Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

mmendoza27

macrumors 6502
Oct 18, 2007
350
48
The CNET review seems to confirm the Sony's are better for me. I prefer a more bass dominant sound personally.

The only way I'd consider the APM is I found them on sale down the road.
Have you tried the Sony's? That's one of the first things I noticed and noted in my initial impressions: the bass is clear but heavy. In certain songs with heavy bass, the ear pads will vibrate. It could be the material but these are very bass heavy and I think you would be happy with these. Now the price is a different story...
 

Herrpod

macrumors 65816
May 29, 2019
1,000
1,979
I can believe it.

The forum is over half full with Apple shills who can't seem to think anything they do is ever not "amazing" and "best ever" and "perfect - of course! It's Apple!".
"Why would you ever want to turn off your headphones?! Your phone is never off!"

I see logic like that and I'm just like....Jesus.
 

Mr. Y

macrumors 6502
Oct 12, 2011
489
555
This review is amazing. Listening on my new Max’s. I have to say they are quality materials that look and feel luxurious, sound is great though I’m trying different songs, movies and podcasts. All great so far.

I don’t know what the big deal is about the case though. If I’m traveling, I’m gonna have these on my head, not in a bag. If I’m not using them, they’re on a desk. I don’t know why people need an aluminum briefcase to transport them. Just wear ‘em to where you’re going!
 

Maukey

macrumors regular
Apr 26, 2010
168
195
This review is amazing. Listening on my new Max’s. I have to say they are quality materials that look and feel luxurious, sound is great though I’m trying different songs, movies and podcasts. All great so far.

I don’t know what the big deal is about the case though. If I’m traveling, I’m gonna have these on my head, not in a bag. If I’m not using them, they’re on a desk. I don’t know why people need an aluminum briefcase to transport them. Just wear ‘em to where you’re going!
I'm watching all these reviews on my new Max as well.
 

AppelGeenyus

macrumors regular
Nov 3, 2019
227
295
This review is amazing. Listening on my new Max’s. I have to say they are quality materials that look and feel luxurious, sound is great though I’m trying different songs, movies and podcasts. All great so far.

I don’t know what the big deal is about the case though. If I’m traveling, I’m gonna have these on my head, not in a bag. If I’m not using them, they’re on a desk. I don’t know why people need an aluminum briefcase to transport them. Just wear ‘em to where you’re going!
I think a basic headphone case is a must for most people when they travel, myself included.

All they had to do was make a simple flat case moulded to the shape of the headphones with a nice zipper or magnetic flap and everyone would have been happy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: G5isAlive

MICHAELSD

macrumors 603
Jul 13, 2008
5,484
3,494
NJ
I’ve gotta say that this was the review I was waiting for behind Rtings.

I was surprised how overwhelmingly positive he was. It seems like a quality product, but I feel like he may be in the honeymoon hype phase. That being said I trust his impression of these. The last headphone I saw him give a “quad major go” to were the Powerbeats Pro and I fell in love with those.
 

MICHAELSD

macrumors 603
Jul 13, 2008
5,484
3,494
NJ
I'm watching all these reviews on my new Max as well.
What’s your impression so far? I’d probably love these, but the only way I’m justifying $549 is if the sound quality approached high-end audio territory.
 

supergt

macrumors 6502a
Feb 22, 2019
652
1,600
I’ll summarize the reviews I’ve seen since there seems to be widespread consensus on the following: very good sound without distortion at high volume and no heavy bass, premium look and feel, sony xm4 comparable ANC, heavy (issue for some and more pronounced when moving), questionable material choice in the head band due to fragility and ability to get dirty over time, decent to slightly above average mic for phone calls, excellent transparency mode.

The ”case”: really really bad.
 

mcaswell

macrumors 6502
Dec 22, 2013
390
228
I’ll summarize the reviews I’ve seen since there seems to be widespread consensus on the following: very good sound without distortion at high volume and no heavy bass
I have been pleasantly surprised by how much bass the APM have. And it’s not that indistinct, floppy bass sound, but very controlled and precise.
 

Maukey

macrumors regular
Apr 26, 2010
168
195
What’s your impression so far? I’d probably love these, but the only way I’m justifying $549 is if the sound quality approached high-end audio territory.
I'll copy and paste what I put over on Headfi.

"I picked them up today and my early impressions are amazement to say the least. Excellent build and to my surprise, comfort. Features are top notch if you have Apple products. Sound is very clear, detailed, and open, with an excellent bass that goes deep but is very controlled. Noise cancelling is at the very least right up there with Sony and Bose. I feel it may even be better but since I'm not flying right now I can't fully test this. The mic for calls is top notch just like the AirPods Pro. And the Transparency mode is by far the best I've heard on a set of over ears and it's not close. The Spatial Audio on iPhone and iPads is nuts. You can take the Max plus an iPad on the go and have a convenient portable movie theatre setup with you. I believe these headphones are going to shock a lot of people. Especially the "overpriced" camp."

To further clarify sound quality. I would say the AirPods Max are comparable to the Dali iO-6 Wireless ANC headphones with a touch more sparkle and excitement to them than the Dalis. The Dalis are a little smoother and laid back. The Dalis retail for $499 but are all sound quality and battery life. It's a very barebones product with a mediocre ANC and horrible transparency mode. It literally has no other features. The Max are comparable in sound (I prefer the Max), are more comfortable, has more features, better ANC, better build, and are just flat out more fun to use.
 

MecPro

macrumors 6502a
Mar 6, 2009
586
414
London
From head-fi.org:

Apple has clearly aimed for a more high-end audio profile on these. Where the Sony XM3's and XM4's are very dense, v-shaped in-your-face/head kind of audio which tends to bring the lower frequencies into focus that tends to overshadow the mid's and high's the Apple AirPods Max tries the achieve the complete opposite. They try to offer a very wide soundstage, they try to sound very spacious with great clarity.

I prefer the Bose NC 700 over the Sony XM3's back in the day because I don't really enjoy v-shaped audio profile. I tend to prefer stereo separation and clarity over dense and deeper/darker sounding ones. The Apple AirPods Max are leaps above and beyond the Bose NC 700 in this regards as well but for me, these aren't really comparable to the Sony's as they differ so much in their sound profile so if you are one that tends to prefer a more dense and in your head sound profile you won't really enjoy the AirPods Max and if you are one that enjoys and prefer a wide soundstage with great separation and clarity there really is no contest here.

And:

It is quite funny what Apple did. They managed to make an ANC headphone version of the old B&W P7W. Not even B&W themselves managed to do it.

So Apple really has hands down the best ANC as it has minimal impact on the sound quality and it sounds like a non ANC headphone.

I think if Apple included an EQ, then you can really dail it in to get it more close to the B&W P7W.

And a reply to that last post:

It's funny that you say that, as Apple's VP of Acoustics is Gary Geaves, who they hired from B&W, where he worked for nearly 16 years, including 7 years as B&W's Head of R&D.

That's how Apple managed to do what they've done here. Apple's audio team did not come from their Beats acquisition. It's a completely separate team they built up internally by hiring impressive people from across the audio industry.

Thsts good it manages to match the sound of a £350 set of headphones.
 

MecPro

macrumors 6502a
Mar 6, 2009
586
414
London
So I’m regards to the on/off switch, MKHBD said the headphones will drain if they’re off your head at the same rate as if you were listening to music.

So you NEED to put them in the case or wait 2 hours.
 

AppelGeenyus

macrumors regular
Nov 3, 2019
227
295
So I’m regards to the on/off switch, MKHBD said the headphones will drain if they’re off your head at the same rate as if you were listening to music.

So you NEED to put them in the case or wait 2 hours.
You absolutely do not need the case. Had mine over a day now(maybe 28-29 hours since initial charge to 100%). Watched a movie, played hours of music and youtube, random amounts of TV, ANC on basically the whole time, have not used the case yet or charged since...55% battery remaining.
 

MecPro

macrumors 6502a
Mar 6, 2009
586
414
London
You absolutely do not need the case. Had mine over a day now(maybe 28-29 hours since initial charge to 100%). Watched a movie, played hours of music and youtube, random amounts of TV, ANC on basically the whole time, have not used the case yet or charged since...55% battery remaining.

The message was to specifically regarding no power button/turning them off/enter low power mode. You have used them as normal for a day or so. If you can, report back after a week or month

I have 20 hour NC-700 and that’s my regular day and they’ll go for at least a few days without needing to be charged due to the fact I can turn them off or leave them unused for 20 minutes to 2 hours and they’ll automatically turn off.

Im just waiting for long term reviews. It’s fine when the battery is brand new and it’s still early.
 

Herrpod

macrumors 65816
May 29, 2019
1,000
1,979
This review is amazing. Listening on my new Max’s. I have to say they are quality materials that look and feel luxurious, sound is great though I’m trying different songs, movies and podcasts. All great so far.

I don’t know what the big deal is about the case though. If I’m traveling, I’m gonna have these on my head, not in a bag. If I’m not using them, they’re on a desk. I don’t know why people need an aluminum briefcase to transport them. Just wear ‘em to where you’re going!
Where many people live it rains or snows. That’ll kill these headphones.
 

kmanmx

macrumors 6502
Feb 25, 2011
493
136
UK
Anyone got any more to say about sound leakage when these things are turned all the way up?

Sat listening to mine at 75% volume while another person was in the room with the TV on at a normal volume, I asked them if they could hear it and they said no. After concentrating and really trying to listen out for it, they say they could, just slightly. Though this person was in their late 50's and so probably has worse hearing than those who are younger, and the TV was on also. I would imagine if someone was trying to sleep next to your while you were playing them loud, it would be more obvious.
 
  • Like
Reactions: G5isAlive and gSOLO

blairh

macrumors 603
Dec 11, 2007
5,972
4,472
I'll copy and paste what I put over on Headfi.

"I picked them up today and my early impressions are amazement to say the least. Excellent build and to my surprise, comfort. Features are top notch if you have Apple products. Sound is very clear, detailed, and open, with an excellent bass that goes deep but is very controlled. Noise cancelling is at the very least right up there with Sony and Bose. I feel it may even be better but since I'm not flying right now I can't fully test this. The mic for calls is top notch just like the AirPods Pro. And the Transparency mode is by far the best I've heard on a set of over ears and it's not close. The Spatial Audio on iPhone and iPads is nuts. You can take the Max plus an iPad on the go and have a convenient portable movie theatre setup with you. I believe these headphones are going to shock a lot of people. Especially the "overpriced" camp."

To further clarify sound quality. I would say the AirPods Max are comparable to the Dali iO-6 Wireless ANC headphones with a touch more sparkle and excitement to them than the Dalis. The Dalis are a little smoother and laid back. The Dalis retail for $499 but are all sound quality and battery life. It's a very barebones product with a mediocre ANC and horrible transparency mode. It literally has no other features. The Max are comparable in sound (I prefer the Max), are more comfortable, has more features, better ANC, better build, and are just flat out more fun to use.
Many people are saying the XM4’s have superior bass. Do you agree?
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.