AirPods Max 2 vs …
Every headphones worth comparing against the AirPods Max 2 — side-by-side specs, benchmarks, and the full Specdex verdict on each pairing.
Step-up options (higher score)
HEADPHONES comparison VS
Apple
AirPods Max 2
92
vs
Audeze
Audeze LCD-5
96
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HEADPHONES comparison VS
Apple
AirPods Max 2
92
vs
HiFiMan
HiFiMan Susvara
96
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HEADPHONES comparison VS
Apple
AirPods Max 2
92
vs
Focal
Focal Utopia 2022
96
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HEADPHONES comparison VS
Apple
AirPods Max 2
92
vs
Audeze
Audeze LCD-5 · Midnight Black
96
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HEADPHONES comparison VS
Apple
AirPods Max 2
92
vs
Audeze
Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White
96
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HEADPHONES comparison VS
Apple
AirPods Max 2
92
vs
Audeze
Audeze LCD-5 · Rose Gold
96
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Close matchups (within 3 points)
HEADPHONES comparison VS
Apple
AirPods Max 2
92
vs
Sony
Sony WH-1000XM6
95
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HEADPHONES comparison VS
Apple
AirPods Max 2
92
vs
Sennheiser
Sennheiser HD 800S
95
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HEADPHONES comparison VS
Apple
AirPods Max 2
92
vs
Sennheiser
Sennheiser HD 800 S
95
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HEADPHONES comparison VS
Apple
AirPods Max 2
92
vs
64 Audio
64 Audio U12t
95
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HEADPHONES comparison VS
Apple
AirPods Max 2
92
vs
Sennheiser
Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black
95
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HEADPHONES comparison VS
Apple
AirPods Max 2
92
vs
Sennheiser
Sennheiser HD 800S · Arctic White
95
See full comparison
Cheaper alternatives
Frequently asked
What's better than the AirPods Max 2? +
Higher-scoring headphones include Audeze LCD-5, HiFiMan Susvara, Focal Utopia 2022. Each scores above the AirPods Max 2's 92/100 on the Specdex weighted rubric.
What's a cheaper alternative to the AirPods Max 2? +
Cheaper alternatives in the same category include Sony WH-1000XM6 — ranked by Specdex score among options priced below the AirPods Max 2's $549 MSRP.
What's the closest competitor to the AirPods Max 2? +
The closest matchups (within 3 Specdex points) are Sony WH-1000XM6, Sennheiser HD 800S, Sennheiser HD 800 S. These are the head-to-head rivals where sub-score differences matter most.