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AirPods Max — Over-ear · 2020
Apple

AirPods Max

Over-ear · 2020

88
/ 100
From $549
VS
AirPods Max wins by 1
Sonos Ace — TV Audio Swap · Dolby Atmos · Wireless Home Theater
Sonos

Sonos Ace

TV Audio Swap · Dolby Atmos · Wireless Home Theater

87
/ 100
From $449
Specdex verdict

AirPods Max takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, AirPods Max lands at 88 and Sonos Ace at 87. That puts AirPods Max ahead by 1 points — a narrow 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 Sonos Ace if…

  • ✓Unique TV Audio Swap with Arc soundbar
  • ✓Great ANC
  • ✓Spatial audio
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Winner by scenario

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

Sound quality

Sonos Ace

Tuning, detail, and staging

Sonos Ace leads on sound (90 vs 88).

Noise cancelling

Sonos Ace

ANC strength for commute and travel

Sonos Ace leads on anc (90 vs 86).

Comfort

Tie

Long-session wearability

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

Value for money

Sonos Ace

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Sonos Ace more score per dollar ($449 vs $549).

AirPods Max 88
vs
87 Sonos Ace

Score breakdown

AirPods Max
88
anc 86
sound 88
comfort 87
battery 82
features 84
Sonos Ace
87
anc 90
sound 90
comfort 88
battery 84
features 92

Specs side-by-side

AirPods Max versus Sonos Ace — full spec comparison
Spec AirPods Max Sonos Ace
Type
Over-ear
—
Release year
2020
—
Driver
—
40 mm dynamic
Battery
—
30 h
Weight
—
312 g
Codecs
—
aptX Lossless via Snapdragon Sound

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

Sonos Ace

Pros
  • +Unique TV Audio Swap with Arc soundbar
  • +Great ANC
  • +Spatial audio
Cons
  • −Swap feature only works with Arc/Arc Ultra
  • −Sonos app issues
  • −Heavy

FAQ: AirPods Max vs Sonos Ace

Which is better, AirPods Max or Sonos Ace? +

AirPods Max scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. 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 Sonos Ace worth the price? +

At $449, Sonos Ace delivers a Specdex score of 87 — strongest in features.

Does AirPods Max or Sonos Ace 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 Sonos Ace? +

Sonos Ace — leads on sound (90 vs 88). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, AirPods Max or Sonos Ace? +

Sonos Ace — leads on anc (90 vs 86). ANC strength for commute and travel.