Totally fair. USB 2 can handle high-res audio, no question. The issue isn’t bandwidth, it’s that Lightning doesn’t natively support USB Audio Class 2.0. Apple’s implementation limits how it handles digital audio, which is why the USB-C AirPods Max can do true lossless and the Lightning ones can’t.
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Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Max With Lossless Audio Support
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Totally fair. USB 2 can handle high-res audio, no question. The issue isn’t bandwidth, it’s that Lightning doesn’t natively support USB Audio Class 2.0. Apple’s implementation limits how it handles digital audio, which is why the USB-C AirPods Max can do true lossless and the Lightning ones can’t.
Correct. Bluetooth (wireless) compresses the audio so technically its not lossless.
I guess some might consider these for content creation but most I gather would prefer more serious offerings or go with reasonable "monitor" caliber speakers. Your take on latency is a good catch.
I like your taste, Sir.
Try these:
- Boz Scaggs - Thanks To You
- Geoff Castellucci - Sixteen Tones
- Eric Clapton - Old Love (Acoustic)
- Dire Straits - Private Investigations
- Chris Jones, Steve Baker - Long After You're Gone
I tried it a little bit ago and just my initial impressions is that it didn’t sound ‘different’…it sounded fuller or richer? For example, I was listening to prime mover from Rush…in the break section, you can hear the echo of the vocals without issue. When I connected the cable to the headphones and iPhone, you definitely hear it even more pronounced. It wasn’t like new worlds opening up, but more like you don’t have to focus so hard to listen for the details, they are more pronounced you could say.
I’m used to having simple earbuds and the AirPods Max are probably the nicest headphones I’ve listened to aside from a pair of STAX electrostatic headphones…but those were an entirely different league. Literally felt like I was sitting next to Jimi Hendrix while he played live about 3 ft away.
I’m used to having simple earbuds and the AirPods Max are probably the nicest headphones I’ve listened to aside from a pair of STAX electrostatic headphones…but those were an entirely different league. Literally felt like I was sitting next to Jimi Hendrix while he played live about 3 ft away.
The science behind speakers and earphones is quite amazing. I think the Max sound great but...far from high end speakers which can reproduce some really amazing sound when the source is well engineered and lossless or near lossless. If someone wants that "open stage" feeling, they should get some good open back earphones. It is quite a different experience than what most of us are used to with closed back headphones. I say this as someone who grew up with the middle higher line of Sennheiser offerings. Presently, I am listening to some speakers that use folded ribbon tweeters. They have a sound a bit different than the usual cone speakers. Headphones, like the STAX you mention are atypical to the design most of us expect from headphones. All great science and we get the benefit of it all.
Here I am, still dreaming of what is possible. I want APM2 with wireless lossless codec, 100 hour battery life, and the ability to emulate classic headphone frquency responses (both open and closed) like HD 650, Dan Clark E3, Focal Utopia, Hifiman Susvara, and Meze Empyrean II. That would be dope. You could literally retire from the hobby at that point.
My own experience:
(And I know people will jump on this and say AAC at 256 is just the best ne plus ultra and nobody will ever go beyond that and AAC 256 is the best audio ever possible in the known universe for all time. If that’s what you think - good for you and enjoy!)
I am impressed - more than I expected to be. Then wired option only comes into it’s own when you go high resolution (not so much for CD quality where I had to actively listen to tell a difference). But in high res - the difference is profound - a much richer, detailed and fuller soundstage. It’s not even close. Most of my testing is with Qobuz, and with classical and jazz recordings.
For whatever reason, Qobuz sounds quite a bit better than AM - have no idea why, as the specs are the same. But this is my experience with all headphones and speakers.
In any case, although these are not as good as my Bathys or B&O 95 - they are very decent with this wired upgrade, and not bad for what it is, at AAC 256.
(And I know people will jump on this and say AAC at 256 is just the best ne plus ultra and nobody will ever go beyond that and AAC 256 is the best audio ever possible in the known universe for all time. If that’s what you think - good for you and enjoy!)
I am impressed - more than I expected to be. Then wired option only comes into it’s own when you go high resolution (not so much for CD quality where I had to actively listen to tell a difference). But in high res - the difference is profound - a much richer, detailed and fuller soundstage. It’s not even close. Most of my testing is with Qobuz, and with classical and jazz recordings.
For whatever reason, Qobuz sounds quite a bit better than AM - have no idea why, as the specs are the same. But this is my experience with all headphones and speakers.
In any case, although these are not as good as my Bathys or B&O 95 - they are very decent with this wired upgrade, and not bad for what it is, at AAC 256.
These are the tips and suggestions I come here for. Thank you very much for these. Not all to my taste, but I now 'gained' new artists, much appreciated.
Same goes for your post; really appreciated!
I’ve been spending quite a bit of time lately A/B testing Bluetooth vs. wired on my AirPods Max (usbc), and honestly, the difference is pretty subtle. With some lossless tracks on Apple Music, the wired connection does offer a bit more clarity or depth, but it really depends on the track. For the most part, though, I find the convenience of Bluetooth outweighs the marginal gains you might get from going wired - especially considering how good the APM wireless performance already is.
That said, I expect that I’ll probably mainly use a wired connection for seat-back entertainment when I’m traveling on a plane, since Bluetooth isn’t an option.
That said, I expect that I’ll probably mainly use a wired connection for seat-back entertainment when I’m traveling on a plane, since Bluetooth isn’t an option.