Apple AirPods Max vs Sony WH-1000XM5
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
“I love my AirPods. My expensive headphones collect dust.”
#6 in Headphones
Sony
Sony WH-1000XM5
$248.00
67/100Average
67% positive33% neutral0% negative
Pros
- +Good sound stage
- +Can hear different instruments in space
- +Good for general use
Cons
- -Discussed more for controversy than quality
“I've just discovered what a 'sound stage' is and how you can actually hear different instruments in different places in space. And bear in mind these are WH-1000XM4”
Specifications Comparison
| Spec | Apple AirPods Max | Sony WH-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | 40mm Apple-designed | 30mm |
| Noise Cancelling | Yes (Adaptive + Transparency) | Yes (Adaptive) |
| Battery Life | 20 hours | 30 hours |
| Weight | 384g | 250g |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3, Lightning | Bluetooth 5.2, 3.5mm |
| Codec Support | AAC, SBC | LDAC, AAC, SBC |
| Spatial Audio | Yes (head tracking) | — |
| Frequency Response | — | 4Hz–40kHz |
| Price | $449.00 | $248.00 |
| Reddit Sentiment | 100% positive | 67% positive |
| Reddit Mentions | 1 | 3 |