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AirPods Max is here! First impressions and photos thread
- Thread starter Boardiesboi
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When I lost all hope, that is when UPS delivered it, just outside the window they specified, around 4pm local time...right when the sun is about to set on the horizon.
But I got 'em!
Initial thoughts:
- I don't mind the weight, they feel like earmuffs, really secure inside my ear and I don't feel the pressure on my ears.
- The audio and I am no audiophile, sound natural and clean, at least to me.
- Noise cancellation: fantastic and better than the AirPods Pro. I have a desktop computer right next to me with 3 case fans and usually, without headphones, I can hear them, but with these on, I can't hear them at all.
- I think these earphones are a keeper, at least, for desktop use....
- The Smart Case, as others have mentioned, is and as is easily evident by pictures, a total afterthought. All the time went into designing the actual headphones and only 5 min or so was spent on the case itself.
- It is of the same material as the iPad Smart cases....fingerprint and dust magnet! Oh well....
- I haven't tried out Spatial Audio yet, I am still waiting for my iPhone to update to the latest iOS to try it out though.
Re: spatial audio, I actually wasn't terrible impressed. I've been mostly listening to music, and the sound quality is insane, but when I watched some action scenes from batman v superman on HBO Max, it didn't sound as powerful.
Yup - I feel some heat. it's not terrible but compared to my Focal's Elex - you can feel the heat.
Other observations: I don't like the volume dial. it's in a strange spot. I would rather use the volume dial on my apple watch. I also didn't update my iphone to the latest firmware. I was trying to figure out why spacial audio wasn't working. Works now.
I really wish the magnetic cups had some ID data so that we can swap the Left and right cups and then the headphones will be flipped as well - i prefer the volume dial on the left side of my head instead of the right side.
Not a huge fan of the volume dial either. I know some people have issues with it, but a circular touch control on either ear would have made much more sense. Probably would have added to the cost though.
Otherwise I am absolutely loving these!
I've noticed they create a very effective suction bubble around my ears. I assume this is to help the ANC. My other headphones (which lack ANC) have a looser fit around the pads, which probably allows more air circulation.
Although I am always very sweaty when wearing headphones in general, so there is nothing new in that department lol
Had mine for over a day now, for me they are significantly less hot/sweaty than leather or velour ear cups. And it is absolutely sweaty AF in Australia atm.
One thing I have noticed is that at full volume there is fair amount of audio leaking out. In rooms with little noise people could definitely hear what I was listening to.
I truly love his reviews. They are always fantastic and truthful. There is no doubt these are premium. I'm hoping I can just get acclimated to the feel of them and that they become more comfortable with a little time.
I have been using these for a couple of hours.
They feel very premium but these do not sound any different than Beats Studio over the ear headphones. It’s almost as if they just repackaged them in a much more premium design.
I will surely get a lot of upset people on here but this is my opinion.
When listening to these headphones at high volume, the sound leaks and whoever is next to you will be listening to your music very clearly.
They feel very premium but these do not sound any different than Beats Studio over the ear headphones. It’s almost as if they just repackaged them in a much more premium design.
I will surely get a lot of upset people on here but this is my opinion.
When listening to these headphones at high volume, the sound leaks and whoever is next to you will be listening to your music very clearly.
Surely you cannot be upsetting anyone.
It is what it is if that is how you feel.
Colour comparison videos by Tim Schofield
Both the space grey and sky blue look great.
Both the space grey and sky blue look great.
Lol, i got my beats studio 3 for a quarter of what these are worth, thanks I feel better now haha.
I'd be more concerned about the blood leaking out of your eardrums.
Not sure if this demonstrates spatial audio but listen to this with the APM and see how immersive it can be.
https://download.dolby.com/us/en/te...ht25cN0gOvkpbl4Tm137X0v5ACMCBG4S1d7m7GDoPrLLQ
https://download.dolby.com/us/en/te...ht25cN0gOvkpbl4Tm137X0v5ACMCBG4S1d7m7GDoPrLLQ
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That is impressive. I watched with the hearing widget in Control Center on top and I can not believe the bass was that impactful with maximum out at 71db.
After a day of use and a bit of adjustment how I am wearing them, I no longer feel the pressure of the cups. The ears do warm up slightly but not annoyingly so.
Sound wise for most music I still prefer my AKG k701's except for orchestral music. There is something about the max low end which makes the sound of a full orchestra playing rich and sumptuous even at moderate listing levels without any fatigue.
The sound signature of the WH-1000XM3 is fairly wonky: Sony WH-1000XM3 Headphone Review - Sonarworks Blog
Really base and high heavy, with the vocal range volume all the way down. To the order of 27x the energy, comparing the strongest represented frequencies to the least. So comparing any more neutral headphones to the XM3 is destined to feel very different.
Compare for example:
- Friday night - Vigiland
- New York - The Boxer Rebellion
I used to recommend Sonarworks True-Fi, but that's no longer for sale, nor available on iOS for playback. They have slightly more pro oriented versions (Reference) and a subscription service (SoundID). Sonarworks Reference 4 beta works with Apple Silicon. But if the AirPods Max are more neutral of themselves, you'd be able to hear that.
btw, somebody in China made measurements of the noise canceling of the AirPods Max, and (mainly the base) is slightly better than the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700: 平凡开箱：AirPods Max 不完全评测（HDR, 重传） - YouTube
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What you are describing is part of the latest iOS and macOS updates. It should switch seamlessly as soon as you start playing audio on a device.
Yeah, this doesn't work for me and I am on macOS 11.1 on an M1 MBA and iPhone X on iOS 14.3.
Have you tried going into Bluetooth and tapping the “i” and under “connect to this iPhone” and select automatically?