AirPods Max Reviews

[ader42]

The APM sound quality and build quailty I expect to be above the cheap Bose and Sony.
For me Spatial Audio is the differentiator, as I don’t see these as travel headphones.
But Spacial Audio needs to work on Mac and AppleTV and ideally any audio source (just like Sony PS5 3D audio).

 

[Herrpod]

Gizmodo has just published their review that talks about sound in very general terms - https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/12/apple-airpods-max-review-australia/

Another “It might be as good as the XM4” review. All they’re doing is selling more XM4s to people.

 

[ninethirty]

At $550 they need to sound way better than the XM4’s.

I wouldn't complain if they did, but this is Apple we're talking about, and Apple's been charging more than the competition for their products for all of eternity, so I'm still amazed at the backlash here. The build quality looks absolutely nuts, and that IS something I'm willing to pay for, so if they're as good as the XM4's, I think that's good enough.

 

[Herrpod]

I wouldn't complain if they did, but this is Apple we're talking about, and Apple's been charging more than the competition for their products for all of eternity, so I'm still amazed at the backlash here. The build quality looks absolutely nuts, and that IS something I'm willing to pay for, so if they're as good as the XM4's, I think that's good enough.

Build quality? Because they used heavy metals? So now it weighs over 100 grams more than the competition. They also used fragile materials for the headband, which isn't user replaceable as rumored. And to top it off, that fragile band is exposed even when in the "protective" case. That's hardly what I'd call good build quality.

 

[u2u2]

Gizmodo has just published their review that talks about sound in very general terms - https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/12/apple-airpods-max-review-australia/

Thank you for the post. First review I have read on that site and may be the last...
Comes up short accuracy wise. Stainless steel outer shells instead of aluminium, no mention that the battery is replaceable while expressing concerns it will degrade, can’t guarantee they will be as robust in a year or two... Inaccurate and shallow, poorly researched. Detracts from anything she wrote that might be of value.

 

[kmanmx]

Thank you for the post. First review I have read on that site and may be the last...
Comes up short accuracy wise. Stainless steel outer shells instead of aluminium, no mention that the battery is replaceable while expressing concerns it will degrade, can’t guarantee they will be as robust in a year or two... Inaccurate and shallow, poorly researched. Detracts from anything she wrote that might be of value.

Personally I will be waiting from reviews from audio focused reviewers that have experience and knowledge of the subject matter. Gizmodo is absolutely not the place to be reading about expensive audio gear.

Now, she may well be entirely spot on and they are indeed no better than the Sony's. But that goes against a Japanese review that was published on YouTube earlier today. If you read the comments to that video, it's clear they think it is a better headset than it's cheaper competitors.

 

[Herrpod]

Thank you for the post. First review I have read on that site and may be the last...
Comes up short accuracy wise. Stainless steel outer shells instead of aluminium, no mention that the battery is replaceable while expressing concerns it will degrade, can’t guarantee they will be as robust in a year or two... Inaccurate and shallow, poorly researched. Detracts from anything she wrote that might be of value.

The battery isn't user replaceable. And it will degrade like crazy given that it never shuts off completely. Apple is treating these stupidly overpriced headphones as if they're disposables like AirPods. And they claim to be a "green" company.

 

[ninethirty]

Build quality? Because they used heavy metals? So now it weighs over 100 grams more than the competition. They also used fragile materials for the headband, which isn't user replaceable as rumored. And to top it off, that fragile band is exposed even when in the "protective" case. That's hardly what I'd call good build quality.

Yeah, build quality. As with most things Apple make, they have a much more premium/luxurious feel to them, and I appreciate that. I want the things in my house, whether it's furniture, TV, devices, to be beautiful, and I don't have an issue paying more for that design.

For me personally, I'm not worried about the headband. I'll use these when working, or watching a movie at night, and I'll travel with my regular airpods.

 

[kmanmx]

The battery isn't user replaceable. And it will degrade like crazy given that it never shuts off completely. Apple is treating these stupidly overpriced headphones as if they're disposables like AirPods. And they claim to be a "green" company.

That's rubbish. iPads, iPhones, Macbooks, Apple Watches, are never turned off by the vast majority of users and continue to meet their advertised battery life.

 

[Rogifan]

I wouldn't complain if they did, but this is Apple we're talking about, and Apple's been charging more than the competition for their products for all of eternity, so I'm still amazed at the backlash here. The build quality looks absolutely nuts, and that IS something I'm willing to pay for, so if they're as good as the XM4's, I think that's good enough.

But these are a lot more expensive. I don’t think build quality alone justifies the much higher price.

 

[ninethirty]

But these are a lot more expensive. I don’t think build quality alone justifies the much higher price.

For me, they do. If they don't for you, I wouldn't recommend buying them

 

[Maukey]

For me, they do. If they don't for you, I wouldn't recommend buying them

That's the beautiful thing about the world we live in, we all have preferences. For me, they need to be better than the 1000XM4 when it comes to sound. I'm ok if it equals it in comfort and ANC since they are top of the class in those categories no matter price. Comfort is more important to me than build quality. I don't buy headphones for the build quality or for people to tell me how amazing they look. I buy them for sound, comfort, and features in that order of importance. Sure build quality gives you that assurance that your headphones will last, but plastic headphones have a tendency to be lighter and more comfortable. If comfort sucks, I'd rather buy a headphone that has a lesser build quality and get a solid warranty. I want to be able to wear my headphones long enough to watch a movie without my ears or head throbbing in pain. Like I've said in previous posts, if the Max can come close or surpass the 1000XM4 in Comfort and ANC, while having sound quality comparable to the class leaders like the Dali iO-6, Sennheiser Momentum 3, and Shure Aonic 50, in my opinion they would overtake the 1000XM4 as the best value in the Wireless ANC world. And that's at their current $549 price. There hasn't been a headphone to put it all together completely with build quality, sound, call quality, features, comfort, and ANC that's great and doesn't degrade the sound quality when used. If the Max accomplishes this, it's the ultimate home run.

 

[Herrpod]

That's rubbish. iPads, iPhones, Macbooks, Apple Watches, are never turned off by the vast majority of users and continue to meet their advertised battery life.

Did you just compare headphones to devices that actually benefit from sleep mode? Wow.

 

[kmanmx]

Did you just compare headphones to devices that actually benefit from sleep mode? Wow.

The AirPods Max do go into a sleep mode, even outside of their case. Much more of a sleep mode than your smartphone, which can never really sleep due to needing to stay on for phone calls, alarms and instant notifications etc. You are talking trash and you know it.

 

[Herrpod]

The AirPods Max do go into a sleep mode, even outside of their case. Much more of a sleep mode than your smartphone, which can never really sleep due to needing to stay on for phone calls, alarms and instant notifications etc. You are talking trash and you know it.

No, I'm talking facts. Fact - it's ****ing stupid for a pair of headphones that require a battery to not be able to EVER be turned off. Your argument is one of the absolute dumbest I've seen in quite some time, which is a feat because I've seen some doozies. Just admit you're sadly attempting to defend the indefensible to make yourself feel better about a purchase you know is an awful one. It happens.

 

[kmanmx]

No, I'm talking facts. Fact - it's ****ing stupid for a pair of headphones that require a battery to not be able to EVER be turned off. Your argument is one of the absolute dumbest I've seen in quite some time, which is a feat because I've seen some doozies. Just admit you're sadly attempting to defend the indefensible to make yourself feel better about a purchase you know is an awful one. It happens.

You're getting way too defensive about it, calm down. It doesn't have a power button and you don't like it, that's totally your right - and I don't even disagree with the principle you are arguing, I honestly don't understand why they couldn't just make you able to turn it off. All I was arguing with was your facts. You said it doesn't sleep, but it does. You said the battery will be destroyed because of it, but it won't. I am sure many people will agree with you. And all those people won't buy one. Everybody else that doesn't feel the need for a power button because they will use them daily and have no need to turn them off will buy one. I don't need a power button on a device with 15+ hour battery that I will use almost every day and that I am happy to charge every couple of days. For me it's the same as my smartphone. I will use it so frequently I have absolutely no need to turn it off. If that offends you so much then I am very sorry.

 

[iEnvy]

https://www.pickr.com.au/reviews/2020/apple-airpods-max-wireless-headphones/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

 

[Herrpod]

https://www.pickr.com.au/reviews/2020/apple-airpods-max-wireless-headphones/?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

Kind of a useless review when he makes simple mistakes like saying the headphones go to sleep immediately upon taking them off. It actually takes two hours of battery drain before they do that.

 

[pugxiwawa]

Kind of a useless review when he makes simple mistakes like saying the headphones go to sleep immediately upon taking them off. It actually takes two hours of battery drain before they do that.

This is what the article says, I don't see any mistake. What's the obsession with power button?

"With that, there’s really no need for a power button, and they’ll go to standby when you take them off your ears, or a deep sleep with the smart case."

 

[Mr.Blacky]

Kind of a useless review when he makes simple mistakes like saying the headphones go to sleep immediately upon taking them off. It actually takes two hours of battery drain before they do that.

You seem to have some kind of very unnatural and unhealthy obsession. ?

 

[Herrpod]

This is what the article says, I don't see any mistake. What's the obsession with power button?

"With that, there’s really no need for a power button, and they’ll go to standby when you take them off your ears, or a deep sleep with the smart case."

The "obsession" is that they're 550 dollars and still pale in comparison to the battery life of cheaper, better headphones, and to top it off, you can't ever turn them off, so much like their AirPods namesake, they just sit in their case and drain battery. The difference being the AirPods sit in a case that actually keeps them topped off to 100 percent, whereas these 550 dollar headphones will just sit there and drain battery.

 

[Herrpod]

You seem to have some kind of very unnatural and unhealthy obsession. ?

Do I? Or am I a fan of Apple products but not afraid to point out the stupid ones? This is a stupid one. The HomePod was also a stupid one, and they eventually realized how stupid it is and created the new one. The current Apple TVs are also stupid, but hopefully they learned something about how bad they are with the rumored next edition. My guess is you only want people blowing smoke up Apples rear-end, so anyone that isn't doing that is a "hater".

 

[ninethirty]

Do I? Or am I a fan of Apple products but not afraid to point out the stupid ones? This is a stupid one. The HomePod was also a stupid one, and they eventually realized how stupid it is and created the new one. The current Apple TVs are also stupid, but hopefully they learned something about how bad they are with the rumored next edition. My guess is you only want people blowing smoke up Apples rear-end, so anyone that isn't doing that is a "hater".

What you're describing is still pretty subjetive. I ordered a pair of these headphones, and I don't care if they're more expensive than comparable plastic options. If they sound just as good, but look as nice as photos seem to suggest they do, and they pair well and easily with my devices, I'm going to be happy.

Likewise, I own multiple Alexa devices and consider them all stupid, but I doubt others would agree. I'd like to switch to Homepods primarily for the privacy aspects.

I also quite like the Apple TV. You think they're stupid. Now what?

 

[Rogifan]

For me, they do. If they don't for you, I wouldn't recommend buying them

Well I’m waiting for actual reviews that focus on sound quality. If those reviews say they don’t really sound any better than the Sony’s or Bose then I won’t be buying them for sure.

 

[ninethirty]

Well I’m waiting for actual reviews that focus on sound quality. If those reviews say they don’t really sound any better than the Sony’s or Bose then I won’t be buying them for sure.

Like I said, that's cool. If you prefer plastic looking and feeling stuff, you go, girl! I like my stuff to look nice and be nice, and I'm ok with the $ premium for that combination.