AirPods Max is here! First impressions and photos thread

[SUPERBIF]

Hi I've had my Airpods Max for 2 months now and I'm impressed with the quality when watching Apple TV 4k with Spatial Audio. My questions are, can I somehow get higher volume on these with a setting in Apple TV 4k. I've turned them all up sometimes in movies, but because of surround they are not that loud in some movies.

Also I have them on FW 39c I think it's called, but should I upgrade the FW. Have heard people mention the WOW effect is not nearly as good when upgrading.

 

[ice29]

Thinking about buying this fancy stand with magnets to put them to sleep (from Aliexpress)
Someone here bought it already and can report whether it looks nice in real life?

 

[Sooby]

^^ Oh that looks nice

 

[jterp7]

i'll buy it when its eventually stocked on amazon lol

 

[Brewc]

I just wish there was some better equalizer software for these, then the standard stuff on the iPhone. Something like Sony has would take this to next level.

 

[Mr Mann]

There is >
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/airpods-max.949152/post-16804775

 

[lennytan]

I have been using my airpods max for months now and I noticed that there is a part of the silicone bands that is uneven when you brush your hand towards it (something like a lump), is this normal?
Here is a pic of it for reference in zoom pic

 

[Htsi]

Dinged it most likely

 

[Fravin]

LOVE is BLUE

View attachment 1718017

Lovely picture!! ?

 

[Shanghaichica]

I got mine in pink. They came today so haven’t had much time to use them. However off the bat I like the build quality. They feel so premium and the band feels so light. It feels like it’s not on at all. Later I will listen to more music, watch some content on Apple TV and comparing to my AirPods Pro.

 

[Htsi]

Hinge clicking on mine. 1yr old

 

[Shanghaichica]

So I’ve had mine a few days now. I’ve been putting them through their paces. I really like them. Audio is crystal clear. The ANC is so good. Much better than on my AirPods Pro. It really blocks out everything and let’s you immerse yourself in the music. Transparency mode is also really good. I have no issue with comfort. I feel like this is just the touch above the AirPods Pro that I was looking for.

 

[macphoto861]

There is >
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/airpods-max.949152/post-16804775

I still wish Apple would implement a way to have the EQ on the APP/APM itself. I'm happy with the way the APM sounds, so I really wouldn't want to make any adjustments to it, or just minimal / different adjustments compared to the APP, which to me have a somewhat boxy low-mid sound. But if I do any kind of EQ (whether a preset in Music settings, or something like the above quoted app), I have to remember to change (or disable) it when swapping between different headphones.

 

[grator]

I have been using my airpods max for months now and I noticed that there is a part of the silicone bands that is uneven when you brush your hand towards it (something like a lump), is this normal?
Here is a pic of it for reference in zoom pic

I have the same on mine, 4 in total, in the same position on each side.
Have to look close to see.

 

[ArmCortexA8]

Just received my first ever pair of AirPods Max - Space Grey and very impressed with their heft and audio quality - most others out there are all plastic junk. The only odd complaint is when I use the Apple lightning to 3.5mm and the Apple 3.5mm cable to connect these to my iPhone 13 Pro Max, the volume level / amplification drops by about 50 percent. I do have lossless set to all music, but in theory lossless should be more amplified than non-lossless. A direct connection via the Apple adapter should be better than a Bluetooth, but oddly enough this is not the case. The adapter has to be used as no 3.5mm on phone and only lightning on the AirPods Max. Once I switch back to Bluetooth its back to normal levels - odd. Anyone else discover this quirk?

I actually like the case that comes with them for some type of protection and to keep lower power mode active however you can do the same by simply facing the earcups both down on a flat surface. Due to the weight / heft of these when removing them from the smart case, the earcups ever so slightly tap against each other on the corners, so I am extra careful. For AU$729 I expect a case even if its not the best design - seems like an after thought but it works pretty well and makes the headband a handle.

 

[Fravin]

A direct connection via the Apple adapter should be better than a Bluetooth, but oddly enough this is not the case. The adapter has to be used as no 3.5mm on phone and only lightning on the AirPods Max. Once I switch back to Bluetooth its back to normal levels - odd.

AirPods Max isn't a regular headphone. It wont't work with analog input. The way it was designed differs from regular Headphones that wired connects the drivers to an analog input. In AirPod Max, the drivers are connected to an internal amp. So there's no way to connect an external audio source to the drivers bypassing the internal amp.

It's the way it was designed.

When using the Lightning to P2 cable, inside the lightning connector there's a small chip that converts the analog signal to digital, called ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) which acts the opposite way as a DAC (Digital to Analog converter).

I think Apple decided to offer a simple and powerful way to listen to music to people that doesn't know or doesn't have DACs and the proper audio files to throw into it.

Simply enjoy your AirPods Max the way it was intended. Bluetooth connection trough Apple devices.

As for Apple's LossLess Audio you are wrong about the volume. LossLess Audio provides higher bitrates that increases the quality of audio, it doesn't means that audio will be louder, but with better quality.

For enjoy LossLess Audio, you will need an external DAC capable of handle the large bitrates files. None of Apple's offerings will handle it. And, off course you will need analog headphones that uses wire connectors.

About lossless audio in Apple Music - Apple Support

Learn about lossless audio in Apple Music and how to turn it on or off for your device.

support.apple.com

 

[ArmCortexA8]

AirPods Max isn't a regular headphone. It wont't work with analog input. The way it was designed differs from regular Headphones that wired connects the drivers to an analog input. In AirPod Max, the drivers are connected to an internal amp. So there's no way to connect an external audio source to the drivers bypassing the internal amp.

It's the way it was designed.

When using the Lightning to P2 cable, inside the lightning connector there's a small chip that converts the analog signal to digital, called ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) which acts the opposite way as a DAC (Digital to Analog converter).

I think Apple decided to offer a simple and powerful way to listen to music to people that doesn't know or doesn't have DACs and the proper audio files to throw into it.

Simply enjoy your AirPods Max the way it was intended. Bluetooth connection trough Apple devices.

As for Apple's LossLess Audio you are wrong about the volume. LossLess Audio provides higher bitrates that increases the quality of audio, it doesn't means that audio will be louder, but with better quality.

For enjoy LossLess Audio, you will need an external DAC capable of handle the large bitrates files. None of Apple's offerings will handle it. And, off course you will need analog headphones that uses wire connectors.

About lossless audio in Apple Music - Apple Support

Learn about lossless audio in Apple Music and how to turn it on or off for your device.

support.apple.com

Thank you for your response however why would Apple release a lightning to 3.5mm connector if the audio volume / amplification drops about 50% or was this only released for non-Apple wired headphones that are hardwired differently? Since the AirPods Max have no 3.5 input, I was of the belief I could simply bypass this by using the Apple Lighting to 3.5 on my iPhone 13 Pro Max then connect the Apple 3.5mm from the adapter on the iPhone to the Lightning on the AirPods max to bypass bluetooth. From what you have indicated this won’t work with Apple’s headphones but may with non-Apple headphones.

 

[Fravin]

Thank you for your response however why would Apple release a lightning to 3.5mm connector if the audio volume / amplification drops about 50%

Because you may have a sound source not equipped with Bluetooth, a turn-table for instance.

With the Apple’s lighting to 3.5mm cable, you would be able to listen to such source with your AirPods Max.

In the cable is a chip that converts analog to digital.

The way it does is why the volume drops. It need energy to convert the signal.

Apple designed her headphones to work via Bluetooth connection. Some Beats headphones offers the possibility to bypass Bluetooth and use it as a regular headphone. And this is very common in audio industry. Cable bypass the digital amp inside the cans. But not AirPods Max. Apple really believes it achieved the best sound using technology. And I believe they did.

btw you are correct. You can use the lightning to 3.5mm to listen to music in other headphone.

 

[Htsi]

Just received my first ever pair of AirPods Max - Space Grey and very impressed with their heft and audio quality - most others out there are all plastic junk. The only odd complaint is when I use the Apple lightning to 3.5mm and the Apple 3.5mm cable to connect these to my iPhone 13 Pro Max, the volume level / amplification drops by about 50 percent. I do have lossless set to all music, but in theory lossless should be more amplified than non-lossless. A direct connection via the Apple adapter should be better than a Bluetooth, but oddly enough this is not the case. The adapter has to be used as no 3.5mm on phone and only lightning on the AirPods Max. Once I switch back to Bluetooth its back to normal levels - odd. Anyone else discover this quirk?

I actually like the case that comes with them for some type of protection and to keep lower power mode active however you can do the same by simply facing the earcups both down on a flat surface. Due to the weight / heft of these when removing them from the smart case, the earcups ever so slightly tap against each other on the corners, so I am extra careful. For AU$729 I expect a case even if its not the best design - seems like an after thought but it works pretty well and makes the headband a handle.

When you connect the cable, there are two audio controls.
1. Increase volume to max from phone.
2. Increase volume from air pod max Digital Crown.

This will result in you getting the same or louder volume than Bluetooth. I find wired to be better quality than Bluetooth. Particularly with increased bass.

I had the tiniest dent where they clang together after a year of owning them, no biggie if you’re careful. I abused my pair and they looked great apart from the yellowing on the White headband.

 

[Htsi]

AirPods Max isn't a regular headphone. It wont't work with analog input. The way it was designed differs from regular Headphones that wired connects the drivers to an analog input. In AirPod Max, the drivers are connected to an internal amp. So there's no way to connect an external audio source to the drivers bypassing the internal amp.

For enjoy LossLess Audio, you will need an external DAC capable of handle the large bitrates files. None of Apple's offerings will handle it. And, off course you will need analog headphones that uses wire connectors.

About lossless audio in Apple Music - Apple Support

Learn about lossless audio in Apple Music and how to turn it on or off for your device.

support.apple.com

You will get better quality wired than non wired.
It is close to lossless apart from the DAC conversion is all.
High res lossless Needs an external dac.
normal lossless works on standard dongle sold by apple

 

[Fravin]

You will get better quality wired than non wired.

No you won't, regarding AirPods Max.

In all other headphones, your statement is valid. But not with APM. I'm sorry.

Using the cable sold by Apple you are converting analog signal (from 3.5mm) to digital output (to lightning connector) that will be converted back to analog in the cans of APM (one can has it's own DAC). Is a mess. No way you are getting "better quality" from that arrangement. Source lol



High res lossless Needs an external dac.
normal lossless works on standard dongle sold by apple


No, you are wrong again. The dongle sold by Apple has a DAC in it. It's a Cirrus Logic one, Source the same present in older iPhones. That DAC is pretty known and is capable of decoding 24-bit audio up to 192kHZ. It means it could play the highest quality files if you try. For information, the common HiFi audio files is a FLAC file with 24bits/192kHZ.

The dongle is actually a pretty damn good DAC. It lacks volume, but if you can attach a pre-amp to it, will have a good sound.

 

[Htsi]

No you won't, regarding AirPods Max.

In all other headphones, your statement is valid. But not with APM. I'm sorry.

Using the cable sold by Apple you are converting analog signal (from 3.5mm) to digital output (to lightning connector) that will be converted back to analog in the cans of APM (one can has it's own DAC). Is a mess. No way you are getting "better quality" from that arrangement. Source lol



High res lossless Needs an external dac.
normal lossless works on standard dongle sold by apple


No, you are wrong again. The dongle sold by Apple has a DAC in it. It's a Cirrus Logic one, Source the same present in older iPhones. That DAC is pretty known and is capable of decoding 24-bit audio up to 192kHZ. It means it could play the highest quality files if you try. For information, the common HiFi audio files is a FLAC file with 24bits/192kHZ.

The dongle is actually a pretty damn good DAC. It lacks volume, but if you can attach a pre-amp to it, will have a good sound.

Can I listen to lossless audio using Apple’s Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter?​

Yes. The Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter is designed to transmit audio from the iPhone’s Lightning connector. It contains a digital-to-analog converter that supports up to 24-bit/48 kHz lossless audio.

Can I listen to lossless audio using the AirPods Max Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable?​

The Lightning to 3.5 mm Audio Cable was designed to allow AirPods Max to connect to analog sources for listening to movies and music. AirPods Max can be connected to devices playing Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless recordings with exceptional audio quality. However, given the analog-to-digital conversion in the cable, the playback will not be completely lossless.

 

[Fravin]

(...)24-bit/48 kHz lossless audio.

(...) the playback will not be completely lossless.

As I told you before, one won't benefit from hooking its AirPods Max using the Apple Cable (or anything else). That's a fact.

24-bit/48Hz isn't lossless audio. 48Hz is the same compression (sample rate) used in DVD audio. CDs uses 44Hz. Lossless audio uses a spectrum beyond that, usually 88Hz, 96Hz and 196Hz.

The issue here is the conversion from analog to digital which occurs inside Apple's cable.

The AirPods Max, and all other products from Apple and Beats uses a dedicated bluetooth connection which is able to play 96hz Audio in up to 320kb/s. This is exactly what High Quality MP3 files does at its best.

Having said that, please, don't overthink it. Jus enjoy your AirPods Max incredible high quality audio via bluetooth as it was intended.

Be happy.

 

[Htsi]

Wired > Bluetooth

 

[Shanghaichica]

I just came here to say I was listening to a song for the first time with AirPods max tonight. I’ve had this song since 2014 and have listened to it hundreds of times. Tonight I heard parts of the track that I’ve never heard before. Not with the standard EarPods, the AirPods first and second generation or the pros.