Is there any advantage in connect AirPodsMax to a headphone stand that has 3.5mm in 7.1 surround sound support? Does Bluetooth support 7.1 and Atmos?

[hajime]

Hi, regardless whether the stand is physically connecting the AirPodsMax to a Mac or PC, is there an advantage in connecting the headphone to such port? Will the surround sound better?

From the product page: https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2...gic-of-airpods-in-a-stunning-over-ear-design/

It states that "Spatial Audio... delivering an immersive, theatrelike experience for content recorded in 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos." Is it only when connecting the AirpodMax to a sound system directly via the 3.5mm jack or even wireless Bluetooth can do it?

 

[haralds]

Spatial audio is only available from iOS or iPadOS devices, since it requires their accelerometer/motion detection and supporting software. Given that whether you are using BlueTooth or wire it is using the 250Kpbs AAC codec (at least until a rumored lossless announcement next week) you do not gain from a wired connection.
Using wired audio is simply a convenience with typical AV gear not supporting BlueTooth.
Just checked the MFI module specs and the audio modules are capable of up to 24bit lossless as long as the connected device is able to supply it. BLE spec currently is still limited to 250Kbps. But that is FW.

 

[hajime]

Spatial audio is only available from iOS or iPadOS devices, since it requires their accelerometer/motion detection and supporting software. Given that whether you are using BlueTooth or wire it is using the 250Kpbs AAC codec (at least until a rumored lossless announcement next week) you do not gain from a wired connection.
Using wired audio is simply a convenience with typical AV gear not supporting BlueTooth.

So I cannot enjoy Dolby Atmos with the AirpodsMax when playing PC games that support Atmos?

 

[Htsi]

So I cannot enjoy Dolby Atmos with the AirpodsMax when playing PC games that support Atmos?

Correct

 

[hajime]

Correct

Thanks. Too bad.

 

[haralds]

Apple just announced Spatial Audio and Apple Lossless for Apple Music. No word on FW updates for Pro or Max.

 

[hajime]

Apple just announced Spatial Audio and Apple Lossless for Apple Music. No word on FW updates for Pro or Max.

I am returning a defective AirPodsMax and going to order a new one. Is it better to wait in case Apple releases version 2 of AirPodsMax?

 

[xraydoc]

I am returning a defective AirPodsMax and going to order a new one. Is it better to wait in case Apple releases version 2 of AirPodsMax?

They basically just came out. There will be no version 2 for a long while.