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

[mattopotamus]

Most people can tell the difference between the sound of the same audio file produced from a pair of EarPods and that from a Sennheiser HD 800 S but the majority of us are hard-pressed in distinguishing between a Sennheiser HD 800 S and a Sennheiser HD 650, for example. This is to say that if you own a pair of AirPods Pro and listen to mostly podcasts and pop, rap, hip-hop and/or country, this Max version is most likely overkill.

iJustine's review is a travesty. As a bespectacled person, I can vouch for the fact that you can't tell how comfortable a pair of over-the-ear cans is and how hard it presses against your glasses unless you have it on your head for longer than 30 minutes. Most people have their headphones on for much longer than that.

perfectly said.

 

[gcmexico]

People are comparing these against the Bose and Sony headphones, but at over $200 more (Bose 700s currently selling for $339.95) they should outperform them by a wide margin. Are you really paying for performance or for the Apple brand name?

to be honest I pay extra for the ecosystem...probably sound really good and feel great too...but the ability to connect to all my apple products gets me! Apple TV connects, iphones, ipad pro, apple watch...connects connects connects, just like my airpod pros...I feel I pay extra for that convenience, Im cool with that

 

[Swift]

Another red flag from The Verge... No fast charging. Are you kidding me?
A standard feature of mid to high end wireless headphones is getting like an hour after charging for like 5 minutes.
Heck, even the AirPods Pro do that.

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.

 

[coolbreeze2]

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.

 

[blcamp]

The most important part of your post.

Actually, the most important part was "quick observations". Contrary to public opinion, I do get to express them.

Cheers.

 

[jimbobb24]

So they sound as good as headphones that cost $200 less. Ok...

 

[MrJM]

to be honest I pay extra for the ecosystem...probably sound really good and feel great too...but the ability to connect to all my apple products gets me! Apple TV connects, iphones, ipad pro, apple watch...connects connects connects, just like my airpod pros...I feel I pay extra for that convenience, Im cool with that

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!!)

 

[CmdrLaForge]

So in a year the more affordable version is coming?

 

[iBluetooth]

Not a fan of these headphones.
i thought the time of big over the ear headphones was over.

To create absolute sound quality, BIG is needed, you can't have much base without size, except maybe for the original Homepod but then Apple did a trick of pushing a lot of air.

 

[nikaru]

My Airpods cost me 120$ on a sale. This is the absolute max Im willing to pay for headphone and it is not because I cant afford the Airpods Max. Apple is not going to sell very much of these, not with Sony Mx4 at half that price.

 

[PhoneI]

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?

I get a lot of complaints that my voice sounds distant and muffled when using the Sony’s. The Bose are far better for calls.

checkout the video from the CNET reviewer on the AirPods Max. He tested them for phone calls and liked the results.

 

[The Game 161]

So in a year the more affordable version is coming?

you would hope so. sources say the sport has not been cancelled

 

[GalileoSeven]

A fairly bold statement to make, when you haven’t had personal experience of them - I’m of course assuming you haven’t.

I will grant you this, you’ve got a very, very good chance of being right.

However, if Apple really have managed to produce a set of cans, which really do have better noise cancellation, and can at the very least match, or exceed on sound quality. Then the added benefits of easy pairing, simple sharing between devices and audio sharing. May make them very competitive.

That’s a big maybe, but y’know, devils advocate.

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.

have them, like them, but if planning on using them for phone and video calls....get something else. Terrible for calls.

Oh no, I should've been a bit clearer - these are just for listening to music and such at my desk while working. Might give them a spin while gaming too just to see how they do.

 

[RNA_man]

Youtube 'reviews' are basically just an infomercial.

 

[icwhatudidthere]

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!!)

This is the case for me as well. I'll pay for the convenience, but that convenience isn't worth an extra $200-$300 to me. Especially when my current QC35 II already connects to two devices simultaneously so it's actually slightly more convenient since those devices aren't limited to Apple.

 

[routine_analyst]

Yawn. The classic “early access review.”
Gee, I wonder if the “reviewers” are gonna be 100% unbiased. Hate to see them lose their good grace with Apple. Also, it’s gonna be just like the HomePod “early reviews,” where it gets compared to “more expensive” offerings, that way Apples product seems like a bargain. Rather than be compared to Sony and Bose, it’ll be compared to actual, high end, audiophile grade gear.

Well of course. They own stock in the company they promote. Time for a big Q4 push!

 

[johnnytravels]

What I want to know: Is there a Lightning2Lightning cable so I can connect it to my iPhone wired without having to use a dongle (and trading in what I would assume is a good audio chip in the headphones for a mediocre one in the dongle)? Or does Apple think that it's a good idea to do just that. I use my phone for finger drumming when out and about and bluetooth latency is way to big...

Really, I like these headphones but I also wish they'd put a headphone jack on one side. Every other headphone in that price range has it and for a good reason. They just sound better when connected with a wire. With just AAC over bluetooth I am sure I can get something way cheaper to sound just as good...

Oh and also: Can I connect these to my Mac and iPad with the included (or any other lightning to usbc cable) to get latency free playback?

 

[japasneezemonk]

I love the look of these headphones, but of the bunch of Youtube stars and Reviewers listed here I only trust Nilay Patel and David Carnoy (David has reviewed the Sony XM4's which are amazing).

Many of the YouTube peeps(except MKBHD, he's cool 😂 ) are kind of annoying to watch. I wouldn't buy anything they reviewed. I'm sure they'd be reviewing toilet paper and q-tips if it got them views.

 

[anson42]

I switched it off at her defending the lightning port with "Makes sense" 💁‍♀️

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.

 

[ryanflanders256]

The unboxing videos are cute, but I'm looking forward to detailed audio tests.

 

[Keniutek]

iJustine is the most biased apple reviewer on the planet, I take anything she says with a grain of salt.

She's not a reviewer, she's an Apple groupie. Cringeworthy.

 

[fumi2014]

Here we are..... Now that all the trolls did and will continue to do their thing. Watch these come close or blow away the sound of headphones that cost the same or even many times more.

Really? You honestly believe that?

Have you ever actually heard really good audiophile products? Because Apple certainly don't make them. It's not their market.

If anything, Apple audio products usually cost twice the price as a comparable audio product. I'll be surprised if these even sound as good as a $300 pair of phones from an actual audiophile company.

Shure, Audeze, Absolute Ears, Campfire Audio, etc absolutely annihilate Apple when it comes to headphones. Saying otherwise just sounds like Apple fanboyism.

Don't get me wrong. They do make fantastic phones. iPads, Computers etc but quality audio products are not their thing.

 

[TwoBytes]

So when will aliexpress have these?

 

[fumi2014]

The homepod got a lot of audiophile approval when it launched. It was easily as good as similar sized high end speakers that cost 3-4x as much.

Don't trust me just go look it up.

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

 

[johnnytravels]

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.

USBC to USBC can transfer audio just as well. For example, the Bowers&Wilkins do it.
Do you know for a fact that the audio interface is in the lightning to audio jack cable and not the headphones themselves?