Overview
What is the Apple AirPods Max?
Apple is skilled at creating items that are both aesthetically pleasing and innovative technologically. With the AirPods Max, you can listen to the fantastic personalized sound while looking stylish.
Pros
- Intelligent adaptive technology for a distinctive audio experience
- Interoperability with Apple devices without a hitch
- Exceptionally cozy design
Cons
- That price tag though
What is Sony WH-1000XM4?
By no means is Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones simple. They provide outstanding sound cancellation and great overall sound, in addition to having numerous microphones and Bluetooth Audio SoC.
Pros
- Incredible noise cancellation
- More device and assistant system compatibility
- Includes a plug converter, input port, and headphone cable for use during flying.
Cons
- Touch sensor navigation can be challenging
- Less appealing style
Apple AirPods Max vs Sony WH-1000XM4
Design and Build
An extremely pleasant set of headphones is the AirPods Max. Although the headphones have mesh ear pads and a soft headband, their metal skeleton makes them rather weighty. The construction seems robust; it could endure some wear and tear. If the ear cushions degrade over time, you can replace them.
Even while the AirPods Max has a premium feel, you may expect it to be a little more portable, given that it is a pair of Bluetooth headphones intended to be used on the go. The supplied AirPods Max Smart Case only offers little protection for the headset against nicks and scratches; the ear cups cannot be folded for convenient traveling.
If you live in an area where it frequently rains, like any of us SoundGuys do, you may need to look for a more weatherproof pair of headphones because of these lack any IP ratings. The AirPods Max should be more than sufficient if you only intend to use them at home.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is slightly more portable and less comfortable than the Apple AirPods Max, though comfort might vary depending on the shape of the wearer’s head and ears. The ear cups may be folded into the headband to make the headset more compact, and then you can toss it into the hardshell carrying case.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 lacks an official IP classification, similar to the AirPods Max. Thus you should keep it away from moisture like perspiration or water. Despite this, it is reasonably light and made entirely of plastic.
Which Headset Has Greater Connection Stability?
Both the Sony WH-1000XM4 and AirPods Max support Bluetooth 5.0 and the SBC and AAC codecs. The excellent but not necessarily high-resolution LDAC codec is also supported by Sony’s headphones.
Although the AirPods Max lacks Bluetooth multipoint, your iCloud account allows for smooth switching between all of your Apple devices. Bluetooth multipoint is available on the Sony WH-1000XM4, although it is only functional when all devices are linked to the headphones via the AAC codec.
Since Apple was quick to remove the headphone jack, the lack of a 3.5mm connector on the Apple AirPods Max shouldn’t come as a great surprise. However, if you want to listen to wired music, you can purchase an Apple Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter.
Remember that a 3.5mm Lightning dongle is also required if you wish to listen to music on your iPhone with cables. When the headphones’ battery runs out, the 3.5mm cable that comes with the Sony WH-1000XM4 is useful.
Are the AirPods Max or Sony WH-1000XM4 Software Features Cooler?
The two headphone sets in question are used in quite dissimilar ways. The Digital Crown dial and noise-canceling button located at the top of the right headphone are used to control the AirPods Max. When used with an iPhone, the headset also supports auto-pause and auto-resume features.
Your input is promptly registered by the rotating crown, which is perhaps a little too sensitive. While wearing the headphones, you may either say “Hey, Siri” or push the button for a long period of time to talk to your smart assistant. However, none of us should be shocked that with the AirPods Max, you are unable to use your voice to access a smart assistant that is not Siri.
You need an Apple device to access many of the AirPods Max features, including firmware upgrades.
The AirPods Max contains an astounding array of functions, which is typical of Apple goods. Any user can access transparency mode, regardless of how experienced they are with Apple products. The AirPods Max’s transparency mode performs admirably.
The same mics that are used for ANC are used here to pick up and magnify environmental sound so you can listen to music and yet be aware of your surroundings. Spatial Audio, another function of the AirPods Max, simulates surround sound within your headphones but is only available to users of Apple products.
Touch controls on the headphones are used to control the Sony WH-1000XM4, although they aren’t always reliable. Initiating auto-pause by just taking off the headset is more dependable than using the touch panels.
In order to activate Sony’s ambient sound mode, which is comparable to Apple’s Transparency mode, you cup one hand over the right ear cup of the Sony WH-1000XM4 rather than pressing a button. The media loudness is likewise decreased when ambient sound mode is active.
Before using some of the Sony WH-1000XM4’s functions, download the Sony Headphones Connect app, which is available for both iOS and Android. You may use the app to access Sony’s Speak-to-Chat feature, which identifies when you are conversing and immediately pauses your music.
It might not be the best feature to use on public transportation, though, as it can be extremely sensitive to background noise and surrounding conversations. The app also grants access to Sony 360 Reality Audio, which is comparable to Apple’s Spatial Audio and can be utilized with Hi-Fi streaming services like Tidal or Deezer.
- Also read another comparison post: apple AirPods max vs bose noise canceling headphones 700
Airpods Max vs Sony XM4: Battery
It’s strange that the AirPods Max headset won’t turn on or off. When put into the casing, it enters a low power mode rather than having a power button. Unfortunately, this means that the battery will run out for several hours before going into sleep mode if you don’t carry the Smart Case with you everywhere (and we wouldn’t blame you for doing so).
When we ran the battery through our typical test of continuous actual music listening peaking at 75dB(SPL), it lasted over 21 hours, which is somewhat longer than the 20 hours claimed by Apple. Apple doesn’t offer a USB-C power brick, which makes charging the AirPods Max via Lightning to USB-C a pain.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 should be able to charge through USB-C. With ANC enabled, this headset has a battery life of 19 hours and 59 minutes, which is considerably less than Sony promises, but it’s still adequate. The WH-1000XM4 may be charged quickly; 10 minutes of charging time results in 5 hours of listening time.
The Active Noise Canceling Performance on Both Headphones is Great
The active noise cancellation on the AirPods Max is genuinely insanely powerful, and if you don’t have an iPhone, it can never be turned off. These are the two primary things you need to know about it. That’s correct; the only options available to Android users are ANC and Transparency mode.
The spacious ear cups of the AirPods Max enable outstanding passive isolation. The outside world is virtually completely blocked out when passive isolation and active noise canceling are used together.
The AirPods Max eliminates noise more successfully than the Sony WH-1000XM4, especially when it comes to low-frequency sounds, but this doesn’t mean that the ANC on the WH-1000XM4 is in any way subpar. It is actually equally as good, if not a little less so, than the Apple headphones.
The AirPods Max reliably filters out low-frequency noise, unlike Sony, whose attenuation dips slightly around 150Hz. If you’re attempting to muffle the rumbling sound of an airplane engine, this frequency range is essential.
These noises can be reduced more effectively with the AirPods Max, but the Sony WH-1000XM4 still performs a more than adequate job. The two headsets in question are also very effective at reducing mid-, and high-frequency noise, so noisy crowds will also be reduced.
Sony WH1000XM4 vs Airpods Max: Which Headphones Sound Better?
The AirPods Max produces wonderful music and may even gratify some audiophiles, in part due to its ANC performance and in part due to the tuning of its drivers. With the exception of a tiny bass boost that makes it simpler for you to detect sub-bass notes, the frequency response is neutral across the board.
They are not advertised as studio headphones since they are not quite precise enough. We are now re-testing these headphones with the same type of mechanical head that we used when we first tested the AirPods Max. The AirPods Max was adjusted using a different mechanical head from the one we used. The updated findings will be released soon.
Regardless of whether you use an iPhone or not, Apple does not let you set a custom EQ profile on the AirPods Max. Instead, the headphones feature an adaptive EQ that effectively alters the sound profile based on the degree of background noise in your vicinity.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 Bluetooth headphones have some of the best audio quality available. The Sony headphones have less emphasis on the bass notes than the AirPods Max, which results in a more neutral low-end sound.
This kind of frequency response makes vocalists and string instruments more apparent, despite the fact that some bassheads may feel they are missing out on the rumbles and kicks of songs with a lot of basses.
Additionally, you can adjust the EQ settings on the Sony WH-1000XM4 using the Sony Headphones Connect app, allowing you to always turn up the bass to your preferred level.
Is the Sony WH-1000XM4 Better Than the AirPods Max?
The AirPods Max is a very alluring set of headphones. The greatest wireless noise-canceling over-ear headphones have recently been produced by Sony and Bose, so Apple had its work cut out for it when it decided to enter this market. But, as we suspected could be the case, the AirPods Max has exceeded our expectations.
The AirPods Max is the greatest option for iPhone users who are willing to spend more money on the best build, design, features, and sound quality. They do fulfill our expectations and then some.
The great news, though, is that if you’re looking for something a little less expensive or don’t have an iPhone, the Bose 700 and Award-winning Sony XM4 still give an excellent wireless noise-canceling experience. The decision is always yours…
FAQs
What Are Other Options?
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is among the greatest noise-canceling headphones on the market. At $399 USD, the WH-1000XM4’s smaller sibling is still less expensive than the AirPods max. Thanks to a modification of its ear cups and headband, it also isolates pretty effectively.
Additionally, it is a little bit more portable and storage-friendly than Apple’s model. This headset is probably where your search may end if you want a pair of cans that can serve a variety of purposes.
Apple AirPods Pro and the Sony WF-1000XM4 are more portable options.
You could truly like the Apple AirPods Max or the Sony WH-1000XM4 concept, but you don’t want to carry along a full-sized headset wherever you go. Do not be alarmed; the Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM4 are two very powerful little sets of genuine wireless headphones that can perform almost any task.
The IPX4-rated earphones in the Sony WF-1000XM4 provide some of the strongest ANC we’ve ever tested in this category. Because of the Bluetooth 5.2 firmware and the case’s ability to quickly charge the earbuds, the battery life is quite good. Apple’s software features can’t be said of Sony’s mobile app, which runs on any mobile OS and provides a consistent user experience.
The AirPods Pro is the most obvious and ideal option for the majority of iPhone owners while having certain drawbacks, primarily due to its features being limited to Apple hardware. Due to Apple’s battery optimization software, these stemmed earbuds have an IPX4 classification and are designed to last a little bit longer than the competition.
How to Adjust the Sound of AirPods Max?
If you want to adjust the sound of your AirPods Max, there are a few things you can do.
First, you can go into the settings on your iPhone and select the “AirPods Max” option. From there, you can adjust the volume, bass, and treble. You can also change the listening mode from “Stereo” to “Mono” if you want. If you want to adjust the sound of your AirPods Max while you’re wearing them, you can use the Volume buttons on the ear cups.
What Are the Main Features of the Sony WH-1000XM4?
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a high-end wireless noise-canceling headset. It has a sleek and comfortable design, and its noise-canceling capabilities are among the best in the industry.
The headset also features touch controls, allowing you to control your music with ease. The Sony WH-1000XM4 is an excellent choice for those looking for a top-of-the-line wireless noise-canceling headset.
How Do I Know If the Sony WH-1000XM4 is Right For Me?
If you’re looking for top-of-the-line noise-canceling headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is a great option. With advanced features like adaptive sound control and atmospheric pressure optimization, the WH-1000XM4 can provide a personalized listening experience.
If you’re willing to spend a little extra for the best of the best, the Sony WH-1000XM4 is a great choice.
Conclusion
Both Apple and Sony’s products have their own advantages and disadvantages. Select the option that is best for you based on your needs. We hope this post will make it easier for you to make decisions. Gratitude for reading!