Apple AirPods Max 2
Audio-Technica M-Series ATH-M50xBT2
What Buyers Say
Apple AirPods Max 2
The Apple AirPods Max 2 receive overwhelmingly positive feedback for their exceptional sound quality, powerful noise cancellation, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. Many users praise the clear, immersive audio and the effective ANC that can block out most background noise. However, significant complaints include high weight causing neck discomfort, poor battery life with rapid drain, and connectivity issues like frequent disconnections. A few users also report defective units that stop working within weeks, and the lack of a power-off button is a common frustration.
Pros
- Exceptional sound quality
- Powerful noise cancellation
- Seamless Apple ecosystem integration
- Premium build quality
- Comfortable for extended use
Cons
- Heavy weight causes neck discomfort
- Poor battery life with rapid drain
- Frequent disconnection issues
- No power-off button
- Defective units stop working early
Audio-Technica M-Series ATH-M50xBT2
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 are widely praised for their excellent, balanced sound quality that rivals the wired M50x, with rich detail, tight bass, and clear highs. Users highlight the solid Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, support for LDAC and AAC codecs, multipoint pairing, and exceptional battery life of over 50 hours as major advantages. While comfort is generally high, many note that the headband clamping force is strong, and the earpad and headband padding use a faux leather that tends to peel and flake over time, sometimes within a year. Build quality concerns, including fragile plastic hinges and a cheap-feeling headband, are recurrent complaints, though the overall value for sound performance is consistently rated very high.
Pros
- Excellent balanced sound quality
- Long 50+ hour battery life
- Stable Bluetooth 5.0 and LDAC support
- Multipoint device pairing
- Comfortable for long sessions
Cons
- Fake leather padding peels and flakes
- Strong headband clamping force
- Fragile plastic hinge joints
- Short included cables
- No active noise cancellation
Scores
Specifications
| Apple AirPods Max 2 | Audio-Technica M-Series ATH-M50xBT2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | over-ear | over-ear |
| Open/Closed | closed | closed |
| Foldable | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.39 kg★ | 0.45 kg |
| Ear Cushion | memory foam | professional-grade earpad |
| Headband | Breathable knit mesh with stainless steel frame | professional-grade headband material |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 40 mm | 45 mm★ |
| Drivers | 1 | 1 |
| Freq Min | 20 Hz | 15 Hz★ |
| Freq Max | 20 kHz | 28 kHz★ |
| Impedance | — | 38 Ω |
| Sensitivity | — | 99 dB★ |
| Hi-Res Audio | ✓ | ✓ |
| Codecs | Apple AirPods Max 2 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Personalized Spatial Audio, Live Translation, Bluetooth Headphones – Starlight with AppleCare+ (2 years) | AAC, LDAC |
| Surround | Spatial Audio | — |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓★ | ✗ |
| ANC Type | adaptive | — |
| Transparency | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | 5.3★ | 5.0 |
| Multipoint | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wired Connector | USB-C | 3.5mm |
| Detachable Cable | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Cable Length | — | 1.2000000476837158 m |
| Range | — | 10.100000381469727 m★ |
| Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 20 hrs | 50 hrs★ |
| Charge Time | 1.5 hrs★ | 3.5 hrs |
| Fast Charging | 5 Minutes for 1.5 Hour | 10-Minute Charge for 3 Hours of Audio |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | 3★ | 2 |
| NC Mic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boom Mic | ✗ | ✗ |
| Detachable Mic | ✗ | ✗ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | Siri | Amazon Alexa |
| Touch Controls | ✓★ | ✗ |
| App | iOS Only | A-T Connect |
| Volume Limiting | ✗ | — |
| Gaming Mode | ✗ | ✓★ |
Pros & Cons
Apple AirPods Max 2
- Strong connectivity (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong anc (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong social proof (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong build (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Below average comfort (30th percentile)
Audio-Technica M-Series ATH-M50xBT2
- Strong sound (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong connectivity (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong battery (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong social proof (84th percentile)84th %ile
- Below average comfort (6th percentile)6th %ile
- Below average anc (32nd percentile)
Pricing
Apple AirPods Max 2
No current pricing available
Audio-Technica M-Series ATH-M50xBT2
Verdict
Scores 88 overall, wins 6 of 7 usage categories and 7 of 40 specs.
