AirPods Max: Diary of a skeptic

[turbineseaplane]

After some ribbing back and forth yesterday with some forum members after I proclaimed that the APM's weren't for me due to weight/comfort issues after a 25 min trial at the Apple Store..

I decided to put some money where the mouth was and give them a truly proper go and document my feelings here as it goes.

I found a local seller of a sealed Space Gray set for $360 (local work auction/raffle thing) and it was too tempting not to give it a go.

If it doesn't work out, I think I could fairly easily get most of that money back a few weeks down the line.

So far I'm 30 min in and enjoying the music and settling in. Sound is very good (as I knew).

I do want to immediately give Apple credit for the band design.
These are heavy units and the weight is distributed quite well (better than I would have thought) and it's keeping them locked well in place so far through some kitchen and walking around the house activities.

Also - transparency mode here is WAY better than I found it to be on AirPods Pro

more to come..

 

[Robbosan]

Good luck, i bought mine at full retail from a retailer with no returns unless faulty.
The weight is overblown on here just like the 12 pro max argument.
Transparency to ANC button is so good.
If you have multiple Apple devices nothing is as good.

 

[Cashmonee]

Looking forward to more impressions! The transparency mode is by far the best of any ANC headphone. It really is impressive how good it is.

Good luck, i bought mine at full retail from a retailer with no returns unless faulty.
The weight is overblown on here just like the 12 pro max argument.
Transparency to ANC button is so good.
If you have multiple Apple devices nothing is as good.

I am not sure I would say the weight is overblown. You do get used to it, but it stills hampers the headphones. For example, I still do not like walking around with them or doing chores around the house with them. Thankfully the AirPods Pro fill that role well, but I would like it if the APM were light enough for me to move around with them moving also. Is it a dealbreaker? No. So in that sense I can see why you would say overblown. I would still say it holds them back and is a net negative.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Big fan of the Digital Crown thus far -- fun just to touch and fiddle with - feels great

I saw some people not liking it on top, but I actually like it there. My fingers get oriented from touching the band & ear cup first and then manipulate it. Nice

I read they'd thought of touch controls on here - I'm personally thrilled that didn't happen.
I like buttons and knobs and things that are "tactile"

 

[turbineseaplane]

That "case" -- lmfao

Damn Apple - wtf was that?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Coming up on an hour in with music.
I find the sound signature very pleasant.

Warm, easy to listen to -- not fatiguing at all (which I love). I'm very much a "sacrifice some detail in the highs if it makes it more enjoyable to listen to", which these do well.

It's not going to win any awards for soundstage though -- but -- they're closed back so it sort of is what it is there.

 

[Robbosan]

That "case" -- lmfao

Damn Apple - wtf was that?

Mine is still in the box new havn't even looked at it lol

 

[turbineseaplane]

Mine is still in the box new havn't even looked at it lol

Do I need to put it in there to get a firmware update?
Trying to figure that out -- sounds like "in the case and plugged in" and it should happen? (overnight or ?)

Why can't we just have an "software update" button in settings?

 

[Cashmonee]

I have to say, and this is going to really blow some minds, the case is less of an issue for me as I use it more. It still sucks and they definitely screwed up by not making a hard case, but for around the house it is fine. I am even using it to take to work in my bag. Now, I keep my bag relatively free of anything that would harm the headphones, and I am not packing it tight, but in that environment it is almost enough. I still ordered a case from SFbags, but the case is not as terrible as it first seemed.

Having said that, I would have preferred they didn't give any case and instead gave us a power button. Best I can tell, the case really only exists for low power mode.

 

[turbineseaplane]

and instead gave us a power button.

I can't believe - truly - that you can't simply long press & hold the Digital Crown and have that be a power button.

I wonder if they could add that in software?

 

[Cashmonee]

I can't believe - truly - that you can't simply long press & hold the Digital Crown and have that be a power button.

I wonder if they could add that in software?

I am sure they could, but knowing Apple they won't. They have been working hard to get people to not turn off their devices. There is no power button on MacBook. On the the iPhone and iPad, it takes a combination of buttons to turn it off. Powering off is like ports to them. They want to eliminate them.

There is a benefit to leaving these things on. For one, instant on/instant connection. Also, Find My requires these things to be on. So there are trade-offs, I just wish we were given the option instead of Apple deciding for us. But again, that's Apple.

 

[turbineseaplane]

There is no power button on MacBook

Isn't the touch-id sensor a power button?

 

[Cashmonee]

Isn't the touch-id sensor a power button?

Yes. But not labeled power. So, yes, technically there is a power button, but the power part is definitely secondary and not labeled.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Yes. But not labeled power. So, yes, technically there is a power button, but the power part is definitely secondary and not labeled.

Wish that's what they offered on one of the two buttons -- just for those times (travel - throwing in bag) when you'd like to ensure NO battery drain at all for long periods

 

[turbineseaplane]

So how do we get Apple to do spatial audio for music?

That is super cool and could be amazing with music (particularly live tracks / concerts)

 

[Robbosan]

Do I need to put it in there to get a firmware update?
Trying to figure that out -- sounds like "in the case and plugged in" and it should happen? (overnight or ?)

Why can't we just have an "software update" button in settings?

No you don't for updates

 

[LaloG]

I was skeptical myself. I bought them and yes it hurt making that purchase. The more I used them, the more I liked them. I tried on my sisters XM4's and was blown away by how much better the AirPods max sounded. Even my sister said she liked the max more. When she watched a movie, she said she felt as if she was in a movie theatre.

 

[turbineseaplane]

As expected, I do wish these were much more of a clear win in the comfort department.

The QC35's (as one example) are like a feather pillow of heaven when you put them on.

I definitely don't get that feeling on the APM's.

I'm sort of "tolerating it" right now because they sound so great.

I tried on my sisters XM4's and was blown away by how much better the AirPods max sounded.

Not surprising to me. I've found the XM2/3/4 all "can" sound great, but not at default. They can do a lot better once one gets into EQ with the Sony App.

 

[philstubbington]

Isn't the touch-id sensor a power button?

Yes, on the MacBook Air M1.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Day two is not going well -- It's taking massive willpower just to use them.

The "clamp" force on my head, directly above my ears, is really not pleasant. It has me fiddling with them constantly to try to figure out an angle/spot for the top headband and cups to try to mitigate it.

 

[artfossil]

Day two is not going well -- It's taking massive willpower just to use them.

The "clamp" force on my head, directly above my ears, is really not pleasant. It has me fiddling with them constantly to try to figure out an angle/spot for the top headband and cups to try to mitigate it.

I’m sorry to hear this.

Take a look at this thread for suggestions as to how to reduce the clamping force. https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...do-this-also-a-short-audiophile-take.2276593/

 

[Cashmonee]

Day two is not going well -- It's taking massive willpower just to use them.

The "clamp" force on my head, directly above my ears, is really not pleasant. It has me fiddling with them constantly to try to figure out an angle/spot for the top headband and cups to try to mitigate it.

I had exactly the same feeling in the same spot. Stretching over my Sonos Move helped. Also wearing them more helped. I can tell you that I no longer have that feeling to the point of pain. I can feel they are there, but it is in no way painful and really not uncomfortable.

 

[827538]

I can't believe - truly - that you can't simply long press & hold the Digital Crown and have that be a power button.

I wonder if they could add that in software?

I've been holding off hoping they would add some feature like hold to turn off, press any button to turn back on. Would completely transform the usability for me.

I'm still debating whether this or the latest Magic Mouse was the worst design decision I've ever seen Apple make. I feel 99% the are setting the benchmark, then there's that 1% where their engineering or design is just comically bad.

 

[dandrewk]

Day two is not going well -- It's taking massive willpower just to use them.

The "clamp" force on my head, directly above my ears, is really not pleasant. It has me fiddling with them constantly to try to figure out an angle/spot for the top headband and cups to try to mitigate it.

Don’t be afraid to artificially stretch them to speed up the breaking in process. If you feel you may have over stretched them, you can squeeze them back a bit.

Six hours on a Oculus headset did the trick for me.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Looking forward to more impressions! The transparency mode is by far the best of any ANC headphone. It really is impressive how good it is.

Speaking of Apple’s ANC, the current AirPods Pro FW I’ve noticed does an automatic NC when sirens from first reposnder vehicles are in audible range (even 3 blocks away). I just left a variety store on the weekend and low and behold ambulance siren was sounding off 3 blocks away and although I’m saddened to think how bad that day is for someone else, my current ambient sound at that moment auto NC’d the ambulance sound and when it was off/out of range (I couldn’t see the ambulance but recognize the siren) Nc auto turned off. I was take. Back by this yet very impressed.

I’m curious if APM’s have this too?