Short answer: the Apple AirPods Max. It ranks #291 of 429 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $496.49. The Sony WH-1000XM5 ranks #358, rated 2.6/5, at $199.95, $296.54 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Apple AirPods Max is the better-sounding pick. Bass sits close to target and holds down to 20 Hz, so low end sounds full without bloat. The tradeoff: Presence sits about 4.5 dB low with an 8.9 dB dip near 7.3 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
The case for the Sony WH-1000XM5: It offers active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC and LDAC for high-resolution streaming, a built-in microphone, and about 30 hours of battery life. Watch for: Bass sits about 7 dB over target and sub-bass about 6 dB over, with the low mids another 3 dB over, so the sound is bloated and bass-heavy for anyone wanting a balanced presentation.
Buy the Apple AirPods Max. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $296.54 you would save on the Sony WH-1000XM5 does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Apple AirPods Max | Sony WH-1000XM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $496.49 | $199.95 |
| Ranked | #291 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones | #358 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Bluetooth | Wireless and wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic | 1 x 30mm dynamic |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (384.8 g) | 0.6 lbs (250 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 62 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.53 dB standard deviation | 3.33 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.35 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.47 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Active Noise Cancelling | - | Yes |
| Impedance | - | 48 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 102 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | - | 4Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Battery Life | - | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Built-in Microphone | - | Yes |
| IP Rating | - | None |
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- Apple AirPods Max vs Sennheiser HDB 630
- Apple AirPods Max vs Sony WH-1000XM4
- Apple AirPods Max vs Sony WH-1000XM6
- Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Sony WH-1000XM6
- Beats Studio3 Wireless vs Sony WH-1000XM5
Prices on this page were last checked October 13, 2026 at 3:17 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Apple AirPods Max: $496.49 Amazon $496.49 eBay
Pros: Bass sits close to target and holds down to 20 Hz, so low end sounds full without bloat. Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. It uses 1 x 40mm dynamic.
Cons: Presence sits about 4.5 dB low with an 8.9 dB dip near 7.3 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite. A Harman score of 62 places it in the lower part of the over-ear rankings.
Full Apple AirPods Max review and specifications →
| Released | Dec 2020 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Bluetooth |
| Deviation From Target | 2.53 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 62 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.35 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (384.8 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.7 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -3.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 7,273 Hz | +3.6 dB | 2.41 |
| Peak | 218 Hz | -2.9 dB | 1.41 |
| Peak | 1,031 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.99 |
| Peak | 3,185 Hz | +3.1 dB | 0.56 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,508 Hz | +2.7 dB | 2.20 |
| Peak | 66 Hz | +0.6 dB | 1.65 |
| Peak | 4,045 Hz | +2.1 dB | 5.82 |
| Peak | 4,834 Hz | -1.8 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Sony WH-1000XM5: $199.95 Wireless Amazon $199.95 Lowest Sony $299.99 eBay
Newer model: the Sony WH-1000XM6, ranked lower, rated 2.3/5, released May 2025. It adds LC3.
Older models: the Sony MDR-1000X (ranked higher, rated 3.9/5), the Sony WH-1000XM2 (ranked higher, rated 3.7/5), the Sony WH-1000XM4 (ranked lower, rated 2.5/5) and the Sony WH-1000XM3 (ranked lower, rated 1.8/5). See every Sony WH-1000X generation.
Pros: It offers active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC and LDAC for high-resolution streaming, a built-in microphone, and about 30 hours of battery life. At 250 g it is lighter than the other wireless over-ears at its level. Presence and treble are within about 3 dB of target, and the largest deviation in the upper range is a modest 4.6 dB peak near 6.2 kHz, so the top end is relatively smooth.
Cons: Bass sits about 7 dB over target and sub-bass about 6 dB over, with the low mids another 3 dB over, so the sound is bloated and bass-heavy for anyone wanting a balanced presentation. A 3.6 dB dip near 2.3 kHz pulls back vocals slightly, while air above 10 kHz is about 2 dB low. It has no IP rating for water or dust protection. The Beats Studio3 Wireless has a higher rating.
Full Sony WH-1000XM5 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes |
| Back | Closed |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Connection | Wireless and wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.33 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 30mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 4Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 50 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| IP Rating | None |
| Impedance | 48 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (+4.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.47 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (250 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,448 Hz | +6.9 dB | 2.46 |
| Peak | 173 Hz | -5.6 dB | 0.96 |
| Peak | 3,028 Hz | -5.4 dB | 2.03 |
| Peak | 1,327 Hz | +3.3 dB | 0.58 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +4.9 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 6,110 Hz | -2.3 dB | 5.81 |
| Peak | 875 Hz | -1.2 dB | 4.07 |
| Peak | 1,197 Hz | +1.0 dB | 3.28 |
| Peak | 63 Hz | +0.4 dB | 2.13 |
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