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Airpods Max
Company ProductName Specs




ATH M40X
Company ProductName Specs




What we think

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

If you prioritize wireless connectivity and active noise cancellation for travel or noisy environments, then the Apple AirPods Max would be a better choice, but they come with a premium price tag. They also offer better built-in controls and are optimized for use with Apple devices, which might enhance your experience if you're in the Apple ecosystem. On the other hand, the Audio Technica ATH M40X offers superior overall sound quality and soundstage, making them ideal for critical listening and TV or video use, but they lack a built-in microphone, so they're not suitable for calls. They are typically much less expensive and are a wired option with a detachable cable, which can be beneficial for durability and maintenance. The ATH M40X is also lighter and foldable, improving portability for everyday use. 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 M40X
  • Very good for music
  • Good for gaming
  • Very good for TV and video

Key differences

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Music

7.3
Airpods Max
ATH M40X
8.1
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for music, while the Apple Airpods Max is good.

Gaming

5.5
Airpods Max
ATH M40X
7.0
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is good for gaming, while the Apple Airpods Max is poor.

Phone Calls

6.6
Airpods Max
ATH M40X
3.3
The Apple Airpods Max is only fair for phone calls, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

8.0
Airpods Max
ATH M40X
5.1
The Apple Airpods Max is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.

TV and Video

5.7
Airpods Max
ATH M40X
8.7
The Audio Technica ATH M40X is very good for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods Max is poor.

Noise Reduction

10.0
Airpods Max
ATH M40X
5.3
The Apple Airpods Max is best in class for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X is poor.

Battery

21.0 Hours
Airpods Max
ATH M40X
N/A
The Apple Airpods Max has 21 hours of battery life. The Audio Technica ATH M40X does not have a battery.

Cost

$549
Airpods Max
ATH M40X
$79
Product image
Product image

$50

$100

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$200

$250

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The Apple Airpods Max has a price of $549 and the Audio Technica ATH M40X costs $79.

Build Quality

9.0
Airpods Max
ATH M40X
8.2
The Apple Airpods Max has excellent build quality, while the Audio Technica ATH M40X has very good build quality.
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How the Apple Airpods Max and the Audio Technica ATH M40X compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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Apple Airpods MaxAudio Technica ATH M40X
Apple Airpods MaxAudio Technica ATH M40X

GENERAL

Price
$549
$79
Brand
AppleAudio Technica
Release Date
December 1, 2020January 1, 2014
Form Factor
HeadphonesHeadphones
Connectivity
Wired + WirelessWired

SOUND

Music Score
7.4/108.1/10
Phone Calls Score
6.6/103.3/10
Gaming Score
5.5/107.1/10
TV and Video Score
5.8/108.8/10
Exercise Score
6.2/104.3/10

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
10/105.3/10
Virtual Surround
YesNo
Android App
NoN/A
iOS App
YesN/A
Mic Quality
7/10N/A

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
9/108.2/10
Comfort score
7/107.6/10
Weight (headset or single earbud)
385.5 Grams245 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 M40X

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Dig into reviews and images

Soundguys

Lily Katz | August 2023
"If you were to pick one headset to fill all of your needs, the ATH-M40x is a great buy with its sub-$100 price tag, pleasant sound quality, and accessories. Whether you need to use it for live monitoring, a midnight editing session, or to underscore a campus walk, the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x is a great companion."

Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Max or the Audio Technica ATH M40X

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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