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AirPods Max aren't very comfortable
- Thread starter LongWayHome
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Hard to argue that one... Those things are like lightweight pillows of joy on the head.
I really hope Apple comes out with a "Sport/Air" AirPods Max, as I'm sure they could pull off a super premium look and feel with plastic.
I know it doesn't bother everyone here, but some of us are simply "out" based upon the weight of the APMs (or any rather heavy headphones).
Thanks for the advice. I stretched them overnight. They are better, but not as good as should be. I agree with OP that Bose 35II the most comfortable.
I compared blindly phone/voip/data communication with 5 different people and 4 out of 5 chose Bose over Apple in mic sound quality.
The last, but not the least I HATE about Apple AirPods MAX is the sound leak (other people can hear what I listen). This is due to the cheap plastic caps.
and I do not even mentioned ugly and useless case here.
This is the second Apple product I really do not like. The 1st one was iPhone 4 with antenna gate. (may be 3rd - hate that ip12 dual SIM 5g is only in China)
Yea I think it's pretty standard procedure that Bose will be most comfortable. But there is a trade off with sound quality. Airpod max get more comfortable the longer I wear them. I believe headphones need time to break in. They are indeed heavy but it's because the material itself is more premium. Design choice is a tradeoff. It depends on case use really. I'm laying on my couch or bed at home when I wear these. The case is really only to put them into lower power quicker and disconnect the Bluetooth.
Ditto!
I’ve broken them in. They’re way more comfortable for me now. Yesterday I wore them for 3 hours straight and didn’t want to take them off.
Also, I have a pair of the QC35 in my household as well and don’t even get me started on the sound quality difference between the two. The APM blow them out of the water in every category. On top of that, the Boses have that hissing sound with their ANC on. It’s very noticeable with no music playing.
i’ve had my pair for over a month now. Barely notice them there. There was a strong clamp but they are broken in now.
One month update:
1. these are still heavy AF and there is no way around this fact, but not a deal breaker. Just have to get used to it.
2. Moving the headband slightly forward as opposed to sitting atop the crown makes it more bearable.
3. My left cup is fully extended while the right is a bit less than half as extended. I've always known I had lopsided ear heights, but this just confirms I'm one messed up human.
4. Clamping force has gotten a bit better, but still "comfortable" by normal standards. I still can't be 100% certain if it's just broken in or just gotten more used to it.
1. these are still heavy AF and there is no way around this fact, but not a deal breaker. Just have to get used to it.
2. Moving the headband slightly forward as opposed to sitting atop the crown makes it more bearable.
3. My left cup is fully extended while the right is a bit less than half as extended. I've always known I had lopsided ear heights, but this just confirms I'm one messed up human.
4. Clamping force has gotten a bit better, but still "comfortable" by normal standards. I still can't be 100% certain if it's just broken in or just gotten more used to it.
I have to hand it to Apple. Their new headphones have certainly kick started an interest in researching all the options.
I was about to buy the Sony XM4s until these came out. I didn't particularly want to spend $550 on headphones so held off, reading all these threads here. Most talk was about how these would, due to their weight, size and silly case, be "at home" headphones rather than all-purpose ones for home and away.
But then I thought ... at home, I don't walk around with my headphones on, and sound leakage isn't an issue. So I did my research and have ordered some Philips X2HR open-back wired headphones. They're 1/4 of the price of the Apple ones. I only connect my current cheap headphones to either my laptop or my AVR, so not being able to connect them to my iPhone 11 is no issue.
I'm hoping they arrive soon, as it seems everyone went mad and tried to order them (again, probably thanks to Apple!) and delivery times slipped. Plus prices shot up. Glad I got my order in when I did.
So now, with $400 "saved", I'm looking at some going-out headphones. In-ear ones *always* fall out of my weird ears. The freebie earpods that came with my phone don't stay in. Luckily, the wire saves them from the floor. But I'm enjoying the research and I'm currently looking at "bone conducting" ones or the new Bose Sport Open, as they clip around the ear. Apparently these all sound weak though. However, apart from weird ears I have a weird attitude to tech. I enjoy the research as much as, if not more, than eventually owning it.
So, I'm not buying the Airpod Max's but I'm very grateful they exist!
Edit: My X2HRs have arrived. They're very good.
I was about to buy the Sony XM4s until these came out. I didn't particularly want to spend $550 on headphones so held off, reading all these threads here. Most talk was about how these would, due to their weight, size and silly case, be "at home" headphones rather than all-purpose ones for home and away.
But then I thought ... at home, I don't walk around with my headphones on, and sound leakage isn't an issue. So I did my research and have ordered some Philips X2HR open-back wired headphones. They're 1/4 of the price of the Apple ones. I only connect my current cheap headphones to either my laptop or my AVR, so not being able to connect them to my iPhone 11 is no issue.
I'm hoping they arrive soon, as it seems everyone went mad and tried to order them (again, probably thanks to Apple!) and delivery times slipped. Plus prices shot up. Glad I got my order in when I did.
So now, with $400 "saved", I'm looking at some going-out headphones. In-ear ones *always* fall out of my weird ears. The freebie earpods that came with my phone don't stay in. Luckily, the wire saves them from the floor. But I'm enjoying the research and I'm currently looking at "bone conducting" ones or the new Bose Sport Open, as they clip around the ear. Apparently these all sound weak though. However, apart from weird ears I have a weird attitude to tech. I enjoy the research as much as, if not more, than eventually owning it.
So, I'm not buying the Airpod Max's but I'm very grateful they exist!
Edit: My X2HRs have arrived. They're very good.
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They do loosen with time. I had a major case of the side clamping pressure for the first 5 days or so. Now they’re so so very comfortable. Didn’t even need to stretch them out. Just used them as usual. Of course, I might just have a narrow head. I don’t know, never had my head measured.
SUPER MEGA CLAMP FORCE.
A good headphone, I have learned over my many pointless, stupid purchases (with more to come, no doubt) needs to be comfortable. NEEDS to be comfortable. For example, I have a pair of Beyerdynamic Amiron Homes (wired, open-backed headphones) and it is like two cushions being gently pushed onto my ears by cherubic angels. I can wear them for hours on end. I love them.
The APMs are not comfortable. They actually do a fantastic job of distributing that weight across the top - although I wonder about the longevity of the mesh - but I think they achieved this by ensuring there is a strong clamping force.
It’s uncomfortable, it is always there and it is the only time ever where I have had any kind of aching after using them. Literally two days later after wearing them and I can still feel an ache.
Good headphones should disappear and let you enjoy the sound experience. Sadly the APMs don't do this for me.
A good headphone, I have learned over my many pointless, stupid purchases (with more to come, no doubt) needs to be comfortable. NEEDS to be comfortable. For example, I have a pair of Beyerdynamic Amiron Homes (wired, open-backed headphones) and it is like two cushions being gently pushed onto my ears by cherubic angels. I can wear them for hours on end. I love them.
The APMs are not comfortable. They actually do a fantastic job of distributing that weight across the top - although I wonder about the longevity of the mesh - but I think they achieved this by ensuring there is a strong clamping force.
It’s uncomfortable, it is always there and it is the only time ever where I have had any kind of aching after using them. Literally two days later after wearing them and I can still feel an ache.
Good headphones should disappear and let you enjoy the sound experience. Sadly the APMs don't do this for me.
This makes me wonder why Apple went all-in on making them so heavy. What's the point of them looking all expensive and shiny on an audio device you never see whilst using them at the detriment of comfort.
I've also had B&O H95s, which are in the same ballpark of heavy, and their clamping wasn't anywhere near as forceful as the APMs. That said, the H95s did apply a lot of pressure across the top of my head.
The clamp force doesn't primarily have to do with the extra weight. Clamping is a horizontal axis force, and is a function of the tightness of the curve of the headband. More weight will necessitate a greater clamping force to keep the cans on, yes. But that's less of a factor than the tightness of the curve of the headband. There's also the spring factor in the pivot joint, but that's a much weaker force than the tension of the curve of the headband.
My physics might be off here, but I believe that if you extend out the telescopes and then store them in the smart case, you'd be applying a greater force inwards on the headband. That is, the exact opposite of what people hope to achieve by stretching them out with books etc. If you store them in the smart case with very little telescoping, the inwards force is comparatively lesser, and so it is less likely to clamp tight when you do wear them.
I tried stretching these bad boys out overnight, hoping to achieve a level of comfort that would be acceptable. Unfortunately no amount of stretching gave me the relief I needed. This was a deal-breaker for me, and I ended up returning them in the end, despite liking almost everything else about them.
I couldn't justify paying $550 for cans that made my head feel relieved after an hour of use and taking them off. I'm jealous of the people who find them extremely comfortable, but for me, the pressure on my head was taking away from enjoying the music itself.
If apple came out with something that is lightweight with the same level of audio quality - even if they felt cheaper due to the plastic materials and had a price that was the same as the current AirPods Max- I would buy them in a heartbeat. In the end I'm not looking at myself in the mirror admiring the beautiful design and build quality, on the contrary, I'd rather they disappear as much as possible, leaving behind only the music itself.
I think this could be possible seeing as how great their engineering team is, they just had other requirements from the product managers and low weight was not a focal point here. As mentioned before, the QC35's are the benchmark when it comes to comfort, those are the ones I'd want to take on a plane ride with me. Combine the QC35's comfort with the sound quality of the AirPods Max and apple ecosystem, and you would have something a lot more enjoyable than the current version.
I couldn't justify paying $550 for cans that made my head feel relieved after an hour of use and taking them off. I'm jealous of the people who find them extremely comfortable, but for me, the pressure on my head was taking away from enjoying the music itself.
If apple came out with something that is lightweight with the same level of audio quality - even if they felt cheaper due to the plastic materials and had a price that was the same as the current AirPods Max- I would buy them in a heartbeat. In the end I'm not looking at myself in the mirror admiring the beautiful design and build quality, on the contrary, I'd rather they disappear as much as possible, leaving behind only the music itself.
I think this could be possible seeing as how great their engineering team is, they just had other requirements from the product managers and low weight was not a focal point here. As mentioned before, the QC35's are the benchmark when it comes to comfort, those are the ones I'd want to take on a plane ride with me. Combine the QC35's comfort with the sound quality of the AirPods Max and apple ecosystem, and you would have something a lot more enjoyable than the current version.
I've been using them a few days for a couple of hours or so each time since I got them last week. I don't find them uncomfortable. The cans do have some weight to them but not so much that I feel like it's a heavy weight perched on my head. It's a keeper for me.
I get it. I think this is the main sticking point of the APM (beyond the price tag, although the more we learn about the technology within them, the more the price seems closer to being justified than previously imagined). I do think they become more comfortable over time. There is some serious clampforce going on here. They really don't dissapear on the head. Its a compromise with the Bose QC, those are supposedly top tier in comfort, but sound quality like you said isn't there in comparison. Ah well. I got them on a nice discount and I just assume with more continued wear they will continue to open up.
There are no rumours or leaks about a cheaper version.
It is only mentioned, because a lot complain about the price, and they say, they would only buy them if they were a cheaper version
But that is probably not going to happen, if you want cheaper, buy the Beats or Airpods Pro
There are no rumours or leaks about a cheaper version.
It is only mentioned, because a lot complain about the price, and they say, they would only buy them if they were a cheaper version
But that is probably not going to happen, if you want cheaper, buy the Beats or Airpods Pro
Yes there are and they were reported before the AirPods max launched, which means they could launch at a later date.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ed-third-homepod-model-also-possible.2263612/
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...icted-in-leaked-image-and-video-clip.2254633/
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...model-swappable-bands-touch-controls.2274154/
I've seen this mentioned in the form of an allergic reaction, which people have been able to get rid of by removing and giving them a good wash.
After a bit of experimentation, the AirPods Max are the most comfortable set of the 6 headphones I have.
They are even more comfortable for me than my Bose QC 35’s. I thought the APMs were comfortable for me at first, but then the clamping force started to bother me a bit. I did stretch them overnight which helped a bit, but I also played with the band length to make the pressure on the top and bottom of my ears equal.
No more issues with comfort for me. I actually managed a 12 hour day with them just fine. In comparison with the QC 35s, there is no pressure on the top of my head and my ears don‘t get sweaty. I do not notice the increase weight.
They are even more comfortable for me than my Bose QC 35’s. I thought the APMs were comfortable for me at first, but then the clamping force started to bother me a bit. I did stretch them overnight which helped a bit, but I also played with the band length to make the pressure on the top and bottom of my ears equal.
No more issues with comfort for me. I actually managed a 12 hour day with them just fine. In comparison with the QC 35s, there is no pressure on the top of my head and my ears don‘t get sweaty. I do not notice the increase weight.
The leaks are baseless. Sports versions already exist. They're called Beats. Yes, they don't have the same audio quality as the Max. That is fine because sportspersons are not going to discern the difference when they're working out.
No I think the Apple will introduce a sports version which will go up against the Sony and Bose as they will want to capture the mid-level mass headphone market. I am sure that they will price them around £350-£400 and will be constructed from plastic and silicone but still with the same sound quality and innards as the Max.
if you look at the Apple Watch series 6 as an example, The 44mm aluminium watch with LTE is nearly £200 cheaper than it’s stainless steel counterpart. Same watch, same functionality but with cheaper materials - £200 less
The majority of the costs of the Max lie in their innards and the R&D, not the aluminium.
The Apple watch "Sport" had an aluminium case, not plastic.
The Airpods Max design (even with lighter plastic) makes no sense for sports. The Sony and the Bose are not sports headphones either. Sports audio is in-ear buds.