In Summary
- Apple recently launched the AirPods Max 2, its premium over-ear ANC headphones.
- Priced at Rs 67,900, the AirPods Max 2 are more expensive than the AirPods Max and have a similar design, but come with even better audio quality and ANC.
- While the AirPods Max 2 are likely to be the benchmark for premium ANC headphones in the coming days, there are devices in the market that provide stiff competition to them. We look at six of them.
Attracted to the recently launched AirPods Max 2, but worried about the “you can get a MacBook Neo for that much” price tag of $549/Rs 67,900? Well, while there is no doubt that the AirPods Max 2 will be pretty much THE premium headphones to go for in the coming days, they are certainly not the only option in that segment, So if you are looking to get some premium ANC headphones, check out these six excellent headphones, before thinking of sinking those big bucks in the AirPods Max 2:
Table of Contents
JBL Tour One M3 Smart TX: The best all-round headphones out there, period!
$350/Rs 32,999
These headphones do everything you expect from a pair of flagship headphones. And a lot more besides. We got a very eye-catching design (the blue is particularly brilliant), hi-res audio via 40mm drivers with plenty of customizations, very good ANC, support for 360 degree (JBL’s take on spatial audio) with head tracking, superb call quality, and a staggering 70 hours of battery life.
What we ALSO got was an audio transmitter with a touchscreen, which allowed us not only to control the headphones from it (no fiddling with buttons on the headphones themselves) but also allowed us to connect them seamlessly to just about any device that had a 3.5 mm audio jack. So we could just plug the transmitter into a TV, console, aircraft entertainment system, notebook…and get high quality on these headphones. If there is one pair of flagship headphones you have to buy, then these do the most.
Sennheiser HDB 630: the boss of Bluetooth sound
$499/Rs 42,990
If what one is seeking is great sound, without the hassle of wires, then these headphones are easily the best one can get. The Sennheiser HDB 630 come with flagship bells and whistles, including ANC, good call quality, and about 60 hours of battery, but the headphones are really about audio quality. They deliver the clean, detailed sound that Sennheiser’s audiophile series is legendary for, and come with features like a parametric equalizer for advanced equalization and crossfeed.
A bundled BTD 700 Bluetooth dongle that can fit into any Type-C port further improves audio quality, and if that isn’t enough, one can simply plug them in over a wired connection for studio-level audio. Yes, they do ANC and other features well, too, but buying them for ANC is like watching Roger Federer for his shoes!
Sony WH-1000XM6: Silence! The lord and master of ANC is here!
$399/Rs 39,900
Simon and Garfunkel could have been referring to these when they sang Sounds of Silence. These are the perfect headphones for those who wear headphones to not just hear audio better but also to totally drown out the sound of the world beyond them. Sony’s WH-1000 XM series has been the benchmark in active noise cancellation (ANC), and the WH-1000XM6 delivers ANC that is frankly unmatched.
We have worn them in noisy cafes, metro stations, and conference rooms, and have been surprised (and even disturbed) at the level of silence that descends when these fall over our ears. Sony claims that this is the magic of the HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3 – whatever it is, it certainly works. Audio quality is good, call quality is outstanding, and yes, they now come with a more foldable design, and the 30-hour battery life is decent too, but it is ANC that makes these special for music lovers and Zen masters alike.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless 80th Anniversary Edition: Great sound, funky retro looks
$226/Rs 24,990
The Sennheiser HDB 630 are perfect for audio purists, but if what one is seeking is just pleasant, detailed sound, then the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless are pretty much the headphones to get. They do not offer the kind of ANC that the Sony WH-1000XM6 delivers, but when it comes to slightly warm, detailed audio that you can lose yourself in, these are supreme. The 42 mm transducer system hits the perfect middle ground between sharp treble and rumbling bass, ensuring that everything from dance to trance to rock to jazz sounds wonderful and pleasant.
And if you want headphones that turn heads with their sound as well as their design, then go for the special 80th anniversary edition, which come with the same price tag, but have retro yellow highlightlights and also “throwie” art, a form of graffiti that was very popular in the subways in New York in the 1970s, on their earcups.
AirPods Max: Gee, the OG is still pretty good!
$449/Rs 59,900
We have not used the AirPods Max 2 yet, but we still have the OG AirPods Max, and honestly, they are still miles ahead of everyone in terms of their blend of audio quality and ANC, even while having perhaps the most distinct design in the headphone world (those metal cups, that weird carrying case right out of Victoria’s Secret). They still deliver one of the widest soundstages and the best treble we have heard on a pair of ANC headphones (other than the HDB 630), the best call quality we have ever experienced on over-ear headphones, and their ANC is second only to the magnificent Sony WH-1000XM6.
Add to this that they pretty much look the same as the AirPods Max 2 and have what seems to be similar 20 hour battery life, and they remain excellent options for those who want the AirPods Max feels but are in the mood to pinch every penny (some stores are selling them at Rs 49,900, which is a pretty good deal, we think).
Nothing Headphone (1): For the sassy, look-at-me-while-I-listen crowd
$239/Rs 21,999
Yes, we can hear some people going “what, these?” at seeing their name in this list. Well, that’s because their “looks different and sounds good” vibe is similar to that of the AirPods Max, albeit in a different, crazy-rather-than-classy manner. Their transparent-ish design, complete with oddly placed buttons, does not turn heads; it twists them around. Some will call them wonderful, some will call them weird, and most will just look on in curiosity.
They pack in some pretty good hardware and deliver decent ANC, very good call quality, and impressive battery life that tops 50 hours. And thanks to Nothing’s consistent software updates and one of the best companion apps around, they sound very good now (they had sounded odd initially, with too much bass). And given Nothing’s track record, it could end up sounding even better.
