Best Premium Headphones 2024 [Tested & Compared!] - AirPods Max vs Bose vs Sony vs Sennheiser..

Summary

This video provides an in-depth comparison of high-end headphones, evaluating them across sound quality, battery life, features, design, and price. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 stands out as the overall winner, offering impressive sound, long battery life, and excellent value. The Sony WH-1000XM5 ranks second with advanced features and high-res audio. Bose's QC Ultra excels in noise cancellation, while the AirPods Max shine within the Apple ecosystem, despite their higher price. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7, although stylish and lively, ranks last due to its higher cost and fewer standout features.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Sennheiser Momentum 4** ranked the highest for sound quality, offering a balanced, natural sound with excellent battery life.
• 🎧 **Sony WH-1000XM5** was a strong contender, praised for its sound quality, advanced features like speak-to-chat, and great comfort, but came second overall.
• 🎶 **Bose QuietComfort Ultra** excelled in noise cancellation, but ranked lower in sound quality and design, making it best for those prioritizing ANC over other features.
• 🎤 **AirPods Max** stood out for superior transparency and seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, though its high price and heavier weight were noted drawbacks.
• 🔋 **Sennheiser Momentum 4** had the longest battery life, a significant factor in its top ranking.
• 🔄 **Sony WH-1000XM5** offered a lot of customization through its app, including multi-point connectivity and 360 Reality Audio for a personalized experience.
• 💲 **Sennheiser Momentum 4** was the most affordable option, priced at $279, making it a top pick for value-for-money.
• 📱 **AirPods Max** is ideal for users already invested in Apple’s ecosystem, thanks to features like automatic switching and spatial audio.
• 🔊 **Sony WH-1000XM5** and **Sennheiser Momentum 4** led the competition with better sound quality and features, while **Bowers & Wilkins** lagged behind in comparison.
• 💡 **Bowers & Wilkins** headphones, while still good, were ranked last due to their slightly darker sound, lack of high-res codec support, and higher price relative to competitors.

Q & A

What criteria were used to rank the headphones in the video?

The headphones were ranked based on several factors including sound quality, features, design, price, battery life, and ease of use. Additional factors like noise cancellation, transparency mode, and microphone performance were also considered.

Which headphone model came first in the overall ranking and why?

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 came first in the overall ranking with 19 points. It was praised for its sound quality, battery life, and value for money. Despite lacking some advanced features like top-tier noise cancellation, it performed well across various categories.

How did the Sony WH-1000XM5 perform in comparison to other headphones?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 placed second with 20 points. They excelled in features such as noise cancellation, sound quality, comfort, and battery life. Their comprehensive app features and multipoint connectivity were particularly highlighted.

What was the main advantage of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones?

The main advantage of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones was their exceptional active noise cancellation. However, they lagged in categories like microphone quality and design, which contributed to them ranking third overall.

Why did the Apple AirPods Max rank lower despite having excellent features?

The Apple AirPods Max ranked lower because of their high price, less impressive battery life, and comfort issues. Although they excelled in features like transparency mode and noise cancellation, their overall value compared to other models wasn't as strong.

What was a major drawback for the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 headphones?

A major drawback for the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 headphones was their high price and lack of certain input options, such as USB-C audio input. Additionally, their sound was described as dark with a lack of mid-range presence, which made them less favorable compared to the other models.

How did price affect the ranking of the headphones?

Price played a significant role in the rankings. For instance, the Sennheiser Momentum 4, priced at $279, offered excellent value compared to models like the Apple AirPods Max, which are priced much higher. Price was an equalizer, as more expensive models did not always correlate with better performance across all categories.

What specific feature did the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones offer that was praised?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones were praised for their comprehensive feature set, including adaptive sound control, which adjusts noise cancellation based on your activity, as well as their ability to upsample lower quality audio through DSEE Extreme.

What feature of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones was highlighted in the review?

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones were highlighted for their great battery life, sound quality, and overall value. Despite lacking advanced noise cancellation and transparency modes, they excelled in areas like sound accuracy and price.

Which headphones were considered the best for Apple users and why?

The Apple AirPods Max were considered the best for Apple users due to their seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. Features like automatic switching between devices, spatial audio, and audio sharing were key advantages for users with multiple Apple devices.