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AirPods Max · Midnight Black — Over-ear · 2020
Apple

AirPods Max · Midnight Black

Over-ear · 2020

88
/ 100
From $549
VS
Sennheiser HD 660S wins by 2
Sennheiser HD 660S — Open-back
Sennheiser

Sennheiser HD 660S

Open-back

90
/ 100
From $499
Specdex verdict

Sennheiser HD 660S takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, AirPods Max · Midnight Black lands at 88 and Sennheiser HD 660S at 90. That puts Sennheiser HD 660S ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick AirPods Max · Midnight Black if…

  • ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • ✓Premium build
  • ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)

Pick Sennheiser HD 660S if…

  • ✓Reference-level detail
  • ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • ✓Long-term ownership appeal
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound quality

Sennheiser HD 660S

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sennheiser HD 660S leads on sound (90 vs 88).

Noise cancelling

AirPods Max · Midnight Black

ANC strength for commute and travel

AirPods Max · Midnight Black leads on anc (86 vs 0).

Comfort

Tie

Long-session wearability

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Value for money

Sennheiser HD 660S

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Sennheiser HD 660S more score per dollar ($499 vs $549).

AirPods Max · Midnight Black 88
vs
90 Sennheiser HD 660S

Score breakdown

AirPods Max · Midnight Black
88
anc 86
sound 88
comfort 87
battery 82
features 84
Sennheiser HD 660S
90
anc 0
sound 90
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50

Specs side-by-side

AirPods Max · Midnight Black versus Sennheiser HD 660S — full spec comparison
Spec AirPods Max · Midnight Black Sennheiser HD 660S
Type
Over-ear
Open-back
Release year
2020
—

AirPods Max · Midnight Black

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

Sennheiser HD 660S

Pros
  • +Reference-level detail
  • +Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • +Long-term ownership appeal
Cons
  • −Requires amplifier (most)
  • −No active noise cancellation
  • −Impractical for commuting

FAQ: AirPods Max · Midnight Black vs Sennheiser HD 660S

Which is better, AirPods Max · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 660S? +

Sennheiser HD 660S scores 90 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is AirPods Max · Midnight Black worth the price? +

At $549, AirPods Max · Midnight Black delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sound.

Is Sennheiser HD 660S worth the price? +

At $499, Sennheiser HD 660S delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in battery.

Does AirPods Max · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 660S 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.

Which is better for sound quality, AirPods Max · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 660S? +

Sennheiser HD 660S — leads on sound (90 vs 88). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, AirPods Max · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 660S? +

AirPods Max · Midnight Black — leads on anc (86 vs 0). ANC strength for commute and travel.