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AirPods Max — Over-ear · 2020
Apple

AirPods Max

Over-ear · 2020

88
/ 100
From $549
VS
HiFiMan Susvara wins by 8
HiFiMan Susvara — Planar magnetic
HiFiMan

HiFiMan Susvara

Planar magnetic

96
/ 100
From $5,999
Specdex verdict

HiFiMan Susvara takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, AirPods Max lands at 88 and HiFiMan Susvara at 96. That puts HiFiMan Susvara ahead by 8 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick AirPods Max if…

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

Pick HiFiMan Susvara 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

HiFiMan Susvara

Tuning, detail, and staging

HiFiMan Susvara leads on sound (96 vs 88).

Noise cancelling

AirPods Max

ANC strength for commute and travel

AirPods Max leads on anc (86 vs 0).

Comfort

Tie

Long-session wearability

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

Value for money

AirPods Max

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

AirPods Max more score per dollar ($549 vs $5,999).

AirPods Max 88
vs
96 HiFiMan Susvara

Score breakdown

AirPods Max
88
anc 86
sound 88
comfort 87
battery 82
features 84
HiFiMan Susvara
96
anc 0
sound 96
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50

Specs side-by-side

AirPods Max versus HiFiMan Susvara — full spec comparison
Spec AirPods Max HiFiMan Susvara
Type
Over-ear
Planar magnetic
Release year
2020
—

AirPods Max

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

HiFiMan Susvara

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 vs HiFiMan Susvara

Which is better, AirPods Max or HiFiMan Susvara? +

HiFiMan Susvara scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 8. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is AirPods Max worth the price? +

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

Is HiFiMan Susvara worth the price? +

At $5,999, HiFiMan Susvara delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in battery.

Does AirPods Max or HiFiMan Susvara 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 or HiFiMan Susvara? +

HiFiMan Susvara — leads on sound (96 vs 88). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, AirPods Max or HiFiMan Susvara? +

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