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Moondrop Aria — IEM
Moondrop

Moondrop Aria

IEM

82
/ 100
From $80
VS
AirPods Max wins by 6
AirPods Max — Over-ear · 2020
Apple

AirPods Max

Over-ear · 2020

88
/ 100
From $549
Specdex verdict

AirPods Max takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Moondrop Aria lands at 82 and AirPods Max at 88. That puts AirPods Max ahead by 6 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Moondrop Aria if…

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

Pick AirPods Max 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

AirPods Max

Tuning, detail, and staging

AirPods Max leads on sound (88 vs 82).

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

Moondrop Aria

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Moondrop Aria more score per dollar ($80 vs $549).

Moondrop Aria 82
vs
88 AirPods Max

Score breakdown

Moondrop Aria
82
anc 0
sound 82
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50
AirPods Max
88
anc 86
sound 88
comfort 87
battery 82
features 84

Specs side-by-side

Moondrop Aria versus AirPods Max — full spec comparison
Spec Moondrop Aria AirPods Max
Type
IEM
Over-ear
Release year
—
2020

Moondrop Aria

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

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

FAQ: Moondrop Aria vs AirPods Max

Which is better, Moondrop Aria or AirPods Max? +

AirPods Max scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 6. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Moondrop Aria worth the price? +

At $80, Moondrop Aria delivers a Specdex score of 82 — strongest in battery.

Is AirPods Max worth the price? +

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

Does Moondrop Aria or AirPods Max 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, Moondrop Aria or AirPods Max? +

AirPods Max — leads on sound (88 vs 82). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Moondrop Aria or AirPods Max? +

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