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AirPods Max vs Ace

Reddit rates both Stay Away. The split is what you want: the AirPods Max — don’t buy it — get the Sony XM4 instead. The Ace — don’t buy it.

Apple AirPods Max
Apple · Audio

AirPods Max

Stay Away$397.67
40% of 2,279 owners recommend
~1 in 2 failure rate — ~1 in 2 long-term reports mention a failure — the highest of the 10 wireless headphones we track and nearly double the category baseline of 27%. Connectivity and pairing are the most cited components, with onset typically between 12 and 36 months. Of tracked warranty outcomes, 121 landed unresolved versus 73 resolved, so failures usually land outside warranty coverage.

Don’t buy it — get the Sony XM4 instead

+ Repeatedly mentioned as the reference point other headphones get compared against.

− A vocal minority report failures — but at ~1 in 2 long-term reports, the pattern is hard to ignore.

Full verdict →
Sonos · Audio

Ace

Stay Away—
44% of 662 owners recommend
No recurring failure pattern found across 62 threads.

Don’t buy it

+ Repeatedly mentioned as a standout — long listening sessions without fatigue come up constantly in owner reports.

− A vocal minority finds the sound quality underwhelming or inconsistent relative to the asking price.

Full verdict →

Questions people keep asking

Which is better, the AirPods Max or the Ace?

Reddit rates both Stay Away. The split is what you want: the AirPods Max — don’t buy it — get the Sony XM4 instead. The Ace — don’t buy it.

Is the Apple AirPods Max worth it?

Reddit's verdict is Stay Away. Don’t buy it — get the Sony XM4 instead. Excellent sound and ANC, but ~1 in 2 long-term reports describe a failure — the worst reliability of the 10 wireless headphones we track.

Is the Sonos Ace worth it?

Reddit's verdict is Stay Away. Don’t buy it. Comfortable and good-sounding, but a polarizing price tag keeps the recommend rate below the category average.