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Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Max With Lossless Audio Support
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Regrettably, it is simply less “loose.” Even with a 6GHz connection, Bit Perfect 24/96 Audio cannot be transmitted over Bluetooth.
In contrast, Bit Perfect has increasingly become academic in nature, incorporating features such as ANC, Head Tracking, and Spatial Audio, Personalized 3D-Audio and more. I like the hearing aid. I think this is the future.
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I have the AirPods Max with USB C and the new lossless firmware, which I can confirm is working when connected via USB C to my M1 Max MacBook Pro.
What I find interesting is that, while connected via USB C, if I go into my System Profiler where you can see all the details about your computer and the devices connected to it, in the USB section, I do in fact see my AirPods Max connected via USB, however it says they're connected via USB 2.1.
As others stated in an earlier post about this new firmware, USB 2 does have the bandwidth to handle lossless audio and it appears that's the implementation that Apple is using here. However, since this is the case, I see no reason why the older Lightning version of the AirPods Max can't also play lossless audio, outside of it being an artificial limitation from Apple (which of course wouldn't be the first time they've done that).
What I find interesting is that, while connected via USB C, if I go into my System Profiler where you can see all the details about your computer and the devices connected to it, in the USB section, I do in fact see my AirPods Max connected via USB, however it says they're connected via USB 2.1.
As others stated in an earlier post about this new firmware, USB 2 does have the bandwidth to handle lossless audio and it appears that's the implementation that Apple is using here. However, since this is the case, I see no reason why the older Lightning version of the AirPods Max can't also play lossless audio, outside of it being an artificial limitation from Apple (which of course wouldn't be the first time they've done that).
The limitation mainly comes down to the Lightning port itself. It doesn’t have the same bandwidth or audio handling capabilities as USB-C, especially when it comes to transmitting high-resolution, uncompressed audio like 24-bit/48 kHz lossless.
I now also have the new firmware on my AirPods Max. I can also connect the APM to a Windows PC via USB-C cable and hear sound in good quality.
But my question is: Can I also use my APM as a microphone via USB-C cable under Windows 11 and speak in the same good quality, i.e. use the APM as a headset? Currently, my APM is not offered as a recording device under Windows 11 when it is connected via USB-C cable. Is that normal?
But my question is: Can I also use my APM as a microphone via USB-C cable under Windows 11 and speak in the same good quality, i.e. use the APM as a headset? Currently, my APM is not offered as a recording device under Windows 11 when it is connected via USB-C cable. Is that normal?
Yeah, that’s totally normal. AirPods Max don’t support mic input over USB-C on Windows - they’ll just show up as headphones, not a headset. If you want to use the mic, you’ll need to connect them via Bluetooth.
Same for me. But...it is random!
I updated the firmware, connected to ipad and it sounded quite low volume...connected via bluetooth again and it was nice and loud. Tried it again, with the cable, nice and loud!
I’m on .5 betas and can’t get them to work. I’ve tried on iPhone, iPad and on my Mac.
Yup.
And then when you unplug, the Bluetooth stutters badly.
Usual fiddling to resolve.
Only real benefit is charging from device.
I’d rather charge from power and listen via Bluetooth.
Ok,
Figured it out.
Mac as above, Bluetooth stays on.
iPad works, provided you turn off Bluetooth.
iPhone, as above, but plug in first, and THEN turn off Bluetooth.
The difference will be that Bluetooth on will display name of AirPods, and USB lossless won’t display the name of AirPods.
Fiddly as!
Watch relay still works with Bluetooth off, assuming Wifi on.
Volume via USB is not lower, and soundstage expands due to Lossless.
Figured it out.
Mac as above, Bluetooth stays on.
iPad works, provided you turn off Bluetooth.
iPhone, as above, but plug in first, and THEN turn off Bluetooth.
The difference will be that Bluetooth on will display name of AirPods, and USB lossless won’t display the name of AirPods.
Fiddly as!
Watch relay still works with Bluetooth off, assuming Wifi on.
Volume via USB is not lower, and soundstage expands due to Lossless.
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So, here’s my thought on Bluetooth vs USBC listening. 1st of I have ASD & ADHD and part of my particular flavour of neuro spicy comes with auditory processing disorder and mild synaesthesia, which lets me hear down to 2Hz (tested by audiologist) and “see” the music as a sort of cross between a lava lamp and iTunes visualiser but this doesn’t affect my vision at all because it doesn’t use my eyes so it’s not really seeing it per se. Anyhoo, ADHD ramble over and to the point… for my particular ears and brain,
Atmos tracks, usb sounds marginally better via USB than Bluetooth
AAC sound exactly the same on both
Lossless sounds fuller on USB, (and the magic brain pictures are clearer and bigger even if I can’t hear much difference because I’m male, getting older and top hearing range is down to just below 16KHz, used to be much higher when I was younger, remember spicy brain)
High res lossless, night and day difference, soundstage has room to breathe and is just bigger and fuller on usb. Was listening to take five and the sub base (which in this track was a greenish wiggly line blob) moved from behind my neck on Bluetooth to below my shoulder blades (told you, spicy brain pictures, it’s weird)
Admittedly the AirPods Max still don’t hold a candle to the performance I get on my Mac hooked up to a proper DAC and headphone amp with balanced output to either my HiFiMan HE4xx or Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO 250ohm, but for out and about, Gym, commute, listening in bed etc where I can’t lug all that gear, or be bothered with wired, I prefer my AirPods max and Pro2 to any other wireless headphones I’ve tried and I’m glad the Mrs gave me the Max last Xmas. Ok I’m going to take the last of today’s adhd meds and go to bed now
Atmos tracks, usb sounds marginally better via USB than Bluetooth
AAC sound exactly the same on both
Lossless sounds fuller on USB, (and the magic brain pictures are clearer and bigger even if I can’t hear much difference because I’m male, getting older and top hearing range is down to just below 16KHz, used to be much higher when I was younger, remember spicy brain)
High res lossless, night and day difference, soundstage has room to breathe and is just bigger and fuller on usb. Was listening to take five and the sub base (which in this track was a greenish wiggly line blob) moved from behind my neck on Bluetooth to below my shoulder blades (told you, spicy brain pictures, it’s weird)
Admittedly the AirPods Max still don’t hold a candle to the performance I get on my Mac hooked up to a proper DAC and headphone amp with balanced output to either my HiFiMan HE4xx or Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO 250ohm, but for out and about, Gym, commute, listening in bed etc where I can’t lug all that gear, or be bothered with wired, I prefer my AirPods max and Pro2 to any other wireless headphones I’ve tried and I’m glad the Mrs gave me the Max last Xmas. Ok I’m going to take the last of today’s adhd meds and go to bed now
If there is even the slightest difference that even an audio engineer can’t hear it’s not worth using a cable over wireless. It’s worth it for latancy issues but lossless isn’t worth it. Apple codec is so good just enjoy it. It’s marketing to show a difference now with the new AirPods Max. I spent one hour tying to find a slightly better sound stage and honestly couldn’t
I don't find anything of value with using AP Max with lossless. The good sound has nothing to do with fidelity but rather "shaped" sound. As for 24/48, I do believe Macs can handle that but it doesn't mean they do it well. Rather go with an external DAC and these days one can get sub 400 bucks though I think your estimate range is spot on for those who really want to hear the difference (not all DAC being created or sounding equal).
I can hear a subtle difference but for the casual listener like many of us I think the trade off isn’t necessarily worth the inconvenience of being tethered to your device. I actually think the bigger story here isn’t necessarily lossless audio, rather it’s ultra-low latency audio for creatives who rely on the feature for content creation.
Total nonesense. Professional audio interfaces with multiple channels at 192 kHz 24 bit have been operating on USB 2 for decades!
Indeed. The 'basic' lightning cable worked at USB2 speeds i.e. 480Mbits/sec (as a theoretical maximum -- real-world is always a little less). Uncompressed 24/96 is conceptually about 4.8Mbits/sec (so 1/100th of the USB2 bandwidth), although likely a little more in real-world application but still more than an order of magnitude less. That's assuming that you're sending a completely uncompressed audio stream to the headphones, rather than a losslessly-compressed stream.
*If* the lightning APMs actually *can't* handle lossless, then it's because of hardware limitations other than the cable. Or possibly it's just a push for users of the older APMs to upgrade...