AirPods Max is here! First impressions and photos thread

[Dammit Cubs]

I just got my APM now - so i'm still setting up. I will say, transparency mode seems weird on the APM. I like it better on the airpods pro where i don't even notice. But in APM, i can subtly notice audio piped. It's better than Sonys but the gain is slightly higher than i would like.

I will say the build quality is really nice - you can notice it.

I have HD650 - Focal Elear, Airpod pros, Sony XM3, Shure SE846s. So can do some A/B comparisons.

 

[anticipate]

Just go the same setup as you delivered for $5. The build quality is great and they sound great. The 3.5 mm is a joke as is the case. Not super sure these are keepers. I'm trying to understand why I need them over the pros they do sound fuller but not very portable etc but I've never really used over the ear phones. ill give it some time and wait to read the reviews etc.

I definitely like over ears for doing video editing, I live in an apartment so watching very loud movies, and that kind of thing. But otherwise the pros will be what I use when I’m just doing basic podcast listening, phone calls, walking around the city and so forth because they’re so pocketable.

 

[ryanflanders256]

Looking forward to trying mine on... two weeks from now.

 

[mmendoza27]

I definitely like over ears for doing video editing, I live in an apartment so watching very loud movies, and that kind of thing. But otherwise the pros will be what I use when I’m just doing basic podcast listening, phone calls, walking around the city and so forth because they’re so pocketable.

This is probably a big reason on why I will keep these. The battery life is great on them and way better for work. I feel like the AirPods Pro will be used more for running and walking around.

 

[ninethirty]

Got mine an hour ago. I'm not a professional, and can't compare to Sony/Bose but I will say that these things sound amazing, look amazing, and are quite comfortable. Really happy I picked these up!

 

[anshuvorty]

I can't believe I still haven't received mine!!

 

[Dbsr87]

Question for those who have these:


How much sound do they leak?

 

[ninethirty]

Question for those who have these:


How much sound do they leak?

None. I just had my wife try them, listening to a song on full volume. I didn't hear a thing.

 

[Macdude2010]

First impressions:
I was a little on the fence about these at first, but after wearing them for a bit and testing them. I’m sold, they sound really good. The soundstage is wider than most over ear headphones I’ve tried and the bass (that i found lacking in the AirPods Pro) is back while not sounding muddy! I also love the silver color, in order to make sure the headband stays white, i used some waterproof protector made for shoes on the mesh canopy.

 

[Dbsr87]

None. I just had my wife try them, listening to a song on full volume. I didn't hear a thing.

Really? That’s impressive.
Usually these type of headphones leak a lot of sound at loud volumes.

 

[mcaswell]

I can't believe I still haven't received mine!!

View attachment 1694929

First rule of UPS – when it's a shipment of Swiffer pads, ink cartridges, groceries, or anything else unexciting, it gets delivered first thing in the morning. When it's something you're anxiously awaiting, 8:59pm.

 

[mcaswell]

First impressions:
I was a little on the fence about these at first, but after wearing them for a bit and testing them. I’m sold, they sound really good. The soundstage is wider than most over ear headphones I’ve tried and the bass (that i found lacking in the AirPods Pro) is back while not sounding muddy!

Same here. Honestly, I was a little disappointed at first, because I felt they sounded a bit "boxy" on the low-mid end, but I know from past experience that I just needed to give myself a little time to get used to the sound signature. After a few hours of acclimation, I think they sound absolutely amazing, and I'm definitely keeping them. And I found the bass to be surprisingly strong... not muddy at all, but still with a good thump that's fun to listen to.

 

[wakeboardandy]

Question for those who have these:


How much sound do they leak?

Yeah they leak sound. Can certainly notice it in a quiet environment. Not sure if you would notice it in a loud environment.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Sorry for the cross post, meant to put this here in the "first impressions" thread:

First (non-listening) impressions:

• The build quality is impressive. I read a few comments this morning that people feel they're "too heavy", but that's not my first impression. They feel sturdy, not at all plasticky.
• They smell weird. Seems like mostly the ear cups, but also the headband? Not enough to smell while wearing, but definite chemical oder when you put your nose up to them. Likely this will dissipate.
• The headband "mesh" is very flexible and feels more comfortable than it looks.
• They didn't pair as easily as I was expecting. You need to put them about 2" from your phone to begin the pairing process. I had to read the instructions, ugh!
• Yes, the case is odd. Not quite sure what to make of it yet.
• Sound quality preview - lots of potential here!

 

[ignatius345]

I have two questions for Max owners as I await my pair due in a couple weeks:

1) are the volume adjustment gradations any finer than with typical Bluetooth headphones? Every pair I've used with my iPhone has exactly 16 levels worth of adjustment and I often find that, especially at lower volumes, there's a pretty big gap between one and the next. It's always seemed like a dumb limitation over Bluetooth and I'm hoping these have some better gradations.

2) Approximately how much outside sound does Transparency Mode let in, if you had to subjectivey assign a percentage to it? What I'm hoping for is that the AirPods Max can replace both my open-backed headphones and the noise-cancelling Bose I wear when I want to tune it all out.

thanks!

 

[BeatCrazy]

One more photo. On the left are my OPPO PM-1 headphones, the nicest set of headphones I own (MSRP $1K?). When the PM-1 came out, a lot of people compared the design to an Apple iPhone 5. Not totally unwarranted. Both look nice, in their own way:

 

[BeatCrazy]

I have two questions for Max owners as I await my pair due in a couple weeks:

1) are the volume adjustment gradations any finer than with typical Bluetooth headphones? Every pair I've used with my iPhone has exactly 16 levels worth of adjustment and I often find that, especially at lower volumes, there's a pretty big gap between one and the next.

2) Approximately how much outside sound does Transparency Mode let in, if you had to subjectivey assign a percentage to it? What I'm hoping for is that the AirPods Max can replace both my open-backed headphones and the noise-cancelling Bose I wear when I want to tune it all out.

thanks!

1) I count approximately 60 volume adjustment steps. They are accompanied by a tiny "tick" noise. Not obtrusive.
2) Transparency mode sounds almost like you're not wearing the headphones at all. It's hard to assign a percentage, but certain frequencies might be amplified a bit more or less vs. not wearing headphones at all.

 

[Superman730]

Does anyone know if they will be available to buy in store ?

What is STORE? New delivery service?

 

[anshuvorty]

First rule of UPS – when it's a shipment of Swiffer pads, ink cartridges, groceries, or anything else unexciting, it gets delivered first thing in the morning. When it's something you're anxiously awaiting, 8:59pm.

I am not gonna get my headphones today, am I? LOL!

 

[Dammit Cubs]

The bass is definitely there and that's probably from the closed design. There is definitely a THUMP which i can here. The mids sound smooth and the high's aren't really that high, i would see forward mids is about the correct sound signature based on a quick check.

It doesn't have the airyness of an open headphone so i need to try it with the sony's to compare. Might be testing two different leagues of audio quality. Need to keep these headphones compared to just bluetooth headphones.

The comfort is not bad - the magnet cups are a nice add on. I don't less comfort to wear them over other headphones yet.

 

[ignatius345]

1) I count approximately 60 volume adjustment steps. They are accompanied by a tiny "tick" noise. Not obtrusive.
2) Transparency mode sounds almost like you're not wearing the headphones at all. It's hard to assign a percentage, but certain frequencies might be amplified a bit more or less vs. not wearing headphones at all.

Very helpful, thanks!

 

[mcaswell]

I am not gonna get my headphones today, am I? LOL!

View attachment 1695011

That's the most stressful time... when the minutes are clicking off the clock, and you go well-past your usual UPS delivery time. Are they too backed up to deliver the package, are they going to give up for the day and push it back to tomorrow? But lately, UPS has been sending me a "follow your delivery" email that lets me see on a map where the truck is, which can (usually) be reassuring.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

That's the most stressful time... when the minutes are clicking off the clock, and you go well-past your usual UPS delivery time. Are they too backed up to deliver the package, are they going to give up for the day and push it back to tomorrow? But lately, UPS has been sending me a "follow your delivery" email that lets me see on a map where the truck is, which can (usually) be reassuring.

UPS sucks. I've followed a package and it's literally down the street. I go on with other tasks and check back 45 min later, and the truck location is back at the depot! ARGH!!! Just down the street and he gives up? UPS is the worst.

But, right now, they are also busy so they are working later than normal.

 

[ZeChild]

The bass is definitely there and that's probably from the closed design. There is definitely a THUMP which i can here. The mids sound smooth and the high's aren't really that high, i would see forward mids is about the correct sound signature based on a quick check.

It doesn't have the airyness of an open headphone so i need to try it with the sony's to compare. Might be testing two different leagues of audio quality. Need to keep these headphones compared to just bluetooth headphones.

The comfort is not bad - the magnet cups are a nice add on. I don't less comfort to wear them over other headphones yet.

Nice review of the sound qualities, that's making me lean a little more towards them, but ultimately for something as expensive as this i'd have to hear them first, everyones different and god knows my ears took a pounding from working in Clubs years ago, i Just couldn't put that kinda cash down sight unseen?

 

[kazmac]

I replaced my M1 MacBook Air this morning and this local Apple Store had the SG AirPods Max in stock, so I jumped (Yes, she who said she'd wait for significant sales, thats twice in two months I didn't wait for sales).

Yay:

• Weight doesn't bother me. This actually might help my posture (forcing me to keep my head back instead of forward).
• Smart bra case doesn't bother me (APM are not leaving the house so why should I care?)
• Transparency setting is fantastic. I can still hear some discussions downstairs.
• Noise cancellation is solid too.
• Glasses not tight underneath after I adjusted the cuffs.
• Set up is a cinch.
• Songs sound especially great from the iPhone SE (I am also testing an iPad Air 4).
• No distortion as I cranked the volume.
• Bass comes through (I should test some funk too).
• ?Cans have not flown off my head during impromptu headbanging sessions.

Nay:

• It would have been nice if you could switch between two devices (a la Surface Headphones 2) rather having to turn bluetooth off on the unused device.
• For the price, a travel charging case and the 3.5" adapter could have been included.
• Cushions are a little snug and I feel them, but I think I'll get used to that.

Apple stopped my usage of headphones when they removed the headphone jack from the iPhone 7. I still dislike the AirPods (do not fit in my ears, painful and I dislike the design), but they've really upped their game with the MBP speakers and these cans. I needed a solution for the neighbors noise too. If I can play my tunes at a low volume and still have noise cancellation I'll be super happy and healthier.