USB C charge port or use the apple watch charger.
Better case.
They sound great and comfortable.
Better case.
They sound great and comfortable.
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AirPods Max 2: Everything We Know One Year After the High-End Headphones Launched
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What I want from AirPods Max 2:
1) Make it possible to be connected to multiple devices at the same time. Sure, switching is easy (except when the headphones don't want to, and one needs to reset them ) - but it would be even easier if I didn't have to. I often have 4 devices next to me that could use my headphone (computer (laptop or iMac), iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch)
2) Support lossless audio
3) Replace lightning with USB C. USB C is now the standard on the computers and iPads, lets get rid of the last holdouts please - it was good for its time, but that time ended 3 years ago
4) Better case, that actually protects the entire headphone.
1) Make it possible to be connected to multiple devices at the same time. Sure, switching is easy (except when the headphones don't want to, and one needs to reset them ) - but it would be even easier if I didn't have to. I often have 4 devices next to me that could use my headphone (computer (laptop or iMac), iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch)
2) Support lossless audio
3) Replace lightning with USB C. USB C is now the standard on the computers and iPads, lets get rid of the last holdouts please - it was good for its time, but that time ended 3 years ago
4) Better case, that actually protects the entire headphone.
I love mine. People say it needs a better case that protects the entire headphones but that's already available.
I don't understand the USB-C obsession either. For some devices that need fast file transfer I can understand but here it's just for charging. If you're not in the Apple ecosystem I can also understand but for someone like me I'm much more likely to have a Lightning cable nearby than USB-C. I have an iPad Air and USB-C is the one thing I don't like about it.
They just were released so I don't see a redesign anytime soon. This is a niche product that isn't going to get high sales like regular in ear AirPods. It would not make financial sense for a redesign so soon.
I don't understand the USB-C obsession either. For some devices that need fast file transfer I can understand but here it's just for charging. If you're not in the Apple ecosystem I can also understand but for someone like me I'm much more likely to have a Lightning cable nearby than USB-C. I have an iPad Air and USB-C is the one thing I don't like about it.
They just were released so I don't see a redesign anytime soon. This is a niche product that isn't going to get high sales like regular in ear AirPods. It would not make financial sense for a redesign so soon.
It was demonstrated decades ago that insertion of a 16-bit/44kHz AD/DA in the distribution chain was inaudible. Search old Journal of the Audio Engineering Society papers. (”Demonstrated” because you can’t truly prove a negative, particularly in psychoacoustics.) It has since been tested over and over by private interests, typically under less stringent conditions but with the same results.
It’s questionable how much Apple should cater to subjectivist audio shamans. Is it profitable enough to chase those ever changing goal posts? Or does it create more problems than it’s worth for Apple? I have owned the Airpods Max since launch, and am far more interested in a decent carrying case and a way to turn them off (and a good way to implement EQ), than any hardware change to the product itself.
It’s strange to me when people defend Apple’s pricing of products by saying “But, I enjoy mine, so.”
Just because you enjoy something, doesn’t necessarily mean the price is right.
I enjoy bread. I use bread all the time. That doesn’t mean it should cost $599.
Just because you enjoy something, doesn’t necessarily mean the price is right.
I enjoy bread. I use bread all the time. That doesn’t mean it should cost $599.
Pitch Black, Darth Vader Black, Deep Space Black, Black Gesso with a thin layer of Liquid Clear...
Seriously, the current colors are more pastel-oriented except the Space Gray. Maybe TheYayAreaLiving was referring to darker hues of the current palette.
All of that is accurate, but sort of irrelevant. The optics are that Apple sells a $550 pair of luxury headphones that can't play back the truly lossless audio they are promoting on their music service. That makes no sense, especially when you realize that the reason is because they are over engineered.
This is an example of Apple being a control freak again. There is no legitimate reason why the wired mode has to go through the DAC. Virtually every other set of bluetooth headphones that can be used wired bypass all of the internal electronics and perform like a regular set of analog headphones.
What that also means is that when the battery inevitably wears out in a couple of years, you are left with a paperweight. The APM will require frequent battery replacements to maintain any functionality. Will I be able to get them in two years? Sure. 10 years? I dunno. 20 years? 50 years? More? Probably not. Yet the Sony XM4s and countless other wireless headphones will work wired 100 years from now.
This is my number one issue. Audio equipment lasts forever. I have used headphones older than I am and they sound as good now as they did on day one. Apple has taken something that could have been timeless in a way no Mac or iPhone could and given it a finite lifespan.
Well I'm glad they went with the digital crown over touch controls. The crown is great!
I have the XM’3, [so I can’t attest to the XM 4’s]. But I will say, it’s a very close comparison of a product that I love the aesthetics, the comfort and the tech features are really intuitive on Sony’s, especially with the touch volume control.
As for Apples, the biggest drawback I’ve read, is the weight. I think the weight ultimately places discomfort on the users ear/head, just becomes fatiguing. And for that price, if you’re not wearing them due to discomfort, then what good are they, regardless of how good they sound.
Apple stores are open again. I just went in and finally tried the AirPods max. Set up with my iPhone 13 which was cool.
To me, they were below average which is surprising given I thought they would be above average. 90% volume and it was static crackling on a regular song it should be able to handle comfortably.
Bought an iPad Pro 11 tho!!
Irrelevant, since anyone who buys them, buys them for wireless use. For wired use, they sound bad for that price.
I didn't own the Sony's since I didn't like the sound quality at all, but owned the B&W PX7's for 5 months. They were lighter than APM but very uncomfortable due to clapping force. Couldn't wear them more than 1.5 hours. Sold them and bought APM and I can even walk with APM for 5 hours without ever getting any discomfort.
Weight is only one factor in headphone comfort. And probably not the most important one.
The problem with the Home Pod was not its price, but its idiotically limited feature set considering the price. Given its reliance on Siri, it's terrible as a "smart speaker". But its audio quality was superb, limited mainly by nonsensical I/O limitations. The Home Pod would've had a broader market if Apple gave it more flexibility to be part of a home A/V system.
I'm not going to say that they are a waste of money, but they are overpriced** if they don't support Lossless Audio.
**IMO obviously.
**IMO obviously.
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These are probably going the way of the ipod Hifi or original Homepod.
Actually no they aren’t at all. They are better than XM4 in pretty much every area.
I laughed reading that having both. The XM4s sounds like **** in comparison. Bloated bass, terrible mids. Not even close. Price has been taken care of over time. I got mine fir $400 new in the shrink wrap. Much better build quality than the Sonys too. I’m giving my Sonys away since I no longer use them. Also spatial audio is a game changer along with Apple Music.