Apple AirPods Max Review (Noise Cancelling Headphone)

[MayaTlab]

There is no dispute that the natural ear canal resonances for an open ear shift when the ear is occluded with an IEM depending on the insertion depth, etc. The past year we've spent some time modeling earphones in different ear canals (based on MRI scans) in COMSOL and compared the results with the headphones measured in 3D printed canals and the models are quite accurate.

The main challenges or research questions are:

1. Should the IE headphone response at DRP replicate the open ear canal response at DRP ? Can you quantify benefits in terms of sound quality?

Indeed. My question arose more out of a logical train of thoughts (why would an individual with a significantly longer or shorter ear canal than standards would want an ear canal resonance peak at a different location when wearing an IEM vs. an over-ear or speakers ?) rather than anything grounded in actual psychoacoustic tests (is it worth it ?).

Which is kind of where I would love to have the input of someone particularly knowledgeable in that area who's free to publish his research .

2. How do you model an individual's ear canal and predict the open ear canal resonance at DRP without using a probe mic or having access to an MRI? How much does the impedance of the ear drum vary between individuals to make it important to include?

The current version of the HARMAN IE target curve is already based on an open ear canal resonance at DRP based measurements of sound sources in the room using an B&K 5128 which is supposed to be an "average" human ear. So the question is how much better is the experience when personalized to your own canal?

Samsung presented a paper on question 2. at the recent AES conference in Madrid

I would be interested in your take on this paper as I have my own thoughts.

E-library page - AES

AES E-Library ← Back to search

aes2.org

I've seen that paper indeed but it will take me quite a while to digest it. I don't have a lot of thoughts on it, but rather quite a few questions, and your input would be appreciated. I'll respond by the end of the week in more detail if you don't mind.

 

[Graph Feppar]

Does the headband carry only direct current from battery to power the other earcup without battery or does it carry audio or other signals?

 

[Mauro]

Does the headband carry only direct current from battery to power the other earcup without battery or does it carry audio or other signals?

The headband doesn’t carry any cable. See ifixit unmounting.

 

[User1]

So I am using a AirPods Max 1st gen for a few years now and find the iPhone audio adaptation setting > balanced tone absolutely great (essential in my opinion to make it function properly). So the news that this was going to available for the Mac was exciting and it was the first thing I tried after upgrading to macOS sequoia. But it seems it doesn't work for me, enabling the audio adaptation setting does not change the sound at all and clicking the adaptive audio configuration button results in an error message saying adaptive audio only works with supported AirPods and Beats headphones. But, my headphone is supported.

I tried resetting the AirPods, reinstalling my Mac and whatever one can think of trying to solve this issue, to no avail. After that I tried contacting Apple, but we didn't get anywhere either.

My question is if this issue is solely happing to me, or if it is reproducible by anyone here on board. Many thanks in advance.

 

[Qbd]

My question is if this issue is solely happing to me, or if it is reproducible by anyone here on board. Many thanks in advance.

Same here, and there were quite a few complaints over on the macrumors forum as well, so it seems like it may be buggy for now.

 

[User1]

Same here, and there were quite a few complaints over on the macrumors forum as well, so it seems like it may be buggy for now.

So after a few phone calls with Apple we're not in the green yet unfortunately.

The issue I am facing with my AirPods Max and also AirPods Pro isn't going anywhere and I seriously doubt the culprit is the either the hardware of the Mac or the AirPods.

I will continue with further testing stuff and reporting back to Apple my findings, but the strong suggestion from Apple (and me) is to contact Apple if you are facing this issue so that their engineering department can take this up (it seems they are reluctant to do so with only one person complaining).

 

[Soria Moria]

It got a firmware update which apparently changed the FR according to Soundguys. If @amirm still has one it would be nice to see an updated measurement.

 

[barreleye]

It got a firmware update which apparently changed the FR according to Soundguys. If @amirm still has one it would be nice to see an updated measurement.

Saw that as well. Back in Feb 2023, I posted that oratory1990's PEQ had become too hot in the treble, and I stopped using his EQ. This change to the tuning Soundguys reported would account for that, provided this isn't the first time Apple played with the tuning. Some time later, I posted I had gone back to oratory's PEQ, but within the last three months or so, I dropped the treble high shelf down a couple dB, because it was again sounding too hot. I'm not observing changes like this with my other ANC headphones, so I think Apple has been experimenting with the tuning, and this isn't the first time. I think they changed it in late 2022 to early 2023, changed it back, and have changed it yet again. SoundGuys have posted to the reddit thread and are asking for clarification from Apple:

https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/1h5dgac/comment/m08vjuz

 

[User1]

The other annoyance besides this, is that Apple worsens ANC with every update. I got my Max right when they came out and ANC was outstanding. I.e. when firing up a electric water kettle, almost nothing came through. Now however, it is like there is no ANC at all. When turning of ANC altogether the result is virtually the same as with it being on, the former solely the mechanical isolation of the headphones.

 

[Mauro]

The other annoyance besides this, is that Apple worsens ANC with every update. I got my Max right when they came out and ANC was outstanding. I.e. when firing up a electric water kettle, almost nothing came through. Now however, it is like there is no ANC at all. When turning of ANC altogether the result is virtually the same as with it being on, the former solely the mechanical isolation of the headphones.

Rtings measurement rig disagrees with you on ANC getting worse. Time to change your worsening kettle

Apple AirPods Max Wireless Review

The Apple AirPods Max Wireless are Apple's first pair of wireless over-ear headphones. Unlike other headphones from Apple, like the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wirel...

www.rtings.com

 

[User1]

Rtings measurement rig disagrees with you on ANC getting worse. Time to change your worsening kettle

Apple AirPods Max Wireless Review

The Apple AirPods Max Wireless are Apple's first pair of wireless over-ear headphones. Unlike other headphones from Apple, like the Apple AirPods Pro Truly Wirel...

www.rtings.com

Haha, yeah I know. All measurements I come across disagree with my findings. But it is there nonetheless. Kettles are notoriously noisy off course, but there are other noisy things in my home which became very audible during the firmware updates, gradually more and more..

Another possibility is that the pads are worn out and won't isolate as good as when they where new.

The reason why I didn't buy new ones until now is the Airpods Max - Mac Headphone Accomodations debacle which seems to be universal now:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Airpodsmax/comments/1gcwylo/headphone_accommodations_and_custom_audio_setup