Don't Buy Into Apple's Hype About AirPods Max Gaining Lossless Audio

[mutablecopy]

They work great with the PS5. Make sure you use the PS5 3d audio settings panel to test the HRTF low/medium/high presets because they will sound different depending on your ear shape.

Not all games implement it well, Returnal is mind blowing though.

It’s also the case having independent audio volume on the AirPods Max is nice because you can easily adjust when switching games.

cool, looking forward.
have you been able to connect via the usb-c/mini jack cable? I bought that, but the AirPods keep connecting via Bluetooth to my Apple devices.. figured the new firmware will be required, but it hasn’t installed yet on my end, running iOS 18.4 RC..

 

[JTK Awesome]

I never bought into the hype about APM being “pro” or “max” so I’m good.

 

[novagamer]

cool, looking forward.
have you been able to connect via the usb-c/mini jack cable? I bought that, but the AirPods keep connecting via Bluetooth to my Apple devices.. figured the new firmware will be required, but it hasn’t installed yet on my end, running iOS 18.4 RC..

I currently only have the old lightning ones and used that 3.5mm cable. It should be equivalent. I don’t think the firmware will update until it’s out publicly but hopefully it fixes your issue, that would be really annoying.

The H1 chip does like to enthusiastically pair to whatever device is currently active but I’d hope having the cable plugged in shuts that off for the duration.

 

[garotemonkey]

To people who never had experience of real HiFi a Sonos looks pretty good. I’m sure Apple compete with their peers just fine but I’m also confident that those peers are inferior to anything the 1980s delivered, even the cheap stuff (from a purely sound quality perspective)

Anything? I went through the 1980’s with a Walkman glued to my ears!!

 

[lusty]

Anything? I went through the 1980’s with a Walkman glued to my ears!!

Well no not those I guess 🤣

 

[God of Biscuits]

I would tend to agree, but Apple yanking the analog audio headphone jack has created a quandary for Apple. They want to offer actual high quality audio and ultra low latency, but it turns out that isn't possible yet via wireless. The headphone jack removal was a ruse for profit. The more light on this, the better.

Oh, not this again. Everyone using the built in headphone jack was relying on the built in DAC as well. Any “audiophile” wouldn’t be championing that DAC anyway.

 

[Dr.Lee]

Oh, not this again. Everyone using the built in headphone jack was relying on the built in DAC as well. Any “audiophile” wouldn’t be championing that DAC anyway.

Not what again? Yes folks were relying on the built in DAC which was actually pretty good. They still rely on the dac for audio through iphone speakers. Not sure what your point is. Audiophiles listen to their gear, not music btw. I don’t consider them actual music lovers.

I am a musician. “Lossless” low latency audio is important to me.

 

[S.B.G]

Audiophiles listen to their gear, not music btw

Really? How can one tell the difference?

 

[Dr.Lee]

Really? How can one tell the difference?

Ask one of them, not me. I don't think they can past a certain value threshold.. but convince themselves otherwise unless they are purposely introducing harmonic content into recordings.

 

[S.B.G]

Ask one of them, not me. I don't think they can past a certain value threshold.. but convince themselves otherwise unless they are purposely introducing harmonic content into recordings.

I think that it's not a fair assessment to be making broad statements like you did, labeling anyone who considers themselves an audiophile to be listening to the gear over the music.

Some people, sure, of course. But everyone, no way.

Just because someone spent a lot of coin on a setup, doesn't necessarily mean they listen to the gear over the music. I have a decent investment in my system as far as dollar value goes, and I rarely ever think about the gear because it sounds so good to me. I spend a fair amount of time just enjoying my favorite music giving no regard to the equipment.

 

[Dr.Lee]

I think that it's not a fair assessment to be making broad statements like you did, labeling anyone who considers themselves an audiophile to be listening to the gear over the music.

Some people, sure, of course. But everyone, no way.

Just because someone spent a lot of coin on a setup, doesn't necessarily mean they listen to the gear over the music. I have a decent investment in my system as far as dollar value goes, and I rarely ever think about the gear because it sounds so good to me. I spend a fair amount of time just enjoying my favorite music giving no regard to the equipment.

Did you spend 10k on cables? I did put a qualifier in.

 

[S.B.G]

Did you spend 10k on cables? I did put a qualifier in.

Ha! Absolutely not!

 

[Dr.Lee]

Ha! Absolutely not!

So without knowing you, I would guess that you have spent strategically on important pieces while avoiding spending money needlessly. Which is similar to my use cases.

I tend to put the term audiophile in the camp of folks who claim to hear which direction their speaker cables are plugged in. I most certainly didn't mean to rope you in.

 

[S.B.G]

So without knowing you, I would guess that you have spent strategically on important pieces while avoiding spending money needlessly. Which is similar to my use cases.

I tend to put the term audiophile in the camp of folks who claim to hear which direction their speaker cables are plugged in. I most certainly didn't mean to rope you in.

Right, I don't buy into all the snake oil in the audio hobby, of which there is a lot. Some of those people must have slept through physics class...

As you'll understand, there is a point of diminishing returns with regard to the dollars spent on equipment. Chasing the nth degree is a fools errand, in my opinion, unless you're a billionaire and money doesn't matter. I certainly am not one of them.

 

[Dr.Lee]

Right, I don't buy into all the snake oil in the audio hobby, of which there is a lot. Some of those people must have slept through physics class...

As you'll understand, there is a point of diminishing returns with regard to the dollars spent on equipment. Chasing the nth degree is a fools errand, in my opinion, unless you're a billionaire and money doesn't matter. I certainly am not one of them.

Cheers! I agree 100%.

 

[novagamer]

So without knowing you, I would guess that you have spent strategically on important pieces while avoiding spending money needlessly. Which is similar to my use cases.

I tend to put the term audiophile in the camp of folks who claim to hear which direction their speaker cables are plugged in. I most certainly didn't mean to rope you in.

My hi-fi speaker cables have directional arrows on the casing. Those ions get so confused without them.

 

[hardik7]

Will it support 24-bit Hi-Res Lossless content? Because on Apple Music, there is a lot of music available even with 192 kHZ. As of now I am using few external DACs with my iPhone to listen to hi-res music with my IEMs. Hi-Res Lossless support on APM would be great addition.

 

[kayana]

The AirPods Max isn't even capable of "lossless" audio, wireless Bluetooth headsets can't compare to pure cabled quality headsets. Also the AirPods Max are made by cheap Chinese brands Luxshare and Goertek and then sold with extremely high markup of $500. Apple is trying to sell a wireless digital headset as an analog quality studio quality cabled headset, which is just ridiculous.