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Sony MDR-EX800ST vs Apple AirPods Max

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

Sony MDR-EX800ST
7.8
/ 10
IEMHigh end
HIGHER SCORE
Apple AirPods Max
8.1
/ 10
Over-earHigh end

Specs comparison

7.8/10
SCORE
8.1/10
16Ω
IMPEDANCE
43Ω
103dB
SENSITIVITY
99dB
No
NEEDS AMP
No

Analysis

The Sony MDR-EX800ST scores 7.8/10 with 16Ω impedance and 103dB sensitivity. At 16Ω, 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 Apple AirPods Max 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 →Sony MDR-EX800ST details →AirPods Max details →

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