Spend a couple minutes reading the posts in this sub forum. You'll see a lot of "uncomfortable as hell", that later become "I forget I have them on".
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One week with AirPods Max and I am still undecided.
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Spend a couple minutes reading the posts in this sub forum. You'll see a lot of "uncomfortable as hell", that later become "I forget I have them on".
I have loads of headphone experience and simply do not jive with really heavy models, particularly with my glasses on.
I wish this forum could let people have different views without insisting “no you are wrong”
Headphone comfort is super subjective
I doubt many would offer some slack with someone who doesn't own the APMs, instead spending a grand total of 25 minutes in a store trying them on. Your statement about headphone comfort: "That doesn't get "better the longer you wear them" is simply wrong, evidenced by numerous posts in this thread and several others.
Since you have "loads of headphone experience", you SHOULD know that headphone comfort often improves over time. This has nothing to do with your assumption of Apple fanboyism. Look in any headphone forum and you'll see the same thing. I have a pair of Focals that were vise-like out of the box and weigh an ounce more than APMs. The reviews said "stretch them out, and in no time you won't notice the clamping or the weight". They were right.
You spoke in absolutes and was wrong about it. Don't expect much agreement, because most here actually own the headphones. If you'd have said "They were uncomfortable, and I don't want to find out if they ever get better", then THAT's a super subjective evaluation.
side note - big bass requires big, heavy magnets. If you want good bass, you'll have to expect heavier headphones. That's physics.
Should have said nothing at all - my mistake.
(not sure why I bother on this forum anymore)
I'm out - Have a good weekend all
(not sure why I bother on this forum anymore)
I'm out - Have a good weekend all
I'm back - I decided to call the raise by the members and give the APM's a real go
Have a pair in the house now
Have a pair in the house now
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Good with glasses for me hopefully you find the same.
I have also gone through a similar home test with AirPod Max and Beoplay H95. I spent over one week comparing the two side by side. It was a really interesting experience. The APM connect perfectly and quickly to each of my Apple devices. However, I do have a fairly large head and the H95's were noticeably more comfortable. Sound quality is always going to be subjective but the H95s gave me the sound that I wanted from my favourite music. I still don't understand how Apple can continue to send out their new headphones in such an appalling case. How long would it have taken to have produced an APM headphone case 2.0? By contrast, the H95s are luxurious headphones that come in an equally luxurious aluminium case.
I sent back the APMs and have just received my refund from Apple. Having decided to keep the H95s, I realised that they were unable to realise their full potential due to the need to use the AAC Bluetooth Codex when listening to High Definition music. I then bought a Creative BT-W3 bluetooth dongle, turned off the in-built bluetooth on my iPad Pro 12.9 and within seconds I was able to listen to HD and UHD tracks via Amazon Music HD. Superb sound, exactly what I was looking for. I discussed this with the Beoplay engineers via Customer Support and they confirmed that they also recommend this USB-C dongle. It makes sense as it is now very difficult to get AptX HD output from MacBooks or iPads using macOS Big Sur. The BT-W3 allows you to switch between standard bluetooth (SBC), AptX, AptX HD and AptX Low Latency. The H95s do not support Low Latency so I use inbuilt Bluetooth AAC when watching movies, which seems to have a fairly low latency.
I would definitely recommend auditioning future Bluetooth headphones with a dongle so that they can be tested in AptX HD instead of just AAC, especially when comparing with APMs that do not have this facility.
I sent back the APMs and have just received my refund from Apple. Having decided to keep the H95s, I realised that they were unable to realise their full potential due to the need to use the AAC Bluetooth Codex when listening to High Definition music. I then bought a Creative BT-W3 bluetooth dongle, turned off the in-built bluetooth on my iPad Pro 12.9 and within seconds I was able to listen to HD and UHD tracks via Amazon Music HD. Superb sound, exactly what I was looking for. I discussed this with the Beoplay engineers via Customer Support and they confirmed that they also recommend this USB-C dongle. It makes sense as it is now very difficult to get AptX HD output from MacBooks or iPads using macOS Big Sur. The BT-W3 allows you to switch between standard bluetooth (SBC), AptX, AptX HD and AptX Low Latency. The H95s do not support Low Latency so I use inbuilt Bluetooth AAC when watching movies, which seems to have a fairly low latency.
I would definitely recommend auditioning future Bluetooth headphones with a dongle so that they can be tested in AptX HD instead of just AAC, especially when comparing with APMs that do not have this facility.
Better sound, worse convenience. Trade off
I agree that the H95 definitely sound better, but the hiss with transparency was unbearable, especially when the sound that I can only describe as a coil whine would kick in. Have you experienced that? If that had not been on my pair I would have likely stuck with the H95. The convenience factor is a big one, but the H95 sounded just superb and were super comfy.
Interesting comments about (dis)comfort in prolonged use.
I'm not an owner myself (still on the fence) but at $550 Apple should offer these in S, M, L and XL headband sizes.
It's a wearable, for heaven's sake. Even cheap $30 sneakers come in different sizes. And apparently the headband can be easily detached - much like an Apple watch band - from what I've read elsewhere.
I'm not an owner myself (still on the fence) but at $550 Apple should offer these in S, M, L and XL headband sizes.
It's a wearable, for heaven's sake. Even cheap $30 sneakers come in different sizes. And apparently the headband can be easily detached - much like an Apple watch band - from what I've read elsewhere.
I guess I could update now that I am a month and a half in.
The comfort issue is pretty much gone. They are still heavy, and I do not like wearing them if I am doing any sort moving around, but for stationary use they are plenty comfortable. I can wear them 6-8 hours in a day and not be bothered by them. I wish they were lighter so I could move around with them as well.
I have learned to live with the case. It is still a joke, but I do not feel I need anything more than it for my purposes. I keep my work bag relatively clean and they fit safely in there.
The battery life is not great. They need to be charged every other day. Not the end of the world, but I miss the H95's 35 hour battery life. I also would much prefer USB-C since the stuff I normally charge throughout the day is USB-C. Instead I have to take out a lightning cable.
Overall, these are probably the best ANC headphones on the market for an Apple user that has 3 or more devices. If you are not an Apple user or have only 1 or 2 devices, I am not sure they are a better bet than some of the competition.
The comfort issue is pretty much gone. They are still heavy, and I do not like wearing them if I am doing any sort moving around, but for stationary use they are plenty comfortable. I can wear them 6-8 hours in a day and not be bothered by them. I wish they were lighter so I could move around with them as well.
I have learned to live with the case. It is still a joke, but I do not feel I need anything more than it for my purposes. I keep my work bag relatively clean and they fit safely in there.
The battery life is not great. They need to be charged every other day. Not the end of the world, but I miss the H95's 35 hour battery life. I also would much prefer USB-C since the stuff I normally charge throughout the day is USB-C. Instead I have to take out a lightning cable.
Overall, these are probably the best ANC headphones on the market for an Apple user that has 3 or more devices. If you are not an Apple user or have only 1 or 2 devices, I am not sure they are a better bet than some of the competition.