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quagmire

macrumors 604
Apr 19, 2004
6,985
2,492
I charged them to 100% before leaving for a trip and left them for 4 days. Came back and they were at 99%. So once it goes into their ultra low power mode after 18 hours, battery drain is very minimal.
 
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deevey

macrumors 65816
Dec 4, 2004
1,417
1,494
Nope, its under settings / control centre

My pair of APM were at 100+db at full volume
It would be nice to know if this is perhaps due to the EU laws. Perhaps they limit all APM's rather than making different versions per territory?

100db sounds rather low, how did you measure it BTW? It's like buying a Porsche and having the thing limited to 75 because you aren't supposed to go any faster.

Not even trying to be judgmental, it’s called common sense LOL
Sounds pretty judgemental TBH. Some music does just sound "better" louder, it sucks you in differently, puts you IN that environment, and noise cancelling doesn't make up for the lack of volume under those circumstances.

Would I advocate going full whack for hours on end?, Not at all, but for a couple of tracks at a time or peaking beyond "higher than recommended" levels, I don't see a problem, nor do I think that any device manufacturer should be liable for making a headphone that is capable of producing clean audio at higher levels.

Personally I'd rather have far more overhead than needed and turn it down rather than running at 100%. And that goes for all my audio gear.
 

kirk.vino

macrumors 6502a
Oct 27, 2017
667
1,013
It would be nice to know if this is perhaps due to the EU laws. Perhaps they limit all APM's rather than making different versions per territory?

100db sounds rather low, how did you measure it BTW? It's like buying a Porsche and having the thing limited to 75 because you aren't supposed to go any faster.


Sounds pretty judgemental TBH. Some music does just sound "better" louder, it sucks you in differently, puts you IN that environment, and noise cancelling doesn't make up for the lack of volume under those circumstances.

Would I advocate going full whack for hours on end?, Not at all, but for a couple of tracks at a time or peaking beyond "higher than recommended" levels, I don't see a problem, nor do I think that any device manufacturer should be liable for making a headphone that is capable of producing clean audio at higher levels.

Personally I'd rather have far more overhead than needed and turn it down rather than running at 100%. And that goes for all my audio gear.
I have yet to hear any track from my library that would require that much volume on the APM. I think the loudest I’ve played them is 80%.
 

AppleRobert

macrumors 603
Nov 12, 2012
5,729
1,133
Unknown what’s in ones ear until they get them checked. I swore I was hearing well, over time wax builds up slowly so it does not feel like your hearing isn’t at its max.

Sure enough, got my ears checked and the wax the doc removed floored me so ......

Might not just be wax, certainly people have other issues that impact their hearing.

I’d say 80% is about right for volume for me, I don’t see many listing what the specific music is they are listening to that they have a volume issue with.
 
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deevey

macrumors 65816
Dec 4, 2004
1,417
1,494
I have yet to hear any track from my library that would require that much volume on the APM. I think the loudest I’ve played them is 80%.
What you listen to and at what volume is subjective.

I have plenty of tracks in my library that sound perfectly acceptable to me at low levels and others that I want to sound like I'm sucked in at a festival (on occasions). The latter I'm not going to listen to for any extended period, but when I do I'd prefer that I'm the one turning the knob down rather than the cans running out of steam first.
I’d say 80% is about right for volume for me, I don’t see many listing what the specific music is they are listening to that they have a volume issue with.
Well for me, some things I like to crank the volume knob for when the mood gets me.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/3dS9E1EY3XvBbJleZpbpui

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/02RDuI6zo3Y0dFhxA0iKIx

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/6xM5drcuSQMaUBFqptIoBq

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/2F8Dw9IIOhnvjsWburgrbo

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/0ImZfXiGhxJzs9Z7aYJH0A


Things I'm perfectly happy to listen to quietly over extended periods.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/7aOor99o8NNLZYElOXlBG1

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/2DFRFqWNahKtFD112H2iEZ

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/0CN5EUJIeknN2QIUp0kS5W

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/1FTjAmSgUzqOO0N0qofMzB

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/1PEDYlGfuR680mYamHFkm6
 
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kirk.vino

macrumors 6502a
Oct 27, 2017
667
1,013
What you listen to and at what volume is subjective.

I have plenty of tracks in my library that sound perfectly acceptable to me at low levels and others that I want to sound like I'm sucked in at a festival (on occasions). The latter I'm not going to listen to for any extended period, but when I do I'd prefer that I'm the one turning the knob down rather than the cans running out of steam first.

Well for me, some things I like to crank the volume knob for when the mood gets me.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/3dS9E1EY3XvBbJleZpbpui

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/02RDuI6zo3Y0dFhxA0iKIx

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/6xM5drcuSQMaUBFqptIoBq

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/2F8Dw9IIOhnvjsWburgrbo

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/0ImZfXiGhxJzs9Z7aYJH0A


Things I'm perfectly happy to listen to quietly over extended periods.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/7aOor99o8NNLZYElOXlBG1

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/2DFRFqWNahKtFD112H2iEZ

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/0CN5EUJIeknN2QIUp0kS5W

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/1FTjAmSgUzqOO0N0qofMzB

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/1PEDYlGfuR680mYamHFkm6
Aw, Paul Van Dyk:)
I used to listen to him about 20 years ago. He’s a bit too commercial and a bit too “big-room sound” for me nowadays. He was great though during the old days of progressive trance and progressive house. Both genres don’t really exist anymore. They morphed into more commercial EDM and, in some cases, tech house.
 

deevey

macrumors 65816
Dec 4, 2004
1,417
1,494
Aw, Paul Van Dyk:)
I used to listen to him about 20 years ago. He’s a bit too commercial and a bit too “big-room sound” for me nowadays. He was great though during the old days of progressive trance and progressive house. Both genres don’t really exist anymore. They morphed into more commercial EDM and, in some cases, tech house.
Honestly he's one of the very few trancers that I reckon has changed his style the least when compared to the likes of Ferry, Oakey and Burren who are just pushing out euro variations of that ridiculous watered down Americanized EDM ****e (sorry USA).

Good times were had ;) But I hope you can see where I'm coming from .. sometimes you just want to crank it up that far, lose yourself, push the limit and screw "nanny".

Unfortunately I haven't had the good fortune of trying a set of AMP's yet, probably won't either until this whole Covid thing is over either as most of the shops around here would not let you try out wearables like headphones. I would really love for someone to take a DB meter to a set and compare the SPL to other popular headphones e.g. ATH-M50, 7506's, DT770's, HD25's etc to put the argument to rest.

Maybe they do sound "quiet" if you are used to being able to push the limits past "safe" with other headphones.
 
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jab234

macrumors member
Jan 3, 2021
54
21
What you listen to and at what volume is subjective.

I have plenty of tracks in my library that sound perfectly acceptable to me at low levels and others that I want to sound like I'm sucked in at a festival (on occasions). The latter I'm not going to listen to for any extended period, but when I do I'd prefer that I'm the one turning the knob down rather than the cans running out of steam first.

Well for me, some things I like to crank the volume knob for when the mood gets me.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/3dS9E1EY3XvBbJleZpbpui

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/02RDuI6zo3Y0dFhxA0iKIx

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/6xM5drcuSQMaUBFqptIoBq

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/2F8Dw9IIOhnvjsWburgrbo

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/0ImZfXiGhxJzs9Z7aYJH0A


Things I'm perfectly happy to listen to quietly over extended periods.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/7aOor99o8NNLZYElOXlBG1

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/2DFRFqWNahKtFD112H2iEZ

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/0CN5EUJIeknN2QIUp0kS5W

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/1FTjAmSgUzqOO0N0qofMzB

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/1PEDYlGfuR680mYamHFkm6

EDM universally sounds better to me on on the XM4s compared to APMs... lacking that punch. I really need to turn the APMs up super high to hear that punch and when I do it gets too loud overall. What say you?

Nvm just read that you haven't tried them on yet.
 
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JulesK

macrumors 6502a
Dec 17, 2002
530
94
I did a bunch of A/B comparisons with my B&W P7 Wireless headphones, which are slightly lighter than the APMs and were very highly regarded as a BT headphone when they were introduced in 2016. In terms of comfort, the APMs are much more comfortable to me. In terms of sound, you can really tell how these two headphones have different sound profiles. There is more clarity and detail (some would call it sparkle) with the APMs, particularly with vocals and upper frequencies; the B&Ws sound a bit congested in comparison. On some acapella vocals, you can hear the faint echo on the APMs; you can't on the B&Ws. I was surprised by that. On the other hand, if you like bass, the B&Ws comparatively have much more, and you can really feel it at comparable volumes. There APMs have what I would call enough bass, and the bass that is there is as deep, but more distinct with more texture, but it's not rattling your head like the B&Ws. Some have complained that the APMs are not loud enough. To me, they get plenty loud, louder than I would be willing to listen to for more than a few seconds, but no doubt some folks really like volume.

I like the APM controls, but they are placed just where you put your hands when taking them on and off, so I'm often pressing them accidentally.

What I think is potentially very exciting about the APMs is that Apple could change the overall tuning of the headphones, hopefully just through software controls on iOS or MacOS. I guess it may not be much different than sound equalization, but I was thinking that Apple could have different, user-selectable sound profiles for the headphones themselves that are separate from equalization for the sound signal. Hopefully through iOS or MacOS controls, possibly combined with some firmware update. You could go for a neutral/balanced profile, or a bass-heavy or "fun" profile.
 

jterp7

macrumors 65816
Oct 26, 2011
1,292
161
I did a bunch of A/B comparisons with my B&W P7 Wireless headphones, which are slightly lighter than the APMs and were very highly regarded as a BT headphone when they were introduced in 2016. In terms of comfort, the APMs are much more comfortable to me. In terms of sound, you can really tell how these two headphones have different sound profiles. There is more clarity and detail (some would call it sparkle) with the APMs, particularly with vocals and upper frequencies; the B&Ws sound a bit congested in comparison. On some acapella vocals, you can hear the faint echo on the APMs; you can't on the B&Ws. I was surprised by that. On the other hand, if you like bass, the B&Ws comparatively have much more, and you can really feel it at comparable volumes. There APMs have what I would call enough bass, and the bass that is there is as deep, but more distinct with more texture, but it's not rattling your head like the B&Ws. Some have complained that the APMs are not loud enough. To me, they get plenty loud, louder than I would be willing to listen to for more than a few seconds, but no doubt some folks really like volume.

I like the APM controls, but they are placed just where you put your hands when taking them on and off, so I'm often pressing them accidentally.

What I think is potentially very exciting about the APMs is that Apple could change the overall tuning of the headphones, hopefully just through software controls on iOS or MacOS. I guess it may not be much different than sound equalization, but I was thinking that Apple could have different, user-selectable sound profiles for the headphones themselves that are separate from equalization for the sound signal. Hopefully through iOS or MacOS controls, possibly combined with some firmware update. You could go for a neutral/balanced profile, or a bass-heavy or "fun" profile.
So i did want to comment on the last paragraph. Bose allegedly nerfed the qc35 just before the release of the 700 and most of here recall the airpod pros original awesome firmware which was immediately updated with worse anc and bass response. Being unable to control these is what makes me nervous, although generally speaking apple updates in good faith...usually haha
 

JulesK

macrumors 6502a
Dec 17, 2002
530
94
So i did want to comment on the last paragraph. Bose allegedly nerfed the qc35 just before the release of the 700 and most of here recall the airpod pros original awesome firmware which was immediately updated with worse anc and bass response. Being unable to control these is what makes me nervous, although generally speaking apple updates in good faith...usually haha
Well, I'm hoping that there are more options for the user, rather than just a single setting. It's a unique situation where Apple controls the hardware (source and headphones) and software, so it can do things that a company, such as Bose, presumably cannot. Plus, Apple has far more resources and a huge user base. I have the Airpod Pros, too, and while they are nice, in no way do they sound nearly as good as either the APMs or B&Ws, and fiddling with the sound profiles for the Airpod Pros does not seem worth it to me.
 

JulesK

macrumors 6502a
Dec 17, 2002
530
94
I’m surprised to read that some think these are not loud enough. Have you guys already damaged your hearing permanently or something? I think anything louder than 75-80% on the APM is way too loud for me. I can’t imagine the need to have louder headphones than these.

As the saying goes, youth is wasted on the young. Once you damage your hearing permanently by listening to loud music (or just loud noises) for extended periods of time, you never get it back and may not realize what you've done until it's too late. I guess it may well be worth it for some, or many, but listening to any headphones with the volume cranked up is a good way to damage your hearing. OTOH, they are your ears.
 

Robbosan

Suspended
Aug 21, 2020
2,071
1,837
Just ordered with 3 years interest free, can't return though so will have to sell if i don't like them, have to be better all around than my beats studio 3 for sound and comfort.
Originally ordered a pair with $100AUD off but cancelled for fear of moisture, the eta has blown out on that store now anyway.
 

Pink Panther84

macrumors member
Oct 30, 2020
64
93
I just received mine, Sky Blue APM.

The cups are really cold to the touch but overall they’re not as heavy as I thought they would be. I legit don’t even feel them on my head. (At least so far, I literally put them on 5 mins ago ?). Both the noise cancellation & sound quality are great. For headphones that I’ll only use while around the house, I’m happy. My AirPod Pros will be my defaults when working out or walking my dog.
 
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justin.d

macrumors member
Dec 2, 2017
56
40
UK
mine arrived today, and i'm a little torn.

observations:

- they're without doubt the best headphones i've ever heard. i love their sound, particularly the bass!
- the noise cancelling and transparency modes are first class
- build quality is predictably excellent
- the digital crown is great for precise volume adjustment
- the case actually isn't an issue for me - i won't be travelling long distance for the foreseeable future so don't need the protection, and i quite like the ease of access!
- no sign of condensation after a couple of long listening sessions

the main problem i have is comfort. whilst my ears never felt uncomfortably warm (which i did tend to experience with my QC35s), i find that over time the clamping force gets too much for me, and i need a rest from them. going back to my airpods pro, which sound very good but obviously aren't in the same league sonically, they're completely unimposing and i could happily wear them for two, three hours without even really being aware they're there. and they were less than half the price...

i'll keep using them over the next few days, but unless i can get used to it, with regret i may have to return.
 
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kirk.vino

macrumors 6502a
Oct 27, 2017
667
1,013
mine arrived today, and i'm a little torn.

observations:

- they're without doubt the best headphones i've ever heard. i love their sound, particularly the bass!
- the noise cancelling and transparency modes are first class
- build quality is predictably excellent
- the digital crown is great for precise volume adjustment
- the case actually isn't an issue for me - i won't be travelling long distance for the foreseeable future so don't need the protection, and i quite like the ease of access!
- no sign of condensation after a couple of long listening sessions

the main problem i have is comfort. whilst my ears never felt uncomfortably warm (which i did tend to experience with my QC35s), i find that over time the clamping force gets too much for me, and i need a rest from them. going back to my airpods pro, which sound very good but obviously aren't in the same league sonically, they're completely unimposing and i could happily wear them for two, three hours without even really being aware they're there. and they were less than half the price...

i'll keep using them over the next few days, but unless i can get used to it, with regret i may have to return.
You can break them in. They got better for me after a couple of weeks. That depends, of course, on how tight they are on your head. If they feel too tight, that’s not gonna improve drastically.
 
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n8236

macrumors 65816
Mar 1, 2006
1,065
32
Thanks for the first impression. I just received mine today and feel a bit differently than you do. It's not to say anyone is wrong or right, but simply a comparison of opinions.

I started w/ the Bose NC700 and returned it due to the strong clamping and cups making my ears swampy. Other than that, I thought it did the job well in NC and in taking meetings were you adjust how much of yourself you can hear.

In its place, the Sony MX4s had better comfort and less swampy ears. The mic for meetings were not as good and it was a bit of an muffed echo chamber when talking. Music/sound was miles better than the Bose. The sound stage was pretty decent but it was a bit closer than I liked.

Alas, my AirPod Max (APM) arrived today and I impressed and disappointed. It's a real porker compared to the Bose/Sony and the weight can become bothersome depending on the amount of moving around one does. Just moving my head was enough to be bothersome but don't consider it adeal breaker. The clamping force was almost comparable to the Bose NC700s, which is a real disappointment. No more swamp ears but warmish ones, so it's an improvement but I'm not a fan of the scratchy fabric. With all that said...WOW, the sound stage is so balanced and encompassing - it's like a huge upgrade of the AirPods Pro. Love it! The transparency mode blows away the Sonys but still clearly better than the Bose. Apple tuned this to near perfection. Can't speak to the NC yet but I know my Sony's are able to null out noises from doing chores (cooking/cleaning/washing/etc) so I have the same if not better expectations of the APM. I also haven't taken too many meetings with these so I'll report back on this and NC.

For reasons of better comfort I may switch back to my Sonys, but am willing to give APM more time before deciding on which to return.

Side note: as a way to improve comfort, what I did was to make sure both cups had the same amount of play. What I mean by that is lift each cup's bottom outwards to feel how much free play the pivot has and make them to be as close as possible. B/c I have one ear that's lower/higher than the other, that messed with the comfort a bit.
 
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