It's not about the monies. It's about value for money. Are they worth $550?
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Apple Announces AirPods Max Over-Ear Headphones With Noise Cancellation, Priced at $549
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nothing will top $1000 monitor stand. if apple can sell that then there is no hope.
People are reacting as if they have never seen a headphone priced at $550 😂
Without even hearing the sound, everyone has made up their mind it's overpriced.
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I'm not trying to say $550 is cheap but without even testing the sound of the product, people decided and compared with cheaper headphones and justified it's overpriced?
Here below are the headphones that do cost high but people still buy them because of the premium sound. Let the reviews come in, we will know how good it sounds and does it justify $550 but just because $550 is expensive for you, does not make the product expensive. If the product delivers, it's definitely justified and if not, then it's overpriced.
Without even hearing the sound, everyone has made up their mind it's overpriced.
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I'm not trying to say $550 is cheap but without even testing the sound of the product, people decided and compared with cheaper headphones and justified it's overpriced?
Here below are the headphones that do cost high but people still buy them because of the premium sound. Let the reviews come in, we will know how good it sounds and does it justify $550 but just because $550 is expensive for you, does not make the product expensive. If the product delivers, it's definitely justified and if not, then it's overpriced.
The ear cushions don't seem to pivot. That's going to make them just as popular as the earbuds that a surprisingly large number of people really hate. Unless I'm wrong, these aren't going to sell as many as Apple might want.
EDIT: I was wrong. In the video put out by Apple, they show that the ear cans SWIVEL on the end of the stalk that goes into the 'canopy'. Seems like an interesting idea. (Several models of Bose QC's have had issues because their connection to the headband fails)
EDIT: I was wrong. In the video put out by Apple, they show that the ear cans SWIVEL on the end of the stalk that goes into the 'canopy'. Seems like an interesting idea. (Several models of Bose QC's have had issues because their connection to the headband fails)
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That cable likely contains a AD converter. Not what what audiophiles would want.
How about clicking on the link in the article to read the "details" you claim are missing.
That price will be ok as long as they are true hi-fi headphones, which if they are then the price ain’t bad. Then also Apple Music doesn’t have hi-fi streaming like Tidal does. Unless I hear Apple Music is getting upgraded as well then a pass for me as well.
Can it play
Apple today introduced new wireless over-ear headphones called AirPods Max, with key features including high-fidelity audio, Adaptive EQ, Active Noise Cancellation, and spatial audio. Priced at $549, the headphones can be ordered starting today on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app, with availability beginning December 15.
AirPods Max come in five colors, including space gray, silver, sky blue, green, and pink. Apple says the headphones feature a "breathable knit mesh" spanning the stainless steel headband that distributes weight to reduce on-head pressure.
Apple says the ear cups have acoustically engineered memory foam to create an effective seal, and the telescoping headband arms smoothly extend and then stay in place to maintain the desired fit on your head.
AirPods Max feature a 40-mm Apple-designed dynamic driver that is said to provide "rich, deep bass, accurate mid-ranges, and crisp, clean high-frequency extension." Each ear cup is equipped with Apple's H1 chip for "computational audio" to deliver the "highest quality listening experience possible," according to Apple.
Similar to the Apple Watch, AirPods Max feature a Digital Crown on one ear cup for precise volume control and the ability to play or pause audio, skip tracks, answer or end phone calls, and activate Siri voice control. There's also a noise control button for switching between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode, which lets some outside sound in so you can interact naturally with your surroundings.
AirPods Max feature up to 20 hours of battery life with Active Noise Cancellation and spatial audio enabled — fine print reveals that Apple had volume set to 50% during its testing. Apple says a five-minute charge delivers 1.5 hours of listening time.
As with other AirPods models, AirPods Max have one-tap setup and automatic pairing with all the devices signed in to a user's iCloud account, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. AirPods Max have built-in optical and position sensors that automatically detect when the headphones are on someone's head. Once in place, AirPods Max play audio and can pause once removed, or when the user lifts one ear cup.
Apple's announcement provides more details on audio features:For phone calls and Siri commands, beam-forming microphones help to block out ambient noise and focus on the user's voice.
AirPods Max come with a carrying case called the "Smart Case" and a Lightning to USB-C cable in the box. Apple says the Smart Case puts the AirPods Max in an ultra-low power state that helps to preserve battery charge when not in use.
AirPods Max are launching in the United States and more than 25 other countries and regions, with shipments set to begin arriving to customers on Tuesday, December 15. AirPods Max can be ordered on Apple.com starting today.
Article Link: Apple Announces AirPods Max Over-Ear Headphones With Noise Cancellation, Priced at $549
Oh I agree if you don’t like to be in walled garden then it’s not worth it. I just wanted to have good AirPlay speakers so it’s perfect for me. I even tried Devialet, already went to their listening room. Turns out it’s hard to set it up for AirPlay. HomePod sound (the original one) is actually undistorted just like Devialet but with 1/3 the price (for the original price) so you can see why I’m perfectly happy with the price.
That's not how neither lossy encoding of lossless files not audio over bluetooth (two different things even though AAC can be used for both) work.
Bitrates simply can't be compared among different codecs, and the only goal of compression to to send artefacts down to inaudible levels (going beyond that is pointless) - something AAC 256 kbps manages to do when it comes to encoding lossless formats for listening purposes and something that AAC 256kbps audio over bluetooth manages to do pretty well... and better than other codecs with a higher bitrate.
Audio over Bluetooth: most detailed information about profiles, codecs, and devices
This article is also available in Russian / ÐÑа ÑÑаÑÑÑ Ñакже доÑÑÑпна на ÑÑÑÑком ÑзÑке The mass market of smartphones without the 3.5 mm audio jack changed headphones industry, wireless Bluetooth...
habr.com
The problem being that this is only the theory, and that many devices don't implement AAC well at all (Android phones for example). But Apple is pretty solid at it.
The ultimate guide to Bluetooth headphones: AAC only acceptable on Apple phones
Along with default SBC and Qualcomm's aptX, AAC is a commonly supported Bluetooth codec in the wireless headphone and speaker markets.
www.soundguys.com
Besides codec the sheer quality of the BT implementation is just as important. I've managed to produce audible artefacts when playing single tones regardless of the codec and source used on various BT headphones.
It's also completely pointless to listen to a pair of, for example, a un-EQed WH1000-XM4 in LDAC 990 kbps given how rubbish their FR curve is in the first place anyway.
Price isn’t a big deal as premium headphones are like this price or higher they just better be amazing lol
Found the frugal dude. I salute you.No thanks. I’ll stick with my $19 wired EarPods and use the savings to pay my mortgage.
I just purchased the Sennheiser PXC 550 ii second generation for 149$. Had the first generation for 4 years and they are absolutely fantastic, both for office, media and travel use.
I am sure the AirPod Max will sound fantastic, but I have my doubts about operating them with the crown. Love the touch controls on my Sennheisers.
I am sure the AirPod Max will sound fantastic, but I have my doubts about operating them with the crown. Love the touch controls on my Sennheisers.
Yeah they are, here is a photo of them in real with the separate stand:
Attachments
Literally just under $100 CDN less than the base model M1 Mini which has become the centrepiece of all of my computing needs. Hard pass on principle.
That cable does have a DAC, but as far mobile devices go it’s a pretty good DAC in a very small package.
I meant pivot vertically. Turning side to side is nice, but pivoting. I mean, look at the picture of the woman. It looks like the 'ear cans' are going to pop her head like a zit.They look to pivot - that's how the fit in that case
They SWIVEL on the end of the stalk that goes into the 'canopy'. Sounds like an interesting idea. Bose has had issues with reliability in that area. Hope Apple can pull it off.
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Yeah this makes it a no go for me as well, now if these mark an availability of better music files then that would change things.