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Having had a pair of these since launch I can say that they are 100% worth the price.
I tried or owned pretty much all of the competitors, they have the best sound of any ANC headphone and easily the best build quality.
It might not be one for the ‘audiophiles’ but if you enjoy a good well balanced sound that seems to play most music very well, plus the ease of use, they’re amazing.

Yes, they are more expensive than Sony etc.... that’s because they are better (apart from the worlds most ridiculous case).
 
I think the statement of comfort is wrong because there are tons of reviews on youtube where the biggest complaint about the APM is their weight and that this weight hampers the comfort level.
 
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Waiting to see if they release a cheaper Sport or SE model.
Also for those of you who have them. How easy is it to clean that head band?
Seems like if you put anything in your hair it would eventually start staining the mesh part. Also if it ever rips that whole will only get bigger. I kinda expect someone to release some type of padded wrap to go over the mesh portion
I think Apple could easily offer a more affordable on-ear alternative IMHO. There is a big hole in Apple's offering between AirPod Pro and AirPod Max.
 
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The Sony XM4: 6 reasons to consider:

1. Build/ Comfort: nice and light, build seems fine for the weight savings
2.Audio Quality: Sound very good to my ears
3.Noise Cancellation: it works and is adjustable several ways
4.H1 Chip: Sony's chip does fine in Apple's Ecosystem, I can switch between two Apple devices quickly with no problems
5.Spatial Audio: Sony has this too, I think they invented it, works good too!

6. Savings of $275, very happy I did not dump another pile of cash into Apple for marginal gains in sound
I was about to pull the trigger on some XM4 until I read about how the audio lags bad when watching Netflix and YouTube.
That's a deal breaker for me as I was wanting something to watch my ATV4K with other than my AirPod Pros at night
 
Having used these since launch VS just blindly hating, here are my thoughts:

Price - Relative.

Weight - These are the comfiest over-ear headphones I’ve ever used.

I don’t know what “Better Performance” even means. Just an ambiguous statement with absolutely nothing backing that up.

This “Turn it off” nonsense is not a deal breaker for people who actually have it. Anecdotal, but I can’t remember the last time I need to “Turn off” any of my gadgets. These AirPods are no different than the other AirPods, just put them in the case and be done. Would you like them to add a power button to the entire AirPods line?..

The case actually puts them into a super low power mode and also keep them protected vs laying open on a desk/flat surface. So much for “useless.” You may not like the design but it literally has a purpose..
price - relative to competitors

weight - heavier than competitors by a good margin

better performance - can be judged by dynamic frequencies in low, mids, and high. harmonic distortions, frequency response.
 
Error at 8:35: spatial audio feature does not work with AppleTV. It only works when paired with an iOS device.
 
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If you’ve decided they are out of your price range, then why are you commenting here on price?. In the video he states at the very outset “let’s assume you have $550 budgeted out for headphones” .. the bottom line, trashing these headphones because you don’t want to spend $550 on them doesn’t change anyone’s opinion and makes you look petty.
 
The only Apple Store in my state is closed, and Best Buy didn't have them. But I can't see me spending the type of money these cost where it doesn't work with everything in their own product line. I haven't heard anyone say that the sound is bad, just that its not $200 better than their main 2 competitors. In fact, some reviews say it isn't as good as those competitors. So, sound isn't a reason to buy, price isn't a reason to buy, and compatibility isn't a reason to buy. Seems like the only reason is if you HAVE to own as many Apple products as you can.
 
I have 7 pairs of high-end wireless ANC headphones that I’ve received for testing and writing reviews. They include all the favorites you have mentioned, and I agree 100% with your appraisal of the Airpods Max. They are effortless to use, built from very high quality materials, innovative design, incredibly comfortable (don’t feel the added weight whatsoever) and the sound quality blows away each of those headphones I’ve tested and reviewed. I’ve been listening to tons of old favorite songs and they sound new again. The clarity and depth the Airpods Max provide is absolutely stunning, plus the bass is just right—powerful but not too punchy. And all without any distortion ...zero, nada, nothing at all. Plus, the ANC is second to none...sorry Sony. For me, they are worth every penny and have now replaced the XM4s as my day-to-day headphones. I absolutely love them.
 
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I have the APM to add to my collection of headphones and earphones. From a sound quality perspective, these are not the best sounding at $500 range headphones. Not even close. It does compare with my cheap AKG K371. But even that headphone is super comfortable to wear and lightweight.

However, if you look at it from an overall value perspective of what it's offering - computational audio, build quality, and materials - then that's where Apple is coming from. I bought it (and not returning it) because I'm hedging on the future of what these headphones can actually bring. If I'm wrong, then it's just another wannabe headphone in my stash.

It's great people are sounding off on how it works and fits according to their needs. Apple needs to hear these to see if it's something they can implement now or in future iterations.

I don't like the sound quality and the fit on my head. I do mind the weight as I have heavier headphones made of metal and leather. But they actually fit better than the APM. But I'm not jaded for buying it. I'm not returning it. And I'm not dissuading or mocking people for liking it or not liking it.

What's funny is seeing people who sound off looking jaded and scoff at it like the headphones were specifically built by Apple for them. If it doesn't work for you and you can't afford it, you're not the target market. Move on. There are lots of cheaper headphones that sound better within your price range.
 
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price - relative to competitors

weight - heavier than competitors by a good margin

better performance - can be judged by dynamic frequencies in low, mids, and high. harmonic distortions, frequency response.

Price? Not really. No other headset offers these following things so what are you comparing them too?

Dual H1 Chips.
Best in class Transparency Mode.
Best in class ANC.
Best in class microphone quality
Configuration and Settings built into IOS/iPadOS/macOS. No need for a bunch of other Apps to configure/use the headset.
Apples continual support via software updates for years to come.
Superior Build Quality.
Modular ear cushions.


Do you mind articulating what you used to test all of the audio “buzzwords” you just used? Those words, I don’t think you know what they mean..Although I’d love to see your professional analysis since I’m sure you’ve bought and used a wide variety of high-end audio gear. Did you send your AirPods Max back yet?
 
Love reading everyone’s thoughts!

My two cents. I really wanted these as in “I’m so excited and can’t wait to buy them when they come out”. I still haven’t ordered them. I’m not a hater. I own an example of just about every Apple product. But the design doesn‘t do much for me. My friends all disagree with me. I could ignore the case since I likely wouldn’t travel with them. But if the battery doesn’t last as long outside the case then I feel like I should use it. But it just looks and seems weird. I wanted this to be like all of my other Apple products in that I’m really excited and see little downside to them. I’m going to watch the Brian Tong review and read more reviews. Then I’ll decide. Again, just my thoughts.
 
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