AirPods Max thoughts from a non-audiophile

[cycling_pete]

On the other hand, not so glowing reviews from actual experts:

Apple AirPods Max: Measurements & First Impressions – In-Ear Fidelity

A brief primer for the upcoming review of Apple's flagship headphone, the wireless AirPods Max.

crinacle.com

TBF, the APM beat out the QCs and XM4s ratings by the same reviewer by a healthy margin.

 

[Mr.PT]

Thanks for reading.
My friend has a pair of Sony XM4 that he raves about and loves. Also lots of end of year lists have the XM4 as winners - so naturally that’s what I tended to.
Have you used the B&O H9? I’ll check them out.

Hello!
Yes I’ve tried them and to me they have some things that made me consider them over XM4: light fit on head and ears, instead of the “sucking thigh” fit of XM4 (probably to enhance ANC, but I find it discomfortable for long term use); much better materials and built quality (real leather ears pads and headband; aluminum earcups; 40mm electro dynamic drives) and specially a more “natural and neutral” sound which I like better for my personal use (mostly music listening only occasional calls and audiovisual contents. Reasonable 25h battery life with ANC and Bluetooth (tough I preferred the H9 original version with removable batteries!). I disliked 4.2 Bluetooth, and found ANC is better on XM4. I was really looking forward to AirPod Max, but the headband design and the mesh material put me off, not going to mention the “case”...but I’ll try them to check audio performance, but for 150€ more I suspect I’ll go for B&O H95 (even better design and materials, autonomy, 40mm titanium drives).