In this blog post, Rezence will make a comparison between two products of these well-known brands: Apple Airpods Max vs. Bose Noise Canceling headphones 700.
Let’s get started with Rezence
Overview
What is the Apple AirPods Max?
The company’s premium over-ear headphones are the AirPods Max. These headphones will dazzle anyone who sees them being worn because of their innovative noise-canceling technology and striking style. Anyone who enjoys a loud, bass-heavy sound will love these headphones. If you use several Apple devices and want to switch between them easily, they’re extremely helpful.
AirPods Max pros
The AirPods Max is more simple to connect to your phone than the Bose 700 Headphones are, as you might anticipate from Apple. Turning on the AirPods near your iPhone is all that is necessary to pair them with it; a pop-up window on your phone will then ask you to complete the process.
Despite being heavier than the Bose 700 Headphones, the AirPods Max are fairly comfortable thanks to their cutting-edge design. Additionally, the AirPods’ weight gives them a premium sense that the Bose marginally lacks in comparison.
The Apple H1 chip, which is exclusive to the AirPods Max, provides more than enough juice for these headphones. Along with having excellent sound quality, Apple active noise-canceling (ANC) technology functions better at both low and high frequencies than Bose’s.
In fact, the AirPods Max has the ability to reduce particular frequencies by up to four times. The AirPods Max also includes a clever transparency option that allows certain audio, like voices, to come through while you’re using them.
Airpods Max cons
The Apple AirPods Max is very pricey right off the beginning, even when compared to Bose, which isn’t exactly known for its frugality. Even though the headphones’ distinctive design is undeniable, many users still think the exorbitant $549 price is excessive.
The fact that the AirPods Max only has touch controls, which can be challenging to operate with gloves on or in cold conditions, is very shocking, especially given their high price. On the other hand, the Bose 700 Headphones have touch panels and can even be configured with unique gesture shortcuts.
In addition, since charging the AirPods Max requires Apple’s proprietary lightning port, it is less likely that you will be able to borrow a charger in an emergency. This is particularly true because the Bose 700 Headphones have a USB-C charging connector, which is being used by an increasing number of Apple goods.
The fact that the AirPods Max is not totally compatible with Android phones may not be significant to the majority of Apple users. The AirPods Max may still be connected to an Android device using Bluetooth 5.0, but in order to receive software upgrades, you must connect them to an iPhone.
Bose 700 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
Since they can squeeze all of their technology and performance into just one pair of headphones, Bose has been at the forefront of the audio business for decades. This is evident in their 700 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones.
The Bose 700 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones are their flagship model and are equipped with a stylish design, lightweight material, and excellent sound quality.
Bose 700 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones pros
Aside from the excellent sound quality, one of the best things about the Bose 700 Headphones is that they are comfortable enough to wear all day. On the most recent version of the 700 Headphones, Bose added more plush ear pads, making them even comfier.
These headphones are not only cozy but also powerful enough to be worn all day long, thanks to the long 21-hour battery life. Fortunately, the battery charges quickly despite its size, and you can anticipate using it for more than 240 minutes on a 15-minute charge.
Even while the Bose 700 Headphones’ ANC isn’t nearly as good as what the AirPods Max delivers, they are still a far superior option for anyone who values portability highly. First off, because the actual ear cups rotate inward, the 700 Headphones are practically flat when folded. Additionally, the AirPods Max doesn’t come with a carrying case as the 700 Headphones do.
As opposed to earlier models, which were built entirely of plastic, the Bose 700 Headphones are made of premium metal. These headphones are less likely to shatter because of their metal structure, especially when being transported. The outstanding microphone quality on the Bose 700 Headphones will also be appreciated by business people who commute.
Bose 700 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones cons
Unfortunately, while Bose excels in all areas of sound quality and usability, they fall short of the AirPods Max in terms of design appeal. The Bose 700 Headphones are undeniably stylish, but they should come in more colors.
The Bose 700 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones also fall short of the AirPods Max in terms of technological characteristics. For instance, the Bose 700 Headphones don’t feature spatial sound or adaptive EQ, whereas the AirPods Max has. Also, whether your device is an iPhone or an Android, the Bose 700 Headphones won’t work with it without any issues.
Although the sound quality of the Bose 700 Headphones is more balanced than that of the AirPods Max, many listeners, particularly those who enjoy hip-hop, electronic, and rock music, prefer deeper bass.
Compare Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 vs Apple Airpods Max
Which Headset Has The Better Built and Fit?
Over-ear designs are shared by the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and Apple AirPods Max. Those who wear glasses can use either headset for hours of listening, but the AirPods Max ear cushions are plusher, and the Bose Headphones 700 are substantially lighter (254g compared to 384g).
However, neither headset can match the all-day comfort of the Bose QuietComfort 35 II or Bose QuietComfort 45.
The premium headphones from Apple and Bose have similar futuristic, simple, and aluminum constructions. Equally, Apple and Bose headphones lack foldable hinges, making them both difficult to transport. Compared to the Apple Smart Case, which is needed to turn off the AirPods Max, the Bose carrying case that comes with them is significantly more protective.
While the AirPods Max Smart Cover leaves the mesh headband exposed and susceptible to stray pens or keys if you carelessly toss the headphones into your backpack, the Bose’s zippered case completely protects the headset.
Either headset may always be purchased with a third-party case, and Bose even provides a Headphones 700 Charging Case. But you shouldn’t have to spend more money for a solid case when you’re paying the top price for headsets like these.
Bose Offers You More Direct Control?
Compared to Apple’s, Bose’s headset gives you a lot more control over your music. Playback, volume, and other functions may all be managed with the touch panels on the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphone 700.
Even gesture shortcuts can be made, something the AirPods Max does not support. Apple’s headset uses just tactile controls, which is a surprising choice. You must use the Digital Crown and Noise Control button to interact instead of swiping on the huge headphones.
Although it is limited, direct voice assistant access is supported by both headsets. Bose is bound to Amazon Alexa hands-free voice services, whilst Apple AirPods Max can only be used with Siri.
What Bluetooth Codecs Does the Bose NCH 700 and Apple AirPods Max support?
Only two Bluetooth codecs are supported by the Apple AirPods Max and Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700, both of which rely on Bluetooth 5.0 firmware: SBC and AAC. In either case, only iPhone users enjoy consistently great audio quality; depending on the hardware, Android still has issues encoding the AAC codec.
Both headsets provide stable connections. However, only the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 feature Bluetooth multipoint, allowing you to connect simultaneously to two sources.
Although a wonderful feature, the multipoint performance isn’t flawless.
Instead of supporting Bluetooth multipoint, the AirPods Max allows automated source switching with iOS devices that are compatible. The most recently active device’s media playback is automatically detected during this seamless process.
Which Pair of Headphones is Easier to Set Up?
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are also a straightforward method to connect to an iPhone, but connecting the AirPods Max is significantly simpler.
A pop-up notification will ask for your consent to connect the headset when you turn on the AirPods Max for the first time close to your iPhone. All it takes is that. It takes some extra work to pair the Bose Headphones 700 with an iPhone or Android phone and involves browsing the phone’s Bluetooth settings.
Does the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 Have Better Software Features Than the AirPods Max?
The iPadOS and iOS devices are the most compatible with the Apple AirPods Max. Even the most fundamental functions, like firmware updates, are only available on Apple systems. To keep this headset up to date, if you have an Android phone, you will need to borrow an iPhone from a friend.
Additionally, iOS devices are necessary for features like noise cancellation button adjustments, Adaptive EQ, and hands-free access to Siri. However, even with an iPhone, you are unable to establish a unique EQ profile.
When it introduced iOS 14, Apple added many new capabilities for its AirPods headphones, including Spatial Audio. Spatial Audio, which employs software to produce a 3D effect, is supported by the AirPods Max.
Apple simulates how humans hear in the real world by encoding sound into objects that fly through the left and right channels at slightly different intervals, giving the sensation of a direction. Apple integrates sensors with its software to enable dynamic head tracking, which puts you at the center of the action. If you watch a lot of videos while wearing headphones, it’s fantastic.
Benefits of the Bose Music app and Bose AR
Both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store both provide the Bose Music app, which functions identically on both platforms. The Bose Music app lets you change the multifunction button’s function, the level of noise cancellation, and the EQ profile. You can always rely on Active EQ if you don’t want to fiddle.
Bose’s headphone app also eliminates the need to swipe between specific radio and music apps by acting as a one-stop shop for all of your preferred music streaming services. You can use it as a hub for all of your Bose smart speakers and soundbars to manage multi-room playback, organize speakers into groups, and access different playlists in various rooms.
The Bose Music app serves as a gateway to the company’s augmented reality platform, Bose AR, which blends its audio accessories with AR applications. Through applications like Navisens NaviGuide AR, which offers audio-enhanced directions, you can benefit from Bose AR.
How Are The Batteries of AirPods Max and Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700?
With ANC turned on, the Apple AirPods Max lasted 20 hours, while the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 lasted 21 hours and 25 minutes. Each headset is subjected to a steady 75dB(SPL) output until the batteries in each one run out.
Both headphones have quick charging capabilities. For example, the AirPods Max may be played for 90 minutes after five minutes of Lightning cable connection. With the Bose Headphones 700, doing the same over USB-C for 15 minutes results in 210 minutes of playing.
Does the Apple AirPods Max Have Better Noise Canceling?
The AirPods Max exceeds the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 in this statistic, despite the fact that Bose may have invented active noise cancellation (ANC).
Compared to the Bose Headphones 700, the AirPods Max’s ANC technology significantly reduces background noise, making some middle frequencies up to four times quieter.
Additionally, the AirPods Max successfully muffles low-frequency noises compared to the Bose headphone. You can hear sounds like an airplane engine or the droning grind of the train throughout your trip in this frequency range.
Both headphones have effective noise cancellation, but Apple unquestionably wins this category. Each Apple headphone contains an H1 chip, the company’s exclusive processor that drives functions like ANC, which accounts for the company’s exceptional ANC performance.
Bose’s headset only uses six of its eight microphones for ANC processing, compared to Apple’s headset’s eight microphones.
Bose vs Airpods Max: Which Headphones Sound Better?
According to our measurements, the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 pushes the upper midrange for a more revealing sound, while the Apple AirPods Max has a frequency response that is more consumer-friendly.
When compared to any AirPod, the Bose Headphones 700 have fewer, less pronounced deviations from our Consumer Curve and allow you to EQ the sound.
The Apple AirPods Max deviates from the usual with its under-emphasized (compared to our house curve) upper midrange response. Most general-purpose headsets have somewhat increased sub-bass and bass response.
You can’t go wrong with either headset’s sound quality, but if we’re really picking at the finer points, most listeners would prefer Apple’s sound over Bose’s since it has a more studio-like feel to it.
Can You Use A Headphone Jack with Apple and Bose’s Headphones?
If your library is filled with FLAC songs or you subscribe to a service like Tidal HiFi or Amazon Music HD, the fact that both headsets enable connected audio playback should be welcome news.
For wired use, Bose’s headset only has a 2.5mm stereo input socket, so be sure to cling onto the supplied cord. If your smartphone doesn’t have a headphone port, Apple’s headphones need you to utilize a $9 audio dongle and a $35 USD Lightning-to-3.5mm audio cable.
Even if the wires themselves exist, there is sadly no method to deliver digital audio straight to the AirPods Max over a cable.
Is the Bose Headphones 700 Microphone Better Than the AirPods Max?
Each superior microphone array from Apple and Bose is crammed inside its particular headset. The Bose Headphones 700 include four microphones for speech pickup, two of which are also shared with ANC. The AirPods Max has three microphones reserved for voice pickup, two of which are shared with ANC.
Although the voice quality will vary depending on your source device, each headset is excellent for personal usage and works just fine for conference calls. As is customary for Apple, the AirPods Max transmits audio at its highest quality when connected to an Apple smartphone, but even then, results may vary, and the microphone will sound best on the most recent Apple device you own.
FAQs
Which One Should You Buy?
It can be difficult to decide between the Apple Airpods Max and the Bose 700 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones. Both provide excellent durability, superior ANC technology, and fantastic sound. But before you buy a new set of headphones, you need to be aware of a few significant deviations.
Price comes first and foremost. It is better to stick with the less expensive but equally amazing Bose 700 Headphones if you are on a tight budget or prone to losing or destroying your headphones.
For anyone who wishes to utilize their headphones for phone conversations or Zoom meetings, these are the appropriate headphones. But anyone who wants their headphones to work with all of their Apple devices should consider the Apple AirPods Max.
Furthermore, if you want your headphones to double as a fashion piece, the AirPods Max is unquestionably the best option. Thankfully, since both of these headphones are top-notch, you really can’t go wrong.
What Are The Alternatives?
We’re in the thick of ANC audio’s golden age, so if you’re not happy with either set of noise-canceling headphones, there are plenty of other options available. The Bose QuietComfort 45 is the next logical choice, and it competes admirably with the time-honored Sony WH-1000XM4 headset.
The Bose QC 45 offers excellent active noise cancellation that performs marginally better than the Bose NCH 700, but the QC 45 significantly amplifies treble. As of November 2, 2021, the Bose Music app does not allow for the creation of a custom EQ for the QC 45. However, this may change in the future with a firmware update.
In addition, the Sony WH-1000XM4 offers comfy construction, adjustable sound, and best-in-class ANC (apart from the AirPods Max). Both the quality of the microphone and the connection are excellent. The Sony WH-1000XM4 supports Bluetooth multipoint, like the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, although it has unique issues. The Sony WF-1000XM4 are more portable versions of these headphones that you might like.
You can also think about the Shure AONIC 50. For conference calls, the microphone is excellent, and the audio is excellent. While noise cancellation is fairly good, it doesn’t match the capabilities of Apple, Sony, or Bose headphones. Except for the appropriately named Bose QuietComfort 35 II, Shure’s headphones are arguably the most comfortable of the lot.
Don’t worry if you’ve determined that the products from Bose, Apple, and even Sony are a little too expensive for you to afford. Numerous affordable noise-canceling headphones are available, such as the Sennheiser PCX 550-II and AKG N60NC. If you wait for a good offer, you can frequently buy Sennheiser and AKG’s noise-canceling headphones for around $200 USD. Both of these brands compete with the best of them.
Can Apple AirPod Connect To Multiple Devices?
Although AirPods can not connect to two devices at a time, switching between devices with other Apple devices is simple. If an individual has connected their AirPods to their Apple ID, they will automatically switch to the user’s current device.
How Do I Clean AirPods Max?
To clean your AirPods Max, remove the ear cushions and use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to wipe the ear cups. Do not use any cleaning products on your AirPods Max.
Conclusion
Both options from Apple and Bose brands have their own benefits as well as drawbacks. Depending on your need, choose the best one that is suitable for you. Hope that this article can help you easily make decisions. Thanks for reading!