Yep, you can't buy an aviation headset that is less than $800 if not on sale. Although, those do include a boom mic. But still, point taken.
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AirPods Max Customer Impressions: Premium Design and Competitive Sound Quality, Can Feel Heavy on Ears and Smart Case is Useless
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Early reviews signal that they compete in the same range as the Sony XM4 which cost half the price of these, not against the $1000+ headphones so yes, people are rightfully angry about that unreasonable price.
Moreover according to the early reviews they are less confortable than the XM4, less transportable because of the case and they use lightning instead of USB-C for charging.
I’ve never owned modern over the ear headphones like these. I’m willing to bet that if I heard these first and got used to them and then tried some similar Bose or Sony ones, Apple would probably win.
I'm still confused on what is the actual selling point of this headphones?! Is it only the sound, is it the colors and the build. what it is.. Funny enough you wished for AirPods Max Air, i just wish for AirPods Mini, if this is the Max, I prefer the Mini
Apple rushed this product so much that is half baked, obviously it lacks integrity even with its own AirPad lineup. Air stands for lightweight, ironically these are far from being light.. Go and figure what Apple was thinking or actually wasn't thinking. It was just to satisfy maybe its shareholders for the bad investment in these headphones. Who knows..
I think you pointed very well the "goodness" of the Max's and I suspect NC will also be better than competitors. Unfortunately for people like myself the wonderfull tech is not matched by design and materials. The "plastic" mesh and the weight are no good for me. I was really waiting for these...
Realiser A16 the world's most advanced 3d audio processor
The Realiser A16 is the world’s most advanced personalised head-tracked 3D headphone processor, rendering 15.1.8ch Dolby Atmos with breath-taking realism.smyth-research.com
Airpod Max price awkers should check this link.
The general public doesn’t know that Spacial Audio has been out for almost 10 years now but it still cost thousands of dollars. Apple introduced this at a easily consumable level for $550.
The tech is truly marvelous.
But also, the GP and Media needs to understand that they don’t have to buy or be the target audience for everything Apple makes.
I'm still confused on what is the actual selling point of this headphones?! Is it only the sound, is it the colors and the build. what it is.. Funny enough you wished for AirPods Max Air, i just wish for AirPods Mini, if this is the Max, I prefer the Mini
Honestly?
I think they'd been working on these for a while...never hitting a sweet spot and finally they just said "f it" and released something.
I really believe this product will flame out.
are those headphones wireless? i doubt it, because that's not what you're paying for with headphones in this price range.
Similar tech has been out even longer. I had a pair of Philips wireless Dolby headphones (SDC1500 or something similar) about 2004. They sounded amazing! But broke. They were £249 in 2004.Realiser A16 the world's most advanced 3d audio processor
The Realiser A16 is the world’s most advanced personalised head-tracked 3D headphone processor, rendering 15.1.8ch Dolby Atmos with breath-taking realism.
Airpod Max price awkers should check this link.
The general public doesn’t know that Spacial Audio has been out for almost 10 years now but it still cost thousands of dollars. Apple introduced this at a easily consumable level for $550.
The tech is truly marvelous.
But also, the GP and Media needs to understand that they don’t have to buy or be the target audience for everything Apple makes.
I always wanted a Dolby Headphone replacement and spacial audio is it. It’s superb!
Apple charging £549 for a pair of headphones and a ridiculous case, is just Apple trying to get away with as much as they can (the case) and make as much money as they can (the price).
They tried the same thing with the early Apple watches and failed. Apple seem to be obsessed with trying to be the Louis Vuitton of tech!
Interesting....I wonder if the negative reviews turn out the be legit, how long Apple will keep them at $550.
Person A: "You know that you can get better sound for far less money?'
Apple Fan: "I don't care. I want Apple."
Person A: "Fancy design and clever marketing won't make them sound better."
Apple Fan: "Apple. They know how to make the best."
Person A: "You don't even get a proper case."
Apple Fan: "The Apple. I want the Apple headphones."
Person A: "You have such high standards. Why don't you buy a product from a company that specialises in headphones?"
Apple Fan: "I'm not interested unless it's Apple. Look at the industrial design. They have to sound good."
Person A: "Why don't you shop around. Try some others?"
Apple Fan: "Famous athletes and celebrities will wear these because they know what good audio sounds like ."
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"The Sony's are also a lot comfier, you forget you're wearing them whereas the AirPods Max really have a weighty presence that feels like pressure on your head and ears."
Today is AirPods Max launch day in the United States and many other countries, and as orders begin arriving, first impressions of the headphones from customers are beginning to surface. We've already shared AirPods Max impressions from media outlets and YouTubers, and customer opinions provide additional perspective.
AirPods Max photos shared by MacRumors forum member Boardiesboi
MacRumors forum member Boardiesboi picked up a pair of AirPods Max from an Apple Store and said they are "premium quality" and "very well made," adding that the stainless steel and aluminum design is "miles ahead" of the plastic used in Bose's QuietComfort 35 II and Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones. They also found the AirPods Max to have better sound quality and active noise cancellation than those Bose and Sony options.
Boardiesboi finds the ear cups to be "light and airy," but said the AirPods Max are "much heavier" than Bose and Sony headphones. "I've been wearing them for 45 mins or so and I'm starting to notice the weight on the ears (not the top of the head)," they said. (Apple says the AirPods Max headband is designed to distribute weight and reduce on-head pressure.)
Of course, not everyone is as impressed with the AirPods Max. MacRumors forum member Macaday said that while the AirPods Max have superior build quality and aesthetics, they weren't convinced they are better than Sony's WH-1000XM3 headphones:MacRumors forum member LongWayHome ranked Bose's QuietComfort 35 II and Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones ahead of the AirPods Max in terms of comfort, noting that the AirPods Max are heavy:MacRumors forum member Moriarty emphasized that the AirPods Max ear cups are "deep and spacious," and they feel this deserves more attention:Several customers expressed appreciation for the physical controls on the AirPods Max, compared to touch controls on some other over-ear headphones. Like the Apple Watch, the AirPods Max have a Digital Crown for volume control, playback, phone calls, and Siri, as well as a noise control button for switching between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes, the latter of which lets a bit more outside sound in.
Like reviewers, many customers agree that the "Smart Case" carrying case included with the AirPods Max ranges from "useless" to "awful."
"It's almost like Apple's design team forgot about the case and they got one of the cleaners to design it on a piece of paper," quipped MacRumors forum member honglong1976. "The case is absolutely useless for travelling."
Priced at $549, the AirPods Max are available to order on Apple.com, but they currently have a lengthy 12-14 week delivery estimate. For more impressions, visit the AirPods subforum in the MacRumors forums. And if you're still waiting on your AirPods Max, track your order alongside other Apple fans in our pre-order discussion thread.
Article Link: AirPods Max Customer Impressions: Premium Design and Competitive Sound Quality, Can Feel Heavy on Ears and Smart Case is Useless
What was Apple thinking? Of course, it is going to be heavy when it is made of metal. This is not the iWatch. This is what happens when you overengineer a product. Keep it light and affordable. This is where design has superseded function.
The case is just hilarious, an epic fail for a $550 product.
Yeah, I see where you are going with this. I am your target punching bag for this. In the past when I compared headphones they were mostly derivative of each other. Sure the $500 ones sounded a bit better than the $300 (but not necessary better ANC), but .. on the other hand they were just a bit better. nothing new. I made a value judgement on if I wanted to spend more on something not different, but just a tad better. Nope. And if people keep considering the Max as nothing new, well, then you have a point.
But shoot me, they are NOT just standard headphones. They bring things to the table that I can't buy at any price from other vendors.
1) Two H1 chips not found anywhere else, makes these really easy to use and they switch seamlessly from device to device. In the past I would get annoyed with manual pairing of what was on the market. And I was not that impressed with the AirPod Pros in that regard, seems hit or miss, but the Max finally delivers on Apple's promise of ease of use.
2) Spatial Audio. This is something you have to experience to know if it makes a different to you or not. If you like it on the AirPod Pros you are going to love it on the AirPod Max. It is a game changer for me.
3) Perhaps this is the same thing as 1 and 2 combined, but they fit very well into the apple ecosystem. That means something to me. If you saw my desk you would understand lol.
And I would say, as far as the more standard features, ANC, Transparency, Frequency Response, Volume Clarity, the Max TO MY EARS are as good as or better than other headphones in this market.
and excuse the bad joke, but is that an android in your pocket or are you just not happy to see me?
So yep, I took the chance and upgraded my sound experience. I am happy with that choice.
Come on Baymo why the hate? you can just buy them all and remain exclusive like a true forum celeb.
(Even gift those bra to your wife. Win win)
It would not shock me at all if Apple has these priced the way they are to afford to replace the metal used in them with much lighter ones in a future version. The use of which would add to the cost of manufacturing but Apple would eat that cost because the early adopters already paid for it. Sort of how they sell new designs with 1st gen chips that show their age more rapidly. The early adopters paid for the redesign costs. They certainly look high end but I think Apple will address the weight issue someday with a new version. Since they control all the components it certainly is possible to reduce the weight later. I wish they could do surround sound with these things too so you can use them to watch movies without disturbing anyone around you.
I can see Apple eventually releasing an AirPods Max case akin to this...for $199?
Maybe it will be even able to recharge these cans, like they do with AirPods or PowerBeats Pro?Sorry, but this simply isn't true. I'm a composer and musician and have tried a ton of headphones for work, and the difference between spending $100-300, and spending $300+ is significant. At this point, honestly, I'll only consider headphones with a price tag below $500 if I have a strong recommendation from a trusted source (I am talking CAD, mind you, so knock a bit off for USD/Pounds/Euros). So, in my experience, if you want to have a clear idea of what's going on in your music, you have to spend a bit more. This is probably because virtually all cheaper headphones (for the big market) have a V-shaped response, emphasizing bass and treble, with a reduced mid—the proverbial "disco smile". As mentioned previously in the thread, the mids become murky and indistinct and you start to sacrifice both detail and imaging/soundstage. I'm not sure why this is satisfying for the big public, but apparently it is....
As far as studios and recording engineers go, several of my colleagues use, for example, HD600s (or 650s... or even 800s) or better (and pricier). But also many of them just don't trust headphones at all (which speaks to your last point, actually), since they work exclusively on studio monitors in controlled environments. But all this is changing, too, since the tech going into headphones has been improving rapidly, with a lot more focus on detail and imaging (the two things generally slaughtered by cheap headphones), primarily because there are so many home-studio producers now, and they often have less-than-ideal listening environments. Today's mid-to-high-end reference headphones are significantly better for these people than blowing big money on speakers, since their rooms will ruin what's coming out of the speakers anyway (at least in terms of accuracy—i.e., telling them what's actually in their mixes). So there's a large, relatively new market for trustworthy reference headphones. Also, more people are listening on headphones than ever before, so engineers need to take that listening environment more seriously than they used to.
For tracking, of course, the headphones mostly emphasize being loud and having good isolation (to play over acoustic drums). Tracking headphones typically take a beating, so they tend to be cheap, loud, and durable. Most tracking headphones I've used sound pretty bad, to be honest.
One caveat: I'll admit to be totally unsure, and quite suspicious, of the additional value provided by headphones in the $1500 and up range. There are lots of options these days, and I really can't imagine that they're that much better than a headphone costing around $500-600... Maybe, but I'd have to hear it to believe it.
Well exactly what happened. Sources were saying Apple started working on these at 2016 and supposedly were to be released in March 2021 because of headband issues, not fitting well enough.. and here they are for Christmas. If there is 2d gen and they improved the most of what we wished, this will prove some points.. like they rushed it without really perfect them. They worked on these for 4 years now and if that's what they came up with only is very.. disjointed by my opinion. When you see the headband and the aluminum cups, it looks parts of two different headsets.. Idk, maybe it's only me being critical, butT for those money I should be. Here in EU they're around $800, more than the regular iPhones in US. Just crazy!
Smh on that case. Will be interested to see if 3rd parties will be willing to make a case for it.
Looks like cool headphones but the case looks like such an afterthought, especially for the price
I'm still confused on what is the actual selling point of this headphones?! Is it only the sound, is it the colors and the build. what it is.. Funny enough you wished for AirPods Max Air, i just wish for AirPods Mini, if this is the Max, I prefer the Mini
yeah. you are right. you are still confused if you are looking for one selling point. as has been detailed numerous times by others, there are a multiple selling points
. It not just the clear sound, or not just the quality build, or not just the H1 chips ease of use in device switching and powering on and off, or not just the spatial audio, or not just the great ANC and transparency, it is the sum of all these. Perhaps you don't want all that in a headphone, perhaps you just want some base thumping your ears. That's cool. These aren't made for you. Apple knows their target audience and I suspect they hit it well. Time will tell. But judging from the sheer number of posts you have on this topic, Apple has succeeded in catching your eye. When are you going to actually try them so you can give feedback from experience? You might then be less confused. Or, more sure these are not for you.