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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 800S wins by 7
Sennheiser HD 800S — Over-ear · 2016
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 · Midnight Black lands at 88 and Sennheiser HD 800S at 95. That puts Sennheiser HD 800S ahead by 7 points — a decisive 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 800S if…

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

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

Sound quality

Sennheiser HD 800S

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sennheiser HD 800S leads on sound (95 vs 88).

Noise cancelling

Sennheiser HD 800S

ANC strength for commute and travel

Sennheiser HD 800S leads on anc (93 vs 86).

Comfort

Sennheiser HD 800S

Long-session wearability

Sennheiser HD 800S leads on comfort (94 vs 87).

Value for money

AirPods Max · Midnight Black

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

AirPods Max · Midnight Black more score per dollar ($549 vs $1,699).

AirPods Max · Midnight Black 88
vs
95 Sennheiser HD 800S

Score breakdown

AirPods Max · Midnight Black
88
anc 86
sound 88
comfort 87
battery 82
features 84
Sennheiser HD 800S
95
anc 93
sound 95
comfort 94
battery 82
features 91

Specs side-by-side

AirPods Max · Midnight Black versus Sennheiser HD 800S — full spec comparison
Spec AirPods Max · Midnight Black Sennheiser HD 800S
Type
Over-ear
Over-ear
Release year
2020
2016

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 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 · Midnight Black vs Sennheiser HD 800S

Which is better, AirPods Max · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 800S? +

Sennheiser HD 800S scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 7. 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 800S worth the price? +

At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800S delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in sound.

Does AirPods Max · Midnight Black 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.

Which is better for sound quality, AirPods Max · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 800S? +

Sennheiser HD 800S — leads on sound (95 vs 88). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, AirPods Max · Midnight Black or Sennheiser HD 800S? +

Sennheiser HD 800S — leads on anc (93 vs 86). ANC strength for commute and travel.