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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're seeking premium over-ear headphones and value top-notch active noise cancellation and build quality for a high-end price, consider the Apple AirPods Max, suitable for music and air travel but not ideal for gaming or TV due to higher latency. Conversely, for a midrange price, the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 offers very good earbuds with excellent call quality, a feature-rich app, and low latency mode for gaming, plus they're sweatproof, making them better for exercise, though less optimal for noise isolation compared to over-ear models. 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
Advantages of the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7
- Excellent for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for exercise
- Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
5.5
8.7
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is very good for gaming, while the Apple Airpods Max is poor.
Phone Calls
6.6
9.1
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is excellent for phone calls, while the Apple Airpods Max is only fair.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0
9.1
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Apple Airpods Max is very good.
TV and Video
5.7
8.2
The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is very good for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods Max is poor.
Noise Reduction
10.0
8.3
The Apple Airpods Max is best in class for noise reduction, while the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 is very good.
Battery
21.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple Airpods Max has 21 hours of battery life. The Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 has 6.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$549
$199
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Apple Airpods Max has a price of $549 and the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 costs $199.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Apple Airpods Max has excellent build quality, while the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
7.3
7.3
The Apple Airpods Max and Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 are both good for music.
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How the Apple Airpods Max and the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple Airpods Max | Audio Technica ATH-TWX7 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$549 | $199 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Audio Technica | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2020 | January 1, 2024 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.6/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.5/10 | 8.7/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.2/10 | 7.6/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 21 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5.1 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 20 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 10/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | No | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 385.5 Grams | 4.7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
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-TWX7
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Dig into reviews and images
Engadget
Billy Steele | January 2024
"There’s plenty to like about the ATH-TWX7. A robust set of features brings a lot of convenience to your day. But a few of those tools could still use some fine-tuning and the lack of automatic pausing in 2024 is a head scratcher. Still, the audio is mostly good, and transparency mode is better than most. Add in the solid call quality and the in-app voice test and the ATH-TWX7 are a worthy consideration, especially at this price. Too bad it falls short of being a more complete package some of the competition offers for a slightly larger investment."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Max or the Audio Technica ATH-TWX7
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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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.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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