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Shure SRH1540 vs Apple AirPods Max

Side-by-side comparison — scores, specs and which one fits your setup.

HIGHER SCORE
Shure SRH1540
8.2
/ 10
Over-earHigh end
Apple AirPods Max
8.1
/ 10
Over-earHigh end

Specs comparison

8.2/10
SCORE
8.1/10
46Ω
IMPEDANCE
43Ω
99dB
SENSITIVITY
99dB
No
NEEDS AMP
No

Analysis

The Shure SRH1540 scores 8.2/10 with 46Ω impedance and 99dB sensitivity. At 46Ω, 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 Shure SRH1540 scores higher overall. However, the right choice depends on your full audio chain — use our analyzer to see which fits your actual setup.

Own one of these headphones?

A high headphone score doesn't mean your audio sounds great. Your DAC, amp or source might be the real bottleneck.

Analyze my setup →Shure SRH1540 details →AirPods Max details →

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