Apple Announces AirPods Max Over-Ear Headphones With Noise Cancellation, Priced at $549

[ipponrg]

A lot of lazy hot takes here...The idea of having a head position sensor and active DSP has been the dream of headphone design for a long time. This should provide a completely different headphone experience one that is more like listening to speakers. There is nothing else like this on the market.

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Has head positioning / dsp and is made by a headphone company. Has been out for a few years too.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Those look kinda sexy...

 

[Seanm87]

How are these charged then? Via lightning or USB-C?

 

[vgrindheim]

The price in Norway equals $798 🤪

 

[deconstruct60]

Direct from the App Store app (iOS 14.2.1)

That is a "animated" graphic. The numbers quickly cycle from 0 to 20. In the static image after the 'disco' stops, it is 20. Capturing the snapshot while it is counting is deceptive.
If the image was stuck at 1 for a long time it is your internet connection that has a major problem; not these headphones.

 

[Sugarcubes]

These are utterly useless for recording engineers.

They're not meant for recording engineers

 

[max2]

 

[reyesmac]

If Apple can get away with prices like this for headphones, how much more are VR glasses with built in spacial headphones going to cost? $600? $799? $999? There really is no limit if it sells well. When Apple isn't looking to disrupt a market it usually doesn't bother aggressively pricing new products. Well, thats not true, it does price it aggressively, just in the other direction.

 

[Royksöpp]

I bought the grey and the silver cause I cant decide on color.

I went with space gray. The black mixed with the stainless steel looks so much more slick. I like the silver, but it’s too much white. It reminds me a lot of the silver aluminum Apple watch which I dislike greatly. Space gray on the other hand looks like the SG Apple Watch on steroids!

 

[aohus]

bought one. glad my wife woke up early today had no idea it would sell this early.

expensive yes, but its apple and their main game is the luxury market. $549 is normal audio phile level pricing if not cheaper. But at the same time i know apple wont be able to match the audio quality level as its competitors in the same price bracket.

prove me wrong apple

 

[VermontsFinest]

I thought this was supposed to be a Christmas surprise for EVERYONE. Well it’s a surprise for the one-percenters and a great big FU to everyone else!

I held off on buying a few things cause I wanted these headphones and now I feel like Apple is mocking average people like myself. Well I now have to wait further down the road when these don’t fly off the shelf and therefore the price gets lowered.

Come on Apple! Not even an introductory special? I guess Apple thinks the average consumer during the Covid crisis has lost his/her mind and will slap it in the Apple card enabling Apple to make even more money! Dam I wish I had some Apple stock.

An introductory special? I found one for mine

 

[JBGoode]

I’m sure this has already been said but why the hell does it look like a woman’s purse when in the case? I wonder what genius thought that a good idea.

I might buy these after the reviews come out although that would be the very definition of unnecessary purchase for me. I have the Sony W whatever 3s that are still fantastic.

 

[nameischarles]

Wow $900 AUD! For another $500 I can get the base M1 MacBook Air.

 

[contacos]

thankfully I hate over-ear headphones cuz they never stay on my head so I am not even tempted. Also the price JIKES. Does it include a 1 way ticket to buy them in California?

 

[Rogifan]

According to Prosser, so take this with however many grains of salt you want to, there’s still a cheaper sport model coming next year for around $350.
Do with that information what you will.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1336305015305236480

Even sadder is the fact that according to Mark, even though these things are priced at $550, they still aren’t as good as they could have been.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1336308848798310401

Why does everyone hate physical controls these days? I love having a physical button to press or turn vs having to know just the right spot to tap or squeeze.

 

[bookcase]

The pricing is reminiscent of the HomePod -- the quality is there, but there are MUCH less expensive options that do the same thing or more. Even if these were half off (like when I bought the HomePod), they're still higher than the competitors. I'll wait for the AirPods Max Minis.

 

[macfacts]

If the sound truly is terrific and battery life is and stays great, you could sell them for $ 399.

Buy high, sell low. Are you hoping to make it up on volume

 

[ipponrg]

These are utterly useless for recording engineers.

Unless they are the same recording engineers that use the HomePod for recordings 😂

 

[matrix07]

Like the AirPods with the long stalk. Gets hung up in shirt collars, sweaters, coats, such a PITA...

What!?!

 

[max2]

 

[MrMaxwell]

Bose are king when it comes to ANC and comfort - Apple better be bringing their A game with this price point!

 

[jmgregory1]

I find it interesting how pricing on Apple products plays out. These new headphones seem expensive at $550, and the new M1 MacBook Air seems cheap at $1k, especially when you compare the two. Would 2 sets of AirPod Max’s really be worth one MacBook Air or Pro? The headphones are really only good for listening to things, vs an actual computer with screen.

I’ve felt this way about Apple pricing with the iPhone vs MacBooks too. Here I am upgrading my iPhone either every year or every other year, paying more than $1k and not thinking twice about it. Yet I’m still using my early 2013 retina MacBook Pro 15”, instead of just upgrading to one of the new M1 MacBooks, because I feel like I need to justify the expense more (I don’t as it’s an essential business expense).

I certainly have no interest in these new headphones, as the over ear Plantronics I have had for several years just don’t get used much now, since I’m not flying (where I mainly used them). That and the fact that the AirPod Pro’s have taken on the role of my daily headset.

 

[max2]

Some people use headphones as their main audio.

 

[nameischarles]

I’m sure this has already been said but why the hell does it look like a woman’s purse when in the case? I wonder what genius thought that a good idea.

Oh, I just noticed the case lol it doesn't even look like it will add any protection at all.

 

[AppleWes]

Just seen the weight of these things, 384.8 grams (13.6 ounces). That’s heavy. To put that in perspective both the Sony XM4 and Bose 700 are around 250 grams. Sure the extra weight could be down to the drivers but they won’t make great headphones if tiring to wear.

Great point. I agree, about double the weight of an iPhone 12 Pro. That seems really heavy.... basically holding up an iPhone to each ear.