AirPods Max aren't very comfortable

[Bazooka-joe]

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.

Yes the costs do lie in the R&D and innards and that’s exactly the same as the Apple Watch. The only difference for the watch pricing model is the cost of the materials that encase the innards. That’s why I think it will be the same for the AirPods max and the AirPods max sport. Cheaper external casing will result in a cheaper set of headphones

 

[MayaTlab]

Apple won't save much by switching from aluminium to plastic for the external casing. It's the innards that are the most expensive to make.
There isn't such a thing as a cheaper Airpods Max without completely redesigning them. You can't switch the extension arms, for example, from stainless steel to another material without having to redesign them. You can't save on their very complex (and probably very costly) joint mechanism between the headband and the cups without redesigning how the headband attaches to the cups in the first place.
What could happen though, is a Beats Studio 4. And the current Airpods Max becoming an "SE" version once gen 2 is out. Provided Apple doesn't redesign the whole thing as the current APM shows traces of its troubled development.

 

[kirk.vino]

Seeing how well APM is selling, I find it hard to believe that Apple would want to cannibalize its sales by releasing any cheaper versions. Even if they’ve tested any other versions, I don’t think those will be released any time soon, if ever.

 

[Tdevilsg]

Seeing how well APM is selling, I find it hard to believe that Apple would want to cannibalize its sales by releasing any cheaper versions. Even if they’ve tested any other versions, I don’t think those will be released any time soon, if ever.

Agreed. I don't think it's coming out soon if it is. And given the seeming success of the apm to your point this would take away theoretically from those sales.

 

[svanstrom]

Seeing how well APM is selling, I find it hard to believe that Apple would want to cannibalize its sales by releasing any cheaper versions. Even if they’ve tested any other versions, I don’t think those will be released any time soon, if ever.

First wave like this will always catch the people that will buy almost no matter what the price is, but that still leaves the people that either can't or doesn't want to buy at that price point.

Not having a product at that lower price point is leaving money on the table.

Beats only sort of is the cheaper line of products… People that would buy an Apple product at a lower price point won't in a million year think that they're getting an Apple product when they buy Beats.

 

[kirk.vino]

First wave like this will always catch the people that will buy almost no matter what the price is, but that still leaves the people that either can't or doesn't want to buy at that price point.

Not having a product at that lower price point is leaving money on the table.

Beats only sort of is the cheaper line of products… People that would buy an Apple product at a lower price point won't in a million year think that they're getting an Apple product when they buy Beats.

We’re 2 months into the sales of APM and you cannot find them anywhere. All in-store stock gets sold out right away and shipping is still a 1-month wait. The blue version is even longer. I’d be surprised if Apple released any new cheaper version of these this year.

 

[ignatius345]

I've had mine for a couple months now, and logged enough hours of use to allow for "getting used to" the feel of the APM. I have to say this: they're really heavy and once I hit about 3 hours of use I'm quite relieved to get them off my ears. For the length of a movie or a long phone call, fine -- but any time I've tried anything approaching all-day usage I'm really feeling that clamping force on my ears.

The noise cancellation is fantastic, but when I don't need it I'm back to reaching for my open-backed Grado GW100 which weigh less than half as much and have very comparable sound quality.

Bottom line for me is that if Apple ever got around to selling a "sport" version of the APM with a bit less weight I'd sell these and jump on it, even if meant a step down from the premium (heavy) materials it's made with.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

I am sticking with them. I returned my first pair because I found them to heavy but i immediately had returners remorse so I re-ordered and I’m definitely sticking with these. The sound is just too good not to.

 

[Tdevilsg]

I've had mine for a couple months now, and logged enough hours of use to allow for "getting used to" the feel of the APM. I have to say this: they're really heavy and once I hit about 3 hours of use I'm quite relieved to get them off my ears. For the length of a movie or a long phone call, fine -- but any time I've tried anything approaching all-day usage I'm really feeling that clamping force on my ears.

The noise cancellation is fantastic, but when I don't need it I'm back to reaching for my open-backed Grado GW100 which weigh less than half as much and have very comparable sound quality.

Bottom line for me is that if Apple ever got around to selling a "sport" version of the APM with a bit less weight I'd sell these and jump on it, even if meant a step down from the premium (heavy) materials it's made with.

Probably about where I am myself to be frank. They are just a bit too heavy for me, even after stretching them out a bit and reducing down the clamp force, my ideal experience with headphones is that they "disappear" on me when wearing. I have a pair of Arctis 7x that I use for my PS5/Series X and those things are just so comfortable, its a pleasure to wear because they feel like pillows on the ears. Then there is the Airpod 2 that I completely forget I even have in. These I constantly notice them which distracts me from why I put them on in the first place. This is of course a subjective part of the experience, just like the sound quality itself, but nevertheless its a primary focus point for me. To me the airpod max is an example of form over function. Give me lighter headphones with less clamp force and (although less important to me personally) a useable case with the same sound quality, even at the same price, I'd be all over it. Perhaps that happens in the 2nd gen or a variant.

 

[tenordrum]

Tomorrow I will try an open box APM from BB, since the Beats Solo Pros just are not comfortable -even with about two weeks of trying to break them in, the feeling that my head is in a vice remains. I prefer the sound of my old Grado 80e's, but their build quality (poor) required a replacement. I am hoping I can get some better comfort with a full over the ear design. If the APMs are too heavy, back they will go to BB.

 

[Tdevilsg]

If there is anyone in the Los angeles area you can buy my discounted airpod max sky blue and 35mm headphone wire for the price I paid (500 for all of it). Otherwise I do plan on returning them. They are great, but like the airpod pro, just not for me.

 

[ignatius345]

They are just a bit too heavy for me, even after stretching them out a bit and reducing down the clamp force

I tried that gently when I first got them but was afraid of messing them up.

One use case I've found particularly telling is trying to wear them while lying down. It just doesn't work because they pull so hard to the back of the head without the headband supporting them above.

 

[cardfan]

If there is anyone in the Los angeles area you can buy my discounted airpod max sky blue and 35mm headphone wire for the price I paid (500 for all of it). Otherwise I do plan on returning them. They are great, but like the airpod pro, just not for me.

Lol. Good luck with that.

 

[Marshall73]

Been using mine now for a couple of months, love them super comfy. I have the band sitting a little further back on the top of my head than my other headphones. Listen for 7 hrs plus 3 to 4 days a week.

 

[Dubadai]

I got mine 2 months ago, had some issues the first days and was honestly scared that they were gonna have to go back... could do 1hr with them, then my head started hurting...

This only lasted for 1-2 weeks and they have softened up now and now I totally forget that I am wearing them...

 

[doolar]

I got mine 2 months ago, had some issues the first days and was honestly scared that they were gonna have to go back... could do 1hr with them, then my head started hurting...

This only lasted for 1-2 weeks and they have softened up now and now I totally forget that I am wearing them...

Same here!

 

[dandrewk]

Seems to be the common experience.

Most tech issues can be solved with "turn it off, then turn it back on". For issues regarding APM comfort, the solutions is "Use them for a week".

 

[turbineseaplane]

Has anyone had issues with pressure on the head above the ears?

Super struggling here on day two just trying to "power through" the discomfort

 

[ilpap]

I really want to change my QC35s as they are getting rather old and the ANC seems is better nowadays.. but I can't get past the "comfort" factor.
I got the MX4s and after 1h my ears get warm and the pressure on top of my head is annoying.
So ready to buy these but if they are even less comfortable than the MX4s, then it is a no for me.

With the QC35s I used to take a 10h flight, and never remove them from my head, amazing level of comfort.

I don't get it, why can't we have high quality headphones that are very comfortable. ?

For now, I use AirPods Pro, since they have good ANC considering the convenience coming from the size. Of course they are very comfortable.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The QC35’s are the absolute comfort kings.
Coming from those, just on the comfort factor, most everything else will be a downgrade unfortunately.

 

[Dubadai]

Has anyone had issues with pressure on the head above the ears?

Super struggling here on day two just trying to "power through" the discomfort

Had this during the first little bit of time with the headphones, but it went away with time

 

[hajime]

Tried it for two days. I feel pain on the left hand side of my skull. It looks like the upper and upper-front of the left cup is pushing against my skull too much. Anybody else has this issue? What can I do to avoid this?

 

[turbineseaplane]

What can I do to avoid this?

Buy other headphones was my conclusion

 

[hajime]

Has anyone had issues with pressure on the head above the ears?

Super struggling here on day two just trying to "power through" the discomfort

Same problem. Are you able to get used to it?

Consider to get another AirPodsMax due to other defects or buy another brand.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Same problem. Are you able to get used to it?

Consider to get another AirPodsMax due to other defects or buy another brand.

I wasn't - I moved on from APM