Over-Ear
AKG K52
76Great
$46
Full review dataAKG K52 vs Noise Airwave Max 6: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Noise Airwave Max 6 comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 78. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Noise Airwave Max 6 - Great overall at around $85.
Over-Ear
Noise Airwave Max 6
78Great
$85
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
AKG K52
Sound7.5
Value8.0
Noise Airwave Max 6
Sound7.5
Noise cancelling7.0
Battery9.5
Calls7.0
Value8.5
Specifications
| Spec | AKG K52 | Noise Airwave Max 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $46 | $85 |
| HearWiki score | 76 / 100 · Great | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2018 | 2026 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | 40mm | hybrid |
| Driver size | 40 mm | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | 2 | 2 |
| Frequency response | 18Hz-20kHz | 20 Hz - 20 Hz |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 32 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 99.2 dB/mW | - |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | wired | 6 |
| Bluetooth version | - | 6.0 |
| Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | No | No |
| Latency | - | 80 ms |
| Wireless range | - | 10 m |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 120 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 80 h |
| Full charge time | - | 120 min |
| Quick charge | - | 10 min = 15 h |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | No | - |
| ANC type | - | adaptive |
| Transparency mode | - | No |
| Companion app | - | No |
| Custom EQ | - | No |
| Wear detection | - | No |
| Controls | - | buttons |
| Voice assistant | - | Siri, Google Assistant |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 200 g | 251.4 g |
| Water resistance | none | IPX5 |
| USB-C | No | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 5 |
What reviewers said
AKG K52
The AKG K52 is a budget-friendly wired over-ear headphone that delivers a clean, balanced sound with an airy presentation, making it a solid pick for studio-style listening. It's lightweight, comfortable, and built simply, offering practical value rather than flashy features. For the price, it's hard to fault if you prioritize neutral audio and affordability.
- Pro:Lightweight and comfortable for extended sessions
- Pro:Balanced, neutral sound with clear highs
- Pro:Solid build and simple, functional design
- Con:Wired only, no Bluetooth or wireless options
- Con:No noise cancellation or extra features
- Con:Soundstage may feel limited for some listeners
Noise Airwave Max 6
The Noise Airwave Max 6 is an affordable over-ear wireless headphone offering adaptive active noise cancellation, an impressive 120-hour battery life, and Bluetooth 6.0 with LDAC support. It features a hybrid dual-driver setup, multipoint connectivity, and IPX5 water resistance, making it a strong budget option for long listening sessions and active use. Its lightweight build and quick-charge capability add to its convenience, though it lacks app support and a transparency mode.
- Pro:Exceptional battery life of up to 120 hours without ANC
- Pro:Supports LDAC and AAC codecs for high-quality wireless audio
- Pro:Adaptive noise cancellation with hybrid dual drivers
- Con:No companion app or custom EQ for sound tuning
- Con:No transparency mode for ambient awareness
- Con:Frequency response spec appears limited to 20 Hz - 20 Hz
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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