Heavier materials add weight and can actually make the headphones less comfortable to wear if they are not properly distributed across the headband and earcups.
These higher quality materials can make the headphones more comfortable to wear, but this is not always the case – heavier materials mean more weight and, if not properly distributed across the headband and earcups, can cause discomfort.
And of course, these luxury headphones are also a status symbol. Just like a really fast car or a really expensive watch should look cool and be shown off, the same applies to luxury headphones.
Are they practical? For most people, probably not. But are they cool? Well, that’s up to you.
Apple’s original trendsetter
AppleApple AirPods Pro
Per
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Excellent sound quality and support for spatial audio
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Excellent noise cancellation
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High quality materials. No plastic
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More affordable now that they are several years old
Disadvantages
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Works best only with Apple devices
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Quite heavy and not particularly comfortable
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Some premium features of the newer AirPods Pro are missing
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Several years old and ready for an update
- Release date: December 2020
The AirPods Max paved the way for more expensive noise-cancelling headphones. Aside from the high price and high-quality materials—they’re mainly made of a stainless steel frame and a breathable knitted mesh—the AirPods Max stand out because they work better with iPhones than any other noise-cancelling headphones.
They feature Apple’s custom H1 chip, which allows for quick pairing with an iPhone, and support spatial audio and Dolby Atmos. However, they don’t have the newer H1 or H2 chipset found in the latest AirPods Pro, and they lack some newer features – like Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume, and Conversation Awareness. They also still charge via Lightning.
