AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000xM4: Which headphones will win?

(Prototype credit: Tom'southward Guide/ Apple)

Apple AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000xM4: Which will prevail? Apple tree's foray into over-ear, dissonance canceling headphones, AirPods Max, put information technology in directly contest with Sony'due south WH-1000xM4, our favorite headphones overall.

The glaring difference on paper is the cost: the WH-1000xM4 list for $349.99 and can oft be found for less. The AirPods Max came out of the gate with a jaw-dropping $549 price tag. Nosotros'll have to await for the AirPods Max to become available before we can exam whether they are worth the premium, we tin compare the ii headphones based on what nosotros do know.

This AirPods Max vs Sony WH-1000xM4 face-off breaks downwards how the 2 match up in price, pattern, sound quality, active noise cancellation and battery. Do we think the AirPods Max can dethrone the WH-1000xM4 equally our pick for all-time headphones?

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AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000xM4: Price

I retrieve y'all can gauge where this one lands. When Apple appear the $549 price for the AirPods Max, in that location was a collective gasp throughout social media. The high cost puts the AirPods Max into a tier of gilt-ear audiophile headphones, and are far more than expensive than any headphone nosotros recommend. Given Apple'southward history and already long ship dates, don't wait AirPods deals presently.

The Sony WH-1000xM4's list for $349.99, on par with another great model, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. But yous can often detect the WH-1000xM4 on sale. At the fourth dimension of this writing, yous can get them from All-time Purchase for $278.

That's almost one-half the price of the AirPods Max, so the Apple tree headphones volition have to be revolutionary to warrant that difference.

AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000xM4: Blueprint

The AirPods Max feature curved, rectangular cans that stand out from the crowd. Bachelor in infinite gray, silverish, greenish, sky blueish and pinkish, you lot can match your headphones to your personal way. The cans are fabricated of aluminum and they have a mesh canopy on the headband.

The WH-1000xM4 is pretty staid in comparing. Available in silver or black, they accept a soft rubberized finish and a cushioned headband. The Sony headphones are less about style and more than about function.

Sony uses impact panels and gestures to allow you to control the WH-1000xM4. For example, you tap in one case to play or intermission, and swipe up to raise the volume. AirPods Max don't accept touch controls, just feature a digital crown borrowed from the Apple Scout to permit you lot do those things, and it activates Siri. Meanwhile, the WH-1000xM4 tin be prepare to work with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000xM4: Sound quality and active noise cancellation

Nosotros love how skillful the WH-1000xM4 sounds. Sony'due south headphones deliver excellent item and booming bass, and they piece of work well for a multifariousness of musical styles, from hip-hop to jazz.

Nosotros haven't tested the Apple tree AirPods Max, but initial reviews suggest they will as well be a pleasure to listen to. Inside you'll find 40mm drivers, nine microphones and Apple tree'due south H1 fleck for computational audio performance. In addition to active noise counterfoil, AirPods Max have Adaptive EQ, a transparency way and the Spatial Audio characteristic currently establish on AirPods Pro. Using the built-in gyroscope and accelerometer to judge the location of your ear, Spatial Sound can create a environs sound experience.

The WH-1000xM4 also accept 40mm drivers, along with two mics on each ear and proprietary Dual Dissonance Sensor engineering that works with the Hd Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 flake to analyze and filter ambient sounds. The consequence is excellent agile racket cancellation, on par with Bose.

The only thing we aren't crazy nearly with the WH-1000xM4 is the phone call quality, which is OK at all-time. Given how Apple's AirPods Pro are known for handling calls well, nosotros expect the AirPods Max to do the same.

AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000xM4: Battery life

The WH-1000xM4 have an fantabulous 30-hour battery life with active noise cancellation turned on, and 38 without information technology — and our testing shows those numbers to be authentic. The new AirPods Max is supposed to become 20 hours of playback on a full charge (that's the same as the Bose 700). That extra 10 hours of power for the Sony headphones is definitely worth noting.

AirPods Max accuse via Lightning cable, while the WH-1000xM4 use USB. Apple says you tin get one.five hours of listening with five minutes of charging. Sony offers an optional Air-conditioning adapter that can become you 5 hours of ability with but 10 minutes of charging.

AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000xM4: Outlook

We're excited to see how AirPods Max actually performs in testing. On paper, they're an intriguing option among wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation. But that cost!

It will be hard to trounce the Sony WH-1000xM4 performance for the price at which you tin can grab them. Excellent sound quality, noise cancellation and battery life put the WH-1000xM4 well ahead of the game. Apple has a lot to prove to brand the AirPods Max worth the coin.

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Michael Gowan covers soundbars, TVs, portable speakers and other audio- and video-related topics for Tom's Guide. He'due south written about music and technology for more than xx years for a raft of publications including Wired, Men'due south Periodical, PC Earth and Macworld. When he's not reviewing speakers, he's probably listening to one anyway.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/airpods-max-vs-sony-wh100mx4

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AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000xM4: Which headphones will win?