Hey,
Itās Pete Matheson with a new issue of Experiments in Progress.
Almost all flagship headphones are good now.
So in this issue š§ AirPods vs Sony vs Boseā¦ and what actually matters once you start using them every day.
š§ AirPods vs Sony vs Bose: What actually sounds better
After testing way too many pairs over the last few years, Iāve realised most people arenāt actually buying āsound quality.ā
heyāre buying:
better noise cancellation on flights
fewer annoyances switching devices
comfort during long work sessions
battery life that doesnāt stress them out
or headphones that just quietly fit into daily life
And weirdly enough, the ābest soundingā headphones often arenāt the best overall buy.
š§ Sony: the all-rounder everyone recommends
Sony has quietly become the default recommendation for a lot of people now.
The WH-1000XM6 are good all-round headphones:
excellent noise cancellation
lightweight and comfortable
great battery life
strong sound customization
foldable again (finally)
work across basically everything
The sound is punchy and energetic without being exhausting, and the ANC is still among the best you can buy. Sony also keeps improving the software side ā codec support, app EQ, multipoint, adaptive modes, etc.
Thatās honestly the safest recommendation overall, especially if:
- you switch between devices
- travel often
- work in noisy places
- want long battery life
- use both Apple + Windows
- or just want headphones that do everything well
Thereās also a reason people keep recommending Sony in ābest headphoneā threads year after year.
Source: TechRadar
š AirPods Max: frustratingly good
The AirPods Max are still incredibly good headphones.
Yes:
theyāre heavy
the case is still ridiculous
battery life isnāt amazing
theyāre expensive
and Apple hasnāt updated them much
ā¦but the actual experience is still elite.
Especially transparency mode, spatial audio, call quality, ecosystem integration, and overall sound refinement.
And while āsound qualityā is subjective, AirPods Max do sound more refined than most competitors:
wider soundstage
cleaner separation
smoother highs
more natural vocals
Sony tends to sound more energetic.
AirPods Max sound more polished.
But the real reason AirPods Max are great isnāt just the sound, itās friction.
Tiny things like:
instant pairing
automatic device switching
spatial audio
transparency mode
Find My
seamless Mac/iPhone/iPad handoff
šµ Bose: the comfort king
Bose feels slightly different from both Sony and Apple.
They win on comfort, especially for:
- flights
- long work sessions
- commuting
- noise sensitivity
- wearing headphones for 6+ hours
Bose still has some of the most comfortable headphones in the category.
Source: Audio Review Blog
And their noise cancellation is excellent in a slightly different way.
Sonyās ANC feels more aggressive.
Bose feels smoother and calmer.
Some people genuinely prefer it.
The sound profile is also easier to listen to for long periods:
softer tuning
less fatiguing
less āsharpā
more relaxed overall
The quick buying guide
If you care most aboutā¦ | Best pick |
|---|---|
Best overall balance | Sony |
Best sound quality overall | AirPods Max |
Apple ecosystem integration | AirPods Max |
Transparency / pass-through mode | AirPods Max |
Best all-round noise cancellation | Sony |
Comfort for long flights or work sessions | Bose |
Windows + Android flexibility | Sony |
Lightweight everyday feel | Sony |
Calm, relaxed sound signature | Bose |
Watching movies on Apple devices | AirPods Max |
āI just want headphones that workā | Sony |
Price-to-performance | Sony |
Premium Apple experience | AirPods Max |
Flights and commuting | Bose |
One pair for absolutely everything | Sony |
š± Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend whoās as obsessed with tech as you are:
In this video, Iām testing LGās new SoundSuite setup outside of the polished demo booth: a fully wireless Dolby Atmos Flex Connect system built around the H7 soundbar, W7 subwoofer, and M5/M7 satellite speakers.
This feels much closer to what mainstream home theatre audio probably becomes over the next few years.
How the modular setup tiers actually work
LG SoundSuite and Dolby Atmos Flex Connect explained
Flexible speaker placement vs traditional surround systems
Listening demos and real-world sound impressions
ThinQ app setup, AirPlay, and Google Cast support
Why wireless home theatre audio is getting really good
Whether this replaces traditional AV receiver setups
and moreā¦