Was looking for this comparison, so gonna type out my experience so far (also in case I forget why I didn't like them in the future).
APM
Other audio devices I used to compare these with: HD650, HD598, R1280DB, SE215, Galaxy Buds+
APM
- Every time you put it on your head, there's always a dumb chime that's too loud and sounds cheap/low bitrate. And another loud low-bitrate chime whenever you press the top button to switch between ANC/transparency.
- It's heavy and clamping force is high, but actually not uncomfortable for at least 3-4 hours so long as you don't wear glasses. Even with all that clamping force, it still leaks in noise from outside when I turn my head. With glasses, the pressure is unbearable within 30 mins and outside noise is very often leaking in. In either case, this can only be used as lounging headphones - any physical activity or even tense desk work causes heat, sweat, and condensation to become actual issues.
- The Spatial Audio demo in Settings works effectively as expected, but in songs made for Spatial Audio in Apple Music, it just sounds like they're changing the L/R volume levels. The slightest movement of my head would cause an over-exaggerated reaction that feels very unnatural. I disabled Spatial Audio after the first day, tried it again here and there but I seriously don't like how it sounds at all.
- Sub-bass is highly emphasized. I suspect there's some "AI enhancement" at play here... it feels fake and unnatural. It was fun at first, but then I got the feeling it was doing something extra, like it's not just amplifying bass but rather it's making up extra bass signals that aren't actually there and injecting it into the audio stream... In movies, it's downright annoying.
- Trebles sound too digital (in a bad way). Vocals with 's' and 't' make the middle of my head feel oddly irritated (istg), they're tin-y like there's some resonance going on or something. This is of course an exaggeration, but it almost sounds like cymbals/hi-hats are filled in with static noise from a TV without signal.
- Annoying static sound with ANC. Come on Apple, these were released in 2020 and ANC still had static? And without ANC, these metal cans are basically an echo chamber that amplify any low frequencies at all in your environment.
- Sounds more 'open' than APM. In comparison, APM sounds noticeably warmer/muffled.
- In the same songs as before, the sub-bass drags on for longer. It's not better or stronger or anything, it just goes on for longer... I know that sounds like it shouldn't be possible, but that's what I experienced. It's like the APM but just more of the "enhancement" if you can even call it that.
- Trebles are even louder and a lot worse... if the APM was tin-y, this is at least 2x to 3x worse. I'm honestly sick of listening to it. Just as I'm typing this, I just remembered the Music app EQ setting and it seems "Treble Reducer" alleviates this issue, but obviously this setting doesn't apply for other apps like TV/Netflix/Youtube/Prime.
- I experienced an issue where it plays for 2 seconds and won't continue, until I connect to the APM and switch back to APP2 a few times or restart. Seemed to happen more often on Apple Watch (which is a deal-breaking issue since I only bring my Watch with me to the fitness room).
- Contrary to what I was led to believe from the marketing, it does NOT seem to cancel out instantaneous noises like clacking weights on exercise machines or the clunking of treadmills.
- When I take it out of my ear, the silicon tips tend to invert, like an umbrella on a windy day. (I assure you that I am using the correct tip size, and my ear canal is clean.)
Other audio devices I used to compare these with: HD650, HD598, R1280DB, SE215, Galaxy Buds+
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