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

[NT1440]

i think that is key word mate you hit the nail on the head, target audience.
I would love an xdr display but i am not target for those not content creator business person.

Likewise, are we going to just over look the fact that these are $550 headphones that don't ship with a charger in the box? I mean, that's brutal. You spend $550 and after opening them up, you find out, no charger. Not only *that* but it's a USB-c Lightning cable. Seriously, who has a USB-c charger these days? So on top of that $550 your only option to charge these is to spend another $20 on Apple's 20W charger.

You’re going to have to find the one person on the planet that is buying these that doesn’t already own a charger for the devices they’re going to pair this with...

 

[cmaier]

What? USB-C to Lightning should work and 3.5mm to Lightning is advertised to work. Apple sells that cable and calls out support for AirPods Max explicitly. See links elsewhere in thread or find on apple.com.

USB-C to lightning works only for charging, not for sending audio.

Not sure why you raise 3.5mm to lightning - that wasn’t the issue.

 

[Rogifan]

Haha, you gotta love how some random-ass rumor that may or may not be true becomes "what Apple had planned".

It’s like anyone who is not a fan of the Digital Crown believes the rumors and assumes this wasn’t what Apple had planned. I’m not sure how one gets from gestures/touch controls aren’t working so lets stick a Digital Crown on it. Seems more likely that inside Apple they actually like the Digital Crown and found another place they could use it. I’ve heard not so good things about touch controls on other headphones so maybe having buttons instead of gestures will be a good thing. I never use the gestures on my AirPods.

 

[meru890]

What damage will really happen from the lack of the hard case if you put it in a bookbag? Maybe I'm ignorant but folding and unfolding headphones and then putting it in a hard case that takes up a lot of room is more annoying than using Apple's purse case.

That is entirely depending on your workflow. If Apple headphones are stationary (always on your work space) it doesn't really matter. If you travel a lot then the product is really idiotic, unless of course you carry the purse in your hand. If you travel with backpacks it's not protected at all and the package size is of the headphones is huge. While my Sony xm4 are in a hardshell protected from all my other stuff (camera gear etc.) and doesn't take up that much space.

 

[codemonkey4711]

OK, sorry. I guess I had in mind this? :

Uncompressed master 24/16 bit > AAC encode > AAC transcode to bluetooth > bluetooth lossy encode > bluetooth lossy decode > Analogue

As opposed to my current iphone setup:

Uncompressed master 24 bit > Analogue

Shouldn’t it use AirPlay2 which is lossless compression?

edit: never mind - it's bluetooth transfer with AirPods ...

 

[31 Flavas]

You’re going to have to find the one person on the planet that is buying these that doesn’t already own a charger for the devices they’re going to pair this with...

I'm confused then ... If "everyone" on the planet already owns chargers for their devices meaning no charger needs be included in the box of the AirPods MAX. Why has there been such unrest and discord over Apple not including a charger with the iPhone 12? I mean, does everyone else only have *a* charger, as in only one single charger, period. Where everything else is only ever charged though that single in-box mobile phone charger? Is this then why there was such unrest about the iPhone 12 not including an in-box charger?

The individual I was replying to was commenting on what they anticipated would be just powder puff reviews lacking in any critical review. So, in reference, by way of a "Poe post", I was commenting on what I thought would be lack of attention to what has clearly been voiced as a very important topic. The lack of in-box chargers.

 

[anson42]

Not sure why you raise 3.5mm to lightning - that wasn’t the issue.

Apologies, misread what you were trying to say.

 

[LongWayHome]

Not a fan either, but hey she seems to be doing well and I bet makes a killing. Besides, if the kids like that style then good for her and good for them. There's plenty "boring, professional" reviews to be found as well.

No I get that, but her reviews are often posted as something in here that carries value. They don't. She's the definition of a shill. Not just for Apple, but for pretty much every company that gives her free stuff. I was just gibing my opinion on her. If poeple like her I don't have a problem with that. I just find her and her sister beyond annoying.

 

[LongWayHome]

Well clearly you are not her target audience;I certainly am. I don't watch her reviews to make buying decisions but she does introduce new tech products with her cheerful positive videos and I enjoy watching them!

No I get that and that's totally fine and I'm completely cool with that. She's just not my cup of tea.

 

[ewrapple]

That is entirely depending on your workflow. If Apple headphones are stationary (always on your work space) it doesn't really matter. If you travel a lot then the product is really idiotic, unless of course you carry the purse in your hand. If you travel with backpacks it's not protected at all and the package size is of the headphones is huge. While my Sony xm4 are in a hardshell protected from all my other stuff (camera gear etc.) and doesn't take up that much space.

I still don’t get it. I know every other headphones comes in a hard shell case but do you really need it. What will happen without it, the mesh gets scuffed? Unless you’re traveling with knives I doubt there would be serious damage.

 

[cardfan]

I still don’t get it. I know every other headphones comes in a hard shell case but do you really need it. What will happen without it, the mesh gets scuffed? Unless you’re traveling with knives I doubt there would be serious damage.

Sorry kid maybe one day you’ll get it.

 

[bluespark]

Likewise, are we going to just over look the fact that these are $550 headphones that don't ship with a charger in the box? I mean, that's brutal. You spend $550 and after opening them up, you find out, no charger. Not only *that* but it's a USB-c Lightning cable. Seriously, who has a USB-c charger these days? So on top of that $550 your only option to charge these is to spend another $20 on Apple's 20W charger.

Who has a USB-C charger? Everyone who has bought an iPhone during the last couple of years, among many others. I no longer have any chargers that aren’t USB-C, and I suspect I’m far from alone.

Besides, the charger doesn’t even need to be USB-C if you have an older lightning cable lying around.

 

[bluespark]

I still don’t get it. I know every other headphones comes in a hard shell case but do you really need it. What will happen without it, the mesh gets scuffed? Unless you’re traveling with knives I doubt there would be serious damage.

It would get smashed, bent, and torn in my bag.

 

[31 Flavas]

Who has a USB-C charger? Everyone who has bought an iPhone during the last couple of years, among many others. I no longer have any chargers that aren’t USB-C, and I suspect I’m far from alone.

Besides, the charger doesn’t even need to be USB-C if you have an older lightning cable lying around.

I swear since October when Apple announced / revealed that only a USB-c Lightning cable, only, no charger, would ship with the iPhone 12; that there were a lot of comments and strong feelings that it was instead very anti-consumer specifically because so few people have USB-c chargers.

 

[Mr.PT]

I’ve been using a set of AKG K-55 cans since 2002. Any possibility of these lasting as long? I’m starting to look for a replacement set.

Would not count on that. If looking for longevity give a look to Bang Olufssen H9 previous generation, it has replaceable batteries, so it doesn’t “die” on the long term.

 

[Mr.PT]

Agreed. I too, love my HomePod and did from the start. Some people appreciate quality sound and others don't, and thats fine. Apple is rivaling high end consumer companies like Bose, B&O and other companies that are even niche. What they are doing with sound research is beyond belief.

You really think these compare to B&O H9i (same price range but cheaper!)?
Wait for Real Hi-Fi reviews.

 

[Mr.PT]

$549!!!
I'm replacing my old QC35's with Sony's for about half the price.

Or you can even get B&O H9i also cheaper, and wait... both have USB-C, touch controls, superior battery life, much lighter (if you wear over Ears for long periods this REALLY matters) and in B&O case, much superior built quality, materials and IMHO design...
But YouTube crowd will crave for these !?

 

[robbysibrahim]

What happens if you rip the mesh after using them for a year or two?

You have a pair of AirPods Max with ripped mesh.

 

[Mr.PT]

I can’t judge these without hearing them myself but have some issues with the design choices

I understand people saying anyone with these is likely to have an iPhone which has lightning chargers. The issue is that it’s heavily rumored that within the next couple of releases the iPhone will lose its port. Apple is moving to wireless charging. While that may or may not be an option for headphones of this size... the remainder of Apple’s lineup that will continue to use ports for the foreseeable future are the iPad or macbook which both use USB-C. Long term it doesn’t make sense to me to include lightning for these if apple’s primary lightning device is going to lose that part and only usb-c will remain on the rest of their products

I don’t mind expensive headphones and the full review will tell the whole story.. but for substantially more money they should sound much better than the competition and not be comparable to them. People are talking about the next tier of audiophile headphones as potential competitors but apple isn’t marketing these as reference grade monitors. That doesn’t mean they don’t sound good or won’t sell well, but it’s a tougher sell to a group of people at the very high end that likely aren’t considering these or even the alternatives by Sony or Bose

The case also seems like a bad design. It doesn’t look good from the pictures, and many people put their headphones in a bag. The case doesn’t seem to provide a lot of protection.

Agree, though the price tag of Apple really forces you to compare these with Bose; Sony; B&O and BW...and I suspect comparison will not look good for Apple.
Design wise I’m appalled by these, they look like a Satechi product (no offense as those guys don’t sell on these price range).Expecting way more from Apple design team. B&O built quality and materials is what I was expecting...
Let’s not forget: no touch control; no USB-C; much heavier than competition (something that will surely impact comfort when wearing for long periods of time).

 

[Mr.PT]

That is pure truth. Apple really needs to offer hi-def sound with Apple Music. If you are going to be in the high end audio market then your music better align with the hardware.

Maybe that’s the thing...they’re aligned!?

 

[Mr.PT]

Were you honestly expecting anything different? There wasn't anything announced spec-wise about these that suggested they'd offer an experience drastically different than other premium over ear headphones.

They are drastically different in price tag though.

 

[Mr.PT]

Really? I was actually just browsing the net, with the intent on buying a set. I'll grant you, calls are far from my primary purpose for them. But I do at least want them to be good for that purpose. Is it really so bad that you'd recommend something else?

Check B&O H9 or if you want a more affordable option the H4.
IMHO better for: Sound quality; touch control (better in new H9); battery life and specially weight, built quality and materials.
Actually I was hoping Apple was going to compete with these, but I guess not...

 

[cdrider]

Yawn. Bloggers who think they're journalists trying to be audio specialists. Just like they try to be photography experts when a new phone is released. I'll wait for the reviews from people who actually know audio and headphones, not glitzy YouTubers who daren't criticise Apple.

 

[Mr.PT]

Really? I was actually just browsing the net, with the intent on buying a set. I'll grant you, calls are far from my primary purpose for them. But I do at least want them to be good for that purpose. Is it really so bad that you'd recommend something else?

Check B&O H9 or if you want a more affordable option the H4.
IMHO better for: Sound quality; touch control (better in new H9); battery life and specially weight, built quality and materials.
Actually I was hoping Apple was going to compete with these, but I guess not...

My biggest complaint is the price. Unfortunately, I can't afford them right now due to Corona has cut my income and as a professional musician, I need a new pair of studio headphones. I thought these were going to be it. Since they are not, I have to invest in some other brand for studio headphones for my work. Otherwise, I definitely would have ordered these. I'm hoping in the future a 2nd generation or 3rd generation will have the improvements professional musicians need such as a jack for wired connection. Then it will make sense for me to buy.

I’m sorry but these are not and will never be a studio headphone, so forget the jack option for sure. They are targeted for home entertainment and comute. I suggest you look for AKG; Sony; B&O and B&W for better options for your use.

 

[Ubuntu]

iJustine has reached a new level of cringe for me. Her "reviews" are nothing more than her trying to be cute for the camera and fawning over whatever product Apple has given her for free. The least she could do is act somewhat professional and not like a 12 year old girl trying to mug for the camera.

I did find her especially annoying in this video, trying way too hard to be funny and shouting about everything, but on the other hand I guess there are many people who love that about her as she’s very successful. She’s just really annoying 😂