AirPods Max vs Sony XM4s | Which is better? | Mark Ellis Reviews
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
- It's the one you've been waiting for: my favourite ever pair of consumer headphones versus Apple's super-expensive over-the-ear cans. But which one wins in the headphone battle of AirPods Max vs Sony WH-1000XM4?
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
00:48 - Price
01:41 - Comfort
03:16 - Sound
04:38 - Noise-cancelling
05:50 - Charging and battery life
08:48 - Case
10:23 - Call quality
11:18 - Conclusion
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I have zero interest in deep spec dives or long-winded comparisons. I review laptops, smartphones, tablets, headphones and the latest tech based on real experience. I'll tell you how it'll make you feel, whether or not it's worth your time (and money) and help you find the tech you need to get stuff done.
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I've waited and waited to put these two in the ring. But I feel like it's finally time. So, here we go...
I would recommend a binaural headset if they aren’t to expensive it really helps the listener understand for themselves
Mark, I have to say I like your style of presentation. I watch your videos and am hooked on reading your Medium posts. Great job . . . Great Work!
Thanks so much, Greg - that means the world.
Congratulations on the 10k subscribers! Great video as usual. Guess i'll wait for a discount on the XM4 !
Thank you so much!
I just bought the XM4's, and I love them, but I DO feel like I'm missing out on the airpod's max (especially since I have airpod's pro and iPhone). But for that price point, I just cant justify returning the XM4's for the Max if they're so close in competition. I love your reviews though, very down to earth and "real" like another person reviewing instead of tech guy.
Cheers mate (I'm American but I just wanted to say that lol)
Cheers to you, mate! Really appreciate your kind words.
What do you feel you’re missing out on from the AirPods Max?
@@spewter Spatial audio probably
W One Piece pfp
Brilliant review, this is how it needs to be done. You've earned yourself a subscriber, Mark.
Awesome! Thanks!
Just posting to share three things
-great vid (again)
-i had no complaints with call quality with the xm4
-i just appreciate the fact you talk so quietly and yet so clearly
Cheers from Portugal!
Thanks so much, Jorge!
I used the XM2s and am currently rocking the XM3s, so I don’t know if this is an issue with the XM4s, but one problem I’ve consistently run into with Sony’s XM series of headphones is the plastic sides of the headband. I have quite a large head, and the plastic inevitably starts to crack over time because of that. If I wind up picking up the AirPods Max (which I’m considering saving up for) it’ll be 90% because with how good the build quality is I don’t anticipate that that would be a problem.
Nice review! Thank you!😊
Found you only today.. Amazing work. Subscribed ❤️
Awesome! Thank you!
Great review Mark ... looking forward to the next headphone review 😀
Thanks, Dean. Me too!
Thanks great review.
Are both compatible with Microsoft TEAMS?
Thanks for all your reviews, buying Sony XM4 now thanks to you. Any recommended UK retailers?
Thanks for watching! I'd go with Amazon :)
Finally! A review comparing the two models I’m considering… In the categories that actually matter!
Just bought the xm4 and I’m loving it
Great, aren't they?
I was just tryna leave my humble opinion and he was comin at me idk why I was being censored. Like I said before I got the Max’s and I love em and I think although they’re overpriced, all of the slightly better features add more value as you use them overtime (which doesn’t make them overpriced in the long run I guess). Like I said before my comment got deleted, Sony’s r great for the money I’ve tried em! I just gotta have the best of the best when it comes to tech. Not sure why my comment got deleted just because some dude named Thomas said “please don’t ever tell me air pod pro’s are the best” even tho I never even said the pros 😂 Thomas if ur still out there, go kick rocks lol
@@tyleroc8378 I also got the Max and I think they are better than the XM4.
@@tyleroc8378 don’t get me wrong.Both headphones are great but if u don’t want to spend about 550 then just go for the XM4.Trust me,u won’t regret at all
@@nikahmadfaeysahmadfarid689 Fully agree! Thank you! Glad someone else realizes this.
Thank you Mark, great review and helpful
My pleasure!
Very good review! Helpful and entertaining. Sony is winning but I’m still choosing between Sony and Bose 700 🤔 (I’m very strict with comfort, that’s my main concern)
Might just wanna get the Bose QC35's. It doesn't get any more comfortable than that. I'm wearing them as I'm typing this comment, and I've owned this pair since 2016. I have A LOT of headphones, and this pair BY FAR is the most comfortable cans I have ever experienced. I haven't tried the new 700's though, I will admit, but they're heavier and I've heard some people complain about the new material in the headband snagging their hair some times. There's one small issue with the QC35's, though. My pair, after 5 years, has started to turn on by itself sometimes, draining the battery in the process. This is even with the power switch set to off. I've read online complaints on the Bose forums that even the revised mark 2 version of the QC35's suffer from this issue as well, and there isn't really a fix for it so just a heads up if you do consider them. They are the absolute KINGS of comfort and I would, without a doubt purchase them again if my current pair died, or if another revision came out where they addressed the turning on issue, I'd just buy a pair right now and sell my current pair for a fair price.
Agree with everything except the phone calls. The XM4 seem to be fine for me, when I have used them. The only problem I would report is that if you have the headphones linked to multiple devices, there may be problems ensuring that you have the right devices selected when a phone call comes in, 'making the other end caller' hard to hear, but this other end caller has never told me they cannot hear me etc.
Which xm4 are good? Black or silver?
I'm using the XM4s every day in zoom calls (for hours) on Windows PC and I haven't found any issue with the call quality. Both from my side and from the opposite.
Hello, how do you connect them to the PC? Wired or do you have a Bluetooth adapter?
What do you think about Bang & Olufsen HX compared to these?
I have both headphones and even though I like the sound and noise cancelling on the AirPods Max more than the WM4's, the WM4's are my daily driver headphones. I use the AirPods Max when I'm at home and I want to watch a late night movie without disturbing anyone else. Also, the weight of the APM doesn't bother me at all. I know some people complain about it but they're comfortable to me.
You have an incredibly nice voice - so satisfying to listen to :)
New to this channel, I like it ❤
There is a button on the xm4 for ambient sound, equivalent to the transparent mode, you don't have to put your hands all the time, that feature is only for quick interactions.
I have owned both. XM4s first , then a couple of months later, the Airpods Max. Far and away prefer the Airpods. Build quality, there is no comparison. Airpods are head and shoulders above the Sony. Wearing the Sonys, I found a lot of sweating on the ear cups. Nothing with the Airpods. The Airpods ear cups breath very well. I noticed an immediate difference in the sound, Apple being noticeably better. As you noted, wearing comfort is better withe Airpods as well. I have worn them for extended periods with no discomfort at all. I really don't care about the lightning cable connection one way or the other. Type C would have been moderately more convenient but it doesn't really fuss me. The purse is what it is. I use mine they same way you use yours. I have already ordered an aftermarket case. Battery life has been ok, not great but not bad. Its works seamlessly with all my Apple devices. The battery charges up fast. I have not had a moment of buyers remorse with them. Yes, a lot more expensive. But each time I handled them after the Sonys, I could understand the extra price. Lastly they look great. Sonys by comparison, well, they look no different than the dozens of other models on the market. But each to his own.
Ditto; same here. Have both, love the maxes head over heels by comparison.
Nice! Thanks for offering your input :)
@@MarkEllisReviews Really enjoy your posts, very informative!
people don’t take in the fact the build of the maxs in the price. having a steel headphone and a plastic headphone guess which one would be more expensive
Ya based on the reviews of the xm4’s I was expecting them to be amazing. I won’t say they’re bad but I was definitely a bit underwhelmed. The sweaty ears is what bothers me the most. I can’t wear them for long Bc it feels like earmuffs. I keep having to pull out one ear to air it out.
I Just ordered a pair of the AirPods max Bc I’ve been tempted to try them. I’ll do a compare and will return the one of lesser quality imo.
I just found you while searching for videos on the Sony's. I saw two you did and sold just ordered them. I have tried the AirPods Max and the sound is incredible but the weight and the price lost me. Thank you for your reviews I absolutely love your style. New sub
That's lovely to hear - thank you!
Great video as always ! Straight to the point. Thanks to your video I bought XMs and I realized that with Iphone 11 Pro I'm not able to use full potential of those. Mainly because Apple using ACC codec only. So by that is coming my question, which mobile with Android will be the best option to pair it with Sony headphones?
Thank you! And I'm afraid I can't answer that question as I haven't tested the XM4s with enough Android phones. Hopefully others can chime in!
@@MarkEllisReviews I'm listening with an LDAC codec, (Poco F2 Pro, which knows LDAC encoding, 990kb / s), Tidal, Sony 360 reality audio. Personally for me, making Sony a voice is the winner.
Brilliant review. Awesome Mark. What headset are you using for calls?
Thanks! I use AirPods Pro exclusively for calls.
Just grabbed the XM4's for $41 bucks at a resale warehouse in my home town!! I'm stoked to say the least!
Great review! You gave me a lot to think about.
Curious, if you were deciding today (11 months later from your review) would you hold off buying either? There's talk of a new Sony XM5s being probable for August. There's speculation re: a Apple Max 2.0? I still have a Sony XM2 that working OK. The APMax are uncomfortable pressing head but taking calls is seamless. I have another 7 days before can't return them. I may return these AP MAX and use AP Pros or earbuds for calls... Any advice appreciated.
Cheers! If I had the money and found a decent deal for either of these cans, I'd just get them today. As always, none of us know when or if the next version might appear ;)
Can anyone recommend good ear pads for the Sonys?
I have the XM3s, but I don’t use them that much. I always reach for my Airpods Pro because of convenience. I use my XM3s for video editing and podcast editing though, do you have any experience using the max for these purposes? Is the latency an issue?
Intersting! No, I don't use anything but my Beyerdynamics for editing. The thought of using a Bluetooth connection scares me to death 😂
You are worthy to subscribed with!….amazing reviews and keep up the good work mark!…
I appreciate that!
I just hear you on the CZcams creators hub podcast and wow. I am a fellow struggling youtuber and you just gave me clarity, direction and permission to not have to hit the “benchmarks” that others in my financial niche do.
I am a welder/mechanic who loves dividend growth investing, and I’ve been all over the place.....
Thank you so very much for the knowledge you’ve shared, Mark.
While I’m not a “techie”, I subbed to give my thanks.👍
Ah, wow thank you so much - that really does mean the world. I really enjoyed that interview with Dusty, and I hope it helps others, because every other creator I've heard on that podcast has helped me! I'll check out your channel now too and duly subscribe. Best of luck with it!
Hi, what about the ambient mode of sony vs transparency mode of airpods max.
Do you think sony’s ambient mode is also as comfortable/close to airpods max?
It’s not even close. AirPods max smash the XM4s with transparency mode
I may have missed it, but I didn't see much about the quality of the microphone if you should use it for web meetings etc. would love to get some feedback on this.
I am thinking of getting the Sony XM4’s for home working what would these be like for calls via Zoom or phone calls through a computer.
I don't use them for calls, so can't give you a huge amount of real world advice, but the XM4s are unfortunately known for not being that great in this regard :(
Hi Mark, great video! I'm still debating between these two since I have the opportunity to get the xm4 for $210 and APM for $325 (both used). Since the price difference is smaller, what would you recommend for someone who's mostly but not completely in the Apple ecosystem? (everything is apple except my phone)
if you're debating it, get the sonys. most important part of apple ecosystem is the iphone, apms arent worth it unlesss you use an iphone.
I see a lot of people selling their little or barely used apple AirPods Max headphones in the $300-$380 range, would you say price wise that they are worth it then for that price?
The best argument I can come up for with the AirPods Max case is not to call it a “Smart Case”. I’ve come up with a “Sleep Sleeve”. I do love my AirPods Max, but I’m not going to defend the case. For me, the cost wasn’t a issue. I will pay for a product if I feel it’s worth it, and just the build quality made it easy for me.
Well, that's as good a reason as any to buy them. And as for the 'sleep sleeve' - love it! But no one wanted one 😂
@@MarkEllisReviews didn’t say it was a good argument. Just the best I could come up with.
@@darrengray1849 Well, it's better than Apple's.
I’m late but sleep sleeve is perfect man 👍
Great review.
Thanks!
Great video.. nice work..
Thanks 👍
hii mark
are wh 1000 xm4 worth buying even when the new xm5 are going to release next year
so i am confused that should i wait or go for buying xm4s?
you will have to wait at least 10 months lol
The XM4 felt like they are there to fix some of the XM3's issues, not really an upgrade, they should be called the XM3A1. When I tried my friend's XM3 for a days (and he tried my Solo Pro too), to be honest, I hated them.
The Bluetooth connection was rubbish, they have less range to a pair of W1 chip headphones. I leave in an university flat, and the kitchen is two bedrooms away from mine, when I went to my kitchen and left my phone in the room, they dropped connection, this never happened to my 1st gen AirPods. The microphone on the XM3 was rubbish, I make video calls daily, and the person on the other side complained about the mic quality of the XM3. The ambient mode sounded like rubbish, it sounded robotic, I was so used to my AirPods Pro and Solo Pro, and Apple got one of if not the best transparency mode in the game. And most frustratingly, the touch controls, absolutely garbage, super awkward to use and unresponsive many times, I prefer the cheap feeling buttons on my Soundcore Q20 than the touch controls. Latency not very much, but definitely more noticeable than the W1/H1 headphones if you play games. And also, they always fail to reconnect to my MacBook after the initial pairing. They did sound good, ANC was decent and they were really comfortable (PS: the only complain my friend had on the Solo Pro was the clamping force lol, he loved them other than the comfort). But sound quality and ANC are the things I care about the least, they only need to be adequate, don't need to be top notch, because I will forget about them after several minutes of listening when my brain got used to them. However if the connect, mic, transparency and controls, the tings I care the most, are rubbish, no thank you.
Haven't tried the XM4, and I definitely don't have a friend who has the AirPods Max. I heard the XM4 got Bluetooth 5 and improved the mic, which was great, but really I think the XM4 compared with the XM3 felt like the iPad Pro 2020 compared with the iPad Pro 2018. Oh wait, XM3 came out in 2018, and XM4 came out in 2020, is this a coincidence or something else？
Thank you for the video.
Thank you for watching!
Great video thanks for sharing. May I ask which iPhone case it is that you show at 06:52?
Thanks! It's the Apple kumquat.
Got some info from another review. I “tweaked” my AirPods Max by enabling Accessibility - Audio/Visual - Headphone accomodations - Balanced Tone (slight) (iOS/iPadOS). What a difference this makes! I do not use any EQ settings furthermore.
Same here, very happy with the sound using this feature 👍
How many hours of use do you get on your Sony Wh1000xm4's with all features turned on?
Never timed it, to be honest, but it's a long, long time. And the standby time is epic.
Hey Mark, fantastic review of both of these headphones. I have the opportunity to buy the AirPods Max for £300 brand new. Now that the price difference between these two has gone, which one would you recommend based purely on comfort and listening experience?
That's an amazing deal!
For that money, the Max!
Hi Mark, how about marshall monitor 2 anc, do you recomend??
Hi, Sane. Not tried them (yet).
Mark, I love your videos! Do you have any issues with the XM4 getting your ears really hot after like an hour of use? That's personally the only problem I have with the XM4 because the quality of the sound is quite superb! Airpods Max just seem like an amazing choice too but the price just doesn't justify it for me personally. Also, I'm glad you pointed out that Airpods Max doesn't have USB-C charging! I hope you keep up the videos!
Thanks, Narek - I'm going nowhere, trust me :) Erm... no, I've not experienced that with the XM4s, and I wear them for pretty long periods.
I absolutely love my 2021 AirPods Max , worth it for my apple powered life . I use them paired to my Apple TV while I do my work out on my treadmill watching movies , hand off between my apple devices is seamlessly and the battery lasts an amazing amount of time too. It is a specially curated for people like myself who is submerged in the Apple ecosystem and have a very bad time with ear buds like the AirPods Pro . As much as I'd prefer paying less money with the Pros , I just can't seem to keep them inside my ears making over the ear headphones a requirement . Thank you so much for your in depth comparison of these two head phones , it only made me more confident I made the correct choice for me .
Thanks for watching again - glad I settled your mind :)
Hi Mark, trying to decide between beoplay, sennheiser m3 and sonys. Sound quality, comfort and being main criteria. How do you find they compare? I much prefer the form factor of the B&Os.
B&Os are great but more expensive, but if you like the form factor of them, I'd go for it. Sonys are hard to beat, though!
Thanks @@MarkEllisReviews. If you had to rate in order of sound quality between Sennheiser M3, B&O Beoplay & Sonys?
@@davidbarker6268 Sony, B&O, M3 - but it is very close.
I own the Sony xm2 and I compared them to the AirPod max. To me they sounded more airy but thinner and I like that you can use the Sony app that has a eq settings.
My main thing with the Airpods max case is it’s like the smart case/folio for the iPads. Never going to be good for drop/crush protection but enough for around the house dings, dust and scratches. So it’s perfect for when they’re sitting around the house (which is most of the time for me) HOWEVER it is just not good enough for people who travel a lot etc. I rarely used the case for my qc35s around the house as it was just too annoying to zip up and bulky. So when I came to sell them they had scuffs all over them.
You've got it in one, Alex - it actually works pretty nicely as a 'house case', but when you spend this kind of money, I really expect something I can chuck into a backpack without worry.
@@MarkEllisReviews yes for sure. Would have been great for apple to come up with a better solution for both travel protection and home. I’ve just seen so many peoples right it off straight away when it does have some (limited) value
Thank you for an excellent video Mark.
Thank you for watching!
I forgot to add, I've now subscribed.
@@calibreman nice - thanks!
I think part of the battery drain on airpods max when it’s not in use is that it’s using find my in the background for tracking your device. But it really should use much battery considering AirTags only use a small battery that lasts a whole year for tracking.
I was waiting for the giant earbuds to appear, I honestly didn't know Apple made headphones...like that. 😂
😂
I would like to hear what you think of the Dali Io6?
It never fails to amaze me when people reveal yet another pair of headphones I've never heard of :) Thanks for the heads-up, Patrik - I'll take a look!
thank you for the quality content!!
Thank you for the lovely comment!
@@MarkEllisReviews just got s pair of XM4s thank your videos helped me pick
Absolutely awesome job seriously my friend but we are talking about audio sound correct? Beyond ridiculous cables charging hysterical
The XM4's do have an easy ambient sound button, not just putting your hand over the ear cup. You just hit the "custom" button on them right above the power button and you can hear the sounds around you and your own voice with the push of a button. You enable it in the phone app once and done. Love the videos!
Thanks for the tip-off! And for your kind comments :)
Button hunting is a pain in the ass on any headphone, i think you will find 90% of the time you hit the wrong button and are searching for the right button to hit.
@@dpa03 Not the case for XM4. There are only 2 buttons on the left, so its pretty easy to know which is the top one and which is the bottom one. Bottom one tells you battery level and also power on/off. Top one is customizable.
Transparency on AirPods Max is 10000x better than Sony
@@ryandebell6245 nope.
Are you using the XM4 on LDAC mode. I mean the ultimate settings?
Nope, straight out of the box. Sound superb.
@@MarkEllisReviews I put them on LDAC and that makes alot of difference compared to factory SBC. I wonder if it'd sound better than Airpods Max that way
Hi Mark the airpods max go into a low power state just lying down on a table; they don’t require the case or need a power button. I have them and battery drain between uses is not an issue.
Hi Cassie. Thanks for clearing up. I still have an issue with the inability to turn them off, though, and I think that genuinely manifests itself in less standby time compared to a pair like the XM4.
@@MarkEllisReviews That’s true I have both headphones and I definitely charge the maxes more often but the battery life is 20 hours vs 30 for the Sonys so it’s expected.
I don’t own either. I do however own Sony XM3s and Beats Solo Pros. I am interested to know whether the out of the box sound quality of the XM4s is better than the XM3s because I hated mine out of the box. But when EQd they sound magnificent. The Beats Solo Pros have a less warm, more accurate sound without EQ, and I’m wondering if that’s what you hear on the AirPods Max, albeit of a much higher quality.
Great vid by the way. As all of your videos are to be fair.
Thanks, Jim! The XM4s are definitely better than the XM3s, but it's not a huge difference, therefore if you weren't impressed with the latter, you may not experience much of a difference. The AirPods Max sound noticeably better than both, though.
I rather like the case; it serves the purpose with a minimalism design philosophy. I also probably will never chuck the headphones in a bag, like back in middle school with the Sony Walkman CD player, but will definitely place them in the top of my backpack near a sweatshirt. I trust Apple's design philosophy on this case.
True, and it's nice to hear from someone who likes it. I'd just personally prefer a hard case - I like it when I can chuck a pair of headphones in any bag without worrying about them :)
Can I use the Airpod Max or Sony xm4 on my smart tv via Bluetooth?
Yep!
Why is no one mentioning how the noise canceling distorts the sound when you move your head about? Be it walking, a bumpy journey etc etc
I own the XM3 and MDR -n1 and I’ve had BOTH break from the headband. Glue and replacement parts have helped but build quality is the ONLY reason on why I want to buy them :( guess I have to pay up.
I have the xm3 and it’s bizarrely awful to pair with multiple devices like Mac and iPhone. It has trouble syncing and disconnects from whatever I’m using. I don’t have this problem with my wife’s old Bose qc 35, AirPods Pro.
I wonder if this problem persists with the xm4, because that would be a dealbreaker alone for me.
That feature works ok for me with the XM4.
@@MarkEllisReviews good to know! If that’s improved, it’s a great deal then!
Yesss, the creaking sound when we move our head. I thought mine was broke. literally, you are the only channel to mentioned this on the XM4. Thank you!
I heard that last night. And I thought my phone was glitching.
I have the Bose 700 and I loved them until I got my AirPods max which I think sound so much better. Also I have. Similar head to yours and the Bose 700 and other headphones don’t look good on my head because there is a big gap between my head and the headband, but the AirPods Max with sit closer to my head and look great.
Well Airpods Max lack on high frequencies but we can't control it because it doesn't have any eq customization feature, all we can do is download a third - party equalizer and make it harman. Bose 700 don't sound great - at least we can deal with it.
in Australia, Airpods Max are $500+ more than the Xm4 as they go on sale under $350 all the time
I have the ATH-M50X at the moment, would the XM4 be an upgrade at all?
Did you get the condensation problem on the airpods max? I wouldnt buy them just for that
There is condensation, but I think that's normal with most headphones.
It's actually kind of bizarre why the Airpods max uses lightning instead of usb-c, considering both their iPads and Macbooks use usb-c now. Though I suppose it's still equally as bizzare as to why the iPhone is still lightning. Who knows what goes on in Apple's engineering heads.
I completely agree with you.
The same thing that went in the engineers head who designed the ridiculous case for the airpod max.
The same thing that’s made them the most expensive, most valuable company on the planet lol. There’s a very, very calculated reason for doing everything they do.
Now we have our wish lol
@@joeyn.3567 a MacBook is for on the go its a laptop 😂🤡
I bought the XM4 just three days ago and I am super happy with my purchase. I've got three free months of Tidal Masters and I already had a Qobuz plan, the sound is fantastic on both services, makes it hard to decide which one to keep. Noise canceling is great. I wish I could default Google as my assistant instead of Bixby, but at least I don't have to use stupid Alexa as I thought I was going to because I bought them from Amazon.
Watching movies after setting up the 3d ambient in the Sony app makes them sound superb 👌🏻.
I have a pair of V-Moda crossfade wireless (the first one) and it sounds great, so I bought these pair with concerns about if they were going to be the same, they are not. V-moda sounds fantastic, too, is just not as wide and is less bass intensive. These XM4 are very punchy. Excellent headphones.
@Resident Zero I found some 360 sound good, but others are almost no different from the originals
hey i think you can change the default assistant in the settings in the app. I don't remember exactly so make sure to just give that a quick look
@@iixkeano I found the option. I am now using the XM5s, sound a bit better, noise canceling is a lot more improved.
@@geekatari4391 ah i see, what made you switch? ive been using the xm4's because i saw too much "negative" feedback on the xm5's for the price gap
@@iixkeano I heard the sound on the XM5 was more neutral and it is, to me it represents the music more closely to what it was originally intended.
They are still not as dope in sound as actual audiophile cans, but they are very decent.
I gave mine to a coworker that is a hard worker with special needs and I saw him always buying crap headphones. He could not believe it. I am not rich to donate to many causes; but I try to help when I can.
Man did you forget the Ambient mode on Sonys? 🤔 the one touch mode change to hear ambient noise for which the video says the only way to do that is keep your hand on the headphones.
Clearly, I did :)
Finally someone mentioned the creaky noise on the Sony headphone. I was being driven crazy by that noise and thankfully when I starting using my AirPods Max, no such problem at all. That goes to show how well built and premium Apple AirPods Max is. Thanks for sharing the same issue of the creaking noise on Sony.
Sony still better
The problem with the Air Pods Max more than anything is the price. If you're paying that premium you're expecting no compromises. So when issues like the lightning cable and battery drain do exist, it shatters that expectation.
This is indeed a problem with the AirPods Max, Thomas. There are a couple of compromises which really do make you question that price tag. They're very expensive.
For me, charging with lighting isn’t as issue, if it charges it charges, I get over an hour charge in just a few minutes. Also my drainage issue was resolved through an over the air update. But I do get what you mean.
I fully charged mine and left outside of the case for two days straight as a test, (i used this time to spend more critical listening to the other headphones i own currently the PX7s) the battery drained 8% in two days. I can plug them back in for a few minutes and get that back to 100%. My PX7s do not auto shutoff and many many times after a listening session and walking away i come back the next day to a dead pair of headphones.
That AirPod case......every time I see it I LOL
Dreadful, isn't it?
I bought both and tomorrow I am returning the XM5s. I got open-box AirPods max for $440, and let me say, for an extra $40, the ecosystem, and the quality of the airpot max is just very pleasant. The premium feel make the overall listening experience much better than the XM5s. The XM5s were good with audio, but the build quality didn't match the AirPods max, and they also have a 2 device limit on connections.
my xm5’s are coming in tomorrow actually, let’s see how they are
@@ourwrId so how do you like them
@@lm10n1 they’re great. they sound amazing, very comfortable, looks good, and so on. I haven’t been using them much but I brought them to a road-trip with me and they’re amazing to use. i only have about 50 hours on them which you can check through the app
So they charge with the same cable as my phone? That’s an issue for what reason? As an iPhone user that makes far more sense than using the same cable as headphones I don’t have.🤷♂️🤷♂️
It’s largely each to their own with this, mate, but every other manufacturer is going USB-C and Apple is steadfastly sticking by Lightning. Trust me - that’s frustrating when every other device you have (including several made by Apple themselves) is USB-C.
Hey bro, I saw many critic reviews about the static/cracking sound issue in the right earcup when ANC is enabled on xm3/4. Please reply about this issue as I'm planning to buy one and I'm scared as hell!
Never experienced it - don't sweat :)
I go the airpod max for 366.00 after in store discounts and credit card points I think they are prefect for that price point. Even though there are a lot of ecosystem benefits of using the airpod max the are still not with that 550.0 price IMHO
They had to put lighting to make the special wire for plugged in mode and lighting adapter served 2 purposes
Sounds like an odd excuse to me, dude! Just give us USB-C like everyone else does!
@@MarkEllisReviews Apple really does not want to do that the only reason you get the adapter in the iPhone is to comply with Laws that said all phones should be using a standard output and by a technicality, they follow that with the adapter.
Yeah I'm quite annoyed by Apple's lightning aux cable. That cable was initially made for the Solo Pro, and only had black colour. I was pretty pissed it that because it was very thin and had no remote controls/mic on it. And that cable was not Beats branded, so I was thinking Apple was planning for something big. And yeah, we go the AirPods Max a year later. Although I hate that cable, I still got to use it, I own a lot of old iPods and they didn't have Bluetooth, keep using those only machines is getting expensive.
That cable is absolutely dreadful, Rory - embarrassing, really.
I found a deal, someone bought the airpod max in my town and after a month he decided to sell them for approximately the same price as the m4 now, he has the receipt and box (everything from a well known store were bought it). So do you recommend the second hand AirPods max or new mx4?
I don’t have the AirPods Max, but I do have the XM4s, and I am disappointed in the noise cancellation. My AirPods Pro have better noise cancellation. The XM4s noise cancellation didn’t sound that bad, until I did the calibration, and since then noise cancellation keeps producing a low humming sound that is really annoying.
I've never experienced that with the XM4s - might be worth speaking to Sony to see if you've got a dud pair?
Interesting that we live in a world where some claims 500 dollars for headphones are premium bordering on rubbery. While 4000 dollars headphones seems to sell quiet well. Obviously a 4000 dollars headphone with a few exceptions require a matching amplifier because of their normally quite low efficiency.
Regarding these two models I would personally pick the Apple because the only real downside I can see is the inability to turn it off. Which I really find strange and highly annoying.
I have not listed the two combatants but owns a WH1000 MX3. If the MX4 sounds somewhat similar then the Sennheiser HD600 and 650 blows it away in sound quality. So for me the Apple for outdoor usage and the Sennheiser HD650 for indoor usage would be a winning combination.
my biggest tip for the sonys xm4s is: put the EQ on bright and the bass +6 its a night and day difference compared to if you leave them standard i hope i changed a lot of people’s listening experience 🤙
edit: if you own both headphones maybe try my tip and let us know if the airpods max still sound better or if the sonys sound better with the EQ settings i recommended
If you don't want your xm4 to sound terrible please REDUCE the bass to at most -4 and increase 1k and 2.5k frequency...
@@BlaqF3mboy nobody wants to listen to music with literally no bass and if you wanna make something sound good you usually increase the frequency around 10k and not 1 or 2k but you probably didn’t even try what i wrote so you could compare it to yours
@@BlaqF3mboy or just eq it however the hell you want. Our ears are different. The kind of music we listen to is different.
Great review mate and yes I aggred with you on day light Robbery for stupid aux cable
Thank you. And yes, it’s embarrassing.
@@MarkEllisReviews one quick question , does airpods max work alright with Android phones ??
@@Nocountryforgypsies I've not tried them on an Android device, but technically, yes, as they'll just operate like any other pair of Bluetooth headphones.
@@MarkEllisReviews thanks
i have both: mx4 and airpods max. Difficult to point best one. BUT. As i'm working on MBP and using iphone in the same time a need a headset able to be paired with two device in parallel. Typical use case scenario for me: speaking on Teams on computer and someone is calling on my mobile. In such case when i pickup phone call - it is redirecting to mobile phone so i can use mx4 and speak on mobile. But in case when i speak on ms teams and someone is calling and i drop call - mx4 stops working. only way to comeback to computer is to off/on mx4 and then connect to Blutooth again. I don't know if problem is related only to apple devices or it is problem of apple ecosystem or bug in sony mx4 software but it was my motivation to try with airpods max. Sound quality is a small bit better on airpods max but mx4 are more comfortable in my opinion.
Thank you for your video! I’m convinced and bought the AirPods Max
Glad I could help, Mark. Enjoy!
Love your reviews but you need to try the sonys on and android device and turn Ldac on its a Different frequency for Bluetooth the Sony's shine when you use that iPhones dose not support Ldac
all that matters to me is sound quality and how i look outside. so although the airpods max are better sound, its hard for me to wear any headphone outside. too big, too distracting, and especially the airpods max are higher priced so another thing to be worried about being robbed, and when im indoors i use speakers. maybe i would consider this later. good video.
I bought the XM3, had to take them back because the call quality was unacceptable, I did like the sound though, but they weren't super comfy. I then bought the Bose 700, overall I was satisfied enough, good sound, good call quality, good noise cancellation to use on the London underground, but my father's QC35 broke and he borrowed my 700s and loved them, so I decided to let him keep them. I received my Airpod Max today an WOW!
I'm getting goosebumps listening to detail I've never heard before, really incredible immersive sound, not even close to the 700. Also the weird plastic creaks are gone, I can walk with them on without hearing my foot steps in a loud/distracting way, wind noise isn't nearly as bad walking outdoors, comfort is night and day difference for me. I bought them second hand for £300 which is actually less than my paid for my 700 at launch. Couldn't be happier with the purchase.
oh and they came with a proper case as well as the bra :D
I owned both the XM4 and AirpodMax. I would say....buy the AirpodMax if you have the budget and when you have at least an apple device to use it's features, try the xm4 demo unit in any retail store, I guarantee you won't be disappointed at the purchase. Unless you're that type of person who brings their headphone outside and hang around your neck all the time The APM is good for indoors mostly because they are too heavy for outdoor and when you do a head bang test they are really fatiguing (please don't try this lol). I am an android user but I do owned an Ipad Pro so I still get the features of the APM. Although i think the APM is the best sounding headphone i ever purchased, I am still curious about the Sennheiser Momentum 3 wireless & Drop THX Panda could beat the APM in sound quality and most importantly at that price.
You're reviews are excellent. Detailed, balanced, laid back. Everything that would-be, pretentious "audiophiles" hate! Subscribed!