic switching between iOS devices and good headset performance for calls. Android users lose some features. The headphones leak some sound. The price is high at $549.
Apple AirPods Max review: luxurious sound for a luxury price
www.theverge.com
The Apple AirPods Max are luxurious, high-quality over-ear headphones with excellent sound and noise cancellation. However, they come with a hefty price tag of $549, which is much higher than competitors like Bose and Sony. The headphones have a premium design and comfortable fit, but they are heavier than other options. They offer unique features like spatial audio and seamless device switching, but the case is poorly designed and offers little protection. The lack of a 3.5mm jack and limited audio quality options are also drawbacks. Overall, the AirPods Max are not recommended for the average headphone shopper, but may be worth considering for those willing to pay for the luxury experience.
Apple AirPods Max review
www.techradar.com
The Apple AirPods Max are highly praised for their outstanding sound quality and premium design. They offer a wide, immersive soundstage and balanced audio profile. The headphones have strong noise cancellation and a useful Transparency mode. However, they are quite expensive and lack support for Hi-Res Audio codecs. The design, although stylish, is heavy and the Smart Case is not very protective. The AirPods Max are best suited for Apple users who value convenience and integration with the Apple ecosystem. Android users may find better value with other options.
Apple AirPods Max (2020) Review: Insanely Great, Insanely Expensive
The Apple AirPods Max (2020) are praised for their excellent noise-canceling, open sound quality, and spatial audio for movies. They outperform competitors in terms of clarity and immersion. Despite the high price, the build quality and fidelity make them worth considering.
Apple AirPods Max review
The Apple AirPods Max are worth the $549 price tag due to their design, sound quality, and bonus features. They have a retro aesthetic with a range of fun colors. The sound is high-end with deep bass and clear vocals. The headphones offer excellent noise cancellation and transparency mode. They have seamless connectivity with other Apple devices and come with Siri control. The battery life is impressive, lasting up to 20 hours. The Smart Case, although criticized, is compact and convenient. Overall, the AirPods Max provide a luxurious listening experience.
Apple AirPods Max Review: Are They Still Worth It In 2024?
The Apple AirPods Max are still worth it for Apple users, offering seamless integration with Apple devices. They have a sleek design, comfortable fit, and excellent noise-cancelling and transparency modes. The sound quality is high-quality, although there are better options for audiophiles. The battery life is decent but not as long as some competitors. The AirPods Max also offer extra features like spatial audio and audio sharing. However, they are not as versatile for Android users. Overall, while there are newer and better options available, the AirPods Max are still a good choice for Apple fans.
Apple AirPods Max review
The Apple AirPods Max is a high-end pair of headphones with top-notch noise canceling and a sleek design. It comes with a smart case, but the case is not very protective. The headphones have a sturdy all-metal build and the ear cups are comfortable and can be easily replaced. The AirPods Max is not waterproof and the smart features are limited to iOS devices. The sound quality is great, with a clear and pleasing sound profile. The battery life is around 20 hours and the headphones can be charged via Lightning. The noise canceling is excellent and the transparency mode is also impressive. The microphone quality is not consistent across different devices. Overall, the AirPods Max is a great pair of headphones, but it is expensive and may not be worth it for everyone.
Sony WH-1000XM5 review
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is a redesigned version of Sony's popular noise-cancelling headphones. It has a new "noiseless design" and a slimmer profile. The headphones feel lighter and less premium than the previous model. The noise-cancelling technology has been improved, with automatic optimization and eight microphones. The sound quality is excellent, with a musical and detailed sound. The call quality is also impressive. The battery life is 30 hours with Bluetooth and noise-cancelling enabled. Overall, the WH-1000XM5 is a solid choice for those looking for high-quality noise-cancelling headphones.
Sony WH-1000XM5 review
The Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones are a worthy successor to the highly regarded XM4 model. They offer excellent sound quality, improved noise cancellation, and eco-friendly materials. The design is sleek but not particularly eye-catching. The headphones are comfortable to wear and have intuitive touch controls. The sound quality is impressive, with balanced and detailed audio across the frequency range. The active noise cancellation is top-notch, creating a quiet listening environment. The battery life is decent, lasting up to 40 hours with noise cancellation off. The call quality is excellent, and the headphones have strong connectivity options. Overall, the Sony WH-1000XM5 are a flagship over-ear headphone that delivers on performance and features.
Sony WH-1000XM5 review: new design, new sound, new price
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is a new flagship noise-canceling headphone with a fresh design, improved sound, and better active noise cancellation. However, it doesn't offer any major new features and is $50 more expensive than its predecessor. The design is plasticky and the carrying case is bulky. The headphones have a sleeker look but can't fold down like previous models. The sound is tighter and more detailed, but some may prefer the more energetic sound of the previous model. The noise cancellation is excellent, especially for street noise and nearby voices. The voice call quality is improved with eight microphones. The headphones support LDAC and multipoint, but you can't use both at the same time. The controls and buttons remain largely unchanged. The battery life is 30 hours with noise cancellation on. The headphones lack wireless compatibility with the PlayStation 5 and are not water or sweat resistant. Overall, the WH-1000XM5 is a comfortable and high-quality headphone, but the price increase and bulky case may deter some buyers.
Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones Review: The One to Beat
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones have a new design with a single hinge and a larger carrying case. They are more comfortable to wear and have a longer battery life. The noise canceling function is excellent, especially for higher frequencies. The sound quality is refined and balanced, with better clarity and tighter bass. The headphones support Bluetooth 5.2 and have improved voice call quality. They also have features like Quick Attention mode and Speak-To-Chat mode. Overall, the XM5 headphones are a strong choice for noise-canceling headphones with impressive features and sound quality.
Sony WH-1000XM5 review
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is a flagship active noise-canceling headphone that is comfortable to wear and has a good fit. It has a lot of features, including Find My Device support and Fast Pair. The headphone has good ANC performance and offers a long battery life of up to 31 hours with ANC on. The sound quality is decent, with a strong bass emphasis. The headphone comes with a microphone that provides good call quality. Overall, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is a great option for those looking for high-quality ANC headphones.
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Feature | Apple AirPods Max | Sony WH-1000XM5 |
---|---|---|
Price | $549 | $400 |
Weight | 384.8 g | 250 g |
Driver Unit | 40 mm | 30 mm |
Battery Life (ANC on) | 20 hours | 30 hours |
Charge Time | 2 hours | 3.5 hours |
Noise Canceling | Yes | Yes |
Sound Quality | High-end, wide soundstage | Refined, detailed |
Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.2 |
Headphone Fit | Over-ear | Over-ear |
Detachable Cable | No | Yes |
Waterproof | No | No |
Foldable | No | No |
Controls | Digital Crown | Touch controls |
Microphone Count | 9 | 8 |
Special Features | Spatial Audio, Dolby Atmos | LDAC, Speak-to-Chat |
Compatibility | Optimized for Apple | Works with many devices |
Durability and Material | Stainless steel, aluminum | Mostly recycled plastic |
Sweat Resistance | No | No |
Codec Support | AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
Noise Isolation | Yes | Yes |
Multi-device Connectivity | No | Yes (multipoint) |
Apple AirPods Max are premium, luxury headphones with a high price tag, optimized for Apple device users. They offer exceptional sound quality with a wide soundstage and top-tier noise canceling capabilities. Key features include spatial audio, seamless integration with Apple devices, and a high-quality build using materials like aluminum and stainless steel. However, they are heavier and lack certain conveniences like a detachable cable or foldability.
Sony WH-1000XM5, on the other hand, is lighter and features a more refined sound and extended battery life up to 30 hours with ANC. It supports high-resolution audio through LDAC and is made from eco-friendly materials. The XM5 also offers a more versatile connection with multipoint Bluetooth pairing and is slightly more affordable than the AirPods Max. Sony's headphones have been redesigned for comfort and better noise-canceling effectiveness but are criticized for feeling less premium compared to previous models.
For Apple device users who prioritize sound quality and seamless integration, the Apple AirPods Max is an excellent choice, especially for home or office use where their weight is less of an issue.
For those looking for versatile headphones with great noise-canceling, long battery life, and high-quality sound that can also handle high-resolution audio, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is recommended. They are suitable for travelers or commuters due to their lighter weight and longer battery life, as well as for eco-conscious consumers who value the use of recycled materials.
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