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Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Max With Lossless Audio Support

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Apple today released new 7E101 firmware for the AirPods Max with USB-C, addressing an issue that made the previously released firmware unable to be downloaded.

airpods-max-2024-colors.jpg

Apple yesterday seeded out AirPods Max firmware with a version number of 7E99 to enable lossless audio support, but it turned out that AirPods Max users were not able to download the firmware.

The new 7E101 firmware should now be available to all Apple users who have AirPods Max with USB-C, and the update brings lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio to the headphones.

The USB-C AirPods Max now support 24-bit 48 kHz lossless audio, which is designed to allow listeners to experience music the way the artist created it in the studio. Apple says lossless audio and Personalized Spatial Audio offer a "more sonically accurate, uncompressed, and immersive experience."

With lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio support, music creators are able to use the AirPods Max to create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking, with just a USB-C cable and a Mac with Logic Pro or other music creation software.

Lossless audio and ultra-low latency is only available for the USB-C AirPods Max, as lossless quality requires a USB-C connection to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The headphones need to be running the latest firmware and need to be paired with a device running iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, or macOS Sequoia 15.4.

Firmware can be installed by putting the AirPods Max in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that's connected to Wi-Fi, and then plugging them in to charge. It can take up to 30 minutes for firmware to update.

You can check your firmware version by going to Settings > Bluetooth and selecting the Info button next to the AirPods Max when they are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Article Link: Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Max With Lossless Audio Support
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/04/02/airpods-max-7e101-firmware/
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This new build was published in the original URLs that macOS and iOS were failing to access, so these updates are no longer gated based on OS version (macOS 15.4, iOS 18.4).

Quickest way to “force” an update check:

1. ⁠Make sure you’re not wearing them and they’re charging out of their case (no need for 2s/30s listening sessions)
2. ⁠Go to Bluetooth settings
3. ⁠Click Disconnect (on Mac), or the More info (i) button and scroll to the bottom & click Disconnect (on iPhone)
4. ⁠Click Connect (on Mac), or tap on their name (on iPhone) once disconnected.

It immediately triggers an update check.

Seems like the whole OS-specific update channel strategy backfired.
 
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Can you use a different USB-C cable, or does it only work with the one that came with it for lossless?
 
Last edited:
Kylo83 said:
Do you notice any improvements with the lossless?
Click to expand...
I'm going thru a favorites playlist and some songs sound a tad fuller/richer but it's hard to tell or unnoticeable for some tracks so far. I'll need more time to form a solid opinion but I'm not fully sold on Max's versus a good pair of wired headphones.
For watching movies they are great though.
 
Nothing happens when I connect a USB cable to either my iPhone, iPad, or Mac mini. Could this possibly be because I'm on the beta operating systems? APM are on 7E101.
 
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loveandcomedy said:
Nothing happens when I connect a USB cable to either my iPhone, iPad, or Mac mini. Could this possibly be because I'm on the beta operating systems? APM are on 7E101.
Click to expand...
Seeing the same behavior on iOS 18.5 beta 1. I can see the new pop-up, but APM never get recognized as USB-C audio. Works on macOS 15.4.
 
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Seems to be working in my end. Even works on my windows pc. I did have a weird bug where the sound went very robotic, but they may have been a Dolby atmos surround issue or something.
 
I find this issue so confusing. It was much easier in the good old days of CDs.

Does this only work with Apple Music? If I download 24bit tracks from Qobuz can I play them on my iPhone using these headphones or do I need additional hardware such as a DAC converter?
 
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doesnt work on my iphone on 18.5 b1. there was a pop up saying lossless was available when i plugged to iphone via usb, but it didn’t really work; sound played thru phone speakers. works on a couple of android tablets. didn’t work for me on a windows pc.
 
jcshas said:
It’s purely subjective. IMO, the difference can be heard, however it’s negligible
Click to expand...
I hear it. But I agree it’s not huge.
On my Bathys and also b&o h95 the difference is more pronounced. Even dramatic. When switching from Bluetooth to USB. I wonder if their DAC is superior.
Here, it’s subtle.
 
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Aeronauts said:
I find this issue so confusing. It was much easier in the good old days of CDs.

Does this only work with Apple Music? If I download 24bit tracks from Qobuz can I play them on my iPhone using these headphones or do I need additional hardware such as a DAC converter?
Click to expand...
Good question. Not sure if other services other than Apple Music will be unlocked for this. I would hope so.
 
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Aeronauts said:
I find this issue so confusing. It was much easier in the good old days of CDs.

Does this only work with Apple Music? If I download 24bit tracks from Qobuz can I play them on my iPhone using these headphones or do I need additional hardware such as a DAC converter?
Click to expand...
Technically you can... but how it will convert your 24bit on your iPhone traveling onto AirPods Max is the question.
Where does the DAC take place: On the iPhone or the AirPods Max? How is  managing this when a proper DAC units cost anywhere between $400 to $3K+ for Hi Rez / Lossless Audio especially in the 24bit realm.
 
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Ael_MR said:
Yes, it takes awhile but they updated.
Click to expand...
Works over my Mac you can see under the headphone icon in the menu bar that they are hooked up to USB-C.Plugged into the iPhone nothing comes through. All 18.4 and 15.4 updated on device with APM updated to 7E101
 
Come on Apple, enable lossless listening with 2020 APM, hardware is the same as 2024 APM. There’s no reason not to do it
 
The difference is very noticeable, just don’t forget to switch off your bluetooth.
 
Just to note, Apple has decided not to release this update in the UK for unknown reasons. The support page still lists the old firmware as the latest and attempting to update devices will always fail. It is unknown if this is a temporary issue or a permanent change.

IMG_4836.jpeg
 
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