Apple AirPods Max vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Side-by-side comparison based on Reddit community data

#5 in Headphones
Apple
Apple AirPods Max
$449.00
100/100Excellent
100% positive0% neutral0% negative
Pros
- +Wireless
- +Not bogged down by a clamp
Cons
- -No built-in eq
- -Not perfect out of the box
โI love my AirPods. My expensive headphones collect dust.โ

#4 in Headphones
Audio-Technica
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
$174.99
100/100Excellent
100% positive0% neutral0% negative
Pros
- +Sound more natural after eq
- +Sound flat out better after eq
Cons
- -Sounded a little "off" with some types of music (e.g., vocal heavy) before eq
โAfter using these EQ settings for the past hour, they sound so much more natural and flat out "better"โ
Specifications Comparison
| Spec | Apple AirPods Max | Audio-Technica ATH-M50x |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | 40mm Apple-designed | 45mm |
| Noise Cancelling | Yes (Adaptive + Transparency) | No (passive isolation) |
| Battery Life | 20 hours | โ |
| Weight | 384g | 285g |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3, Lightning | 3.5mm (with 6.35mm adapter) |
| Codec Support | AAC, SBC | โ |
| Spatial Audio | Yes (head tracking) | โ |
| Frequency Response | โ | 15Hzโ28kHz |
| Impedance | โ | 38ฮฉ |
| Type | โ | Closed-back |
| Price | $449.00 | $174.99 |
| Reddit Sentiment | 100% positive | 100% positive |
| Reddit Mentions | 1 | 1 |