AirPods Max vs. Drop + THX Panda wireless headphones

We compared the AirPods Max to several other competing headphones from companies such as Bose, Sennheiser and Sony, but recently the Drop + THX Panda Wireless Headphones got some attention so we thought we’d see how they measure up to the over-ear headphones from Apple.

The Drop + THX Panda Wireless headphones cost $ 400 and are the first headphones to offer THX AAA amplification, because what Drop says is “the world’s lowest possible distortion.” They also feature planer-ribbon drivers for added resistance to distortion and more realistic sounding audio, and they’re supposedly super comfortable with soft foam ear pads wrapped in leather.

These weren’t on our radar until we started hearing from the YouTube community, so they’re not as well known as other more popular brands, but they do have some impressive features. That said, these are no better than the AirPods Max, which isn’t unexpected given the disparity in price points.

When it comes to sound, MacRumors videographer Dan, who tested the headphones, said the Drop + THX Pandas are “dead even” with the “AirPods Max” in terms of sound quality, and maybe even a bit better.

The ‌AirPods Max‌ are more comfortable than the Drop + THX Panda headphones, with the latter putting more pressure on the temples and cheeks, while the ‌AirPods Max‌ can distribute weight better. The mesh earcups of the AirPods Max are also more comfortable than leather earcups, as leather and the tight seal can get hot.

Compared to the ‌AirPods Max‌, the Drop + THX Panda headphones lack active noise cancellation, but there is enough sealing around the head that it drowns out most outside noise.

The Drop + THX Panda headphones come with a carrying case that fits the headphones, plus extra cables, and they come with a USB-C cable for charging and a 3.5mm audio cable if you want to use them wired . In comparison, the ‌AirPods Max‌ have the Smart Case, which is not particularly protective.

When it comes to battery life, the Drop + THX Panda headphones last up to 30 hours, which is 10 hours more than the ‌AirPods Max‌. As for operation, the Drop x THX Pandas have a small joystick that can be used to skip tracks and control playback.

All in all, the Drop + THX Panda headphones might be ideal for those who want good sound quality and don’t mind the lack of active noise cancellation, but the AirPods Max win out in comfort, ANC capabilities, Spatial Audio, head sensing, and ease of use. with Apple devices thanks to the H1 chip that enables fast pairing and fast device switching.