A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Apple Airpods Max and the Sennheiser CX300S largely depends on your priorities and use cases. If you're looking for premium, over-ear headphones with active noise cancelling, great sound quality, and integration with Apple devices, then the Airpods Max might be worth the investment, despite their higher price. They're excellent for air travel and have a high-quality build, but keep in mind they're heavier and less portable. On the other hand, if you prefer in-ear, wired earbuds that are more affordable, very portable, with good passive noise isolation, the CX300S could be more suitable. However, the CX300S doesn't have a mic for calls or an app for audio customization, and it won't provide the same level of sound quality or comfort as the Airpods Max for long listening sessions. 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
- Excellent for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser CX300S
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Gaming
5.5
6.1
The Sennheiser CX300S is only fair for gaming, while the Apple Airpods Max is poor.
Phone Calls
6.6
3.0
The Apple Airpods Max is only fair for phone calls, while the Sennheiser CX300S is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0
4.7
The Apple Airpods Max is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser CX300S is poor.
TV and Video
5.7
7.3
The Sennheiser CX300S is good for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods Max is poor.
Noise Reduction
10.0
7.0
The Apple Airpods Max is best in class for noise reduction, while the Sennheiser CX300S is good.
Battery
21.0 Hours
N/A
The Apple Airpods Max has 21 hours of battery life. The Sennheiser CX300S does not have a battery.
Cost
$549
$50
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Apple Airpods Max has a price of $549 and the Sennheiser CX300S costs $50.
Build Quality
9.0
8.0
The Apple Airpods Max has excellent build quality, while the Sennheiser CX300S has very good build quality.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Headphones
Find your new headphones
Key similarities
Music
7.3
6.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple Airpods Max to be good for music, while the Sennheiser CX300S is only fair.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple Airpods Max and the Sennheiser CX300S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple Airpods Max | Sennheiser CX300S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$549 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2020 | February 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.6/10 | 3.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.5/10 | 6.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.2/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 21 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | No | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 385.5 Grams | 12 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple Airpods Max
See more
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."
Sennheiser CX300S
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Major HiFi
Carroll Moore | April 2019
"Sennheiser offers impressive bang for your buck when it comes to the CX 300S. Built like a tank and sounding surprisingly good for such a budget-minded earphone, the CX 300S out-classes many of its would-be competitors. Functional but beautiful, it’s the perfect in-ear listening solution for anyone who wants to hear everything and look good doing it."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Max or the Sennheiser CX300S
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 Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Apple Airpods Max vs. Sennheiser IE600
VS
Compare Apple Airpods Max vs. Master & Dynamic MW75-Neuro
VS
Compare Apple Airpods Max vs. AKG K712 Pro
VS
Compare Sennheiser CX300S vs. Sennheiser HD 400S
VS
Compare Sennheiser CX300S vs. JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless
VS
Compare Sennheiser CX300S vs. JBL Tune Buds
VS
FAQs
FAQs about earbuds and headphones
Why trust us
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
123,800
Recommendations made
18,570
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.
Featured in
