I tested the AirPods Max 2, Sony XM6, and Bose Ultra 2: Why Bose is my top pick

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Sony, Bose, and Apple have all launched the most recent era of their over-ear headphones throughout the previous yr. With Apple’s launch of the AirPods Max 2, the trifecta is full. For those who’re able to improve your over-ear headphones and are weighing your choices between Sony’s WH-1000XM6, Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen), and Apple’s AirPods Max 2, you’ve got some critical selections to make.

Additionally: I replaced my Sony WH-1000XM6 with the AirPods Max 2 for a week – and didn’t miss a beat

I’ve worn all three, and every has its personal set of strengths and weaknesses. Usually, Bose gives essentially the most versatility, Sony gives essentially the most audio customization, and Apple gives one of the best expertise for Apple customers.

If you do not have Apple units, contemplate your self fortunate that your choices are right down to Sony and Bose. Yow will discover our detailed comparability between the QC Extremely 2 and WH-1000XM6 here. When you’ve got at the very least an iPhone, let’s get right into a three-way comparability.

This is how one can decide which one you can purchase, primarily based on how every mannequin excels and falls flat in the actual world.

Specs

You should purchase the AirPods Max 2 if…

1. You could have an expansive Apple ecosystem

The AirPods Max 2 are finest suited to these with a number of Apple units, reminiscent of an iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple TV. Every of those units gives new AirPods Max capabilities, reminiscent of low-latency gaming, near-real-time audio modifying, and watching TV and films in Spatial Audio. For those who typically work and play throughout a number of Apple-made screens, you will discover essentially the most utility within the AirPods Max 2 inside and out of doors the home.

Assessment: Apple AirPods Max 2

Although you may join the AirPods Max 2 to non-Apple units through Bluetooth, you will miss out on the very options value $549, together with Siri, Spatial Audio, Stay Translation, Adaptive Audio, and extra. In case your solely Apple machine is an iPhone, however you continue to need AirPods, contemplate the AirPods Professional 3.

2. Spatial Audio is most vital to you

Apple’s Personalised Spatial Audio is unmatched, whereas its rivals 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 information.

Additionally: Do Apple’s new AirPods Max 2 beat the AirPods Pro 3? I’ve tried both, here’s my take

Conversely, Sony and Bose supply proprietary spatial audio codecs, foregoing Dolby Atmos licensing in favor of in-house upmixing. In consequence, its spatial audio codecs are hit-or-miss and never almost as full of life or practical as Apple’s. Nevertheless, Spatial Audio on the AirPods Max 2 is unavailable on non-Apple units.

You should 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 power primarily based on location and sure behaviors. Moreover, Sony gives a number of audio codecs for wi-fi listening, together with its DSEE Excessive to reinforce the standard of compressed recordsdata, higher-quality LDAC and LC3 codecs, Auracast, and AAC and SBC.

Assessment: Sony WH-1000XM6

Alternatively, Apple and Bose have extra restricted customization choices: Bose gives a restricted EQ just for bass, mids, and treble, and Apple gives EQ presets with an Apple Music subscription. Moreover, Apple limits customers to the AAC and SBC codecs, whereas Bose gives AAC, SBC, and AptX Adaptive.

2. You employ Android and Home windows units

With most individuals’s anchor machine, as within the machine they construct their private machine ecosystem round, being a smartphone, Sony’s WH-1000XM6 supply essentially 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 appropriate Bluetooth codecs.

Additionally: Your Sony headphones just got a useful Bluetooth upgrade with the latest software patch

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 could be hit-or-miss on Android.

Additionally, 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 Live, Head Gestures, and Converse-to-Chat, mirroring Apple’s Spatial Audio with Head Monitoring, Siri Interactions, and Dialog Consciousness.

You should purchase the Bose QuietComfort Extremely (2nd Gen) if…

1. Consolation is nonnegotiable

Bose didn’t embrace the phrase “consolation” in its product title in useless. Bose’s headphones are very snug, and its premium QC Extremely 2 headphones characteristic plushy, roomy earcups, a light-weight construct, and a delicate, relaxed clamping power. They’re straightforward to put on for hours at a time, making them a terrific alternative for working, touring, and commuting.

Assessment: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

Conversely, I discovered the Sony XM6 to have a tighter clamping power that squeezed my glasses into strain factors round my ears, inflicting discomfort throughout the first hour of wear and tear. Apple’s AirPods Max 2 characteristic the identical weight distribution and match as the primary era, and its notably weighty earcups could cause fatigue for some after a couple of hours.

2. You could have an iPhone and different non-Apple units

In case your machine ecosystem’s anchor is an iPhone, however you’ve got a non-Apple desktop, laptop computer, pill, or TV, you will discover essentially 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.

Additionally: Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra shows the company still outperforms Apple in one key area

Bose upgraded its second-gen over-ears with USB-C audio assist, together with 16-bit/48kHz lossless audio. If the remainder of your machine ecosystem consists of non-Apple units, you’ll not lose the QC Extremely 2’s characteristic 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 every 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 connect with a airplane’s infotainment system, and in contrast to the WH-1000XM6, the Bose QC Extremely 2 characteristic USB-C audio to wire to my iPhone 17.