Apple's AirPods Max Weigh 384 Grams, Heavier Than Most Competing Over-Ear Headphones

[adrianlondon]

1. 100 "OMG so expensive" posts
2. 100 Take-my-money Fry meme posts
3. Macrumors "Apple Surpised At Headphone Popularity Having To Ramp Up Production" headline

 

[Monstieur]

True, but everyones hearing is different, and preferences subjective. I like a good flat frequency response, I like Sennheisers. I'd like to compare them, or is that out the window with computational audio now.

Sennheisers aren't flat. Their open-backs have weak bass response that roll-offs below 100 Hz. The PowerBeats Pro are objectively more accurate than a HD 800.

The DSP would be applied to all incoming audio, including 3.5mm presumably. The DSP would correct the distortion in the bass from the relatively small 40 mm driver. You wouldn't want to listen to it without the built-in DSP.

 

[blairh]

Yes, cheap plastic is always going to be lighter and less expensive.

I'll take 'cheap' plastic that is more comfortable any day. And a proper travel case to boot.

 

[rikscha]

Only that the lighter one’s are surely not direct competitor considering the price point.

The comparison should be with headphones in the 450-700 range

 

[norbinhouston]

I guess Jony Ive is really gone! This goes against his vision!

 

[UltimaKilo]

Right, but I have a good pair of headphones. They were $250 on sale, $350 originally. Noise cancelation, padding, audio input jack, something like 20 to 20kHz response, Bluetooth 4.2, weigh 10.23oz and they sound great too.

And you know what? I wouldn't buy them again. The audio quality doesn't make up for the negatives (battery powered if wireless, heavy, not comfortable in bed).

I'm not sure who they are targeted towards. People with too much money and not enough common sense is my guess, but that seems like a marketing fail if that's Apple's target.

These are likely targeted at audiophiles (of which I am not) and professional users. I know a number of professionals and audiophiles who would spend monstrous amounts of money on headphones. It’s possible these could be a bargain for those folks, but we’ll have to wait and see.

 

[nutriousmitten]

Bose and Sony are poised to be the short term winners of this product release. A vast number of people who only pay attention to new things in tech when Apple comes out with something, will instantly see that the Apple premium is far too much. That will drive them to cross shop, and there are proven ANC wireless headphones that have as many or more features, are lighter, and cost up to 30% less or more.

 

[Websnapx2]

That's certainly true that lighter headphones are much more comfortable.

Let's not forget that Apple makes Beats, which ADD WEIGHTS to their headphones.

I wonder if these are also so heavy because they add metal weights in them?

That's been debunked on so many levels. First, they were proven to be knockoffs in the teardown, second, they were modelled after the pre-Apple design, so even if they were real that was Monster, not apple.

Lastly, they don't need to add metal weights — they are designed WITH metal (the outer cups are aluminum, the arms are Stainless steel). You were wrong three different ways, if you care.

 

[aberamati]

I wonder what that mesh headband is going to feel like on shaved heads...

 

[FlyBry]

I wear the Bose A20 headset for flying (pilot). 12oz. and $1100. After a two hour flight I am ready to take them off. I can't imagine that these Apple headsets would be comfortable for long wearings.

A20 Aviation Headset for Pilots | Bose

Enhance your flying experience with the A20 Aviation Headset for pilots from Bose. With acclaimed noise reduction, comfort, clear audio, and intuitive operation for a comfortable flight.

www.bose.com

 

[pdaholic]

There was a time when Apple was all about thinner and lighter, and people complained.

 

[Zachari]

They look great, I hope they sound great, and I applaud Apple for this innovation. HOWEVER, The price point is completely wrong. Audiophiles know they can get better audio quality for far less. $399 would have been the sweet spot. But at this price, it’s better to wait for the next version and lower price point.

Audiophiles have heard the sound these can produce? That’s a bold statement.

 

[polaris20]

I'll wait for the AirPods Pro Max.

I'm waiting for the AirPods Pro Max GT-R Spec-V Nismo.

 

[BeefCake 15]

There isn’t a review, but out the gate the Sony’s have some advantages based on what you’re looking for. The noise cancellation has been superior, they have transparency modes, not really sold on Siri integration but I can see where it’s a plus. Since I have the AirPod pros, I can imagine that spatial audio on the Max will be amazing. It’s just not enough to warrant the price point I don’t think. Plus I’m not an audio engineer so I can’t accurately speak on it, but I believe high fidelity and lossless audio works better with wired headsets currently....but not a lot of consumers even have that quality of music produced from Apple Music, Spotify, etc. Tidal has it but.....who uses Tidal really?

So there isn't a review BUT the noise cancellation is already superior on the Sony?

 

[Dreamer2go]

WH-1000XM3 > xm4.

- less price
- better sounds (by many reviews)

the only one pros for xm4 is it stop playing music when you take them off.

What? XM3 has better sounds than XM4? Please list some reviews, I would love to read more about it.

 

[btrach144]

Headphone fatigue is real. The heavier they are, the shorter period of time I can wear them

 

[spiritbox]

Ordered a Space Gray pair as a Christmas present to myself! I will say, at $549 I will be very inclined to return if I’m not 100% happy with this product.

 

[JGIGS]

I can buy 2 pairs of Sony 1000-mx4's for the same price right now with $80 to spare. They better be good. But ya no plans to buy a pair any time soon.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

That's certainly true that lighter headphones are much more comfortable.

Let's not forget that Apple makes Beats, which ADD WEIGHTS to their headphones.

I wonder if these are also so heavy because they add metal weights in them?

Actually, yes, let’s forget that. Completely

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Everywhere I see this people are angry at cost...?

A lot of folks that used to buy EVERYTHING Apple get irritated when there’s something with an Apple logo that’s priced out of their range (they may now be on a fixed income, for example). However, just remind them that THESE don’t even HAVE a logo! They’ll go back to admiring their AirPort Base Station and Thunderbolt Monitor in no time

 

[traveltoromantis]

That's certainly true that lighter headphones are much more comfortable.

Let's not forget that Apple makes Beats, which ADD WEIGHTS to their headphones.

I wonder if these are also so heavy because they add metal weights in them?

I clicked on that link, and the article that it references says that genuine headphones Beats were not used in that teardown.

edit: oops, someone already mentioned this

 

[ghanwani]

i like my gear to have a nice, solid feel to it, even if it's uncomfortable to wear and carry.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I'm not sure who they are targeted towards. People with too much money and not enough common sense is my guess, but that seems like a marketing fail if that's Apple's target.

Of the millions of people on Earth, there are enough with the right amount of money and common sense to make these profitable.

 

[metalsiren]

I wonder what that mesh headband is going to feel like on shaved heads...

this is what I am curious about, as I have hair but I am balding in the middle. thats why I dont like many headsets, Bose NC 700 didnt felel good after a while, the Sony XM3 and XM4 had sweating issues. my current ones are the QC35II which are the most comfortable coming form a guy with a balding head.

ordered these units to see, but wont get them until early Jan

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Don't talk about what you think you know about audiophiles. Here's a list of six audiophile headphones with the lowest price of $1,299 and going up from there. http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/a-survey-of-six-high-end-headphones/

Thanks for the link. I’d been curious (but not actually googling level curious LOL) about what separates these from the lower priced headphones. Hadn’t really looked into it since Apple sold planar headphones by another company.