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

[MecPro]

Until you've actually held a pair of AirPods Max in your hands and had a chance to listen to the sound quality from them, you don't know that. You're just guessing. After proper reviews, you may end up being right...or wrong.

I’ll guarantee that it will not be $200 better then the Bose or Sony just based on audio.

I think these will sell, but to a specific set of people who want Apple products. The Sony’s do spacial awareness, 40 hours battery life, USB C, lossless, wired option and LDAC

I’m going to buy them now though. I just want new tech

 

[burgerbarn]

Wow ...So many "Reviews" already!

 

[anson42]

Remember, Apple did not implement equalizer for HomePod. So much for computational sound.

HomePod does have a bunch of audio manipulation though, processing for room acoustics and stuff like that. As to equalization, I suppose HomePod does what Apple thought was best and their algorithms result in a house sound.

 

[clerkpalmer]

Until you've actually held a pair of AirPods Max in your hands and had a chance to listen to the sound quality from them, you don't know that. You're just guessing. After proper reviews, you may end up being right...or wrong.

Let's call it an educated guess. Like I said earlier nothing would make me happier then to find out that these are innovative game changers that render my stable of headphones useless to me. I'll gladly pay 550 for them. I'm not rooting against Apple but on paper these are massively overpriced for what they appear to offer.

 

[Rogifan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1336463312150622208

 

[TeamMojo]

I am sure they are nice. I'd consider at about half that price.

 

[macrumors3000]

$549+tax = $600 stimulus payment #2. Apple is Genius.

 

[anson42]

I’ll guarantee that it will not be $200 better then the Bose or Sony just based on audio.

I know what you're trying to say but you really cannot put a dollar amount on something as subjective as sound quality. It's a slippery slope going that route where you'll get all sorts of arguments on what "sound quality" even means. Ultimately the value of any headphone (and speaker, etc) is one's own value and enjoyment extracted from it.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

Those complaining about the price clearly don't shop around for headphones too often if at all. There are plenty of headphones that cost over a thousand dollars. Even a few thousand dollars. Just search for brands like Sennheiser, Focal, ZMF, Audio Technica to name a few.

 

[RiderX]

USD 550?

600€ in Europe. That is over 700US$ 😳

 

[clerkpalmer]

Those complaining about the price clearly don't shop around for headphones too often if at all. There are plenty of headphones that cost over a thousand dollars. Even a few thousand dollars. Just search for brands like Sennheiser, Focal, ZMF, Audio Technica to name a few.

This isn't why we are complaining about price. Were complaining because these particular headphones appear to be way overpriced for what they "appear" to be offering. I own several pairs of 500 plus headphones from Audeze, Hifiman, Focal and others. Price isn't the issue - value is.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

This isn't why we are complaining about price. Were complaining because these particular headphones appear to be way overpriced for what they "appear" to be offering. I own several pairs of 500 plus headphones from Audeze, Hifiman, Focal and others. Price isn't the issue - value is.

I can agree with that. Value for you dollar is important. The AirPods Max seem to be offering plenty of features. I'm guessing these are supposed to be competing with the likes of Sony and Bose wireless offerings.

 

[LMLC88]

I’m guessing most users aren’t audiophiles. If you were, this kind of price wouldn’t have surprised you. Also, if the claims about the sound quality and fidelity are correct, they might just be well priced.

 

[iGüey]

Hahahaha, the price is ridiculously INSANE! I rather stick to my Sennheiser, which are built by a +50 years headphones experienced company.

 

[iGüey]

I’m guessing most users aren’t audiophiles. If you were, this kind of price wouldn’t have surprised you. Also, if the claims about the sound quality and fidelity are correct, they might just be well priced.

You are right! This price is quite low for what audiophiles use to pay. The real issue is that is highly doubtful this AirPods Max are audiophile grade.

 

[dannys1]

What is haha about Bose.

They're a shocking brand, absolutely laughable sound signature. No music lover, let alone audiophile, would buy Bose in their right mind. Of course they're cheap.

 

[EugenesSoggySalami]

And these headphones costs only 629€ ($762) in Finland, there's no way I'm gonna pay that much for a headphones.

 

[cycomiko]

Loooooollol. Awesome. Those XM4s are looking pretty good value now.

 

[Stephen.R]

That's because I think Apple owns the patent rights to lightening. If anyone makes an accessory for lightening compatibility such as chargers, Apple gets more money.

There is no 'e' in lightning. The word you're writing, means to make something lighter.

You could say for instance: "I just bought some AirPods Max with cash, now listen to me go on about how it lightened my wallet, while I plug in the lightning charger".

Let's not get into the naming/logo for "thunderbolt" (you can't see thunder, you hear it, what the "Thunderbolt" logo depicts is a bolt of, you guessed it, lightning.)

 

[clerkpalmer]

They're a shocking brands, absolutely laughable sound signature. No music lover, let alone audiophile, would buy Bose in their right mind. Of course they're cheap.

Never for critical listening that's for sure. But my Quiet Control TWS earbuds are terrific for working out and moving about the house. The ANC is incredible.

 

[thei3ug]

There is no question that 120 is objectively a bigger number than 60.

Objectively greater
“Better” is a description of value, not technical performance.

Semantics aside, there will be a 120hz screen when adding its PERCEIVED value does not detract from the value to consumer of the entire product, but Instead adds more to the total value than the additional cost.

Apple is a product company. It doesn’t sell specs. It doesn’t sell features. It sells items designed to maximize the customers willingness to pay, for the lowest cost. Each item is comprised of features that maximize that value, are part of a lineup that increases the value as more products are purchased.

the headphones aren't the marvel. The product development is.

Apple Will make more from this item because they believe this combination of features, as a component of their product lineup, is more valuable to enough people than a device that is “better” in one way or another to most people. They know their customer, they know their market size. They know the technical ability of the components. Knowing this, they estimate the price point. It’s 549. They’re not perfect, they make errors, but Apple has a good track record.

Apple cans have a perceived value. Apple thinks it’s 549. Whatever I or anyone thinks, They appear to have underestimated.

 

[MecPro]

Those complaining about the price clearly don't shop around for headphones too often if at all. There are plenty of headphones that cost over a thousand dollars. Even a few thousand dollars. Just search for brands like Sennheiser, Focal, ZMF, Audio Technica to name a few.

Are they not wired headphones though? Its a genuine question, but what I never came cross BT headphones > $400 price range regularly.

You are right! This price is quite low for what audiophiles use to pay. The real issue is that is highly doubtful this AirPods Max are audiophile grade.

Show me Bluetooth audiophile headphones. As you said in the second part of your post, I do not think they will be that high quality over standard bluetooth

 

[smulji]

+50 years headphones experienced company.

Intel has been making processors for around 50 years and within ten years Apple has come along to not only match them but even smoke them. Ten years ago the guys over at Intel laughed at Apple and said Apple didn't have any deep experience making processors. I bet they're not laughing now. Apple has shown time and again, that maniacal focus on learning and desire to make great products trumps experience. They've handily beaten many very experienced competitors across different fields.

 

[clerkpalmer]

Are they not wired headphones though? Its a genuine question, but what I never came cross BT headphones > $400 price range regularly.

There are high end BT headphones they cost over 400 yes. Hifiman, Audeze, Beyerdynamic make high end BT headphones. The Ananda BT details for 1000.

 

[clerkpalmer]

Objectively greater
“Better” is a description of value, not technical performance.

Semantics aside, there will be a 120hz screen when adding its PERCEIVED value does not detract from the value to consumer of the entire product, but Instead adds more to the total value than the additional cost.

Apple is a product company. It doesn’t sell specs. It doesn’t sell features. It sells items designed to maximize the customers willingness to pay, for the lowest cost. Each item is comprised of features that maximize that value, are part of a lineup that increases the value as more products are purchased.

the headphones aren't the marvel. The product development is.

Apple Will make more from this item because they believe this combination of features, as a component of their product lineup, is more valuable to enough people than a device that is “better” in one way or another to most people. They know their customer, they know their market size. They know the technical ability of the components. Knowing this, they estimate the price point. It’s 549. They’re not perfect, they make errors, but Apple has a good track record.

Apple cans have a perceived value. Apple thinks it’s 549. Whatever I or anyone thinks, They appear to have underestimated.

This is pretty fair. I think this is a situation where Apple misfired like they did with the Homepod. I love the Homepod at 200 but no way at 350.