Over-Ear Headphones · owner-verdict comparison

Apple AirPods Max 2 vs Momentum 4 Wireless: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Apple AirPods Max 2: 53% of 196 owners recommend it, vs 45% of 469 for the Momentum 4 Wireless.

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

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 →

Momentum 4 Wireless

45%of 469 owners recommend
45% recommend · 27% neutral · 28% don't
Owners praise
  • Sound quality is the headline strength, owners repeatedly call it the best-sounding wireless headphone in its price bracket, often preferring it over Sony WH-1000XM4/XM5, Bose QuietComfort, and even AirPods Max for clarity, bass, and soundstage
  • Battery life holds up for years of daily use with minimal degradation, and it charges fast
  • Great value for the price, especially now that it's discounted since the Momentum 5 launched, described as unbeatable price-to-performance and a steal around $150-200
Owners complain about
  • ANC is consistently rated weaker than Sony (WH-1000XM3/4/5/6) and Bose competitors, usable for daily commuting but inadequate on planes for some owners
  • Build quality and durability complaints, the fabric headband covering comes loose or peels within months, glue fails after about a year, and units crack or break under normal use
  • Software/app bugs and Bluetooth connectivity issues, dropped connections, multipoint pairing problems, and headphones randomly turning on/off or losing pairing
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

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
Get the Momentum 4 Wireless if
  • ✓Sound-quality-first listeners who'll trade top-tier ANC for richer, fuller audio
  • ✓Frequent travelers who want multi-day battery life and decent (not best) noise cancellation
  • ✓Remote workers on long calls who need all-day comfort and clear mic quality
  • ✓Budget-conscious buyers wanting near-flagship sound without flagship pricing
Skip it if
  • Frequent flyers who need best-in-class ANC, since Sony and Bose noticeably outperform it
  • Gym-goers or heavy sweaters, since moisture repeatedly causes malfunctions and shorted circuits

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

What Momentum 4 Wireless owners say

“Thats unfortunate. I've been using mine for about 2 and a half years daily, and the only problem I've had is the earpads deteriorated and I had to get replacements.”
— Randy265 on Reddit
“i bought M4 last year and i'm fully satisfied”
— zeldafr on Reddit
“Verdict: Not very good”
— thogor on Reddit

Apple AirPods Max 2 vs Momentum 4 Wireless: frequently asked questions

Is the Apple AirPods Max 2 or the Momentum 4 Wireless better?

Real owners lean toward the Apple AirPods Max 2: 53% of 196 owners recommend it, vs 45% of 469 for the Momentum 4 Wireless.

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.

Who should get the Momentum 4 Wireless?

Owners point the Momentum 4 Wireless at sound-quality-first listeners who'll trade top-tier ANC for richer, fuller audio, and frequent travelers who want multi-day battery life and decent (not best) noise cancellation.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Apple AirPods Max 2 is faults reported by many owners, mainly battery drain while sitting in the case and dropped connections, with several needing resets or a replacement unit. For the Momentum 4 Wireless, it's aNC is consistently rated weaker than Sony (WH-1000XM3/4/5/6) and Bose competitors, usable for daily commuting but inadequate on planes for some owners.