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Side-by-side comparison — scores, specs and which one fits your setup.
Specs comparison
Analysis
The Etymotic ER3XR scores 8.2/10 with 45Ω impedance and 99dB sensitivity. At 45Ω, it drives well from most phones without an external amp.
The Apple AirPods Max scores 8.1/10 with 43Ω impedance and 99dB sensitivity. At 43Ω, it can be driven directly without extra hardware.
Based on our scoring, the Etymotic ER3XR scores higher overall. However, the right choice depends on your full audio chain — use our analyzer to see which fits your actual setup.
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A high headphone score doesn't mean your audio sounds great. Your DAC, amp or source might be the real bottleneck.