AirPods Max (USB-C version) wired audio impressions

[PotentPeas]

Apple announced on Monday that they are supporting lossless audio and low-latency audio if you connect AirPods Max directly to your Mac, iPhone, or iPad directly via USB-C. They also announced a USB-C/3.5mm cable which allows you to use the headphones with any 3.5mm audio source.

They specified the macOS 15.4 / iOS 15.4 is required to use audio over USB-C. I upgraded my devices to the RC version of these OS's and USB audio still does not work. Presumably, a firmware update for the AirPods Max is required and has not been published yet.

I ordered the USB-C/3.5mm cable immediately and it arrived this afternoon. This works with the AirPods Max out-of-the-box, a firmware update is not required. (So! Wired audio input capability has always been present in the AirPods Max [USB-C version], Apple just chose not to release the cable+ADC until now.)

I tried it and it works like you would expect, plug-and-go, and the sound is great. The AirPods Max will not attempt to connect to a device (Mac/iPhone) via Bluetooth while the USB-C/3.5mm cable is connected, but it will connect immediately if the cable is disconnected. While connected to the USB-C/3.5mm cable, volume control is still possible from the headphones via the digital crown. (Unlike with 3.5mm EarPods, controlling the volume from the headset is not reflected in the volume level set in the OS changing, if you happen to have them hooked up to an Apple device or another device that can recognize the volume button presses of the EarPods. The volume level of your connected device and the volume level of the headphones are independent.) Noise cancelling works as expected, as well. You can't use the headset mic to pass audio back to the connected device.

The cable itself is also nice, it is braided and seems very flexible, and it does not "retain" bends or kinks like some more stiff USB-C cables I have been dealing with recently. It actually seems really similar to the USB-C cable that comes with the headphones. The USB-C connector on the end of the USB-C/3.5mm cable is slightly bulkier than the connectors on the USB-C cable that came with the headphones, presumably because it has the ADC chip inside. Whether the 3.5mm connector itself is robust (doesn't break after many plugs/unplugs) remains to be seen. I hope that it is good, considering how much this cable costs.

Still waiting for the AirPods Max firmware update to drop, in order to try audio over USB-C.

[Edit — A few days later]
Cable noise driving me crazy. Returning the headphones.

 

[BLtheP]

Interesting findings. I'm curious, you said they sound great, but are still waiting to try audio over USB-C when the firmware releases? What did you hear in the first test that sounded good?

My USB-C AirPods Max and the cable arrive today. Excited to try it all out.

 

[PotentPeas]

Interesting findings. I'm curious, you said they sound great, but are still waiting to try audio over USB-C when the firmware releases? What did you hear in the first test that sounded good?

I mean, I'm not an audiophile, but I did play some music and the range seems good (good bass and good trebble without too much of either), and background details seemed to be crisp as well.

I am also new to AirPods Max. I have been considering them for a long time. Lack of wired audio input or USB audio support was holding me back — if I am going to spend over $500 on headphones, it had better not be wireless only. I bought them on Monday, right after Apple made the announcement about this. (The timing is actually great. After much hemming and hawing, I put in an order for *Lightning* AirPods Max on Saturday, two days before Apple's announcement, specifically to have a wired audio option. I cancelled that order on Monday when Apple made the announcement about USB-C audio support, and bought a set of AirPods Max USB-C from the local Best Buy.)

I will say that the "integration" is pretty slick with AirPods Max — that is how they will quickly switch between my phone and my Mac depending on what I am using. I was also surprised at the low latency when using them over Bluetooth with a Mac. I couldn't detect any latency when gaming or when trying the Twitch latency test. (Last time I tried gaming with Bluetooth headphones, I immediately noticed a ¼-⅓ second audio lag, which I had assumed was pretty constant for all Bluetooth headphones.) Apple seems to have improved this somehow around 12-18 months ago, it went from being a common complaint to not much of one. (Check this Reddit thread from a guy surprised that it had improved so much...)

I did notice audio drop-outs when using them over Bluetooth with my Mac for a couple of hours. I think because I have a lot of 2.4 GHz interference in my house? I was sitting with a baby monitor right next to me and it has definitely caused me other problems with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the 2.4 GHz band. So, I have to use them wired, at least until I can get rid of that monitor.

...I need to find a good hard-shell case. The "case" that they come with is a bit sad. I'll probably be traveling with them in about a week.

I am going to try audio over USB-C when the firmware is available. Some specific things that I will be looking for:
* Can I tell any quality difference between this and the 3.5mm? (Probably not.)
* Do functions of the headphones interact with the OS? (Integrated volume control, play/pause from the headphones like you can over Bluetooth, etc.)
* Does it allow the headphones to be used as a headset? (Mic support over USB.)
* Does it work with any other devices that generally support USB audio? (I.e., a Windows PC, or a Nintendo Switch) Or, is it strictly an Apple implementation?

 

[BLtheP]

I mean, I'm not an audiophile, but I did play some music and the range seems good (good bass and good trebble without too much of either), and background details seemed to be crisp as well.

I am also new to AirPods Max. I have been considering them for a long time. Lack of wired audio input or USB audio support was holding me back — if I am going to spend over $500 on headphones, it had better not be wireless only. I bought them on Monday, right after Apple made the announcement about this. (The timing is actually great. After much hemming and hawing, I put in an order for *Lightning* AirPods Max on Saturday, two days before Apple's announcement, specifically to have a wired audio option. I cancelled that order on Monday when Apple made the announcement about USB-C audio support, and bought a set of AirPods Max USB-C from the local Best Buy.)

I will say that the "integration" is pretty slick with AirPods Max — that is how they will quickly switch between my phone and my Mac depending on what I am using. I was also surprised at the low latency when using them over Bluetooth with a Mac. I couldn't detect any latency when gaming or when trying the Twitch latency test. (Last time I tried gaming with Bluetooth headphones, I immediately noticed a ¼-⅓ second audio lag, which I had assumed was pretty constant for all Bluetooth headphones.) Apple seems to have improved this somehow around 12-18 months ago, it went from being a common complaint to not much of one. (Check this Reddit thread from a guy surprised that it had improved so much...)

I did notice audio drop-outs when using them over Bluetooth with my Mac for a couple of hours. I think because I have a lot of 2.4 GHz interference in my house? I was sitting with a baby monitor right next to me and it has definitely caused me other problems with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the 2.4 GHz band. So, I have to use them wired, at least until I can get rid of that monitor.

...I need to find a good hard-shell case. The "case" that they come with is a bit sad. I'll probably be traveling with them in about a week.

I am going to try audio over USB-C when the firmware is available. Some specific things that I will be looking for:
* Can I tell any quality difference between this and the 3.5mm? (Probably not.)
* Do functions of the headphones interact with the OS? (Integrated volume control, play/pause from the headphones like you can over Bluetooth, etc.)
* Does it allow the headphones to be used as a headset? (Mic support over USB.)
* Does it work with any other devices that generally support USB audio? (I.e., a Windows PC, or a Nintendo Switch) Or, is it strictly an Apple implementation?

I guess I'm confused about yours not working over USB-C. Just got home and plugged mine in. When they popped up on the iDevices, I denied connecting them. Plugged them into my M3 MBA with the cable and they work fine. Are they not working properly in this scenario for you?

All my devices are on the .4 RCs.

 

[PotentPeas]

I guess I'm confused about yours not working over USB-C. Just got home and plugged mine in. When they popped up on the iDevices, I denied connecting them. Plugged them into my M3 MBA with the cable and they work fine. Are they not working properly in this scenario for you?

All my devices are on the .4 RCs.

Can you tell what firmware version your AirPods Max has? Mine is 7A291, which seems to have been the "current" version since the beginning of the year. I actually haven't retried this since Monday. When I plugged it into my MacBook via USB-C, nothing happened except for it started charging.

 

[BLtheP]

Can you tell what firmware version your AirPods Max has? Mine is 7A291, which seems to have been the "current" version since the beginning of the year. I actually haven't retried this since Monday. When I plugged it into my MacBook via USB-C, nothing happened except for it started charging.

Same firmware, 7A291. I plugged it into the Mac with the 3.5mm and it worked. If you are talking about USB-C to USB-C, I have not tried that. I was under the impression that lossless audio was over the USB-C to 3.5mm, but I might be confused.

 

[PotentPeas]

Same firmware, 7A291. I plugged it into the Mac with the 3.5mm and it worked. If you are talking about USB-C to USB-C, I have not tried that. I was under the impression that lossless audio was over the USB-C to 3.5mm, but I might be confused.

OK, we are in the same boat then. I tried out the USB-C/3.5mm cable today and it works fine for me too.

Apple wasn't super clear in their press release, but they are offering both this option and USB-C to USB-C as an option for wired audio. The latter isn't working yet (I believe a firmware update to the AirPods Max is required in order to enable it). They have also stated that spatial audio and head tracking will work with this option, and it doesn't work with the 3.5mm cable. Other details are sparse.

Apple has only stated that lossless audio works with the USB-C to USB-C option. I think they're not claiming it for the 3.5mm cable because it is not a digital connection to the headphones, but... it should be just as "lossless" as any other 3.5mm set of headphones.

 

[BLtheP]

OK, we are in the same boat then. I tried out the USB-C/3.5mm cable today and it works fine for me too.

Apple wasn't super clear in their press release, but they are offering both this option and USB-C to USB-C as an option for wired audio. The latter isn't working yet (I believe a firmware update to the AirPods Max is required in order to enable it). They have also stated that spatial audio and head tracking will work with this option, and it doesn't work with the 3.5mm cable. Other details are sparse.

Apple has only stated that lossless audio works with the USB-C to USB-C option. I think they're not claiming it for the 3.5mm cable because it is not a digital connection to the headphones, but... it should be just as "lossless" as any other 3.5mm set of headphones.

Gotcha, the USB-C to USB-C part was not clear to me. I’ll try that out but probably find the same as you. I did not see that the lossless was only supported over USB-C…makes sense.

 

[DaniTheFox]

In the interim, I purchased the Beats Solo 4 as a solution. Initially, I encountered issues with the Bluetooth connection, which was severely compromised. However, when I attempted to use the USB-C to USB-C and the analog connections, the performance significantly improved. Consequently, I decided to retain the device.

With the USB-C to USB-C connection, all functions (microphone, volume, start/stop, etc.) operate identically to those with the Bluetooth connection. I anticipate similar functionality with the AirPods Max, as my previous B&W headphones shared the same functionality.

The analog connection presents a different scenario. All functions (microphone, volume, start/stop, etc.) are non-functional. This is because it operates analog, and start/stop necessitates a digital signal connection, similar to every analog headphone from the past. I recall that my previous B&W headphones had a functional microphone due to its TRRS connector.

The advantage of the Solo 4 is that the analog connection does not require continuous power, unlike the B&W, which lacks ANC. This allows it to operate indefinitely.

High-end external DACs can significantly enhance the audio experience with the Solo 4. However, I do not anticipate this with the Max, as it incorporates an ADC-DAC within its design. But I expect the ANC is working with the Max and it needs additional power for that.

 

[PotentPeas]

The analog connection presents a different scenario. All functions (microphone, volume, start/stop, etc.) are non-functional. This is because it operates analog, and start/stop necessitates a digital signal connection, similar to every analog headphone from the past.

The one counterexample that I have here is the 3.5mm version of the EarPods. It has buttons for volume up/down and play/pause control, and both iOS and macOS will recognize these button presses and respond appropriately, even though it is using an "analog" TRRS connector. (I don't know how it works exactly, but I suspect they are sending special signals back over the mic channel that the OS listens for.)

Thus, it seems like there's no reason that Apple couldn't have implemented something similar with their beefier headphones... but probably no point since "most people" won't be connecting them to their Apple devices via 3.5mm.

The advantage of the Solo 4 is that the analog connection does not require continuous power, unlike the B&W, which lacks ANC. This allows it to operate indefinitely.

This is a "feature" that I doubt that the AirPods Max will have, since the 3.5mm audio input relies on an ADC chip in the USB-C/3.5mm cable, and that will require power to operate.

 

[DaniTheFox]

This is a "feature" that I doubt that the AirPods Max will have, since the 3.5mm audio input relies on an ADC chip in the USB-C/3.5mm cable, and that will require power to operate.

Indeed, you are correct. This ADC chip (and the ANC) requires power. There is a possibility that it may consume more power compared to using only Bluetooth. But the volume at which you are listening to music is a bigger factor.

 

[DaniTheFox]

The one counterexample that I have here is the 3.5mm version of the EarPods. It has buttons for volume up/down and play/pause control, and both iOS and macOS will recognize these button presses and respond appropriately, even though it is using an "analog" TRRS connector. (I don't know how it works exactly, but I suspect they are sending special signals back over the mic channel that the OS listens for.)

Indeed, I distinctly remember having an inline remote control with start/stop and volume buttons for my iPod. The TRRS male connector was used for the iPod, while the female TRS connector was used for the headphones.

Did it not require a later firmware to function?

 

[PotentPeas]

Did it not require a later firmware to function?

Maybe, my use doesn't go as far back as the iPod, I never had one of those. The first time I would have run across this function would have been with the iPhone 4S, and by then it was a "standard feature".

If those inline adapters use the same signaling that the EarPods use, they would also probably still work on modern devices (Mac with 3.5mm output, or iPhone with appropriate 3.5mm adapter).

 

[novagamer]

1. The AirPods Max ear cups don’t even have a physical connection to each other, at least on the lightning / V1. Power is always required because of the 2 H1 chips needing to sync as well as the internal ADC.

2. If starting with a digital source, 3.5mm to USB-C will undergo some conversion 3 times. Device -> 3.5mm (DAC), 3.5mm -> USB-C cable (ADC), -> USB-C cable -> AirPods Max Internally (H1). Despite this the 3.5mm cable is still noticeably better than Bluetooth in my experience.

3. USB-C should only convert once, digital to the AirPods Max -> AirPods Max Internally.

I believe the HRTF is applied to all operation of the AirPods Max which is a benefit over other solutions. Don’t skip that “scan your ear with the iPhone” for personalized audio step, it’ll help especially with Spatial Audio / Atmos content.

Suggest for newer music you leave Atmos on and turn off head tracking, recent Atmos mastering is very goodand higher fidelity vs. Stereo, even in the fold-down that will happen if you sent Atmos out of the 2-channel analog jack.


There are a lot of variants of what look like TRS cables, Apple has in the past used TRRS for example. See here for more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_(audio)

Hope this helps.

 

[ignatius345]

Suggest for newer music you leave Atmos on and turn off head tracking, recent Atmos mastering is very goodand higher fidelity vs. Stereo, even in the fold-down that will happen if you sent Atmos out of the 2-channel analog jack.

Is Spatial Audio the same thing as Atmos?

 

[novagamer]

Is Spatial Audio the same thing as Atmos?

Essentially yes.

Apple has their own renderer that applies things slightly different than Dolby but it’s close enough now. This was not the case when Spatial Audio launched, Apple’s renderer was a disaster but they fixed it within a month or two.

Apple also applies a HRTF https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head-related_transfer_function that helps the renderer position things within the spatial field. All of this isn’t controllable by the user beyond enabling it, but you can disable head tracking (and should IMO) because it isn’t great for music, but leave spatial on to still get the increased headroom and wider soundstage. That said, I kind of enjoy head tracking for movies.

When mix engineers release “spatial audio” tracks they are really mixed in Atmos, primarily using Dolby’s renderer. I’m very interested to see what this looks like when Logic gets its next update, if it changes at all.

Some more atmos information: https://support.apple.com/en-us/109354

and mix information: https://support.apple.com/guide/logicpro/overview-of-surround-and-spatial-audio-lgcp57f6cc60/mac

 

[vinegarshots]

1. The AirPods Max ear cups don’t even have a physical connection to each other, at least on the lightning / V1. Power is always required because of the 2 H1 chips needing to sync as well as the internal ADC.

There are connectors on each end of the headband that look like tiny lightning connectors-- everything is physically connected through those

 

[novagamer]

View attachment 2496671

There are connectors on each end of the headband that look like tiny lightning connectors-- everything is physically connected through those

Yeah, that passes power not audio. It’s a real interesting design. I thought the same thing years ago until I found some spec write-up. It’s remotely possible they changed this for the USB-C variant but I doubt it.

If you recall some very old rumors, Apple was going to have hot swap bands initially and this is probably a hold over from that, if they started off the process knowing the band wasn’t removable I imagine they’d make a different choice.

 

[vinegarshots]

Yeah, that passes power not audio. It’s a real interesting design. I thought the same thing years ago until I found some spec write-up.

If you recall some very old rumors, Apple was going to have hot swap bands initially and this is probably a hold over from that, if they started off the process knowing the band wasn’t removable I imagine they’d make a different choice.

Interesting, for some reason I assumed there would be one battery in each ear cup, but I guess that would be kind of a silly design in retrospect 🤣

 

[dutch070]

Apple announced on Monday that they are supporting lossless audio and low-latency audio if you connect AirPods Max directly to your Mac, iPhone, or iPad directly via USB-C. They also announced a USB-C/3.5mm cable which allows you to use the headphones with any 3.5mm audio source.

They specified the macOS 15.4 / iOS 15.4 is required to use audio over USB-C. I upgraded my devices to the RC version of these OS's and USB audio still does not work. Presumably, a firmware update for the AirPods Max is required and has not been published yet.

I ordered the USB-C/3.5mm cable immediately and it arrived this afternoon. This works with the AirPods Max out-of-the-box, a firmware update is not required. (So! Wired audio input capability has always been present in the AirPods Max [USB-C version], Apple just chose not to release the cable+ADC until now.)

I tried it and it works like you would expect, plug-and-go, and the sound is great. The AirPods Max will not attempt to connect to a device (Mac/iPhone) via Bluetooth while the USB-C/3.5mm cable is connected, but it will connect immediately if the cable is disconnected. While connected to the USB-C/3.5mm cable, volume control is still possible from the headphones via the digital crown. (Unlike with 3.5mm EarPods, controlling the volume from the headset is not reflected in the volume level set in the OS changing, if you happen to have them hooked up to an Apple device or another device that can recognize the volume button presses of the EarPods. The volume level of your connected device and the volume level of the headphones are independent.) Noise cancelling works as expected, as well. You can't use the headset mic to pass audio back to the connected device.

The cable itself is also nice, it is braided and seems very flexible, and it does not "retain" bends or kinks like some more stiff USB-C cables I have been dealing with recently. It actually seems really similar to the USB-C cable that comes with the headphones. The USB-C connector on the end of the USB-C/3.5mm cable is slightly bulkier than the connectors on the USB-C cable that came with the headphones, presumably because it has the ADC chip inside. Whether the 3.5mm connector itself is robust (doesn't break after many plugs/unplugs) remains to be seen. I hope that it is good, considering how much this cable costs.

Still waiting for the AirPods Max firmware update to drop, in order to try audio over USB-C.

Can you have Bluetooth completely turned off and use it with USB-C? If im worried about EM frequencies with these headphones wired be a solution for that?

 

[ignatius345]

Interesting, for some reason I assumed there would be one battery in each ear cup, but I guess that would be kind of a silly design in retrospect 🤣

So there is a battery in only one earcup. Interesting! When I got the battery service done on mine they replaced the entire right earcup, which I guess was just quicker and easier than disassembling it. I wonder if that's standard procedure with the battery service.

They also unexpectedly replaced the headband, so I ended up getting a pretty much entirely refurbished set for $89.

 

[ignatius345]

Essentially yes.

Apple has their own renderer that applies things slightly different than Dolby but it’s close enough now. This was not the case when Spatial Audio launched, Apple’s renderer was a disaster but they fixed it within a month or two.

Apple also applies a HRTF https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head-related_transfer_function that helps the renderer position things within the spatial field. All of this isn’t controllable by the user beyond enabling it, but you can disable head tracking (and should IMO) because it isn’t great for music, but leave spatial on to still get the increased headroom and wider soundstage. That said, I kind of enjoy head tracking for movies.

When mix engineers release “spatial audio” tracks they are really mixed in Atmos, primarily using Dolby’s renderer. I’m very interested to see what this looks like when Logic gets its next update, if it changes at all.

Some more atmos information: https://support.apple.com/en-us/109354

and mix information: https://support.apple.com/guide/logicpro/overview-of-surround-and-spatial-audio-lgcp57f6cc60/mac

I always use it for movies and TV, but the results with music are hit and miss. Some music does seem to me to sound good with it, but other times it sounds quite weird. It definitely makes podcasts and radio sound horrible and tinny.

 

[PotentPeas]

Can you have Bluetooth completely turned off and use it with USB-C? If im worried about EM frequencies with these headphones wired be a solution for that?

It doesn't seem to engage Bluetooth if you have the USB-C/3.5mm cable connected, but I don't think that you can fully disable Bluetooth... nor do I think it would really solve your "problem" even if you could.

Like @novagamer mentioned, the two earcups are not directly connected (for purposes of transferring the audio signal). Even with a wired audio input, the signal will come into the right earcup via the wire, but then be *wirelessly* transmitted to the left earcup.

 

[beano]

The lighting version has quite a lot of ‘cable noise’ when it brushes against your clothing etc, causing a subtle scratching noise in the headphone. Wondering if this is reduced with the new braided cable

 

[Fuga]

Does anyone know whether any USB-C/USB-C cable will work or must it be an Apple one, the one included or one to be sold by Apple? That is, must there be "something added" by Apple for it to work? See post #11 above.