Apple AirPods Max review: luxurious sound for a luxury price
The build quality is second to none and the noise cancellation is great, but is that enough?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AirPods Max Reviews
- Thread starter 3rdiguy
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
This is from The Verge review:
You’ll notice I said nothing about a power button, and that’s because the AirPods Max lack one. They power on when placed on your head, and automatically pause music if removed (or if you lift one ear cup). Take them off fully, and they’ll go into a sleep mode when left on a table or around your neck for a few minutes. When slid into their case, the headphones enter a deeper ultra-low-power mode. I’ve left the AirPods Max out overnight several times without the case and they’ve barely lost any of their charge, so you don’t need to worry about battery drain. This design quirk has been deemed “very Apple” by some, but I wish they’d just stuck a power button somewhere for simplicity’s sake.
They don’t seem to be worried about the battery. But they also say there’s no passive mode meaning you can’t use them if the battery is completely drained. I’ve seen others claim you can use them plugged in if the battery is drained. Not sure which is correct.
Putting it here , as some wanted the audiophile crowd reactions , so far it seems folks with much more expensive headphones are REALLY liking them (SQ wise) here is the link to the discussion thread (posted it elsewhere today , but here its most relevant i guess) :
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/airpods-max.949152/page-26
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/airpods-max.949152/page-26
They do say it would be easier just to add a power function by long pressing one of the existing buttons.
But yeah a review said that you can use in passive mode. Not a huge amount is clear and certain.
I disagree. The XM4s have more bass. It's balanced but turned up by about 5dbs. It's a very heavy consumer oriented sound. I personally have no problem with it's sound as it's very good for HipHop, EDM, Pop, Electronic, and most modern music. The AirPods Max are slightly tilted to the consumer side of things too but it's very tastefully done in a way that Audiophiles can still enjoy as you can see over on Headfi with all of the praise. If I had to guess, I would say the bass on the Maxes are about 2 or 3dbs lower than the Sonys. It's a clearer, more detailed/articulate headphone with a wider soundstage. Just works better with more genres of music than the Sonys.
Seems like I'd prefer the bass of the Sony's as I listen to a lot of rap and pop music.
One of numerous reviewers saying the treble is too fatiguing. Shame about the lack of an app to adjust the EQ, which would have alleviated it.
Some of these reviews are very NISTY and biased and betray Apple and it’s Luxe crafted and elegant products.
Turns out you can add "off" to the ANC/transparency click in BT settings on the iPhone. Does that stop your incessant squeaking?
That just means "off" for both ANC & Transparency, just like on APP
That's not headphones Off. That's ANC off.
I'm curious, has anyone had the chance to try connect the Airpods Max to an older macOS version? Curious how they work, especially for VOIP and online meetings. Have mixed setup where my main work computer is High Sierra based and then an M1 for video stuff, wonder if the Airpods MAX would work with basic feature as music listening and mic usage.
so i tested them for a few hours and heres my take vs the xm4s
1. the dial is nice for volume, the stupid touch non-sense on the xm4s are terrible
2. the comfort is better on the APM even though they are heavier, the cups are deeper as the xm4s and shallow and my ears touch the inner part on the xm4s but not that APM
3. the ear cups are more comfortable than the xm4s and my ears dont get hot from having them on
4. the connection is very fast on apple products for the APM, works fine too for non, used it on my samsung TV for gaming.
5. build quality is great, its very solid and looks great. the xm4s look like your standard plastic cans
6. on xm4s head band, i use the max setting for them to fit with no hat or anything, means they wont fit on my head with a hat or anything else that might be on my head - the APM still has room for my large head and a hat or whatever
7. also appreciate how you can quickly remove and change ear cups, i had the qc25 and went through 3 pairs of ear cups... and if you owned those you know what a pain in the ass those were to change, the xm4s i heard you cant even get them or they are very hard to get, dont wanna deal with that either
overall, its really up to you and your personal taste... im pretty sure the xm4s are going bye bye as the APM are more my taste and fit me better overall
1. the dial is nice for volume, the stupid touch non-sense on the xm4s are terrible
2. the comfort is better on the APM even though they are heavier, the cups are deeper as the xm4s and shallow and my ears touch the inner part on the xm4s but not that APM
3. the ear cups are more comfortable than the xm4s and my ears dont get hot from having them on
4. the connection is very fast on apple products for the APM, works fine too for non, used it on my samsung TV for gaming.
5. build quality is great, its very solid and looks great. the xm4s look like your standard plastic cans
6. on xm4s head band, i use the max setting for them to fit with no hat or anything, means they wont fit on my head with a hat or anything else that might be on my head - the APM still has room for my large head and a hat or whatever
7. also appreciate how you can quickly remove and change ear cups, i had the qc25 and went through 3 pairs of ear cups... and if you owned those you know what a pain in the ass those were to change, the xm4s i heard you cant even get them or they are very hard to get, dont wanna deal with that either
overall, its really up to you and your personal taste... im pretty sure the xm4s are going bye bye as the APM are more my taste and fit me better overall
OK this isn’t a review really but even Apple’s design team doesn’t want to talk about the case. ?
Aesthetically, the most startling thing about the AirPods Max is the case – a strange, minimalist receptacle that protects the earcups but leaves the headband protruding as a handle. It’s clever, but a selection of people I’ve shown it to have said it looks like a) a lady’s evening bag, b) a bra and c) a rather fit gentleman’s bottom.
In an online chat the other day with the key members of the design team overseen by Sir Jony Ive until his departure last year, I mentioned that the handbag look was interesting because it recalls the classic British Roberts transistor portable radio designed in 1956 by Harry Roberts, and inspired by his wife’s handbag. They were polite, but didn’t elaborate and were more “excited” (Apple speak for proud) about two other key innovations.
AirPods Max: we review Apple’s first over-ear phones
Do these cans by the Cupertino giant compete?www.ft.com
YES!!! I'm so happy for this. I would prefer to hear from a head-fi group which will spend more time on the audio signature.
These youtube videos, of people reacting is so lame and unless they have been established at reviewing headphones, DACs and Amps - they opinion is worth crap. They are hypebeasts that put on any common track and when the bass drops, they make some stupid youtube "OMG ITS SOOO GOOD" face. and I just roll my eyes.
Great great find!!!
Those people probably prefer muddy overpowered bass.
There is an app, it is in Bluetooth settings.
It can be set balanced, strong, and slightly moderate, and a little bar to adjust
