Advantages of AirPods Max?

[Easttime]

In-ear AirPods Pro’s do not work well for me. Adopted early and have had them for several months. Simply cannot get a secure fit. But I like the Apple integration, sound quality and microphone.

So I early-adopt-ordered AirPods Max for these reasons:
- over-ear better fit for me than buds.
- easy integration with my Apple devices (I’m all Apple).
- UPDATE: hey Siri.
- wireless but can plug a wire into airplane entertainment system (UPDATE: if battery charged already).
- noise cancellation on/off easy.
- microphone for online meetings and phone calls UPDATE: they look professional and unobtrusive, reviewers say they are fine on phone calls and Zoom.
- can claim as business expense since will use for office work.
- higher end music quality (I’m not an audiophile) UPDATE: multiple reviews indicate to me that I would be happy with sound quality.
- for the most part Apple products have been nice quality and not let me down.

But I’m in the cancel window (delivery February) and hovering over the cancel button because (all soft disadvantages for me but could add up):
- price
- need to buy a USBC plug-in charger UPDATE: ordered. I needed one anyway.
- wired connectivity to airplane entertainment means buying another $35 cable
- UPDATE: lack of off button - not an issue for me. I like that they power down (long press crown if needed) and are always on so ready to go. I’ll mainly use them at my desk where I already charge my APP overnight anyway.
- won’t work if battery dead (can’t replace AAA batteries while travelling for example like my old Bose)
- not sure if they will be functional with eyeglasses UPDATE: couple of reviews say they are OK.
- goofy case UPDATE: no longer an issue for me. Not worried about lack of on-off button, there are generic headphones case on Amazon, and APM 3rd party cases are planned.
- weight, not sure how comfortable they will be over hours UPDATE: this is the main potential issue, but based on all the initial reviews out there, I won’t be able to tell until I try them myself. Worst case is I cannot tolerate them in back to back Zoom meetings, in which case I could take a break with my AirPods Pro or external speakers and Logitech camera’s microphone.
- AirPods Pro were a disappointment for me in the end after early adoption and a long trial, owing to fit problems, but sound quality, ANC and Apple integration are good.

UPDATE: I’m letting the order stand. No good reason in my use case to cancel.

 

[ggibson913]

I personally recommend the Sony WH-1000XM4. They are excellent noise cancelling headphones with excellent sound. Right now you can get them for under $300.00. They are lighter in weight, offer USB C charging, and have longer battery life. They also have a more substantial carrying case, and it comes with the airline adapter. They don't come in all kinds of cool colors though. For $7 more than the Airpods Max, you can get two of them, one for you and one for your S/O.

 

[Easttime]

I personally recommend the Sony WH-1000XM4. They are excellent noise cancelling headphones with excellent sound. Right now you can get them for under $300.00. They are lighter in weight, offer USB C charging, and have longer battery life. They also have a more substantial carrying case, and it comes with the airline adapter. They don't come in all kinds of cool colors though.

No microphone and Sony advertises them as "Only Music". I need work integration. UPDATE: I misread the ad. They do have a microphone. Mixed reviews though.

 

[ipponrg]

No microphone and Sony advertises them as "Only Music". I need work integration.

The weight may be an issue for longer use. I have headphones in the 250g range, and your head starts to get heavy after a few hours

These headphones despite having ANC don’t appear to be as travel friendly as others. See the weight and the poorly designed open bra case

For work related purposes, I actually own the Jabra Evolve2 85 and Aftershokz Opencomm. The Aftershokz surprisingly are very comfortable for all day calls and have a good mic. They were going for $140 last I checked. I’d skip the Jabras though because the software and firmware is garbage. The Jabras as regular music listening are very good though

 

[lordhamster]

But I’m in the cancel window and hovering over the cancel button because (all soft disadvantages for me but could add up):
- price
- need to buy a USBC plug-in charger
- wired connectivity to airplane entertainment means buying another $35 cable
- won’t work if battery dead (can’t replace AAA batteries while travelling for example like my old Bose)
- not sure if they will be functional with eyeglasses
- goofy case
- weight, not sure how comfortable they will be over hours
- AirPods Pro were a disappointment for me in the end after early adoption and a long trial

If you are "all" apple, then you already have lightning chargers to charge this with. Presumably you only need a USB-C brick if you want fast charging.

Wired connectivity to airplane systems is nice, and there are plenty of cheap lightning to 3.5mm adapters available on amazon. The audio quality of airplane audio is so crappy that you won't suffer from a worse DAC.

For me the ANC would have to be PHENOMENAL and phone call quality very very good for me to pull the trigger on these though.

These headphones despite having ANC don’t appear to be as travel friendly as others. See the weight and the poorly designed open bra case

For work related purposes, I actually own the Jabra Evolve2 85 and Aftershokz Opencomm. The Aftershokz surprisingly are very comfortable for all day calls and have a good mic. They were going for $140 last I checked. I’d skip the Jabras though because the software and firmware is garbage. The Jabras as regular music listening are very good though

Agreed. The case seems stupid for travel. My current bose set has a protective hard case that I carabiner to the outside of my travel backpack. The purse looking case looks dainty and I don't know how I'd secure it to my bag. Would probably need to buy a 3rd party case.

The weight is probably also an issue. I know even my much lighter bose set gets uncomfortable after 1.5 hours.

 

[Easttime]

For work related purposes, I actually own the Jabra Evolve2 85 and Aftershokz Opencomm. The Aftershokz surprisingly are very comfortable for all day calls and have a good mic. They were going for $140 last I checked.

Thanks, but I am not big on boom mikes. In online meetings they look odd to me, and the sound quality is like the mikes in a helicopter or small plane, like the person is speaking through a tunnel.

 

[ipponrg]

Thanks, but I am not big on boom mikes. In online meetings they look odd to me, and the sound quality is like the mikes in a helicopter or small plane, like the person is speaking through a tunnel.

The purpose of the boom on work headsets is to minimize outside noise. The only headset that sounds decent without a boom mic in a noisy environment is the Bose 700. If you are looking for a headset to handle these situations, there aren’t many choices.

In noisy environments and if the AirPods Max are similar to the AirPods Pro, you will sound mediocre/awful to others on your calls

 

[Easttime]

The purpose of the boom on work headsets is to minimize outside noise. The only headset that sounds decent without a boom mic in a noisy environment is the Bose 700. If you are looking for a headset to handle these situations, there aren’t many choices. In noisy environments and if the AirPods Max are similar to the AirPods Pro, you will sound mediocre/awful to others on your calls

I work in a private office, so that's not a problem thanks. The AirPod Pros had great sound to others in my environment.

 

[MecPro]

No microphone and Sony advertises them as "Only Music". I need work integration.

?

Are you saying the 1000MX4 have no microphone?

 

[Easttime]

?

Are you saying the 1000MX4 have no microphone?

Aha, I read the ad wrong. They do. How does the 1000MX4 mic work for online meetings and phone calls?

 

[Elektrofone]

Aha, I read the ad wrong. They do. How do the mic work for online meetings and phone calls?

I've heard the mic is not great sounding. Especially compared to Bose.

 

[MecPro]

Aha, I read the ad wrong. They do. How does the 1000MX4 mic work for online meetings and phone calls?

As the poster said above they aren't good. I stuck with my Bose because I work in London but my team is in CA and I'm on calls (especially with lockdown) for about 3/4 hours a day, and also use them for music and calls.

I was going to order the APM but they won't be available until Jan, so I figured I'd just wait for the reviews and buy them later

 

[Beau10]

Thanks, but I am not big on boom mikes. In online meetings they look odd to me, and the sound quality is like the mikes in a helicopter or small plane, like the person is speaking through a tunnel.

I don't mean to dissuade you in getting the Max's (I have a pair incoming), but my work issued Jabra Evolve 75s are truly excellent, like person standing right next to you call quality. They're also super light at 6.3 ounces.

That said, for music it is just so-so (naturally, they're not meant for that). The weight of the Max be an issue but I've found with proper support and balance even somewhat heavy headphones can be fine over several hours of use.

 

[bmustaf]

Aha, I read the ad wrong. They do. How does the 1000MX4 mic work for online meetings and phone calls?

The 1000MX4 may as well not have a microphone, it is that disastrously bad. My pair, my wife's pair, every friend's pair. Totally useless. Love the units for everything else, but Sony's mics and software stack is *absolutely* horrible. Totally useless. And the pairing mess. It basically relegates them to "use these on airplanes b/c they are the best for that" niche status for me.

 

[pugxiwawa]

Wired connectivity to airplane systems is nice, and there are plenty of cheap lightning to 3.5mm adapters available on amazon. The audio quality of airplane audio is so crappy that you won't suffer from a worse DAC.

I watched one of the early reviews on YouTube and he said you must use Apple brand lighting to 3.5mm adapter for the sound to pass through. He tried various cheap 3.5mm adapter he has around and none of them worked. just figure I would pass this info along.

 

[cbautis2]

I watched one of the early reviews on YouTube and he said you must use Apple brand lighting to 3.5mm adapter for the sound to pass through. He tried various cheap 3.5mm adapter he has around and none of them worked. just figure I would pass this info along.

The greedy power of MFi certification. I suspect that those adapters don't have an ADC built-in unlike the official ones from Apple

 

[827538]

I'm interested in these cans but there's a few things I have questions about. Do these work with Hey Siri? There's no way I'm carrying around a stupid case to turn these off, I really cannot believe that made it out the concept stage, no other cans have such a poorly thought out feature.
The $550 cost really depends on audio quality and how well they work as a package.

EDIT: Hey Siri is a feature.

 

[ggibson913]

No microphone and Sony advertises them as "Only Music". I need work integration.

They have a microphone, it's integrated but they do have one. I have used my for calling people.

 

[mcvaughan]

Why not just try them, and if you don’t like them, return?

 

[Apple_Robert]

A lighter wallet.

 

[Henrik H]

The 1000MX4 may as well not have a microphone, it is that disastrously bad. My pair, my wife's pair, every friend's pair. Totally useless. Love the units for everything else, but Sony's mics and software stack is *absolutely* horrible. Totally useless. And the pairing mess. It basically relegates them to "use these on airplanes b/c they are the best for that" niche status for me.

Different experience: me and friends have used the older MX3s in calls and they have been just fine. MX3 has been said to have a bad mic (we have not noticed) but that mic was improved in MX4.

But what’s worse IMO with Sonys music sounds blurry and bass-heavy. Yes, definitely get them for the ANC, not for the sound quality. I’d go with the new Maxes rather if the price difference does not matter.

 

[ouimetnick]

A lighter wallet.

Lighter wallet, heavier head?

 

[deuxani]

I’ve used the XM3’s for many many Teams work meetings this year and not once was the mic an issue. I’ve even asked people specifically how I sound and it was always good.

 

[Easttime]

In-ear AirPods Pro’s do not work well for me. Adopted early and have had them for several months. Simply cannot get a secure fit. But I like the Apple integration, sound quality and microphone.

So I early-adopt-ordered AirPods Max for these reasons:
- over-ear better fit for me than buds
- easy integration with my Apple devices (I’m all Apple)
- UPDATE: hey Siri
- wireless but can plug a wire into airplane entertainment system (UPDATE: if battery charged already).
- noise cancellation on/off easy
- microphone for online meetings and phone calls UPDATE: they look professional and unobtrusive, one reviewer said they were fine on phone calls.
- can claim as business expense since will use for office work
- higher end music quality (I’m not an audiophile) UPDATE: multiple reviews indicate to me that I would be happy with sound quality.
- for the most part Apple products have been nice quality and not let me down.

But I’m in the cancel window (delivery March) and hovering over the cancel button because (all soft disadvantages for me but could add up):
- price
- need to buy a USBC plug-in charger UPDATE: ordered. I needed one anyway.
- wired connectivity to airplane entertainment means buying another $35 cable
- UPDATE: lack of off button
- won’t work if battery dead (can’t replace AAA batteries while travelling for example like my old Bose)
- not sure if they will be functional with eyeglasses UPDATE: couple of reviews say they are OK.
- goofy case UPDATE: there is a generic headphones case on Amazon for $31, and APM 3rd party cases are planned.
- weight, not sure how comfortable they will be over hours UPDATE: this is the main potential issue, but based on all the initial reviews out there, I won’t be able to tell until I try them myself. Worst case is I cannot tolerate them in back to back Zoom meetings, in which case I could take a break with my AirPods Pro or external speakers and Logitech camera’s microphone.
- AirPods Pro were a disappointment for me in the end after early adoption and a long trial, owing to fit problems, but sound quality, ANC and Apple integration are good.

UPDATE: I’m letting the order stand. No good reason for my use case to cancel.

I updated my original post now that real world reviews are available. I’ll post my own experience when my APM arrives in March.