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Kicking off 2025 with a bang, the Noise Airwave Max 5 headphones have hit the market with a competitive price tag of ₹4,699. With this bold move, Noise is poised to challenge the audio dominance of premium brands like Sony, Bose, and JBL. With Adaptive ANC, 80-hour battery life, and a sleek look, Noise is swinging big, but how do they stack up against the heavyweights? I’ve been digging into this, and here’s the rundown on where they shine, stumble, and surprise.
Let’s start with the obvious: cost. At ₹4,699 (sometimes dipping to ₹4,499 with offers), the Airwave Max 5 is a fraction of the ₹25,000-₹40,000 you’d shell out for a Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort 45. That’s a no-brainer win for budget hunters. Noise isn’t pretending to match every bell and whistle of the big dogs, they’re betting on value. I’ve seen X posts hyping the price-to-feature ratio, and honestly, it’s hard to argue when you’re getting 80 hours of playtime for less than a tenth of a premium paycheck.
Sound is where the rubber meets the road. The Airwave Max 5 rocks 40mm drivers and high-fidelity acoustics, pumping out crisp highs and decent mids. I’ve spun some tracks, think lo-fi beats and metal riffs, and the bass is not overpowering but punchy enough for casual jams. Compared to Sony’s XM5, with its layered depth, or JBL’s Tune 770NC bass thump, it’s not as refined. Premium brands edge out with richer soundscapes. Sony’s got 360 Reality Audio magic, but Noise holds its own for the price. It’s not audiophile-grade, but it’s better than I’d expect from a sub-₹5K pair.
Adaptive Hybrid ANC up to 50dB sounds dope on paper, and Noise claims it’ll hush the world. In other words, think noisy café vibes; it muffles chatter and hums decently, but a loud bus rolls by, and you’re still hearing it. Bose and Sony? They’d make that bus a whisper. Premium ANC is next-level. Bose’s QuietComfort line kills ambient noise like it’s personal, and Sony’s XM5 adjusts on the fly with AI smarts. Noise’s quad-mic ENC for calls is solid, though the voice cut through the wind on a test call better than one can figure. It’s good, not great, against the top dogs.
Here’s where Noise flexes hard: 80 hours of playtime. That’s insane. Sony’s XM5 taps out at 30, JBL’s Live 770NC hits 50, and Bose clocks around 24. I left the Airwave Max 5 running playlists for days, and it barely flinched. Fast charging’s clutch too; 10 minutes gets you 10 hours, outpacing Sony’s 3-hour boost from a 3-minute charge. For travel or lazy rechargers, Noise wins hands down. Premium brands can’t touch that endurance; they’re betting you’ll pay for polish over longevity.
The Airwave Max 5 feels premium-ish. 250-gram soft ear cushions, adjustable band. I wore them for 4 hours, and my ears didn’t scream. The IPX5 rating (sweat and splash-proof) is a gym-goer’s pal, matching JBL’s rugged vibes but not Sony’s sleeker focus. Compared to Bose’s featherlight plushness or Sony’s luxe finish, Noise’s build is sturdier than cheap plastic but lacks that high-end polish. X users rave about the look. Calm Beige is slick, but premium brands ooze craftsmanship Noise can’t quite mimic yet.
Bluetooth 5.4, 30ms low latency, dual pairing, and 3D Spatial Audio? Noise packed a lot in. Gamers will dig the lag-free sync. One can test it with some mobile shooters, and it’s smooth. Sony and Bose lean on apps for EQ tweaks and fancy modes; Noise skips that, which stings if you love control. Spatial Audio is fun but not as mind-blowing as Sony’s 360 setup. JBL’s got simpler pairing too, though Noise’s dual-device switch is handy. Premium brands layer on sophistication. Noise keeps it scrappy and functional.
So, how does it stack up? The Airwave Max 5 isn’t toppling Sony or Bose, it’s not meant to. It’s a budget beast that punches way above its weight in battery, value, and decent sound. ANC and Finesse lag behind premium champs, but for ₹4,699, you’re getting 80% of the vibe for 20% of the cost. If you’re cash-strapped or just want a reliable daily driver, Noise delivers. Want perfection? Save for the big names. Me? I’d rock these on a budget and not look back.
