Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

K712 Pro vs Apple AirPods Max 2: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 50% of 80 K712 Pro owners recommend it, vs 53% of 196 for the Apple AirPods Max 2.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

K712 Pro

50%of 80 owners recommend
50% recommend · 28% neutral · 22% don't
Owners praise
  • Excellent for gaming, especially competitive FPS titles, thanks to a huge soundstage that makes footsteps and directional cues easy to place
  • Massive, precise soundstage and strong instrument separation/imaging that owners rate above rivals like the K701/Q701 and HD600
  • Very comfortable for long sessions, praised as light on the head and a good fit even for larger heads
Owners complain about
  • Bright, fatiguing treble with a dip in the mids that some owners find harsh or off-putting on longer listening sessions
  • Some owners find the imaging and soundstage less precise than expected, calling it unnaturally large or 'meh' compared to rivals like the DT880/990
  • Durability complaints, including drivers blowing out or headphones wearing out within one to two years
Full owner report →

Apple AirPods Max 2

53%of 196 owners recommend
53% recommend · 19% neutral · 28% don't
Owners praise
  • Rich, clear sound, the reason owners who keep it give most often
  • Strong noise cancelling, one of the features owners praise most
  • Comfortable for many owners, some for whole flights or workdays, though about as many find it too heavy
Owners complain about
  • Faults reported by many owners, mainly battery drain while sitting in the case and dropped connections, with several needing resets or a replacement unit
  • Heavy for many owners, some of whom get sore heads or headaches within an hour or two
  • Most first-generation owners who upgraded hear only small gains, though a smaller group calls it a clear step up
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the K712 Pro if
  • ✓Gamers wanting pinpoint footstep imaging and a huge soundstage for FPS titles
  • ✓Classical and orchestral listeners who want spacious, airy presentation over bass slam
  • ✓Low-volume, casual listeners who just want to enjoy music rather than critical monitoring
  • ✓Big-headed or comfort-focused owners who wear these for hours without fatigue
Skip it if
  • Bass-heavy genre fans (hip-hop, metal) put off by boosted, muddled low end
  • Treble-sensitive listeners bothered by the fatiguing highs and mid-range dip
Get the Apple AirPods Max 2 if
  • ✓Apple users who value tight integration with their devices and can exchange a faulty unit
  • ✓Listeners who want strong noise cancelling paired with full, detailed sound
  • ✓Buyers who can try them on and return them if the fit is wrong
Skip it if
  • Anyone sensitive to heavy headphones, especially for long sessions
  • First-generation Max owners hoping for a big jump in sound

What K712 Pro owners say

“I keep coming back to them frequently as I love their weight, fit and sound, especially for mixing music.”
— _crackerjack73_ on Reddit
“Recommendation for the AKG 712 Pro, and perhaps tryout the k702 earcups for more detailed sound and wider soundstage.”
— Bastelkorb on Reddit
“the 712 fell way short with boosted bass that created a muddled midrange and a tepid soundstage not as pinpoint accurate and open as the other 7 series.”
— rajmahid on Reddit

What Apple AirPods Max 2 owners say

“My AirPods Max 2 are pretty good and little bit better than AirPods Pro 3 in terms of ANC.”
— @AdityaBandaru13 on YouTube
“I bought a pair of these on a whim and couldn't be happier. I had resisted because a friend said they were uncomfortable. I actually find them comfortable and the noise cancelation is insane.”
— @jimtipton8888 on YouTube
“Just got my AirPods Max 2 yesterday and I’m already experiencing a massive battery drain.”
— @KevinHouseyutiol on YouTube

K712 Pro vs Apple AirPods Max 2: frequently asked questions

Is the K712 Pro or the Apple AirPods Max 2 better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 50% of 80 K712 Pro owners recommend it, vs 53% of 196 for the Apple AirPods Max 2.

Who should get the K712 Pro?

Owners point the K712 Pro at gamers wanting pinpoint footstep imaging and a huge soundstage for FPS titles, and classical and orchestral listeners who want spacious, airy presentation over bass slam.

Who should get the Apple AirPods Max 2?

Owners point the Apple AirPods Max 2 at apple users who value tight integration with their devices and can exchange a faulty unit, and listeners who want strong noise cancelling paired with full, detailed sound.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the K712 Pro is bright, fatiguing treble with a dip in the mids that some owners find harsh or off-putting on longer listening sessions. For the Apple AirPods Max 2, it's faults reported by many owners, mainly battery drain while sitting in the case and dropped connections, with several needing resets or a replacement unit.