AirPods Max vs. Drop + THX Panda Wireless Headphones

We compared the AirPods Max with several other competing sets of headphones from companies like Bose, Sennheiser and Sony, but recently the Drop + THX Panda Wireless headphones got some attention, so we thought we’d see how it measures to Apple’s over-the-ear headphones.

The Drop + THX Panda Wireless headphones are $ 400 and are the first headphones to offer THX AAA amplification, as Drop has the ‘world’s lowest possible levels of distortion’. They are also equipped with ‘planer-ribbon drives’ for additional deformation resistance and more realistic sound, and they are presumably super comfortable with soft foam cushions wrapped in leather.

It was not on our radar before we started hearing about the YouTube community, so they are not as well known as other, more popular brands, but they have some impressive features. That being said, it is no better than the AirPods Max, which is not unexpected given the difference in price points.

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

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

Compared to the ‌AirPods Max‌, the Drop + THX Panda headphones do not lack active noise cancellation, but there is enough seal around the head that it drowns out most outside noises.

The Drop + THX Panda headphones come with a hardshell cover that fits the headphones, plus additional cables, and they come with a USB-C cable to charge and a 3.5mm audio cable if you want to use it in a wired capacity. Comparatively, the ‘AirPods Max’ has the Smart Case, which is not particularly protective.

In terms of battery life, the Drop + THX Panda headphones can last up to 30 hours, which is 10 hours longer than the ‌AirPods Max‌. As for the controls, the Drop x THX Pandas have a small joystick that lets you skip tracks and control playback.

All in all, the Drop + THX Panda headphones are ideal for those who want good sound quality and do not want the lack of active noise cancellation, but the AirPods Max wins comfortably, ANC capabilities, spatial sound, head detection, and ease of use with Apple devices thanks to the H1 chip that enables fast connection and fast device switching.