AirPods Max Unboxing Videos: 'More Than Good Enough to Compete With Other High-End Headphones'

[Rogifan]

Neither did Matthew Panzarino of Techcrunch and, to me, he's one of the most unbiased Apple product reviewers.

Just read his first impression. He did not hold back on the case. Like Nilay Patel he also called it “cheap“. I’d love to know the backstory on that case.

 

[MecPro]

Other reviewers mention that a) it's good for 24 hours, b) when you put them away in the case, you can pick them up a month later and they have almost the same charge; and c) charge them five minutes and you get an hour and a half of listening.

A month later? No one has had the headsets that long so how will they know that is true?

Also Apple themselves said the battery last 20 hours, how are people getting 24?

Here are two reasons why it makes sense: 1) consistency with AirPod line, but more importantly, 2) the Lightning port can be used to listen to audio in wired mode over the USB-C to Lightning and the 3.5mm audio jack to Lightning cable that has the ADC in the Lightning plug. Until Apple releases an audio cable that has similar ADC in a USB-C plug, or even better introduce a 3.5mm jack in the headphones, I don't see them moving away from Lightning until then.

Your Point 2 is a complete mind-f*ck! How many cables/adaptors do you want to carry just to listen to music wired on an iPhone?!

 

[TrueBlou]

Pairing and sharing is one thing - that alone wouldn't justify a $200+ premium over comparable Sonys.......that will have to fall to the noise cancellation, sound quality and included tech.

Oh, I totally agree, they need more. if the audio quality, distortion and noise cancellation are as good/better than relevant competition. then I'd be looking at, the obvious pairing/sharing I mentioned, but also Spacial Audio and Computational Audio and the effectiveness of those. Having already experienced Spatial Audio with the AirPods Pro, it's a feature I have come to like, very much in fact.

 

[jonnyb098]

Proof? You need to back up these sort of statements.

Heres what you clearly refused to do.....a simple google search.

More audiophile praise for the HomePod as professional tests confirm Apple's claims - 9to5Mac

There has been much debate about the audio quality of the HomePod. The majority of reviews have praised the speaker...

9to5mac.com

Reddit audiophiles test HomePod, say it sounds better than $1,000 speaker

In-depth test says $350 speaker has a “near-perfectly flat frequency response.”…

arstechnica.com

 

[The Game 161]

I know how this will come across, but save it.

iJustine is someone that I turn to for a different point of view. She looks at features and items from a point of view that almost all reviewers don't bother. She reviews tech items for the non techie, which makes her more relatable to a large portion of viewers.

There's been a number of times she's focused on features that other reviewers didn't bother to, or even laughed at. I've seen people get as excited as she does when they try out/find out about some of these features. She is the person that I turn to when I want to show my wife a review because Justine talks her language.

And yeah... she is a fangirl, she acknowledges this. But there is also a science behind her enthusiasm for all products she reviews. Many successful YouTubers, talk show hosts, display this same enthusiasm to draw you in. While some of you may dislike her enthusiasm she genuinely appears to be this energetic in general. We all know someone that is excited and enthusiastic about the little things. Something I wish I was more like and appreciate the little things like some do.

yeah she is a fan girl and looks apple but she is great t what she does and does have a lot of knowledge but her being a sheep is why people don't seem to take her seriously

 

[MecPro]

Heres what you clearly refused to do.....a simple google search.

More audiophile praise for the HomePod as professional tests confirm Apple's claims - 9to5Mac

There has been much debate about the audio quality of the HomePod. The majority of reviews have praised the speaker...

9to5mac.com

Reddit audiophiles test HomePod, say it sounds better than $1,000 speaker

In-depth test says $350 speaker has a “near-perfectly flat frequency response.”…

arstechnica.com

It's not that straightforward it seems:

EDIT: before you read any further, please read /u/edechamps excellent reply to this post and then read this excellent discussion between him and /u/Ilkless about measuring, conventions, some of the mistakes I've made, and how the data should be interpreted. His conclusion, if I'm reading it right, is that these measurements are largely inconclusive, since the measurements were not done in an anechoic chamber. Since I dont have one of those handy, these measurements should be taken with a brick of salt. I still hope that some of the information in here, the discussion, the guesses, and more are useful to everyone. This really is a new type of speaker (again see the discussion) and evaluating it accurately is bloody difficult

 

[ignatius345]

I'm following these reviews pretty carefully. I've got a pair due to be delivered around 12/31, but I'm definitely feeling some ambivalence about the $600 (after tax) pricetag. I guess I can also just take a week to evaluate them in person and return them if they don't live up to the price...

 

[0924487]

When reviewers receive these products, do they get to keep them? Or do they pay a reduced price if they want to keep them?

They get to keep them, unless they are valuable items like the Mac Pro or iMac Pro, then they are given a few weeks before needing to ship them back.

 

[jonnyb098]

It's not that straightforward it seems:

Of course not, the point is the HomePod is a REALLY good sounding speaker and nowhere near the " overpriced garbage" so many claim to be.

It's as simple as this....if people don't get why Apple chose to make this product then its not for them. Just like a $30k mac Pro with XDR display isn't.

 

[Jordan Klein]

These look great and silly at the same time.

Can't wait for the forum posts about scratches on the ear cups.

The headband was designed specifically to recognize they are Apple AirPods Max too.

I was thinking the same thing. The aluminum backing will scratch when the cups are turned sideways and can rub against each other. MKBHD's video somewhat showed that possibility when he was holding them and had the cups turned sideways.

I suspect that over time, a lot of users are going to be very unhappy when the metal on the bottoms is all scratched up.

 

[Zimmy68]

Apple makes the return rules. You say this like $550 is a lot of money for them. It’s not. The MacRumors channel has 375k subscribers compared to iJustine’s 6.8million, and even we can afford a $550 pair of headphones for YouTube without hesitation.

I wasn't claiming you (or The Verge) doesn't return them, I am saying iJustine doesn't have to. Big difference.
iJustine can continually use Social Media to dance around on vacation with them on. It is worth it for Apple to send everything to her one way.

 

[MecPro]

Still waiting on some normal usage tests and I'm sure the APM will beat the Sony and Bose for pure sound quality, I think that's a given.

The thing is though, as many people on this forum have said - all 3 use lossy Bluetooth compression (when using Apple products as a source). So I am waiting for the real world tests to know how similar the headphones sound - there needs to be a KO punch from the APM in my opinion.

At this stage, there are a few things I really do not like about the APM that are specific to me:

-Fabric ear cushions
-Fabric Headband
-No carry case
-Price

£550 certainly isn't outside of my price range, as I already bought them - then cancelled the order due to the ear cushions. But I do not know if the sound quality and compatibility with the Apple ecosystem are worth a £200 increase over my Bose NC-700. I own the APP and I do like them, but I'm not too enamoured with the sound as I think they are just too small, so I tend to go with over the ears when I'm not mobile, the ANC is stellar though

It will be interesting to see some proper testing and dynamics though. I really wish JimsReviewRoom was still around as he did good ANC, Microphone testing in his videos too

 

[Ries]

None of these are really reviews. More like first looks.

He used them for several hours and the vibe I got was, they're on par with other top models or slightly better, but he doesn't think it's worth double the price.

 

[jonnyb098]

I wasn't claiming you (or The Verge) doesn't return them, I am saying iJustine doesn't have to. Big difference.
iJustine can continually use Social Media to dance around on vacation with them on. It is worth it for Apple to send everything to her one way.

iJustine has become not much more than a lifestyle Vlogger who happens to love apple products. Most people dont take her seriously on reviewing anything Apple. She is literally the person that if Apple polished up an elephant turd and sent it to her she would post slow mo video of herself dancing around Venice Beach with it.

 

[aperture01]

Something that I can't fathom buying that I will end up buying in 6 to 9 months begrudgingly. That's what happened with the damn Homepod. Now I love it.

 

[AppleMad98004]

Spacial audio/atmos alone in these is worth the extra money.

 

[Jon20001]

Justine seemed to hint that it was a type of fabric similar to the one used for the Smart Keyboard.

So, plastic.

 

[deevey]

I do like some people on YouTube. Or at least, I find some listenable. But the vast majority just get on my goat for one reason or another, some voices just weren’t meant for broadcast.

Which is partly why I have thus far avoided making videos for any of my reviews. Why cause unnecessary suffering to people with my Barry White voice.....

.... Let’s put it this way, I was watching Batman one day, the wife was upstairs doing, well, whatever she was doing.
She came down and asked who I’d been on the phone to. The only sodding voice that she had actually heard, was Bane making a speech. I mean, Bane! Bloody cheek

I unconciously put on a Bane voice too whenever I'm onto customer service

 

[Syk]

I think this is ultimately the case. How much is that convenience worth to people?

There are loads of cheaper wireless earbuds than AirPod Pros but they are worth it to me for the convenience of device switching alone (never mind the comfort and sound quality).

I’d love a pair of the max, just saving my cash for a PS5! (When I can get hold of one!!)

AirPod Pros still don't auto switch between iPHone and ATV.
If I'm watching ATV with my airpods, the go do something else and decide to use my phone with my airpods the airpods will autoconnect to my phone but when I get back home turn on my tv I have to pair back up the airpods to the atv.
Disappointed with that.

 

[TokMok3]

MKHBD said they do not turn off unless you put them in the case.

That's a no, HUGE no for me.

Edit* Nilay says they go to sleep after a period of inactivity, but not sure that’s good enough. Still reading as many different sources as possible.

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless had that feature that it not turned off, they solved it by implementing a switch in the app to turn them off, very annoying to do that and people did not like it and complained about it... google it. They fixed it in the next version. I hope the AirPods Max are battery replaceable as the Sennheiser Momentum Over the ear headphones.

 

[deevey]

Honestly, yes. For example, the HomePod is priced higher than the higher end google home/Alexa devices, but sounds better and looks better (IMO). These actually look worse than the competition and are significantly more expensive. While Apple products always carry a premium, they usually deliver.

They are directly competing with Bose/Sony's $300-$400 headphones, and I would argue that a large majority of those owners use them for travel. How they are lacking a 3.5mm is mind boggling. While there are alternatives (Airfly) for planes, it is hardly as reliable for in flight entertainment.

iPad / Laptop + Netflix vs in-flight movies ... I know which I choose, but anyway.

Are they really completing with Bose or Sony market though? They could take some of it for sure, but I think these are going to be completing with the "trendy" Beats market more than the frequent flyer, noise cancelling market.

3.5mm is available, I'm more interested to see how they perform without bluetooth. (but I'll be sticking with my passive headphones for the foreseeable future).

 

[deevey]

And lots of Apple's aac music is created from masters at higher than CD quality.

And then compressed down to lossy AAC again for Apple Music

Even a lossless AIFF is going to be re-compressed to AAC for bluetooth streaming.

 

[Macaday]

The fact that you used the words Bose and B&O as examples of high-end audio tells me your knowledge of audiophile products is little more than zero. Do yourself favour. Get an education of real audiophile headphones that can run into thousands of dollars before you start making such ridiculous statements.

Bose. B&O. Lol. Really.

And here we have another example of an absolute tool giving Audiophiles a bad name.
Yes, there are always more expensive companies out there, more expensive gear. Headphone that cost $1,000's but the previous statement was relative to the competition that Apple has, not Focal or Grado.
To 'most' people, B&O and Bose are high end audio. That makes his statement true to the majority so perhaps you should gain an education in tolerance rather than 'making such ridiculous statements'.

 

[kazmac]

Come on. Does anyone expect MKHBD or iJustine to say anything remotely critical of an Apple product? Otherwise bye-bye early review units.

Those things are like the illegitimate offspring of an Aeron office chair and an Apple Watch.

I understand what you mean, but Marques has been critical of Apple recently: he wasn’t enthused about the iPhone 12 line up when they were revealed. He does call them out.

 

[B/D]

iPad / Laptop + Netflix vs in-flight movies ... I know which I choose, but anyway.

Are they really completing with Bose or Sony market though? They could take some of it for sure, but I think these are going to be completing with the "trendy" Beats market more than the frequent flyer, noise cancelling market.

3.5mm is available, I'm more interested to see how they perform without bluetooth. (but I'll be sticking with my passive headphones for the foreseeable future).

It is?. I don´t think so.