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macsareveryinteresting

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 7, 2020
959
646
Colorado Springs
I’ve been struggling to find out which is better. I heard that the sound quality and smoothness on the AirPods Max are slightly better but I don’t know really anything else.
 

NARadyk

macrumors 6502a
May 21, 2021
641
1,670
UK
I am lucky enough to own both. The quality of the Max are obviously better and comfier but they are also double the price. I use the Max’s solely when I’m at home, whilst the Pro’s I use when I’m out and about. Both are fantastic in my opinion.
 

johntw

macrumors regular
May 29, 2016
210
239
Personally, it is a night and day difference. I never loved the APP sound quality as much as others and was not was able to get a secure/comfortable fit. I find the Beats Studio Bud to sound and fit better. But, if you can afford the Max and are OK with the weight/fit and likelihood of primarily using them while stationary, they are hard to beat.
 
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clarencek

macrumors 6502
Apr 8, 2008
295
348
Have both. The max sounds much better but not practical if you need to be mobile. It’s too big and heavy.
But the max def sounds better. The distance of the speakers from your ear and the insulation of the cups leads to much richer sound quality then the ear buds.
 
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bigshot

macrumors 6502
May 7, 2021
285
149
They aren't the same at all. The only similarity is the integration with Apple devices. One is for on the go and the other is for serious listening at home.
 
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bwillwall

Suspended
Dec 24, 2009
1,031
802
I mean do you want to spend $550 on over-ear headphones or $250 on noise-canceling earbuds
 

jazz1

Contributor
Aug 19, 2002
4,676
19,794
Mid-West USA
I admit it, I'm a headphone freak. Both wired and Bluetooth. I will say the AirPods Max surprised me with how well the sound isolation/transparency modes work.

Stick with me. The other day I was trying to quietly "tiptoe" though my living room because I didn't want to wake the dog. I've done this many times. But, as I passed through with the headphones on transparency mode. I heard what I thought was someone behind me, but no, the headphones were picking up my own footsteps. Something, I would not normally hear while walking in "stealth mode" without headphones. It was eerie, but show how well this mode works. I don't know for sure, but I'd be surprised if the AirPods can do that as well.

The sound, is the best I've heard over the many BlueTooth headphones I've owned over the years. But, having said that I plan to replace my Jabra 65T earbuds with the next AirPods Pro (earbuds) once they are released.

Why? Because there are times when I need light and small headphones that I can grab quickly, deploy and store quickly, and not have to use a bag to carry. It is of course obvious that the AirPod Max is not small/light.

But as I hit the door with the earbuds, I will say I'll probably be hesitant to leave the AirPods Mac behind just because the sound so great, isolate well (when needed), and lets me hear the outside environment (when needed).

If I had to choose between the AirPods Pro or the AirPod Max, I would just pick the AirPod Max, hands down. Granted, I have not heard the AirPods Pro.
 
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Htsi

macrumors 65816
Oct 14, 2020
1,398
1,267
Max sounds way better, but they are not portable to the extent the lightweight pros are. Different products for different uses. I use my pros if heading outdoors in heat, else they stay at home
 
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