AirPods Max to Gain Lossless Audio and Low-Latency Audio in iOS 18.4

[JohnRckr]

Thats great, so I have to get 39$ cable to my already 550$ headphones, and say bye to wireless to make this work.

Well I might then get actual wired studio quality headphones if I want to listen to HQ music no??

 

[novagamer]

Lightning version have always been able to do 24/48 over the lightning cable.
They’ve never been able to technically call it “lossless” because it technically does go from analog to digital back to analog, but it’s still outputs 24/48 audio. That’s been a thing since 2020.

But you lose Atmos with the cable, mechanically TRS can only transmit stereo.

There’s no way to get lossless spatial tracked no latency audio into the ligthning AirPods Max without using a different rendering solution on the computer. This removes that as a barrier at least, and allows for head tracking and lossless from all modern devices.

…

People are really confused at this 3.5mm thing, the announced 3.5mm USB-C cable is incidental and useful if you have a Stereo analog source you want to use them with.

You need a C-to-C cable to get lossless and Personalized Spatial Audio / Atmos with head tracking.

The 3.5mm cable will enable low latency, near lossless (but not completely) playback of Stereo sources only.

The USB-C to USB-C cable will enable low latency, entirely lossless playback of Stereo and Spatial Audio/Atmos and support head tracking and pro-audio mixing via Personalized Spatial Audio with Apple’s renderer.


The “personalized spatial audio” is doing a lot of work in the marketing, but it is important because it applies a HRTF to your profile which makes a difference. There were previously other mostly-paid solutions that would render on the computer and downmix to 2.1 but this is a much more straightforward option for people that care about it.

It also means the cable in the box isn’t a charge cable but is a data cable. I guess if we had paid attention to that at the time this could’ve been predicted.

 

[madge28]

Wired only, which they do not make clear in the press release. A nice step in the right direction but nothing really compelling me to choose AirPods over any other wired headphone. When they finally have wireless lossless it will be a real game changer.

Where do they say it’s wired only? It’s still very unclear. I thought that yes it’s only for AirPods Max with USB-C but it might be able to do it wirelessly

 

[Velli]

With most of the music today, over compressed, clipped volumes, generally crappy mixing, auto-tune perhaps it is better to keep the old format with the losses.

Tidal’s research has suggested that lossless is increasingly important the worse the recording is.

 

[idahoidahoidaho]

Is lossless & ultra-low-latency possible USB-C to USB-C, or only with the new accessory USB-C to 3.5mm Aux?

If USB-C to USB-C provides these new features, I’m curious if they have software confirming the connection is valid to support, and what is the minimum USB-C cable to make this possible?

 

[idahoidahoidaho]

Will they charge at the same time as delivering lossless?

 

[dannyyankou]

It's also impossible for an audio signal to make it to your ears without converting it to analog... A digital-to-analog conversion must happen at some point in order for the speakers to do their thing.

Ok, then I don’t understand the technology too well. I do know USB-C is a lot more capable at many things though, so I’m sure there’s a technical limitation with lightning.

 

[thefrost]

Wow. Finally. It took this long.

 

[novagamer]

Is lossless & ultra-low-latency possible USB-C to USB-C, or only with the new accessory USB-C to 3.5mm Aux?

If USB-C to USB-C provides these new features, I’m curious if they have software confirming the connection is valid to support, and what is the minimum USB-C cable to make this possible?

The included C-to-C cable in the box will do it, see my previous post for some more details. I dug around to understand this better because the press release is confusing.

3.5mm won’t get you lossless, but it will be close, also low-latency, and is useful for stereo analog sources. I don’t think there’s any reason to buy the 3.5mm cable if you’re only using these directly with USB-C Apple Devices.

They should have released that 3.5mm cable at the start of this whole release, announcing it at the same time as all of the USB-C exclusive functionality is extremely confusing for consumers.

 

[Frantisekj]

Introducing lossless audio to their $500 audiophile headphones only 4 years after launch, light-years ahead!

Hopefully it does not set standard for Siri AI 😃

 

[Sebosz]

• Lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio will be available in April as a free firmware update with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 for AirPods Max with USB-C.

Really apple? It's the same thing as the lightning version, why are you limiting it????

Yes, really. Nobody promised you this when you bought them.
Besides when using the Lightning to 3.5mm cable, AirPods Max internally converts the analog input back into digital audio, resulting in another conversion process.

 

[rappr]

Wow, Apple is really bending over backwards to please users after the Apple Intelligence fiasco.

It’s unrelated. You can’t turn around a feature like this that fast.

 

[Rukes]

Definitely a huge step needed long ago, but of course opens up more questions.

The Airpod Pro 2 supports lossless audio with the Vision Pro only, and has the H2 chipset. So that brings up the question will they enable lossless on that too for other Apple devices? Probably not for the AirPod Max since it’s just an H1 chip?

With the Airpod Pro 3 seemingly imminent, I have a feeling they will announce that it includes wireless lossless on all Apple devices, and either announce the Pro 2 will have a firmware update for it, or more likely just wall that off and keep it Pro 3 only to force people to upgrade.

 

[novagamer]

Definitely a huge step needed long ago, but of course opens up more questions.

The Airpod Pro 2 supports lossless audio with the Vision Pro only, and has the H2 chipset. So that brings up the question will they enable lossless on that too for other Apple devices? Probably not for the AirPod Max since it’s just an H1 chip?

With the Airpod Pro 3 seemingly imminent, I have a feeling they will announce that it includes wireless lossless on all Apple devices, and either announce the Pro 2 will have a firmware update for it, or more likely just wall that off and keep it Pro 3 only to force people to upgrade.

The updated product page implies lossless requires the C to C cable. Hopefully they reach out to Apple for a statement because the press release is unclear on this.

 

[djcerla]

• Lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio will be available in April as a free firmware update with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 for AirPods Max with USB-C.

Really apple? It's the same thing as the lightning version, why are you limiting it????

because, clearly, they are not the same

 

[PotentPeas]

The updated product page implies lossless requires the C to C cable. Hopefully they reach out to Apple for a statement because the press release is unclear on this.

More questions. It certainly doesn't require *Apple's* C-to-C cable. What cable is needed, can it be one that supports USB 2.0 data speeds (480mbps — even with the limitations, seems like it should be adequate for lossless audio) or is a "better" one required?

Will USB-C audio work with any other (non-Apple) devices? Can I plug it into a Nintendo Switch, for example, which supports USB-C headphones?

Doubt we'll know about that until the update is out and people have a chance to experiment.

 

[jclardy]

Really wondering what is going on internally at Apple - it is obvious this was supposed to be a launch feature for these headphones, instead of being like "Here is our 3 year old headphones, now with a different port!"

 

[applefanboysince93]

Apple will bring lossless audio and ulta-low latency audio to AirPods Max in its upcoming iOS 18.4 software update arriving in April, according to the company.

From Apple's press release:
Introduced in December 2020 and updated in September 2024, the AirPods Max have now been in Apple's product lineup for four years now, but the company does not release new AirPods models on a regular basis, so this update should be a welcome change for fans of the over-ear noise-canceling headphones.

Apple says lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio will be available in April as a free firmware update with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 for AirPods Max with USB-C.

Apple also said that today it is making a USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable available to buy for $39 from its online store, Apple Store app, and authorized resellers. The cable lets users connect AirPods Max to 3.5mm audio sources like airplane audio ports or connect their iPhone or iPad to speakers or car stereos with 3.5mm inputs.

Article Link: AirPods Max to Gain Lossless Audio and Low-Latency Audio in iOS 18.4

So lossless and low latency with the cable only?

 

[DaniTheFox]

It’s actually crazier than that for the lightning ones, DAC into 3.5mm cable -> 3.5mm cable performs ADC into AirPods Max, chip inside AirPods Max splits the stereo signal and sends it wirelessly to the other earcup, then the H1 does the final DAC to the drivers.

I came across some information regarding the AAC conversion in the Max device, but I was unable to find the reason behind it. However, you are correct that for the other earcup it should be wireless. I have always wondered why it is not more different to use a wired connection. Thank you for your insights.

 

[applefanboysince93]

In the product information of the new cable it makes clear that low latency is enabled by the cable, which makes me think there’s not been any Bluetooth breakthroughs, they’re just turning in the feature they neglected to from the lightning version…

 

[H3Y McFly]

After much hemming and hawing, I bought AirPods Max *old Lightning version* on Saturday. Saturday!!! I picked the old version because I wanted to be able to use wired audio input, to avoid latency issues with Bluetooth.

They fixed both of these things two days later. A low-latency wireless option *and* a new wired audio input option for USB-C.

Good thing my headphones hadn't shipped yet. Switching over to the new ones... What timing, I guess I am glad this announcement didn't come a month or so later after it was too late to return my "old" AirPods Max.

[Edit]
Reading the press release more closely, Apple is being strangely coy about it but it sounds like both low-latency and lossless require using a wired USB-C connection and will not be supported over wireless. (Whatever, still fine with me, I plan to use it wired most of the time.) It seems like this update just enables using the USB-C port on the headphones for audio input, which they should have had from the start.

Yes, I have been having an internal wrestle with myself lately. My original AirPods Max just crapped out about 2 weeks ago after maybe 3 years or so and just flashes 3 amber lights and then nothing. This has been very disheartening and I've tried various tricks including the freezer trick but I ultimately went to the Apple Store and they said I could pay up to $300 to fix them with an extended 90 day service warranty I believe it was.

At that price I decided to order the new USB-C ones last night on Best Buy since they were on sale but the lack of hardwire really sucked and I was about to pull the trigger on the Sonos Ace but I love the instant switching between all my Apple devices. So this update now has me excited that at least have that option and has the functionality as the original pair did with the lightening to 3.5mm cable. I'm just frustrated by mine biting the dust as this is maybe one of the only Apple products I've ever had where it just simply stopped working and now I have a fear it will eventually happen again. I think this time I will just be keeping Apple Care on my new pair.

 

[newton4000]

The included C-to-C cable in the box will do it, see my previous post for some more details. I dug around to understand this better because the press release is confusing.

3.5mm won’t get you lossless, but it will be close, also low-latency, and is useful for stereo analog sources. I don’t think there’s any reason to buy the 3.5mm cable if you’re only using these directly with USB-C Apple Devices.

They should have released that 3.5mm cable at the start of this whole release, announcing it at the same time as all of the USB-C exclusive functionality is extremely confusing for consumers.

Darn - I don't know where that cable is - I've gotten it mixed up with others. Will other Apple USB-C to USB-C cables work - or was there something in that one?

 

[mrfunnypenguin]

What about fixing that terrible bug in Apple Music on macOS where lossless songs will randomly stutter even on good WiFi?

 

[PotentPeas]

Darn - I don't know where that cable is - I've gotten it mixed up with others. Will other Apple USB-C to USB-C cables work - or was there something in that one?

I'm sure that other cables to work, but I don't know if we can say "any" cable will work, probably it will take some experimentation to figure out what the requirements are since there are so many standards for USB-C cables these days.

 

[ISignedUpToAskThis]

I wanted to be able to use wired audio input, to avoid latency issues with Bluetooth.

Is this something you've experienced yourself or heard from elsewhere? I've owned multiple sets of AirPods Max, both the old Lightning version and the new USB-C version and never experienced any latency issues whatsoever.