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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize excellent sound quality, superior comfort, noise isolation, and are looking for headphones to use particularly during air travel or in noisy environments, the Apple AirPods Max with active noise cancelling would be the better choice, keeping in mind the higher cost. They also offer convenient features like ear detection and a high build quality, but have a higher weight compared to the Sony option. On the other hand, if you are on a budget and want a simple, wired option for casual listening, the Sony MDR-ZX110 could suffice, though they offer less comfort and no noise cancellation. The Sony headphones are also more compact due to being foldable, making them somewhat more portable despite being wired and having less advanced features. 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 Sony MDR-ZX110
- The Sony MDR-ZX110 has no clear advantages over the Apple Airpods Max.
Key differences
Phone Calls
6.6
3.0
The Apple Airpods Max is only fair for phone calls, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.0
4.3
The Apple Airpods Max is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
TV and Video
5.7
6.9
The Sony MDR-ZX110 is only fair for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods Max is poor.
Noise Reduction
10.0
5.3
The Apple Airpods Max is best in class for noise reduction, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Battery
21.0 Hours
N/A
The Apple Airpods Max has 21 hours of battery life. The Sony MDR-ZX110 does not have a battery.
Cost
$549
$10
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Apple Airpods Max has a price of $549 and the Sony MDR-ZX110 costs $10.
Build Quality
9.0
6.0
The Apple Airpods Max has excellent build quality, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Music
7.3
7.6
The Sony MDR-ZX110 and Apple Airpods Max are both good for music.
Gaming
5.5
5.9
The Sony MDR-ZX110 and Apple Airpods Max are both poor for gaming.
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How the Apple Airpods Max and the Sony MDR-ZX110 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple Airpods Max | Sony MDR-ZX110 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$549 | $10 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Apple | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2020 | July 1, 2015 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.6/10 | 3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.5/10 | 5.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.2/10 | 3.9/10 | |
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 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | N/A | |
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 | 6/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 385.5 Grams | 119.9 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
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."
Sony MDR-ZX110
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Dig into reviews and images
Audio.org
Audio.org | December 2022
"My opinion about Sony MDR ZX110 is they are the best budget headphones of Sony with top-class sound. Clear vocals, great bass, and balanced sound with low sound distortion. The treble could be sharper, but it's ok. 30 mm neodymium dynamic drivers give clear and precise audio, and an inline remote with a mic give decent call quality. Closed-Back Design also helps to improve sound performance."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Max or the Sony MDR-ZX110
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 Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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.
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