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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple AirPods Max offer superior noise isolation and are better suited for air travel, with a higher build quality and additional features like spatial audio for an immersive experience; they’re optimized for Apple devices and have a higher comfort score which could make them a preferred choice for extended listening sessions. However, they come at a premium price and have lower battery life. On the other hand, the JBL Tune 760NC offers good sound quality at a much lower price, longer battery life, and are more portable due to being foldable, but have less impressive noise isolation and are overall less feature-rich. If budget is not a concern and you prioritize top-notch build and sound qualities for an immersive listening experience, particularly with Apple devices, go for the AirPods Max. Otherwise, if you are looking for a more affordable option that still delivers good sound quality and portability for everyday use, the JBL Tune 760NC would be a wise choice. 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
Good for music
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the JBL Tune 760NC
The JBL Tune 760NC has no clear advantages over the Apple Airpods Max.
Key differences
Music
7.3/10
6.3/10
The Apple Airpods Max is good for music, while the JBL Tune 760NC is only fair.
Phone Calls
6.6/10
5.2/10
The Apple Airpods Max is only fair for phone calls, while the JBL Tune 760NC is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0/10
5.9/10
The Apple Airpods Max is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Tune 760NC is poor.
Noise Reduction
10.0/10
7.0/10
The Apple Airpods Max is best in class for noise reduction, while the JBL Tune 760NC is good.
Battery
21.0 Hours
40.9 Hours
The Apple Airpods Max has 21 hours of battery life. The JBL Tune 760NC has 40.9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$549
$70
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Apple Airpods Max has a price of $549 and the JBL Tune 760NC costs $70.
Build Quality
9.0/10
8.0/10
The Apple Airpods Max has excellent build quality, while the JBL Tune 760NC has very good build quality.
"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."
"The JBL 760NC offers quite a solid and moderately-above-average sonic performance for wireless headphones in this price tier. As usual, JBL outperforms more conventional big names like Apple or Beats. Listeners are given a clean, detailed, and mostly neutral sound that, typical to Harman, holds a universal appeal that seems unlikely to offend."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Max or the JBL Tune 760NC
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 JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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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
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.