Short answer: the Dan Clark Audio Aeon RT Closed. It ranks #291 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $499.99. The Apple AirPods Max ranks #331, rated 3.1/5, at $479, $20.99 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the Dan Clark Audio Aeon RT Closed: A light 0.7 lbs (328 g) closed-back planar with a neutral bass level (within 0.1 dB of target) and a Harman score of 66, sold by Dan Clark Audio for much less than its flagships. Watch for: Treble sits about 2.9 dB below target, so it can sound a little dull next to brighter headphones, and it measures behind the older Dan Clark Audio Aeon Flow Closed (79).
Why pick the Apple AirPods Max: 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.
Buy the Dan Clark Audio Aeon RT Closed. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $20.99 with the Apple AirPods Max does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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A light 328 g closed-back planar with a neutral bass level (within 0.1 dB of target) and a Harman score of 66, sold by Dan Clark Audio for much less than its flagships.
Dan Clark Audio $499.99 eBay
Bass sits close to target and holds down to 20 Hz, so low end sounds full without bloat.
Amazon $479.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Dan Clark Audio Aeon RT Closed | Apple AirPods Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 | $479.00 |
| Ranked | #291 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #331 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Closed | Closed |
| Connection | Wired | Bluetooth |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Impedance | 13 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | About 90 dB/mW | - |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (328 g) | 0.8 lbs (384.8 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 66 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 62 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.54 dB standard deviation | 2.53 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.35 (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 (+1.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
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