Apple AirPods Max Review (Noise Cancelling Headphone)

[wisechoice]

The question for me is whether Apple Music will be upgraded to offer lossless spatial audio, which would make it much more appealing for a multi-channel system where the height channels tend to be very garbled in AAC.

 

[wisechoice]

The question for me is whether Apple Music will be upgraded to offer lossless spatial audio, which would make it much more appealing for a multi-channel system where the height channels tend to be very garbled in AAC.

And my guess is, probably not. But you never know.

 

[Atanasi]

Not worth sacrificing the niceness of wireless for an insignificant if not imperceptible difference to sound quality imo.

The wired connection is primarily marketed to professionals who need low latency.

 

[staticV3]

The wired connection is primarily marketed to professionals who need low latency.

Is it marketed to professionals? Where?

They don't even offer an adapter to 1/4", nor does Apple specify the latency via wired.

 

[Atanasi]

Is it marketed to professionals? Where?

They don't even offer an adapter to 1/4", nor does Apple specify the latency via wired.

Apple's press release:

Lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio enable music creators to fully utilize AirPods Max throughout their entire professional workflow on Logic Pro and other music creation apps. Using the USB-C cable, AirPods Max will become the only headphones that enable musicians to both create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking.1 By delivering lossless, high-resolution digital audio with low latency, artists can seamlessly record and mix with AirPods Max without compromising fidelity.

They don't specify the exact latency, but someone is surely going to measure it.

 

[Ste_S]

Has anyone done a graph comparing worn vs new pads for the Max? Considering changing mine.

 

[staticV3]

Has anyone done a graph comparing worn vs new pads for the Max? Considering changing mine.

The Max automatically compensates for differences in leakage, including those caused by pad wear. See here.

Comfort may diminish with use, but frequency response will stay the same.

 

[Hart]

Apple has 3.3 trillion dollars and this is the best they can do? I have a sneaking suspicion their Airpods are not so great either despite their intense marketing. Maybe more money on R&D and less on marketing? Also their Siri AI is unusable most times. Amazing level of mediocrity for the most well funded company in history. Shame on them.

 

[middlemarch]

It's their stock price that's worth 3.3 trillion, I think their cash on hand is on the order of $100 billion, just sayin'.

And yes, Siri needs help

 

[IPunchCholla]

Apple has 3.3 trillion dollars and this is the best they can do? I have a sneaking suspicion their Airpods are not so great either despite their intense marketing. Maybe more money on R&D and less on marketing? Also their Siri AI is unusable most times. Amazing level of mediocrity for the most well funded company in history. Shame on them.

This is a weird post. Like all headphones and IEMs AirPods are flawed. The question is are the features and benefits worth the cost as compared to like competitors. As far as research goes, Given that they have a ton of pretty niche features that improve the listening experience (consistent sound regardless of fit on the Max, being able to use the AirPod Pro 2s as hearing aids, being able to use both for sound abatement (and have data that shows levels pre and post abatement). I like the headtracking for movies. I think they are doing a tone of research. Just maybe not into what YOU want.

Agree on Siri though, except for setting timers, alarms, and reminders. Though I wish it had the voice and personality of the narrator from Fight Club.

 

[Hart]

This is a weird post. Like all headphones and IEMs AirPods are flawed. The question is are the features and benefits worth the cost as compared to like competitors. As far as research goes, Given that they have a ton of pretty niche features that improve the listening experience (consistent sound regardless of fit on the Max, being able to use the AirPod Pro 2s as hearing aids, being able to use both for sound abatement (and have data that shows levels pre and post abatement). I like the headtracking for movies. I think they are doing a tone of research. Just maybe not into what YOU want.

Agree on Siri though, except for setting timers, alarms, and reminders. Though I wish it had the voice and personality of the narrator from Fight Club.

Weird because I think company with so much funding should do better? Did you read the test on the headphones? Not very good. Siri? All but useless. Weird is kind of insulting, if you disagree with me that is fine, just state why without the insult.

 

[IPunchCholla]

My apologies. My intent of the weird was to state my own confusion.

Did you read the thread? Measurements for FR are all over the place. Distortion is low enough (crazy low) that you can use extreme eqs if you find there really is a deficiency off the shelf. Many headphones have gotten golfing Panthers for similar FRs, etc.

I dont hear the issue of FR. I did take the time to setup the headphones using the app. For me, the user features (source switching, head tracking for movies, transparency mode, how the work in the Apple ecosystem) and low distortion make up for any FR issues. They certainly don’t sound muddled compared to my monitors, which are +-3dB from 20 to 15k.

For research, I don’t have a figure, but these are bespoke drivers backed by a lot of other tech, so they are spending something. Do you know their research budget?

Do you have a recommendation for headphones with feature parity that are (audibly) significantly better for someone of my hearing ability 53 year old male with less loss than would be expected at my age?

 

[Ste_S]

I dont hear the issue of FR

I don't either and it's not from a lack of experience with other headphones. I much prefer the stock frequency response of APM over most people's favourites, the Sennheiser Momentum 4, for example.

The other killer feature for me is the ability to add a spatial effect to any stereo mix, not just the Atmos mixes on Apple Music. Works quite well, and I have that feature permanently turned on.

 

[patoulol]

Newcomer!, I needed this one to see what some music looked like when I do mastering, because it's a headphone that is used a lot.

The highs are wise but the bass is very present. It remains for a soft and easy listening.