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Airpods Max
Company ProductName Specs




ATH M20X
Company ProductName Specs




What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

If you're looking for premium over-ear headphones and don't mind the higher cost, the Apple Airpods Max offer active noise cancellation and are well-suited for air travel and noisy environments. They also come with built-in controls, are optimized for use with Apple devices, and provide a more immersive experience for music listening. On the other hand, the Audio Technica ATH M20X provides better overall sound quality and is much more affordable, but lacks active noise cancellation and wireless connectivity, making them less portable and more suited for quiet environments or professional audio work where a stable wired connection is preferred. Give Feedback

this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Airpods Max
  • Excellent for air travel
  • Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Audio Technica ATH M20X
  • Good for TV and video

Key differences

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Gaming

5.5
Airpods Max
ATH M20X
6.2
The Audio Technica ATH M20X is only fair for gaming, while the Apple Airpods Max is poor.

Phone Calls

6.6
Airpods Max
ATH M20X
4.3
The Apple Airpods Max is only fair for phone calls, while the Audio Technica ATH M20X is poor.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

8.0
Airpods Max
ATH M20X
6.7
The Apple Airpods Max is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica ATH M20X is only fair.

TV and Video

5.7
Airpods Max
ATH M20X
7.6
The Audio Technica ATH M20X is good for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods Max is poor.

Noise Reduction

10.0
Airpods Max
ATH M20X
6.0
The Apple Airpods Max is best in class for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M20X is only fair.

Battery

21.0 Hours
Airpods Max
ATH M20X
N/A
The Apple Airpods Max has 21 hours of battery life. The Audio Technica ATH M20X does not have a battery.

Cost

$549
Airpods Max
ATH M20X
$49
Product image
Product image

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

The Apple Airpods Max has a price of $549 and the Audio Technica ATH M20X costs $49.

Build Quality

9.0
Airpods Max
ATH M20X
6.9
The Apple Airpods Max has excellent build quality, while the Audio Technica ATH M20X has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities

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Music

7.3
Airpods Max
ATH M20X
7.6
The Audio Technica ATH M20X and Apple Airpods Max are both good for music.

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How the Apple Airpods Max and the Audio Technica ATH M20X compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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Apple Airpods MaxAudio Technica ATH M20X
Apple Airpods MaxAudio Technica ATH M20X

GENERAL

Price
$549
$49
Brand
AppleAudio Technica
Release Date
December 1, 2020January 1, 2014
Form Factor
HeadphonesHeadphones
Connectivity
Wired + WirelessWired

SOUND

Music Score
7.4/107.6/10
Phone Calls Score
6.6/104.4/10
Gaming Score
5.5/106.2/10
TV and Video Score
5.8/107.7/10
Exercise Score
6.2/104.1/10

PERFORMANCE

Battery life
21 HoursN/A
Wireless charging
NoN/A
Charging time
2 HoursN/A
Bluetooth version
5N/A

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
YesNo
Noise Reduction Score
10/106/10
Virtual Surround
YesNo
Android App
NoN/A
iOS App
YesN/A
Mic Quality
7/10N/A

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
9/106.9/10
Comfort score
7/105.8/10
Weight (headset or single earbud)
385.5 Grams190 Grams
Microphone style
IntegratedN/A
Waterproof Rating
00

Shopping

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Apple Airpods Max

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Dig into reviews and images

Sound Guys

Adam Molina | July 2023
"Objectively, the AirPods Max is a spectacular pair of headphones. I appreciate the smart features like auto-pause and the transparency mode are super practical. It also sounds great, is well-built, and has solid battery life."

Audio Technica ATH M20X

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Dig into reviews and images

Soundguys

Jasper Lastoria | September 2023
"Audio-Technica positively defies what you can expect for around $50. Ultimately, Audio-Technica did not design the ATH-M20x to go on the subway with you. It’s for the budget-conscious, do-it-yourself producer, podcaster, or studio that needs to buy tracking cans in bulk. If you don’t need the most deluxe, comfortable headphones, maybe you’ll like the ATH-M20x for its spartan functionality. The headphones are aimed at giving you the minimum requirements without it feeling like a sacrifice."

Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Max or the Audio Technica ATH M20X

About Apple

Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.

About Audio Technica

Audio Technica is a 60-year-old, Japan-based, professional audio equipment manufacturer. They started off making phonograph cartridges and have expanded their scope of products ever since to include extremely popular models of microphones and headphones. They have been the official audio equipment supplier of several editions of the Summer and Winter Olympics and every edition of the Grammy Awards since 1998.

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Why trust us

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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
123,500
Recommendations made
18,525
Consumer hours saved

About the Earbuds or Headphones team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Luis Torres

Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.

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