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Sony, Bose, and Apple have all launched the most recent era of their over-ear headphones inside the previous 12 months. With Apple’s launch of the AirPods Max 2, the trifecta is full. In case you’re able to improve your over-ear headphones and are weighing your choices between Sony’s WH-1000XM6, Bose’s QuietComfort Extremely (2nd Gen), and Apple’s AirPods Max 2, you’ve gotten some severe selections to make.
I’ve worn all three, and every has its personal set of strengths and weaknesses. Typically, Bose presents probably the most versatility, Sony presents probably the most audio customization, and Apple presents the perfect expertise for Apple customers.
If you do not have Apple units, take into account your self fortunate that your choices are right down to Sony and Bose. You’ll find our detailed comparability between the QC Extremely 2 and WH-1000XM6 right here. If in case you have a minimum of an iPhone, let’s get right into a three-way comparability.
This is decide which one you should purchase, primarily based on how every mannequin excels and falls flat in the actual world.
Specs
| Apple AirPods Max 2 | Sony WH-1000XM6 | Bose QuietComfort Extremely Headphones (2nd Gen) | |
| Battery life | 20 hours | 30 hours | 30 hours |
| Wired connectivity | USB-C | 3.5mm jack | USB-C; 3.5mm jack |
| Codec assist | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | SBC, AAC, AptX Adaptive |
| Audio modes | ANC, Transparency Mode, Adaptive ANC | ANC, Ambient Sound Mode, Adaptive Sound Management | ANC, Conscious Mode, ActiveSense |
| Spatial audio | Sure (Spatial Audio with Head Monitoring) | Sure (360 Actuality Audio) | Sure (Immersive Audio) |
| Further options | Reside Translation, Siri Interactions, Dialog Consciousness, studio-quality audio recording, low-latency audio enhancing | Converse-to-Chat, Home windows Swift Pair, Google Quick Pair, LE Audio, Head Gestures | CustomTune, auto low-power mode, Cinema Mode |
| Worth | $549 | $459 | $449 |
You can purchase the AirPods Max 2 if…
1. You’ve got an expansive Apple ecosystem
The AirPods Max 2 are greatest fitted to these with a number of Apple units, reminiscent of an iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple TV. Every of those units presents new AirPods Max capabilities, reminiscent of low-latency gaming, near-real-time audio enhancing, and watching TV and flicks in Spatial Audio. In case you typically work and play throughout a number of Apple-made screens, you will discover probably the most utility within the AirPods Max 2 inside and outdoors the home.
Assessment: Apple AirPods Max 2
Although you may join the AirPods Max 2 to non-Apple units by way of Bluetooth, you will miss out on the very options value $549, together with Siri, Spatial Audio, Reside Translation, Adaptive Audio, and extra. In case your solely Apple system is an iPhone, however you continue to need AirPods, take into account the AirPods Professional 3.
2. Spatial Audio is most essential to you
Apple’s Customized Spatial Audio is unmatched, whereas its opponents do not maintain a candle to it. The AirPods Max 2’s upgraded audio efficiency and processing are on full show when consuming media in Spatial Audio, with clear object imaging and readability. Apple licenses Dolby Atmos, that means its Spatial Audio applied sciences can “learn” Dolby Atmos knowledge.
Conversely, Sony and Bose provide proprietary spatial audio codecs, foregoing Dolby Atmos licensing in favor of in-house upmixing. Consequently, its spatial audio codecs are hit-or-miss and never almost as energetic or practical as Apple’s. Nonetheless, Spatial Audio on the AirPods Max 2 is unavailable on non-Apple units.
You can purchase the Sony WH-1000XM6 if…
1. Customization is essential
Sony’s WH-1000XM6 are extremely customizable and feature-rich, giving customers an elaborate in-app equalizer and the flexibility to regulate noise cancellation energy primarily based on location and sure behaviors. Moreover, Sony presents a number of audio codecs for wi-fi listening, together with its DSEE Excessive to reinforce the standard of compressed information, higher-quality LDAC and LC3 codecs, Auracast, and AAC and SBC.
Assessment: Sony WH-1000XM6
Then again, Apple and Bose have extra restricted customization choices: Bose presents a restricted EQ just for bass, mids, and treble, and Apple presents EQ presets with an Apple Music subscription. Moreover, Apple limits customers to the AAC and SBC codecs, whereas Bose presents AAC, SBC, and AptX Adaptive.
2. You employ Android and Home windows units
With most individuals’s anchor system, as within the system they construct their private system ecosystem round, being a smartphone, Sony’s WH-1000XM6 provide probably the most utility to Android customers.
Though Android and iOS customers can entry the XM6’s host of options, together with Bluetooth Multipoint, adaptive noise cancellation, gaming mode, and extra, Android customers can maximize the XM6’s suitable Bluetooth codecs.
Most Android telephones assist Sony’s LDAC and Bluetooth’s LC3 codecs for higher-quality wi-fi audio streaming. Although Samsung telephones use Qualcomm chips, Samsung doesn’t license AptX codecs in favor of its proprietary codecs, and chips inside Google Pixel telephones don’t assist AptX.
So, with Bose and Apple, most Android customers are caught with SBC or AAC, which may be hit-or-miss on Android.
Also, Sony caters to Android and Home windows customers with Bluetooth Multipoint, Home windows Swift Pair, and Google Quick Pair. The XM6 headphones additionally assist head monitoring in LE Audio, Gemini Reside, Head Gestures, and Converse-to-Chat, mirroring Apple’s Spatial Audio with Head Monitoring, Siri Interactions, and Dialog Consciousness.
You can purchase the Bose QuietComfort Extremely 2 if…
1. Consolation is nonnegotiable
Bose didn’t embody the phrase “consolation” in its product title in useless. Bose’s headphones are very snug, and its premium QC Extremely 2 headphones function plushy, roomy earcups, a light-weight construct, and a mild, relaxed clamping drive. They’re simple to put on for hours at a time, making them an excellent alternative for working, touring, and commuting.
Assessment: Bose QuietComfort Extremely Headphones (2nd Gen)
Conversely, I discovered the Sony XM6 to have a tighter clamping drive that squeezed my glasses into strain factors round my ears, inflicting discomfort inside the first hour of damage. Apple’s AirPods Max 2 function the identical weight distribution and match as the primary era, and its notably weighty earcups could cause fatigue for some after just a few hours.
2. You’ve got an iPhone and different non-Apple units
In case your system ecosystem’s anchor is an iPhone, however you’ve gotten a non-Apple desktop, laptop computer, pill, or TV, you will discover probably the most utility with Bose’s premium headphones. These headphones assist the AAC codec, which is the first Bluetooth codec for iOS, providing higher-quality audio and energy consumption than SBC.
Bose upgraded its second-gen over-ears with USB-C audio assist, together with 16-bit/48kHz lossless audio. If the remainder of your system ecosystem consists of non-Apple units, you’ll not lose the QC Extremely 2’s function set whereas linked to it, together with Immersive Audio, ANC, ActiveSense, Cinema Mode, and extra.
Author’s alternative
Out of the three flagship headphones from Apple, Sony, and Bose, I want the Bose QuietComfort Extremely Headphones (2nd Gen).
I delegate all of my each day audio duties — primarily consisting of hands-free telephone calls and listening to music whereas exercising — to my AirPods Professional 3. That leaves duties reminiscent of listening whereas working and touring to my Bose QC Extremely 2, that are extra snug to put on for hours than Sony’s and Apple’s newest headphones.
In contrast to the AirPods Max 2, the Bose QC Extremely 2 retain a 3.5mm headphone jack to hook up with a airplane’s infotainment system, and in contrast to the WH-1000XM6, the Bose QC Extremely 2 function USB-C audio to wire to my iPhone 17.
