Over-Ear
Apple Airpods Max
78Great
$515
Full review dataApple Airpods Max vs HiFiMAN Arya: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN Arya comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 88. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: HiFiMAN Arya - Outstanding overall at around $769.
Score breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Apple Airpods Max
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling9.0
Battery7.0
Calls8.0
Value5.0
HiFiMAN Arya
Sound9.5
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Apple Airpods Max | HiFiMAN Arya |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $515 | $769 |
| HearWiki score | 78 / 100 · Great | 88 / 100 · Outstanding |
| Released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Dynamic | Planar |
| Driver size | 40 mm | - |
| Drivers per side | 1 | 1 |
| Frequency response | 48 Hz - 20,000 Hz | 8Hz-65kHz |
| Sound signature | - | Bright neutral |
| Impedance | - | 35 Ω |
| Sensitivity | - | 90 dB/mW |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | 5 | - |
| Bluetooth version | 5.0 | - |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| Multipoint pairing | Yes | - |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | 20 h | - |
| Battery life (ANC on) | 20 h | - |
| Quick charge | 5 minutes = around 1.5 hours | - |
| Wireless charging | No | - |
| Features | ||
| ANC type | hybrid | - |
| Transparency mode | Yes | - |
| Companion app | Yes | - |
| Controls | both | - |
| Voice assistant | Siri | - |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 384.8 g | 430 g |
| Case weight | 134.5 g | - |
| Water resistance | none | - |
| USB-C | No | No |
| Balanced connection | - | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | 9 | - |
What reviewers said
Apple Airpods Max
Apple's premium over-ear wireless headphones deliver robust active noise cancellation and a balanced, detailed sound signature driven by a 40mm dynamic driver. They offer seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, a comfortable if somewhat heavy build, and solid 20-hour battery life with quick charging. While their performance is impressive, the steep price and lack of modern connectivity options like USB-C may give some buyers pause.
- Pro:Excellent active noise cancellation with adaptive features
- Pro:Clear, well-balanced audio quality
- Pro:Seamless pairing and switching across Apple devices
- Con:Heavier than many competitors, which may cause fatigue
- Con:Premium price tag is hard to justify for all budgets
- Con:No USB-C port for charging or wired use
HiFiMAN Arya
The HiFiMAN Arya is a premium planar magnetic headphone known for its exceptionally fast, detailed, and airy sound. Its bright-neutral tuning delivers a highly resolving, spacious presentation with excellent technical performance, making it a strong choice for critical listening, though it requires a good amplifier to shine. With a comfortable open-back design and a relatively affordable price for its class, it balances high-end performance with accessibility.
- Pro:Excellent detail retrieval and transparency
- Pro:Wide, open soundstage with precise imaging
- Pro:Fast and articulate planar driver response
- Con:Bright treble can be fatiguing for sensitive ears
- Con:Needs a powerful amp to reach full potential
- Con:Open-back leaks sound and offers little isolation
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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