Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs Sennheiser HD 480 Pro

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)

Apple

8.2

Recommended

Sennheiser HD 480 Pro

Sennheiser

8.4

A closed-back studio reference that gets out of your way

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)

What Reviewers Agree On

Premium build quality — aluminum and stainless steel feel luxurious
Excellent spatial audio and Dolby Atmos support
ANC is among the best available
USB-C finally replaces Lightning

Deal Breakers

$549 price is hard to justify vs Sony or Bose at $350-400
Smart case still does not fully protect headphones

Pros & Cons

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)

Pros

Premium build quality — aluminum and stainless steel feel luxurious
Excellent spatial audio and Dolby Atmos support
ANC is among the best available
USB-C finally replaces Lightning

Cons

Detailed Comparison

Sound Quality

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)

Rich, detailed sound with exceptional spatial audio for movies and music.

Computational audio and spatial audio with head tracking are genuinely immersive
Warm, rich sound signature excels with vocals and acoustic music
No aptX or LDAC — limited to AAC Bluetooth which caps lossless potential

Sennheiser HD 480 Pro

Reviewers converge on a balanced, natural tuning with deep but controlled bass, a clear top end and a surprisingly wide stereo image for a closed-back — engaging enough to enjoy music with, neutral enough to make most mix decisions on. The one recurring caveat is a mild mid-bass lift that keeps it from being perfectly flat.

AudioTechnology calls the balance 'amazing', singling out how organised the low frequencies are — tight and defined — and says you can listen for as long as you need without fatigue.

TechTalkTown may earn a commission from purchases made through links below. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not influence our reviews. Learn more.

Buy Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)

AmazonCheck price

Buy Sennheiser HD 480 Pro

People Also Compare

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs Sennheiser HDB 630 Sennheiser HD 480 Pro vs Sennheiser HDB 630 Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs Sennheiser HD 550 Sennheiser HD 480 Pro vs Sennheiser HD 550 Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs Audio-Technica ATH-M50xEnso Audio-Technica ATH-M50xEnso vs Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 vs Sennheiser HD 480 Pro Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs Audio-Technica ATH-ADX3000 Audio-Technica ATH-ADX3000 vs Sennheiser HD 480 Pro

Browse all reviews

Sennheiser HD 480 Pro

What Reviewers Agree On

Balanced, natural tuning with a deep but well-controlled low end — engaging enough to enjoy, neutral enough to trust for mix decisions
Exceptional long-session comfort: feather-light 272g build, plush velour ear pads and very little clamping pressure
Thoughtful design for glasses-wearers — grooved/softer pad sections let the arms of glasses sit without breaking the acoustic seal
Strong passive isolation for a closed-back, making it well-suited to tracking and monitoring with minimal click-track or headphone bleed into mics
Practical wired design — detachable mini-XLR cable usable on either ear cup, a coiled noise-decoupling section, and 130-ohm impedance easy to drive from a laptop or interface

Deal Breakers

Polarising value — at $399/$439 several reviewers and owners argue a closed-back with a mild mid-bass lift costs more than rivals like the FiiO FT1 or the open-back HD 6XX justify
Sparse accessories — only velour pads, one coiled cable and a soft bag in the standard box; a proper hard case costs an extra $40 (Pro Plus)
A mild mid-bass overemphasis (roughly 2-5dB) means the tuning isn't perfectly flat — for the most critical mixing, an open-back is still the safer reference

$549 price is hard to justify vs Sony or Bose at $350-400

Smart case still does not fully protect headphones

Sennheiser HD 480 Pro

Pros

Balanced, natural tuning with a deep but well-controlled low end — engaging enough to enjoy, neutral enough to trust for mix decisions
Exceptional long-session comfort: feather-light 272g build, plush velour ear pads and very little clamping pressure
Thoughtful design for glasses-wearers — grooved/softer pad sections let the arms of glasses sit without breaking the acoustic seal
Strong passive isolation for a closed-back, making it well-suited to tracking and monitoring with minimal click-track or headphone bleed into mics
Practical wired design — detachable mini-XLR cable usable on either ear cup, a coiled noise-decoupling section, and 130-ohm impedance easy to drive from a laptop or interface

Cons

Polarising value — at $399/$439 several reviewers and owners argue a closed-back with a mild mid-bass lift costs more than rivals like the FiiO FT1 or the open-back HD 6XX justify
Sparse accessories — only velour pads, one coiled cable and a soft bag in the standard box; a proper hard case costs an extra $40 (Pro Plus)
A mild mid-bass overemphasis (roughly 2-5dB) means the tuning isn't perfectly flat — for the most critical mixing, an open-back is still the safer reference

Recording Magazine lands on 'full and natural' with a deep-reaching yet balanced low end and a fast, accurate top end that stays clear and detailed without becoming harsh or tizzy.

SoundGuys found kick drums and bass lines punchy without overpowering synths or vocals, with great instrument separation and detail that comes through clearly without sounding shrill.

Despite being closed-back, SoundGuys notes a decently wide stereo image — acoustic tracks sounded as if played in front of the listener from a distance rather than internal.

The Headphone Show praises an exceptionally balanced treble — string instruments sound harmonically rich without going plasticky, glassy or grainy — and calls it one of the best headphones at any price.

Reddit owner Polycosm describes an almost Harman-tuned, slightly warm sound with great upper mids and bass that goes low but stays controlled — enjoyable enough that they hadn't touched EQ.

SoundGuys measurements show bass over-emphasised by roughly 3-5dB (30-175Hz) plus a slight 5-8kHz lift — common for closed-backs and enjoyable for casual listening, but a reason critical mixers may still prefer an open-back's flatter response.

The Headphone Show hears a mild incoherence — a forward bass with mass and heft against a mid-range that sounds a little thin and translucent — though it still calls the overall balance excellent.