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AirPods Max (USB-C version) wired audio impressions
- Thread starter PotentPeas
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I’m genuinely impressed by the latest update. I already own a high-quality pair of headphones and some IEMs, but the comfort and sound profile of the AirPods Max have made them my go-to choice over all my other audio gear. This firmware update really solidified my decision. Initially, I used them for movie watching, working on my Mac, and casual music listening while doing the dishes, but now they’ve become my main driver for DAPs, gaming, and even turntable output.
Also, I’m really happy to see that I can use them with any USB-C to USB-C cable. It’s one of those things that should be standard across the board, but I’m still pleasantly surprised that Apple didn’t lock this feature behind a pricey €45 “Apple certified” cable.
Also, I’m really happy to see that I can use them with any USB-C to USB-C cable. It’s one of those things that should be standard across the board, but I’m still pleasantly surprised that Apple didn’t lock this feature behind a pricey €45 “Apple certified” cable.
What's weird is that mine are updated, but don't work on my iPhone (18.5b1) AND other devices that are running the regular 18.4 / 15.4... I don't understand why...
I rolled back my iPhone from 18.5 Beta 1 --> 18.4 and lossless works flawlessly on 18.4. There is some bug with 18.5 Beta 1. Not a great day to be on the Apple Software team.
I tried it and I’ve always been good with sound and audio quality but honestly just couldn’t tell the difference not even slightly better highs or anything, I kept plugging it in and out and turning off Bluetooth to make sure and they sounded the same, it’s all marketing from Apple at this point, Apple even said there own codec is like the same. Anyone tried it and found a difference because I’m sure people will have a plecebo but it’s the same
I find the improvement of the USB-C to USB-C connection and the 3.5mm to USB-C Connection quite subtle. With other similar headphones like Beats or B&W, the difference is significant. Therefore, the bottleneck must be somewhere else. I am still not convinced that transferring audio to the other earcup wirelessly is a good idea.
However, I still believe that the AirPods Max are one of the best headphones with noise cancellation for on-the-go use and are worth the price.
For recording, I use an AKG K872 and for stationary use, I have a STAX X9000.
However, I still believe that the AirPods Max are one of the best headphones with noise cancellation for on-the-go use and are worth the price.
For recording, I use an AKG K872 and for stationary use, I have a STAX X9000.
I found zero difference, it’s just apples marketing. And I used to be an audio engineer.
Another interesting thing I found. The voice quality is *dramatically* improved over bluetooth wideband HFP. Please take a listen to these samples I produced this morning. I had several phone calls for work and everyone noted the dramatically improved audio quality.
EDIT: This has been tested and it's falling back to the iPhone or Mac mics.
EDIT: This has been tested and it's falling back to the iPhone or Mac mics.
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EDIT: Wait... it appears that the Airpods Max can't actually use the mic in full wired USB mode. If you plug into USB on a Mac and turn off Bluetooth, the Airpods Max disappear from the audio input options. Are you sure the mic input didnt switch over to some other device, like your Macbook mic, etc?Another interesting thing I found. The voice quality is *dramatically* improved over bluetooth wideband HFP. Please take a listen to these samples I produced this morning. I had several phone calls for work and everyone noted the dramatically improved audio quality.
Bluetooth:
Wired USB-C Audio:Bluetooth Audio Recording.m4a
drive.google.com
USB-C Audio Recording.m4a
EDIT Again: I just tested on my iPhone as well. With the headphones connected to the iPhone with the USB cable and Bluetooth ON, the mic sounds just as horrible as always. Then, if you keep the headphones plugged in and DISABLE bluetooth, the mic is disabled on the headphones and it switches over to using the iPhone mics...which do sound a lot better. 😄
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You're 100% correct. I swear when I was on Zoom this morning I had an option to select the microphone while bluetooth was off, but apparently that's not correct. I retract my post!
hello- new to the form but this seems like the right group for this.
I’m experiencing an odd issue with this new release. I’ve updated to the new firmware and have purchased the new usb c to 3.5mm cable.
I am intending to use my AirPods max with my practice amplifier (guitar). It has a designated headphone output jack (1/4 inch and I’m using an adapter with the new cable).
The sound is not good. It was distorted and sounded like there was a noise gate in the signal - there would be dramatic increases in volume once my input signal reached a threshold.
Apple support worked with me on the phone. After doing a hard reset on the AirPods Max the distortion improved but the gating is still an issue.
To me, it seems like a firmware bug but the Apple tech recommended taking my equipment to the Apple Store to test in person. The cable and earphones were purchased this week.
This setup works perfectly fine with my sennheiser hd280 pro headphones.
Wanted to share here and I’m hoping this can gain some traction with other musicians- especially because the marketing calls out music production as a specific application for this new release.
Anyone else having this kind of issue using wired connections on other sources?
Thanks!
I’m experiencing an odd issue with this new release. I’ve updated to the new firmware and have purchased the new usb c to 3.5mm cable.
I am intending to use my AirPods max with my practice amplifier (guitar). It has a designated headphone output jack (1/4 inch and I’m using an adapter with the new cable).
The sound is not good. It was distorted and sounded like there was a noise gate in the signal - there would be dramatic increases in volume once my input signal reached a threshold.
Apple support worked with me on the phone. After doing a hard reset on the AirPods Max the distortion improved but the gating is still an issue.
To me, it seems like a firmware bug but the Apple tech recommended taking my equipment to the Apple Store to test in person. The cable and earphones were purchased this week.
This setup works perfectly fine with my sennheiser hd280 pro headphones.
Wanted to share here and I’m hoping this can gain some traction with other musicians- especially because the marketing calls out music production as a specific application for this new release.
Anyone else having this kind of issue using wired connections on other sources?
Thanks!
I have observed the same issue. However, you have two amplifiers: one in your gear and one in your headphones. If the headphone amplification is at the lower end and the guitar amp is near the maximum, you will experience distortion. The AirPods Max must be just a tad shy to the maximum.
Consequently, you will have control over the volume through the guitar amplifier. I observe that the total volume is slightly lower compared to an analog headphone. Therefore, a slight amplification from your guitar is necessary. First, connect your Sennheiser headphones and adjust the volume to your desired level. Subsequently, switch to the AirPods Max and increase the volume to the maximum. Finally, slightly increase the volume at the guitar amplifier. If the sound is still distorted, there is an issue.
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I tried it, didn't fix it. Does anybody found the solution?
Also could you please share the thread? I'm desperate to find the solution...
so I'm on macOS 15.4 in Germany, and finally managed to trigger the firmware update. In both iOS and macOS settings, it shows the firmware as 7E101.
Now I want to check out the USB-C thing, but does it work at all? It appears not.
I connect a USB-C cable to my MacBook Pro and then:
If Bluetooth is enabled, the APM will connect via Bluetooth. I can play sound to them, and in Audio Midi Setup the mic input and the stereo output is shown, but with a Bluetooth icon.
If I disable Bluetooth, they disconnect, no sound, not visible in Audio Midi Setup etc...
also if sound is playing through APM, and I pull out the USB cable, nothing happens, the sound keeps playing through Bluetooth.
on iOS pretty much the same, I did get a notification there to connect a USB-C cable for lossless, but it appears the only connection happening is via Bluetooth.
I did reset the APM, and restarted the Mac and the iPhone, but it doesn't seem like there is an actual audio connection happening at all through USB. weird? I think so.
edit: after several times unplugging replugging, it nows shows an USB-Audio logo, so seems to work. It appears it's meant to work together with the BT connection and will auto-enable the USB stream if available. in Audio Midi Settings, I only see Airpods Max USB-C if BT is disabled. Otherwise macOS seems to stick the USB stream into the audio device that appears as the normal APM with the BT icon.
Now I want to check out the USB-C thing, but does it work at all? It appears not.
I connect a USB-C cable to my MacBook Pro and then:
If Bluetooth is enabled, the APM will connect via Bluetooth. I can play sound to them, and in Audio Midi Setup the mic input and the stereo output is shown, but with a Bluetooth icon.
If I disable Bluetooth, they disconnect, no sound, not visible in Audio Midi Setup etc...
also if sound is playing through APM, and I pull out the USB cable, nothing happens, the sound keeps playing through Bluetooth.
on iOS pretty much the same, I did get a notification there to connect a USB-C cable for lossless, but it appears the only connection happening is via Bluetooth.
I did reset the APM, and restarted the Mac and the iPhone, but it doesn't seem like there is an actual audio connection happening at all through USB. weird? I think so.
edit: after several times unplugging replugging, it nows shows an USB-Audio logo, so seems to work. It appears it's meant to work together with the BT connection and will auto-enable the USB stream if available. in Audio Midi Settings, I only see Airpods Max USB-C if BT is disabled. Otherwise macOS seems to stick the USB stream into the audio device that appears as the normal APM with the BT icon.
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Thanks for the reply- I tried as you suggested (and at several combinations of volumes on the amplifier and headphones) and there’s still a “noise gate” like thing happening. I’m thinking it’s got to be some sort of firmware bug.
Oh wow. I forgot about this ^
I don’t own the APM.
I had given up all hope that they would support type C connection.
With this update , if it is truly lossless support for type C connection, then It would have to transmit a wireless signal losslessly to the other earphone. With a H1 chip in each earphone , maybe this is how it is done, similar to how they achieve lossless wireless support with the Vision Pro.
But even the H2 chip that the AirPod Pro Mk2 has only allows 20-bit 48kHz.
The H1 must be less than this , maybe it can only support 16bit 24kHz and that’s why the result is underwhelming.
I hope to try out the APM with type C in store later to day, FWIW.
So I tried the A-B comparison today.
I agree type C connection sounded anticlimactically indistinguishable to Bluetooth. And I switched off the BT when using type C.
I dont profess to be an audiophile, I generally prefer any connection/device that I enjoy listening to more (eg. I bought the JBL Tour one M2 over the original APM).
But the APM’s Bluetooth connection might be the best lossy implementation ever (excluding proprietary “lossless” Bluetooth codecs , which I personally have no experience of anyways as I have only had an iPhone in many years). And Apple’s lossy Bluetooth codec implementation on the APM alone might just be a reason for Apple device-exclusive owners to continue to buy the APM. And I don’t rule out eventually buying the APM myself.
Incidentally the JBL Tour One M3 over-ear headphones are meant to release this month with type C support. I will demo that next.
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I also don’t hear any difference between BT and USB-C, but honestly I expected that XD
(I’m in the camp of blind A-B test or bust, and those that claim to have golden ears while refusing to do such test can absolutely eat it.)
However, the low latency is nice. I’ve played a bit of Death Stranding full blast and it’s very on point.
(I’m in the camp of blind A-B test or bust, and those that claim to have golden ears while refusing to do such test can absolutely eat it.)
However, the low latency is nice. I’ve played a bit of Death Stranding full blast and it’s very on point.
I’ve said for a while that how Apple utilises the Bluetooth AAC codec is incredible. I’m convinced there’s some sort of secret upscaling being done by the H1 chip similar to Sonys DSEE.
I’ve spent the afternoon listening to them wired with the USB C cable and with a few hours continuous listening it did feel different. Spatial Audio mixes I felt like I heard a definite improvement
When I do A-B comprisons , I do not use Spatial Audio /Dolby Atmos which is lossy . I make sure the file is Apple Lossless audio.
And I make sure the EQ is flat. And I also turn off the APM Headphone Accommodations.
Incidentally I’m not against the pursuit of higher audio quality via headphones that allow a lossless type C connection. But I’m sure there are headphones that do a better job than the APM for that.
I would venture to say that it’s probably worth considering using other brands of headphone that only support analogue input and to use a quality USB-C external DAC. Even Apple’s USB-C DAC is excellent and that’s what I have been using with my JBL Tour One M2.
And I make sure the EQ is flat. And I also turn off the APM Headphone Accommodations.
Incidentally I’m not against the pursuit of higher audio quality via headphones that allow a lossless type C connection. But I’m sure there are headphones that do a better job than the APM for that.
I would venture to say that it’s probably worth considering using other brands of headphone that only support analogue input and to use a quality USB-C external DAC. Even Apple’s USB-C DAC is excellent and that’s what I have been using with my JBL Tour One M2.
This is the same across both generations y’all.
If y’all had the 2020 lightning ones that were discontinued last year can you still do them wired like that?
I’m surprised about the improvement I’m hearing with Spatial Audio with them being lossy streams, but the bass seemed tighter and I was hearing fewer artifacts than usual.
I listened to Grateful Dead American Beauty which is a legit Atmos mix, not something random through a processor and it was only on Truckin’ that I could hear some artifacts
I knew the Audio transmission from one ear cup to the other was wireless but I never thought about the power. And yet the battery is only in 1 ear cup ? So somehow it has a wired connection to the other ear cup for the the power supply , so how does the APM manage that , is there any teardown that explains how they have done that ?