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

[Abazigal]

The price of these headphones are a problem to the mass market, not audiophiles.

For the mass market, the pinnacle of headphone quality are the most expensive Bose/Sony headphones that the local Best Buy carries - approx $300.

So when Apple drops a $550 bomb into the market, it is natural for lots of negative reactions.

I expect these headphones will be a low volume seller like the Homepod - most will stick to Airpods pro or Beats for over the ear headphones.

I guess they are going to have to wait for the AirPods max mini in a year or two then.

I suspect this is like the OG HomePod, which was priced what it did because it really does cost so much to design and make. Similarly, I am willing to wager that the AirPods max costs as much as it does because it’s really that expensive to manufacture as well. Apple isn’t making much money from them.

In time, we may see Apple improve enough of their manufacturing process to release a more mainstream pair of headphones at a more reasonable price. Like what Apple has done with the HomePod mini.

But for now, I will say the AirPods max is pretty much in line with what one would expect of a 1st gen Apple product. It probably has its limitations, but it gets that one core experience right which makes people go “this one thing is worth more to me than every other sacrifice combined”.

 

[InuNacho]

“this one thing is worth more to me than every other sacrifice combined”.

I dunno, if I was going to spend $550 on a pair of headphones, I'd like to you know be able to listen to music from a 3.5 jack or at least know that theres a cable in the box.

 

[Abazigal]

I dunno, if I was going to spend $550 on a pair of headphones, I'd like to you know be able to listen to music from a 3.5 jack or at least know that theres a cable in the box.

Except well, you know, the ipad and iphone don’t exactly sport headphone jacks any more.

It’s all about augmenting the environment by pushing intelligent sound. And wires have no place in this new world order.

 

[clerkpalmer]

I'm going to answer my own question and venture that Apple doesn't want to implement LDAC or it's own lossless codec because Apple music does not offer a high res option like Tidal. So adding a new codec to an apple product would drive some number of Max owners off of Apple music and that's bad for Apples bottom line. So unless and until Apple music offers a high quality tier, Apple isn't going to improve upon AAC.

 

[AppelGeenyus]

Lol. It doesn't have to be LDAC though. LDAC is an off the shelf option that is available. I wish Apple would improve upon LDAC. Then they can take my money. They have the money and know how to make it better. They could have used the Max as an opportunity to do so.

Not really, a new high bandwidth codec that also fixes the issues of current bluetooth would most likely require new hardware on the source device. Releasing headphones compatible with nothing isn't a great business model.

 

[InuNacho]

Except well, you know, the ipad and iphone don’t exactly sport headphone jacks any more.

It’s all about augmenting the environment by pushing intelligent sound. And wires have no place in this new world order.

So I'm only supposed to use a $550 audio device with a specific brand of tech stuff? Thats classic early-2000s Sony.

Intelligent sound?

I dunno man, my TV wouldn't work without a wire.

 

[Spankey]

I paid $200 more for my Apple Watch. Yes I paid a premium for Stainless Steel but that was a choice of form over function. I do think these headphones are among the best looking I have seen (Ever?). I appreciate the slim form factor while maintaining an enclosed ear cup. Given the materials and design and assuming better quality with all the functions of standard AirPods the extra cost does not seem like that much of a stretch.

Just ordered a pair from Best Buy for December delivery. Can’t beat 18 month financing. If they stink they’ll be returned.

 

[iGüey]

$550 is nothing.

So, based on the fact that $550 is nothing, can I give you my bank account number so you can deposit me $550 a month?

 

[Abazigal]

So I'm only supposed to use a $550 audio device with a specific brand of tech stuff? Thats classic early-2000s Sony.

Intelligent sound?

I dunno man, my TV wouldn't work without a wire.

That’s a part of what makes Apple products so polarising.

Apple often aims for product experience often times at the sacrifice of user choice. And if their idea of what you want in a product matches yours, then it is full of secret magic and delight. And if not, it will be sheer frustration, like jogging through quicksand.

Kinda like how the HomePod doesn’t support Bluetooth and audio-in, because Apple wants you to use airplay, siri and Apple Music.

I imagine if one really needed an audio cable for a particular workflow, there’s the lightning to audio jack cable (doubt there is one long enough to hook up to your TV though). Else, I imagine the main use case would be to connect it to your Apple TV directly, like what you already do with other wireless headphones, and let the noise cancellation and spatial audio work their magic.

 

[InuNacho]

That’s a part of what makes Apple products so polarising.

Apple often aims for product experience often times at the sacrifice of user choice. And if their idea of what you want in a product matches yours, then it is full of secret magic and delight. And if not, it will be sheer frustration, like jogging through quicksand.

Kinda like how the HomePod doesn’t support Bluetooth and audio-in, because Apple wants you to use airplay, siri and Apple Music.

I imagine if one really needed an audio cable for a particular workflow, there’s the lightning to audio jack cable (doubt there is one long enough to hook up to your TV though). Else, I imagine the main use case would be to connect it to your Apple TV directly, like what you already do with other wireless headphones, and let the noise cancellation and spatial audio work their magic.

Meh, I'll stick with my Made in America by hand Grado headphones.
Cables and jobs all the way baby.

 

[Abazigal]

Meh, I'll stick with my Made in America by hand Grado headphones.
Cables and jobs all the way baby.

Yeah, to each their own.

For me, I am sticking with my AirPods for the convenience.

 

[clerkpalmer]

Not really, a new high bandwidth codec that also fixes the issues of current bluetooth would most likely require new hardware on the source device. Releasing headphones compatible with nothing isn't a great business model.

The reality is it's inevitable. Technology advances whether Apple likes it or not. Eventually Apple will have to improve the AAC codec. It's already behind in this space. Seems like introducing a new 550 pair of premium headphones that out price the competition would have been a good time to show it's an innovator rather than a follower. But like everything else, Apple will decide when it's customers are ready (just like with 120 hz screens). So the consumer like you and me are the losers. If we want those shiny new Max's we will have to accept subpar tech at least as it relates to BT.

 

[anson42]

So there is no cable at all - guess I can't use these to watch movies on the back of the seat tv's on a plane

You can use Apple'ss AUX to Lightning cable for that purpose. It's an extra purchase though, and it delivers digital to the headphone via the ADC in the Lightning plug end.

 

[anson42]

I dunno, if I was going to spend $550 on a pair of headphones, I'd like to you know be able to listen to music from a 3.5 jack or at least know that theres a cable in the box.

You can, use the AUX to Lightning cable. But it doesn't come in the box, and it's not a pure analog run but it is advertised to work.

Lightning to 3.5 mm Audio Cable 1.2m White - Apple

Apple Store Search Results

www.apple.com

 

[AppelGeenyus]

The reality is it's inevitable. Technology advances whether Apple likes it or not. Eventually Apple will have to improve the AAC codec. It's already behind in this space. Seems like introducing a new 550 pair of premium headphones that out price the competition would have been a good time to show it's an innovator rather than a follower. But like everything else, Apple will decide when it's customers are ready (just like with 120 hz screens). So the consumer like you and me are the losers. If we want those shiny new Max's we will have to accept subpar tech at least as it relates to BT.

But for all you know Apple spent $1bn on a solution and simply couldn't make it work. Also who are they behind exactly when nobody else has hi-res BT audio that doesn't come with a whole bunch of disadvantages.

 

[TheBigApple2006]

You can, use the AUX to Lightning cable. But it doesn't come in the box, and it's not a pure analog run but it is advertised to work.

Lightning to 3.5 mm Audio Cable 1.2m White - Apple

Apple Store Search Results

www.apple.com

I can't see this solution having zero latency like a pure analogue one...

 

[anson42]

I can't see this solution having zero latency like a pure analogue one...

Perhaps not zero but close to it as the ADC should be quite adept at realtime conversion. Because this cable is not new and as been used before with Beats headphones, there should be some empirical data on what latency to expect, though the new headphones may add a fraction more due to additional processing the other headphones lack.

 

[matrix07]

I dunno, if I was going to spend $550 on a pair of headphones, I'd like to you know be able to listen to music from a 3.5 jack or at least know that theres a cable in the box.

You'll be able to

https://twitter.com/x/status/1336507526003576832

 

[matrix07]

Meh, I'll stick with my Made in America by hand Grado headphones.
Cables and jobs all the way baby.

That won't give you virtual surround sound from Atmos.

 

[matrix07]

I can't see this solution having zero latency like a pure analogue one...

Pure analogue won't give you computational audio. It would defeat the purpose of AP Max entirely.

 

[Ketsjap]

The Airpods Pro are blown out of the water by the Sony 1000XM3 and the Bose QC Earbuds.

Good chance this thing will be inferior to my Sony XM4 and Bose 700 as well.

But still charging a heck of a lot more for it. Bonkers.

 

[Coolkiwi]

Add Apple Care for another fifty and you’re basically looking at £600. That is almost 800 American zippy dollars!!! 🙄😳
Bose, Sony and B&O make amazing headphones for less... I love Apple products but wow...

 

[adrianlondon]

Add Apple Care for another fifty and you’re basically looking at £600. That is almost 800 American zippy dollars!!! 🙄😳
Bose, Sony and B&O make amazing headphones for less... I love Apple products but wow...

Unless you're asking the shops to add a special extra warranty to your Bose, Sony, B&O etc then why add Apple Care in your calculations? It's not relevant.

 

[genealto]

Too expensive.

 

[pdmpolishing]

Too expensive.

It's horses for corses, many people will consider these to be expensive because they live in a certain price range for headphones, but there are people that live in the £120000 price range for headphones. Each to their own.