AirPods Max Launched One Year Ago Today

[anthogag]

I use them, but I am so very disappointed! Connection issues - not smooth or automatic on my MBP. I end having to connect them on the speaker selection menu. And then when they do start to play I get one ear 'popping' the sound before the other. Once they play, they are nice, but the constant connection and startup pop/distortion is so frustrating for such a high price/premium product!!!! Total regret purchase.

If you have issues contact Apple support. Fix the issue. Even out of warranty, contact Apple support. My almost 2 years old AirPods Pro earbuds had issues. Noise cancellation was not good and there was no bass. On this website I learned there is a recall for this issue and Apple replaced both earbuds with new earbuds.

Most of the time I use my AirPods Max with my iPhone 13 Pro Max or 12.9" iPad Pro. I also use it with my M1 Mac mini. I sometimes have to select them on the speaker selection menu if they don't play right-away.

You could try an app like Sound Source on your MBP. This app lets you choose AirPods Max as primary output for any app you choose when they are connected.

 

[david.olstein]

Lightning is just the physical connector. It's just USB 2.0. You can plug-in a USB DAC that supports 24-bit/192 via the lightning -> USB port dongle and it works just fine on any iPhone/iPad. USB 2.0 has enough bandwidth to do up to 32/384, not that you'd ever do that, and most DAC's don't support that high of resolution.

Ever since Apple Music started offering the lossless option, I got rid of most of my source gear on my stereo setup. I just plug my iPhone in, the 24-bit/192khz is passed to my DAC, and the rest of my system from that point. I boxed up my SACD player and the collection as it wasn't worth the hassle anymore now that I can get almost every single album I want @ 24/192 easily.

But yes, the DAC implementation on the Airpods max is idiotic beyond belief.

Again, unless something's changed recently, I don't think that's the case. It was my understanding that the only way to get hi res digital audio out of the iPhone is with the Camera Connection Kit.

 

[mchart]

Again, unless something's changed recently, I don't think that's the case. It was my understanding that the only way to get hi res digital audio out of the iPhone is with the Camera Connection Kit.

Yes. All this is, is just changing the physical standard for you. Lightning on iPhone/iPad is ultimately USB 2.0. I don't use the big clunky Apple adapter personally; I use a $9 one I found on amazon that's a lot smaller.

 

[DarrenSW]

I paid half RRP for a refurbished (=open box) pair in Green. They sound great, the digital crown is surprisingly useful, and the ANC is Bose-level impressive. But they’re stupid heavy, the earpads irritate my ears after an hour or so, and the lack of lossless support is genuinely baffling. I’m reasonably satisfied at £274.50 GBP, but at £549 GBP? That would have been Apple Watch Series 0 levels of disappointment.

 

[Nimrad]

and the lack of lossless support is genuinely baffling.

The value of lossless audio is VASTLY overstated.

 

[mchart]

The value of lossless audio is VASTLY overstated.

Vast majority of people and on average - Yes.

However, the point here is that this is a $550 headphone without the ability to do lossless since there is no analog input or digital input that supports it. These aren't bad headphones either in terms of their quality. A $550 headphone should support lossless for those of us with the equipment, and the fact that Apple Music gives you the choice of Redbook and/or 24/192 options. The fact that not a single Apple branded set of headphones supports a key feature in Apple Music is just shockingly bad planning. I'd love to pay apple $550 for a good set of headphones so I can listen to the lossless audio. However, I have to use a third party DAC and third party headphones, instead. Apple had an amazing opportunity here to offer a good set of headphones that not only offered power-saving bluetooth streaming for on-the-go usage, but also offer either wifi-direct or a direct link via the lightning cable to support lossless for people that wanted it. From a technical standpoint, there is absolutely no reason they couldn't have at least offered 24/192 via lightning cable. However, they cheaped out on the DAC on the Max, so it can't do it.

 

[ericwn]

The value of lossless audio is VASTLY overstated.

Not at all overstated if the device is your flagship headphone and branded as high fidelity and the ultimate listening experience.
For basic AirPods, I’d agree. Not for this one.

 

[Alhagar]

I really love the APM but recently had an issue where if they moved even slightly on my head I would lose the connection (no matter what the audio source). I did not buy Apple Care (but obviously still under warranty). I ended up sending them to Apple 3 times (once on my own and twice through Apple stores). Twice Apple said that they could not reproduce the issue and they sent them back. Right before I sent them in this last time they started to play audio (occasionally) through one side only. This time, after long delays (Covid?) they are on their way back to me and have been “repaired.” We shall see. This is the first time when dealing with Apple that I got those US carrier vibes where you feel like the store and the corporate support people are passing the buck back and forth. Not a good experience.

Follow up 12/21. Picked up my repaired APM from my local Apple store yesterday. They replaced the ear cups and all seems to be working fine Now. So happy to have them back. I bough a pair from Apple on release day. I found those to be too tight on my head and so returned them. I tried them again in February (bought from Amazon at list price) and found them to be much more comfortable.

This “3rd” pair has a slight difference from the other 2. The Digital Crown is less soft for presses than the previous two. I always had trouble with double and triple clicks but no more. It is interesting how even the same version of the same product can change and be tweaked over its manufacturing life.

 

[mikeenglish]

Funny reading these comments.

Everyone that has them say that they are the best headphones they’ve owned.

Everyone that’s doesn’t own them, they are not as good as Bose etc. and are overpriced! LOL. Idiots!

I own them and they are the best. Period.

Don’t respond with your wrong options!

 

[ericwn]

Funny reading these comments.

Everyone that has them say that they are the best headphones they’ve owned.

Everyone that’s doesn’t own them, they are not as good as Bose etc. and are overpriced! LOL. Idiots!

I own them and they are the best. Period.

Don’t respond with your wrong options!

We had them, and sent them back. My wife strongly preferred the Sony. Besides, the case doesn’t charge, offers almost no protection when travelling and is an eyesore to say the least.

 

[KindJamz]

My favourite headphones. Still upset I couldn't get the blue ones tho.

 

[KindJamz]

And I bought them 1 month ago. The best wireless Over The Ear headphones that I ever used. They done a lot of final touches thru the year with the Software. So I think the sound quality specially over VoIP is amazingly good + ANC and Transparency mode is just 10/10.

And to be clear - if you compare Spotify with max sound quality vs Apple Music with lossless quality you year a difference. Even dough it's not maxed out lossless it still sounds more clear and crisp on the air Pods Max.

I tested all quality levels on Apple Music and Spotify. Apple Music sounds better in general but with lossless even with BT it sounds better.

And lets not forget the All Apple OS:s echo system which AirPods Max is part of. I don't care if Seinheiser or BO got little better sound with cable HEADPHONES.

IT'S ABOUT the whole echo system experience if you are Apple user Then the Airpods Max is the best choice.

And let's not forget Spatial Audio technology. With iPhone / iPad / Apple TV / Mb's / FaceTime Audio calls / even the clubhouse app supports it.

This is just amazingly good. And I bought it from Amazon on black Friday so for me this is worth the money.

The only minus is the case and that you can control when to turn them off or on.

Great paid review.

 

[R-TIN]

Great paid review.

LOL. I Wish I got paid.

 

[sananda]

How often have you seen people wearing them in the wild?

I wore them during a walk in a park yesterday and passed two other separate people also wearing them.

I paid half RRP for a refurbished (=open box) pair in Green. They sound great, the digital crown is surprisingly useful, and the ANC is Bose-level impressive. But they’re stupid heavy, the earpads irritate my ears after an hour or so, and the lack of lossless support is genuinely baffling. I’m reasonably satisfied at £274.50 GBP, but at £549 GBP? That would have been Apple Watch Series 0 levels of disappointment.

We must be hard to disappoint, I'm still using my series 0!

 

[jazz1]

Now can we stop complaining about the high price of the AirPods Max?

We tried the $1,000 Mark Levinson headphones that were just announced at CES

The No. 5909 are among the most expensive wireless headphones ever created. So how good are they?

www.cnet.com

I hate to admit it I am intrigued by these really expensive and high end headphones. But, out of my reach price-wise. IMHO Apple's AirPods Max's price seem a bit more reasonable as Apple is/was clearly trying for a high end, nice looking, well made headphone. I for one appreciate that!

 

[Alhagar]

I really love the APM but recently had an issue where if they moved even slightly on my head I would lose the connection (no matter what the audio source). I did not buy Apple Care (but obviously still under warranty). I ended up sending them to Apple 3 times (once on my own and twice through Apple stores). Twice Apple said that they could not reproduce the issue and they sent them back. Right before I sent them in this last time they started to play audio (occasionally) through one side only. This time, after long delays (Covid?) they are on their way back to me and have been “repaired.” We shall see. This is the first time when dealing with Apple that I got those US carrier vibes where you feel like the store and the corporate support people are passing the buck back and forth. Not a good experience.

Follow up 12/21. Picked up my repaired APM from my local Apple store yesterday. They replaced the ear cups and all seems to be working fine Now. So happy to have them back. I bough a pair from Apple on release day. I found those to be too tight on my head and so returned them. I tried them again in February (bought from Amazon at list price) and found them to be much more comfortable.

This “3rd” pair has a slight difference from the other 2. The Digital Crown is less soft for presses than the previous two. I always had trouble with double and triple clicks but no more. It is interesting how even the same version of the same product can change and be tweaked over its manufacturing life.

Despite having apparently been “repaired,” my APM are having the same issue, where if I move my head even the slightest bit they start playing out of one ear only (and then they stop and a few seconds later reconnect). This has become VERY frustrating. I did not get Apple Care (mistake) and so mine are out of warranty. I don’t see other people discussing this issue so perhaps I just got a lemon pair!