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But why is it? Wireless is an alternative, it’s not as good but that doesn’t mean that the wireless headphones out there are the upper range, Apple could introduce a wireless pair at $1000, creating a new tier for wireless devices. If you can create a good wireless headphone that uses magic to lower the latency and reduce quality loss, then it’s worth the extra price. Yes wired serves a different market, but that doesn’t mean wireless can’t attempt to enter that market.
Not saying they can't, of course they could and try to carve a high-end market for themselves in the wireless world and others would follow to be sure. But this product isn't that, not until proven it can do lossless over BT or a future product can. I'm all for wireless as an alternative and use AirPod Pros myself but not for critical listening to well recorded music.
 
This is the most over priced Apple product yet. good lord.
Really? I think this is a tad worse.

Screen Shot 2020-12-08 at 2.34.39 PM.png
 
Looks like you can used them as wired headphones using the 3.5mm to lighting adapter
Lightning to 3.5 mm Audio Cable (1.2m) - White

View attachment 1689554
That's interesting, thanks! However, doesn't that cable contain an ADC at the Lightning end? In effect, the headphones would still get a digital signal, and not necessarily a great one depending on how the ADC works. I'd like to be wrong about that though. If Lightning has provision for an analog signal and that signal can go to the drivers without digitization, just amplification, then we're talking.
 
Not saying they can't, of course they could and try to carve a high-end market for themselves in the wireless world and others would follow to be sure. But this product isn't that, not until proven it can do lossless over BT or a future product can. I'm all for wireless as an alternative and use AirPod Pros myself but not for critical listening to well recorded music.
I wouldn’t use wireless either for well recorded music, but perhaps there’s people out there for who want audiophile quality and accept a loss in quality for portability.
 
What’s really annoying is seeing all these social media posts opining on the price of these from people who don’t know the first thing about headphones (or consumer electronics at all). Just because Apple did something doesn’t mean the whole world needs to have an opinion on it.

Exactly right. Anyone who has any experience with the audiophile world knows this price is about right for feature-heavy consumer-grade wireless headphones. They're not for me (give me audiophile-grade wired headphones with no noise-canceling) but there's nothing wrong with the price given what they are.
 
I wouldn’t use wireless either for well recorded music, but perhaps there’s people out there for who want audiophile quality and accept a loss in quality for portability.
I would count myself in that bucket, and for each of us "portability" also has its limits. The reason I have the AirPod Pros is definitely because of portability and not high fidelity (as compared to my headphone system). But to me over ears are not portable at all and that's why I've never bought into the Bose or Sony products and will stay away from this one as well.
 
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That's interesting, thanks! However, doesn't that cable contain an ADC at the Lightning end? In effect, the headphones would still get a digital signal, and not necessarily a great one depending on how the ADC works. I'd like to be wrong about that though. If Lightning has provision for an analog signal and that signal can go to the drivers without digitization, just amplification, then we're talking.
The original Apple adapters use the most advanced DAC available and are able to transmit Hi-Fi audio with no audible audio loss up to 24bit/96KHZ which is the highest quality available that makes sense on a mobile device and even outperforming expensive external DAC’s that cost 5-10x more. ( Source https://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/lightning-adapter-audio-quality.htm ) If you choose to use cheap AliExp. adapters, then indeed it will degrade audio quality...

Apple doesn’t compromise on audio quality, their wireless bluetooth AAC option also uses the best encoding possible and retains full transparency, giving even better sound quality than Aptx HD on most Android phones. Don’t believe all the marketing cr*p some audiophiles choose to believe in, it are the facts that matter: https://m.habr.com/en/post/456182/
 

"High-Fidelity Audio: The Apple-designed driver delivers high-fidelity playback with ultra-low distortion across the entire audible range." So that means that these support 96 kHz / 24 bit audio files?​

 
The original Apple adapters use the most advanced DAC available and are able to transmit Hi-Fi audio with no audible audio loss up to 24bit/96KHZ which is the highest quality available that makes sense on a mobile device and even outperforming expensive external DAC’s that cost 5-10x more. ( Source https://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/lightning-adapter-audio-quality.htm ) If you choose to use cheap AliExp. adapters, then indeed it will degrade audio quality...

Apple doesn’t compromise on audio quality, their wireless bluetooth AAC option also uses the best encoding possible and retains full transparency, giving even better sound quality than Aptx HD on most Android phones. Don’t believe all the marketing nonsense some audiophiles choose to believe in, it are the facts that matter: https://m.habr.com/en/post/456182/
 
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Would you recommend them ? I need a good pair of cans for both wireless and wired use. I love the B&O aesthetic as well.
Yes, I would. They sound great and lack the sibilance that the H9 series suffered from. They have probably the best sub-bass extension I’ve experienced. That said, I think the AirPods Max would be worth of an audition against the H95.
 
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That's interesting, thanks! However, doesn't that cable contain an ADC at the Lightning end? In effect, the headphones would still get a digital signal, and not necessarily a great one depending on how the ADC works. I'd like to be wrong about that though. If Lightning has provision for an analog signal and that signal can go to the drivers without digitization, just amplification, then we're talking.
It's converted to digital. The Lightning port can't pass analog audio. It has to be converted to send through USB protocol.
 
Yes, I would. They sound great and lack the sibilants that the H9 series suffered from. They have probably the best sub-bass extension I’ve experienced. That said, I think the AirPods Max would be worth of an audition against the H95.
I had the apple ones ordered then cancelled. The case is terrible and not folding is pretty bad. Also kind of ugly IMO.
 
Apple didn't go through all the trouble to make their own line of over-the-ear headphones, if they were going to release something only marginally better than existing Beats offerings. they wouldn't put a separate audio chip and all of the sensors into each ear if it wasn't going to deliver noticeably impressive improvements in the experience. it's a lot compared to $350, but I bet they over-engineered the hell out of it to create something better than all of you are expecting. when the reviews come in, the proof will likely be in the pudding. like the M1
My guess is they will sound better than what they’re currently being compared to (Sony) but will reviewers say it’s worth the price? Doubtful.
 

"High-Fidelity Audio: The Apple-designed driver delivers high-fidelity playback with ultra-low distortion across the entire audible range." So that means that these support 96 kHz / 24 bit audio files?​

"Audible range" would probably refer to the 20-20,000 Hz that's perceivable by the human ear, not higher bitrates or sample rates. Given that Apple Music and the iTunes Store don't offer any higher bitrates, it's unlikely that these are compatible with them. As far as I know, the H1 only supports the AAC codec and even aptX is capped at a 48 KHz bitrate. Bluetooth has limitations as far as "hi-res" audio goes.
 
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People like “mass market sound tuning”. Nobody buys headphones with a clinical sounding flat frequency response unless they are recording engineers - who aren’t the target market for this product.
Sure, a lot of people do - hence why Beats has historically done well, along with Sony with their XM line and Bose, but there is definitely a large market out there for people wanting something a little more discerning and subtle without being clinical - for example Master & Dynamic, B&O, B&W, Shure, and Dali. These are all a step above from the bloated bass tuning of something like the Sony XM4.
 
It's converted to digital. The Lightning port can't pass analog audio. It has to be converted to send through USB protocol.
Thanks, that unfortunately is not a replacement at all for an analog signal path. Oh well.

EDIT: I missed @Niekw's earlier post. Perhaps the audio to Lightning cable can produce a quality experience with these headphones. Curious what reviewers will have to say about this.
 
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I had many Bose over ear headsets and in ear models over the years used only when flying. I tried the Beats and gave them to my son. I have the the latest AirPods and they too fall out of my ears when outside or in the car. I still have many Macs (both a 2013 MacPro and a 27” iMac), laptops, Pads and an iPhone. Been an Apple user since the SE30, IIfx and IIci days. Still have an old CUBE which was a neat design and could be modified in memory and disk storage.

I thought it was a wonderful engineering feat that I could link the control of my hearing aids to my iPhone.

I ordered the silver pair of head phones at around 7:30am Arizona time and they will be here between the 13th and 17th of December. I am no audiophile straining to hear the mouse fart during the music recording. I will use these in my office for background music to relax me during the day. Like the other battery powered “I” devices, I expect the headphones could last past the two year extended warranty with no issues since the battery is larger. These will be for in house use only. They will connect to just about any of my Apple branded electronics.

I believe the “MAX” in the name is a legally better designator because, if “PRO” were used, some clown would sue Apple for false advertising.
 
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