Apple
AirPods Max 2
H2 chip · 1.5× ANC · 24-bit USB-C lossless
92
/ 100
From $549
VS
Sennheiser HD 800S wins by 3
Sennheiser
Sennheiser HD 800S
Over-ear · 2016
95
/ 100
From $1,699
Specdex verdict
Sennheiser HD 800S takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, AirPods Max 2 lands at 92 and Sennheiser HD 800S at 95. That puts Sennheiser HD 800S ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick AirPods Max 2 if…
- ✓Up to 1.5× more effective ANC vs original AirPods Max
- ✓24-bit / 48 kHz lossless audio over included USB-C cable
- ✓H2 enables Adaptive Audio, Voice Isolation, Live Translation
Pick Sennheiser HD 800S if…
- ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- ✓Premium build
- ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
AirPods Max 2 92
vs 95 Sennheiser HD 800S
Score breakdown
AirPods Max 2
92 anc 95
sound 93
comfort 90
battery 84
features 94
Sennheiser HD 800S
95 anc 93
sound 95
comfort 94
battery 82
features 91
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | AirPods Max 2 | Sennheiser HD 800S |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple H2 headphone chip | — |
| ANC | Up to 1.5× more effective vs original | — |
| Audio | 24-bit / 48 kHz lossless (USB-C wired) | — |
| Amplifier | High dynamic range | — |
| Battery | Up to 20 hours with ANC | — |
| Charging port | USB-C | — |
| Spatial audio | Personalized with dynamic head tracking | — |
| Colors | Midnight / Starlight / Orange / Purple / Blue | — |
| Features | Adaptive Audio + Voice Isolation + Live Translation | — |
| Type | — | Over-ear |
| Release year | — | 2016 |
AirPods Max 2
Pros
- +Up to 1.5× more effective ANC vs original AirPods Max
- +24-bit / 48 kHz lossless audio over included USB-C cable
- +H2 enables Adaptive Audio, Voice Isolation, Live Translation
Cons
- −Same $549 price with no battery-life increase
- −Same exterior design as 2020 original
- −Lossless requires wired USB-C connection
Sennheiser HD 800S
Pros
- +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
- +Premium build
- +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
- −Battery varies by codec
- −Some are Bluetooth-only
- −Price creep vs previous gen
FAQ: AirPods Max 2 vs Sennheiser HD 800S
Which is better, AirPods Max 2 or Sennheiser HD 800S? +
Sennheiser HD 800S scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is AirPods Max 2 worth the price? +
At $549, AirPods Max 2 delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in anc.
Is Sennheiser HD 800S worth the price? +
At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800S delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in sound.
Does AirPods Max 2 or Sennheiser HD 800S last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.