AirPods Max vs. V-Moda M-200 ANC Headphones Showdown

We’re learning more and more about the new product announcements from CES 2021, including the V-Moda M-200 ANC Headphones. The latest high-end true wireless headphones from V-Moda contain some really impressive tech and features, plus a premium price tag to match. How do these headphones look, and how might they stack up against other high-end competitors, like the AirPods Max?

V-Moda isn’t a newcomer to the headphones market, but the M-200 ANC is its first true competitor to sets like the AirPods Max. This impressive set of headphones offers hybrid active noise cancellation that can be tuned to any of 10 levels of intensity.

The audio quality looks to be impressive as well. V-Moda partnered with famed audio company Roland to tune these headphones so they give a balanced, truly impressive sound. With the companion app, you can tweak EQ to your heart’s content as well – or choose from preset EQ profiles.

The hardware is impressive, with 40mm drivers that use neodymium magnets. Connectivity is great, with Bluetooth 5.0 and support for audiophile-grade codecs like AAC and Qualcomm aptX HD. V-Moda also included support for multi-device connectivity, again competing well with Apple’s AirPods Max.

The headphones have impressive frequency response and are certified for Hi-Res Audio when used with the optional audio cable. It’s too early to declare a winner based on sound quality, but all expectations are that V-Moda will compete well here.

The aesthetic here is a little more “industrial gamer” and less, well, Apple.

V-Moda also touts impressive battery life and all-day comfort, rounding out an impressive feature set for the M-200 ANC.

The M-200 ANC starts at US $499.99, which is $50 cheaper than Apple’s AirPods Max. Like Apple, you’ll have to pay up if you want cabled audio mode, but V-Moda’s audio-only cable is only $12.

V-Moda offers customization options as well, which can set you back another $20 to $35. Whether you care about these and find them worth the money is a personal and individualized decision, but it’s nice that they give customers the option.

That said, customization is limited to the shield covers on the earpieces. The headphones themselves are available only in black.

All this brings us to the central question: do the M-200 ANC compete with AirPods Max? In short, yes. It’s no secret that this is what V-Moda is aiming to do. While Apple’s set offers some advantages, like better integration in the Apple ecosystem and that apple cachet, V-Moda’s set saves you $50 and gets you some great customization options Apple doesn’t match.

The included carrying case is a real, actual full case, unlike the thing Apple came up with, which has been the brunt of too many jokes already. V-Moda also offers native support for both Siri and Google Assistant, where Apple naturally prefers its own assistant and snubs Google’s. That said, if you’re exclusively invested in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods Max will win out for you in terms of connectivity.

The M-200 ANC also clocks in at 11.3 ounces, over two ounces lighter than AirPods Max. Many have complained about the weight of Apple’s offering, and V-Moda wins on that count.

The V-Moda M-200 ANC headphones look to be a worthy competitor in the high-end true wireless headphones market, even giving AirPods Max a run for their money. If you’re looking at either device, you’re shelling out upwards of $500. It makes sense to protect that spend by picking up an extended headphones warranty from Upsie.

For less than you’d expect, you get either two or three years of extended protection – including accident protection! Upsie covers manufacturer defects, component failure, and damage from accidents, including liquid damage.

Before you head out on your next jog or bike ride with your new headphones, get protected with an Upsie extended warranty.