Apple’s intention with AirPods Max

[MayaTlab]

But if apple hasnt changed anything or offered an hd version of aac then the likelihood is very low.

It doesn't matter because you wouldn't be able to A/B in a blind test Apple's 2020 version of 256kbps AAC files vs lossless files anyway. Say the dozens and dozens and dozens of blind A/B studies that have been done to that effect.
What you can clearly hear though are somewhat small variations in dBs even for a rather narrow range of frequencies. Hence why you should care first and foremost about the frequency response that lands at your eardrum.

 

[MayaTlab]

This is why I do not know why people are comparing these with B&O/B&W headphones which had AptX/AptHD or LDAC in terms of audio quality before all the graphing has come out.

There is no point in comparing these to the PX7 and H9i indeed, Apple's acoustic engineering team is a little too competent to come up with headphones with FR curves like this horror show :

Headphones v1.5 - Graph Tool

www.rtings.com

Audio over bluetooth codecs matter a lot less than the actual quality of the implementation in itself. AAC over bluetooth can measure both very poorly and very excellently depending on the actual device :

The ultimate guide to Bluetooth headphones: AAC only acceptable on Apple phones

Along with default SBC and Qualcomm's aptX, AAC is a commonly supported Bluetooth codec in the wireless headphone and speaker markets.

www.soundguys.com

 

[ader42]

APM are not for audiophile music listening.

One big use-case is home cinema. Spatial Audio is a big deal on these headphones for movies. They will be an alternative to a surround sound system or multi-homepod setup.

Looking forward, Spatial Audio will be a big deal when used in an augmented reality setting also.
You will have Apple Glasses on, be in a virtual office meeting, see “holograms” of your colleagues (you can make their avatar sit where you want). The Spatial Audio headphones will ensure that when someone speaks, their voice comes from their avatar.

Similarly, I can see Spatial Audio being implemented in AR games too.

 

[MecPro]

APM are not for audiophile music listening.

One big use-case is home cinema. Spatial Audio is a big deal on these headphones for movies. They will be an alternative to a surround sound system or multi-homepod setup.

Looking forward, Spatial Audio will be a big deal when used in an augmented reality setting also.
You will have Apple Glasses on, be in a virtual office meeting, see “holograms” of your colleagues (you can make their avatar sit where you want). The Spatial Audio headphones will ensure that when someone speaks, their voice comes from their avatar.

Similarly, I can see Spatial Audio being implemented in AR games too.

Spacial Audio isn't on AppleTV yet right?

I'm sure that it'll come soon, but no one is spending $550 on all of what it can do in the future, it's what it can do now.

I personally thing the TV/at home situation is very niche, with family, friends and partners watching films with you. Headphones are way too personal

 

[Abazigal]

Spacial Audio isn't on AppleTV yet right?

I'm sure that it'll come soon, but no one is spending $550 on all of what it can do in the future, it's what it can do now.

I personally thing the TV/at home situation is very niche, with family, friends and partners watching films with you. Headphones are way too personal

According to Daring Fireball, Spatial Audio is only available on the iPhone and iPad because these are the only devices with the necessary hardware to make it work. I am guessing we will see it in a future Apple TV refresh?

 

[MecPro]

According to Daring Fireball, Spatial Audio is only available on the iPhone and iPad because these are the only devices with the necessary hardware to make it work. I am guessing we will see it in a future Apple TV refresh?

It has to, unless Apple will only market SA as a mobile home theatre?

I am waiting on the next refresh of ATV, but I think if they haven't released it now with the APM then I think we maybe waiting until the summer releases

 

[ader42]

It would have made more sense to me if a new ATV had been released alongside the APM.

 

[Rogifan]

It would have made more sense to me if a new ATV had been released alongside the APM.

And an update to Apple Music. The highest tier of Apple One should include lossless Apple Music.

 

[Diskutant]

Just a thought.

Above Avalon: AirPods Are Becoming a Platform

If AirPods were magical, AirPods Pro are supernatural. Apple’s newest pair of AirPods continues to make waves with “augmented hearing” entering people’s vocabulary. However, the broader implications found with Apple’s AirPods strategy are just as impressive. Apple is quickly removing all available o

www.aboveavalon.com

Uh...

Unlike what they did with the iPhone or iPad playbook, Apple didn’t launch AirPods at one price and then begin to lower pricing once all of the profit had been sucked from that initial market segment.

In what universe did Apple lower the pricing for iPhones? Over the years those got more expensive, not less.

 

[MecPro]

Uh...


In what universe did Apple lower the pricing for iPhones? Over the years those got more expensive, not less.

Original iPhone price was more expensive than subsequent ones. But then the prices rose across the board.

 

[Rogifan]

I’m seeing reviews from The Verge and others saying AirPods Max shouldn’t be compared to more expensive wired headphones. They say these are clearly in the consumer mass market wireless headphone space.

Once again I question Apple’s intention here. Because these headphones aren’t priced like a mass market product. It’s almost like there was one team at Apple who wanted to make a premium headphone and another that said we have to throw in all our cool tech like wireless, ANC and computational audio. So you end up with a product that‘s quite a bit more expensive than the competition in the wireless/ANC space but reviewers are reviewing against anyway (while also saying they shouldn’t be compared to more expensive cans). The Verge scored these an 8.5 but reading their review you’d be hard pressed to know who they are for.