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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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I wish Apple would zero in on being a "great design company".
Design is way way more than how something looks.
The Ive infection is not yet cured - at all
Design is way way more than how something looks.
The Ive infection is not yet cured - at all
If you want to sell premium headphones, fine. To sell premium headphones without a case that covers the headphones in their entirety and also making it impossible to manually turn off the headphones is completely asinine.
Why in the world did Apple feel the need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to headphone cases? Look at AirPods -- the device is completely covered by its case. Look at other headphones in the mid-range to premium segment -- the cases completely cover the headphones. Why in the world did Apple go with this current case design?
Why in the world did Apple feel the need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to headphone cases? Look at AirPods -- the device is completely covered by its case. Look at other headphones in the mid-range to premium segment -- the cases completely cover the headphones. Why in the world did Apple go with this current case design?
The case is a special kind of awful. Someone needs to release a case accessory. I'm concerned the headband will get torn up when I return to traveling.
The smart case looks like it would accommodate two hamburgers and serve a nice lunch tote for work!
I went into the B&O shop the other day and tested these. They are superb headphones, but yes still quite a bit more in $$ to Apples.
I am torn between them as the choice for me, being a Eurodouch apparently and never a Saab driver.......
If you can’t afford something, you are not the customer.
They are probably still reading through communications from Apple on “how to talk about AirPods Max”
All I hear are people justifying spending $200-$300 more for headphones than they need to. The improvements that people are citing are pretty much all niche. For the vast majority of consumers, the XM4s will make them happy.
no doubt XM4 sales will increase due to the AirPods Max announcement.
no doubt XM4 sales will increase due to the AirPods Max announcement.
Agreed. What's taking so long? I'm pretty impressed with mine but that damn case might be the deal breaker. Its aweful.
Lots of Apple aficionados spend a LOT of time trying to talk themselves into being comfortable with having spent a lot more money for, at times, questionable increases in value or quality.
I love some Apple products - detest others.... there's a wide spectrum. I wish more people would be more objective with this company. They make all kinds of mistakes, like all companies.
Yeah the price doesn't bother me as much as the case and weight.
Don’t just blame the buyer, those who made 500$ headphones before Apple, might have a great product but they didn’t market it, didn’t position it in a way that shows me, the customer, why they’re better.
Let me know when you have something constructive to say about the headset, accept the fact you own them and you enjoy them, without being objective at all. Those are the reasons I don't like them. Use things in context, not just trying to justify them by any means. That's plain stupid.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.
" I'm just not sold on: weight, headband, polyester, crown control, no jack or cable included (yes sold separately, i know), no personal equalizer, no case, no option to turn them off, no charger, not sure if they have transparency mode?
I'm sold on: sound, magnetic cups.
So it's no only about the money. After the whole pros and cons I endup being sold only on one and a half thing compared to a dozen of cons. Will I buy it? No. Unless they change the cons to pros, I won't, even if it was $350, which is still not cheap by any means."
Does a portable mouse get worse sound quality when it's bluetooth and cost $550 US?
You are likely in the minority - that will find a full pound of weight on your head to be pleasurable for extended periods.
Look all I can tell you is that I have been on a journey today that started with picking up my AirMax at the store. My first thought was 'this is heavy.' When I opened the box I looked for something that was adding to the weight. Nope. The headphones were heavy. I started getting nervous. I put them on, and thought, 'still heavy.' Started listening to Billy Joel and thought, 'okay sounds decent, but not revolutionary. and still heavy.' I was wondering if others were having the same experience so I checked out at forum thread here about people who're disappointed at the discomfort out of the box. I started to think about returning.
Then I decided maybe Billy Joel wasn't the best test. I started throwing classical at it, music that was more layered, demanding and I started sitting up straighter with a smile. Then I thought I would test spatial audio, and was absolutely blown away watching Greyhound. So much I kept taking them off to make sure that sound was from my headphones, not my paired HomePods. Then I got excited, turned on the in window AC and sat next to it to test the ANC. WOW! I got a cold neck sure, but it worked really well. Then I started hopping from device and was thrilled with how well the Max did in automatically switching, much better than the AirPod Pros. And I have been wearing them straight for over 4 hours now, and its used maybe 15% of its power? that's crazy. And btw, not once has comfort been an issue past that first few minutes when they were new to me.
So yeah, I am liking this journey and laughing at myself for feeling so thrilled with this purchase. But there it is.
Now, I am noticing every thing I like about them. Heck, they are even easy to use with masks LOL. When I leave my office at work I am required to wear a mask. I have let my hair grow out a bit and its been a pain getting the loops behind my ears. No more. Easy with the Max. Okay, I really am laughing at myself, but its true!
Then I decided maybe Billy Joel wasn't the best test. I started throwing classical at it, music that was more layered, demanding and I started sitting up straighter with a smile. Then I thought I would test spatial audio, and was absolutely blown away watching Greyhound. So much I kept taking them off to make sure that sound was from my headphones, not my paired HomePods. Then I got excited, turned on the in window AC and sat next to it to test the ANC. WOW! I got a cold neck sure, but it worked really well. Then I started hopping from device and was thrilled with how well the Max did in automatically switching, much better than the AirPod Pros. And I have been wearing them straight for over 4 hours now, and its used maybe 15% of its power? that's crazy. And btw, not once has comfort been an issue past that first few minutes when they were new to me.
So yeah, I am liking this journey and laughing at myself for feeling so thrilled with this purchase. But there it is.
Now, I am noticing every thing I like about them. Heck, they are even easy to use with masks LOL. When I leave my office at work I am required to wear a mask. I have let my hair grow out a bit and its been a pain getting the loops behind my ears. No more. Easy with the Max. Okay, I really am laughing at myself, but its true!
Waves hand. in the minority after 4 hours of actual use. shrugs.
Why would I disagree with that? I said the only thing that matters is ANC. So, uhh, clearly I would turn it on. But the MX4's ANC is not nearly good enough (and neither is Bose's) to make the sound on a plane a joy to listen to. It gets the job done to prevent boredom, but the resulting quality (pass-through noise included) is worse than the cheapest headphone in a quiet environment.
Anyway, glad to hear the Max' noise cancellation is very good!
I was replying to the user who said they use 450g headphones
Glad you're enjoying your Max
But if the user think these Sounds better than XM4 i don't see the problem buying them? I tested XM4 and i really wasn't impressed with them. Now with the AirPods Max came i understand why i didnt. XM4 doesn't have that wide stereo image, also XM4 sound is warmer and missing clarity which These AirPods Max have, i have a feeling i'm going to like this Max sound signature more.
Let me know when you have something constructive to say about the headset, accept the fact you own them and you enjoy them, without being objective at all. Those are the reasons I don't like them. Use things in context, not just trying to justify them by any means. That's plain stupid.
" I'm just not sold on: weight, headband, polyester, crown control, no jack or cable included (yes sold separately, i know), no personal equalizer, no case, no option to turn them off, no charger, not sure if they have transparency mode?
I'm sold on: sound, magnetic cups.
So it's no only about the money. After the whole pros and cons I endup being sold only on one and a half thing compared to a dozen of cons. Will I buy it? No. Unless they change the cons to pros, I won't, even if it was $350, which is still not cheap by any means."
Okay, you win.
I like them. I came into it with an open mind. I tried them. You? You have judged without actually trying them. Power to you. Let me know when you aren't being subjective and dont have an agenda . Peace out.