Yes and no. They should've comapred airpods to to headphones in the same price range
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Comparison: AirPods Max vs Sony XM4, Sennheiser Momentum and Bose NC 700
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That is a pretty select case. All wireless headphones with noise cancelling exist for listening to content on the move as a primary function. It’s actually aeroplane travel and travelling in general that is used when marketing most of these products as it’s the white noise that puts these devices to the test best.
Yeah you can, and this is really annoying. Speaking as an audiophile, I find that any potential for variation in the frequency of an audio signal before it reaches my equipment undermines the experience. So much so that I’ve found that the only truly satisfying way to enjoy the money I’ve spent and told people I’ve spent is to sit with just my headphones on. I don’t even plug them into their amplifier anymore. I stopped actually listening to music months ago. Far too many variables I couldn’t control.
At least my headphones are comfy. Although they‘re a bit heavy, if I’m honest...
I guess you refer to the fact that experiencing this video with your audio equipment, you will of course hear your headphones or loudspeakers.
But it is a cool way to demonstrate spatial processing (if your speakers or headphones are good enough to replicate the recordings) and definitely ANC.
And if you want an objective measurement you need a boy like this:
Brüel & Kjær HATS
I’ve had the Sony XM3’s for a few months and I really like them. They’re light, compact and sound great.
Maybe in a few years I’ll consider the AirPods Max, but right now I’m not in the market for new headphones. Hopefully the next revisions get a better case, a headphone jack, improved battery life and USB-C.
Maybe in a few years I’ll consider the AirPods Max, but right now I’m not in the market for new headphones. Hopefully the next revisions get a better case, a headphone jack, improved battery life and USB-C.
Awesome. A review from someone who hasn't touched a pair - just the insight I was looking for. Thanks !
So many angry people in this thread.... chill... nobody forces anybody to pay $550 for APMs.
I picked up mine yesterday in an Apple Store (there is some inventory popping up). I have elderly wired Bose NC headphones I only use for air travel. I wanted an over the ear alternative that fits well into the Apple eco system with seamless switching etc. I use APP for business meetings (phone and video calls) but during a typical day I need to recharge them or take them out for a bit to give my ears a break.
For me the APM are typically Apple: some weird design choices, but excellent build and core functionality. So far I am not disappointed. Weight would be a concern, if I were to use them for travel or walking around a lot - which is not my use case. I will use them stationary for business calls or to listen to music, watch movies.
I have no complaints so far. They are a great complementary device for my APP. I look forward to ATV getting spatial audio next - that would be an amazing feature.
I picked up mine yesterday in an Apple Store (there is some inventory popping up). I have elderly wired Bose NC headphones I only use for air travel. I wanted an over the ear alternative that fits well into the Apple eco system with seamless switching etc. I use APP for business meetings (phone and video calls) but during a typical day I need to recharge them or take them out for a bit to give my ears a break.
For me the APM are typically Apple: some weird design choices, but excellent build and core functionality. So far I am not disappointed. Weight would be a concern, if I were to use them for travel or walking around a lot - which is not my use case. I will use them stationary for business calls or to listen to music, watch movies.
I have no complaints so far. They are a great complementary device for my APP. I look forward to ATV getting spatial audio next - that would be an amazing feature.
Has anyone tried the new Wyze noise-cancelling headphones for $50? I wonder how they compare.
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Well Apple, you'll have to try harder if you want to crack the top 20 of this list... (and not all of the ones listed would necessarily be considered to be at an 'audiofile' level):
wealthygorilla.com
...AirPods Max Edition version maybe, with 18k gold ear cups instead of aluminum...
The World’s 20 Most Expensive Headphones
Audiophile? You’ll enjoy this if you’re. Would you pay $120,000 for a pair of headphones? I suppose it’s all relative, but still, that’s a significant amount of money to spend. The global headphone market is currently valued at $18.4 billion and is expected to grow at a rate of 2.4% annually for...
wealthygorilla.com
I think that, for most of the folks/places doing tech reviews, they just don’t have access to anything more expensive. And, since sound is subjective, they don’t want to spend that much OR wait to get more expensive ones in to do a “real” comparison because it really doesn’t matter. Folks that want them early have already ordered OR already have them. These early reviews are all about getting eyes/ad revenue (even folks that DON’T want them have likely read every single review, too!). In a few months, when there are reviews on the HiFi sites (for the market they’re actually in), no one will look at these early comparisons to Sony or Bose again.
I don’t know if 5.1 improves battery life by THAT much. I mean roughly 5 vs. roughly 6 hours (in some cases by just including a larger heavier battery)... I wouldn’t call that huge, really.
Even though it won´t matter, it needs to be said.
Keep your filthy fingers off hi-fi, Apple. You have never cared for hi-fi. The sound cards in ipods and iphones has been so sub-par that it is ridiculous. You are the brand that has destroyed mobile hifi. Even Nokia in 2001, have had better sound cards in their phones than Apple have had throughout their whole period. I regret every ipod and iphone I have bought.
Going in to this market is theft and lies. Keep your filthy fingers off mobile hi-fi, Apple.
Laugh as much as you want. If you laugh, you destroy another market of hi-fi.
Keep your filthy fingers off hi-fi, Apple. You have never cared for hi-fi. The sound cards in ipods and iphones has been so sub-par that it is ridiculous. You are the brand that has destroyed mobile hifi. Even Nokia in 2001, have had better sound cards in their phones than Apple have had throughout their whole period. I regret every ipod and iphone I have bought.
Going in to this market is theft and lies. Keep your filthy fingers off mobile hi-fi, Apple.
Laugh as much as you want. If you laugh, you destroy another market of hi-fi.
Maybe if people here gave a product at least a month of being available on the market before expecting them to make a "top 20" list. SMH. 🙄Well Apple, you'll have to try harder if you want to crack the top 20 of this list... (and not all of the ones listed would necessarily be considered to be at an 'audiofile' level):
...AirPods Max Edition version maybe, with 18k gold ear cups instead of aluminum...The World’s 20 Most Expensive Headphones
Audiophile? You’ll enjoy this if you’re. Would you pay $120,000 for a pair of headphones? I suppose it’s all relative, but still, that’s a significant amount of money to spend. The global headphone market is currently valued at $18.4 billion and is expected to grow at a rate of 2.4% annually for...
HAH! Found my old Sennheiser HD520 II's. Who needed more, back in the day. They were kind of revolutionary, for their day. They had a really long cable.😆 I have a pair of Sony 'Studio' cans around here somewhere.
😆 I have a pair of Sony 'Studio' cans around here somewhere.
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I can only comment on the NC700 which I currently have and the XM4s that I’ve tested, the XM4 has better NC and was better at drowning out conversational noise. The NC700 has a better voice/call quality though. I do like the aesthetics of the XM4 too. Overall if buying now between the two I personally would get the NC700 because while NC quality isn’t too far off from the XM4, the call quality is definitely better in crowded/noisy environments.
They're heavy, the battery life is not as good as others that are cheaper, Lightning is not a 3.5mm headphone jack, They are electric headphones and it would be great if they turned off. I am not getting them, even if someone forced me too.
And just to be clear, you own a pair right? You've done extensive testing of the battery right to give such feedback against cheaper products right? OH WAIT! The part that I highlighted qualifies you to not have valid qualified feedback since you haven't even touched them. 🙄
I mean its not really like laptops where the manufacturers all kind of game battery life tests by having it be low brightness, no WiFi, word processing only or whatever. There's not as much play there for wireless headphones. The Sony XM4s are at 30 hours with NC on. 10 more than the AirPod Maxes. And they can turn off. Plus they can still work as headphones with no battery because of the wired headphone jack. APM still need power to use it wired with lightning.
My XM3s have zero trouble hitting their 30 hour rating so unless Apple was ridiculously conservative with their rating they aren't going to be close.
Apple has understated the battery life on these just like with many other products of theirs: I’m getting more than 20 hours on them.
7-8 hour difference is hardly a deal breaker for many. The Bose 700 are rated at 20 hours as well.
It’s not so much the current state analysis, but instead, this clam.
Sony simply hasn’t always been the best at noise cancellation. They’ve gotten better recently, but the writer’s “always” must surely mean “since I’ve been paying attention for the last couple years”. It’s just one of those curious VERY easily researchable statements you see every now and again.
Apple AirPods Max Review: The Audiophile’s Perspective
by In-Ear FidelityConclusion
If you’re someone who is deep in the Apple ecosystem and are looking for a luxury, “high-end” wireless ANC headphone, the AirPods Max will probably have features and conveniences that would benefit you far more than the average person, and so this review would likely not be reflective of your own needs and wants.However.
What I provide is, reiterating the title of this review again, the “Audiophile’s Perspective”. My ranking system only takes into account sound quality and audio performance, and nothing more. So if you’re expecting the AirPods Max to be a “do-everything” headphone, with “audio fidelity” being part of said “everything”, then I’m afraid that that’s the one thing that I’ll have to strike off that checklist.
The AirPods Max isn’t a bad sounding headphone, far from it. But if you’re buying one expecting $500 sound… maybe temper expectations a little.
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