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Gurman: Apple Not Working on Second-Generation AirPods Max, But Has Considered New Colors
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Can't wait for the VR glasses or AR whatever they are suppose to release that no one will buy.
They're $550 and they're on par with $250 Sonys.
How dare you criticize AirPods Max with objective parameters like the audio performance for its pricing?
Haven't you considered that it might identify as a pair of high-end headphones?
Sarcasm aside, I'm sad that they might not get improved - and yes I already have a pair I use daily.
- It's sad that Apple didn't implement Wifi instead of only Bluetooth to have enough bandwith available for even hi-res 24 bit/192 kHz lossless audio streaming (ignoring any actual increase of audible quality);
- Implementing AirPlay here would have been as easy as stealing candy from a baby;
- About ten years ago something similar was possible (use an iDevice as an AirPlay audio receiver), I know this since I used to use the app "AirSpeaker" that had been sold in the original App Store (not needing a jailbreaked iDevice) which was great;
- Then Apple changed their "policy" and kicked the app out and since it could not be updated the app was forced to stop working at some point even if you had a backup locally which was possible "in the good old days";
- AirPods Max's audio quality is even for Bluetooth headphones mediocre (most current ones support AAC to also have their best possible performance when operating them with an iDevice) but if you switch between more than 2 audio source devices regularly the AirPods Max are just so much more convenient to use than Bluetooth's limited Multipoint standard;
- I'm a bit pissed that you cannot fine-tune the transparency mode. I have rather sensitive hearing, don't need a hearing aide and for me AirPods Max's transparency mode is louder than real life which is pretty annoying;
- While the memory foam is nothing noteworthy I'm quite happy with the fabric instead of that god-awful polyurethane fake leather used by most of the other manufacturers in this price range for its thermal properties;
There would have been plenty of room for generational improvements, some of the limitations I critiqued must have come from an assholic project manager with this in mind.
Haven't you considered that it might identify as a pair of high-end headphones?
Sarcasm aside, I'm sad that they might not get improved - and yes I already have a pair I use daily.
- It's sad that Apple didn't implement Wifi instead of only Bluetooth to have enough bandwith available for even hi-res 24 bit/192 kHz lossless audio streaming (ignoring any actual increase of audible quality);
- Implementing AirPlay here would have been as easy as stealing candy from a baby;
- About ten years ago something similar was possible (use an iDevice as an AirPlay audio receiver), I know this since I used to use the app "AirSpeaker" that had been sold in the original App Store (not needing a jailbreaked iDevice) which was great;
- Then Apple changed their "policy" and kicked the app out and since it could not be updated the app was forced to stop working at some point even if you had a backup locally which was possible "in the good old days";
- AirPods Max's audio quality is even for Bluetooth headphones mediocre (most current ones support AAC to also have their best possible performance when operating them with an iDevice) but if you switch between more than 2 audio source devices regularly the AirPods Max are just so much more convenient to use than Bluetooth's limited Multipoint standard;
- I'm a bit pissed that you cannot fine-tune the transparency mode. I have rather sensitive hearing, don't need a hearing aide and for me AirPods Max's transparency mode is louder than real life which is pretty annoying;
- While the memory foam is nothing noteworthy I'm quite happy with the fabric instead of that god-awful polyurethane fake leather used by most of the other manufacturers in this price range for its thermal properties;
There would have been plenty of room for generational improvements, some of the limitations I critiqued must have come from an assholic project manager with this in mind.
Funny you'd bring that up!
I use AirSpeaker, to this day, on my JB iPhone and iPad and it wonderfully allows for HQ wired headphone usage on the couch for movies.
Such a miss that Apple didn't implement airplay receiver abilities in the APM, I fully agree with you
For those saying that the APM is the the new HomePod, just recall that it was launched when the decision to kill the HomePod was already taken.
They are very different products (Apple can’t make an expensive speaker just as they can’t make an expensive TV, but they can do it with headphones) and the APM will remain in Apple’s product line.
They are very different products (Apple can’t make an expensive speaker just as they can’t make an expensive TV, but they can do it with headphones) and the APM will remain in Apple’s product line.
But it’s still a couple hundred dollars. Hardly “money is no object” territory.
For someone who wants a really good pair of headphones, it’s not a huge deal.
To be fair, this is actually reasonable (if not cheap) when considering other high end headphones. Higher end Bose easily reaches this price range and my Sennheiser were double this price...
This is really my only beef with them. I’m good for up to a couple hours or so but after that it really starts to weigh. There was a rumor for a while of a “sport“ edition. If the sound quality and noise cancellation were comparable, I’d possibly trade down and take a hit on the build quality. The feel is very nice but I’d also be happy to get some of that weight off my head.
Magic doesn´t exist. The current bluetooth version simply does not allow for audio passthrough of an untouched FLAC/ALAC file. Simple as that. It´s just not possible.
Too heavy and too expensive in my opinion.
I hope these rumors are wrong and they are working on a revision, if not an outright "sport" model that could address the weight and price a bit.
I hope these rumors are wrong and they are working on a revision, if not an outright "sport" model that could address the weight and price a bit.
The XM3 and XM4 default sound signature is just ATROCIOUS. Absolutely terrible for that price point. Muddy, constrained, bloated, bassy mess. The Airpods Max are suprisingly good out of the box for a consumer headphone. Balanced, quite detailed, fairly precise. Is the first bluetooth headphone that has actually impressed me. (and that includes the rest of the airpods lineup).
In almost all other areas, however, yes, Apple dropped the ball, and the Sony´s are superior. But in terms of sound quality and build quality, these set a new bar in bluetooth headphones. Its a shame that the rest of the product feels so rushed.
Yes - and Bluetooth is the only technology without a wire for you to be able to move freely, maybe Apple shall invent iWirefree for their next-generation headphones (abbreviated to iWifee?)?
The only thing I'd change about the hardware would be to make the frame (telescoping steel band) out of titanium instead. It's much lighter, and would make the overall headphone a lot lighter.
My only issue is the weight on the head.
Makes it a little hard to wear them for an extended period of time.
My only issue is the weight on the head.
Makes it a little hard to wear them for an extended period of time.
Hahaha. Good one.
We will have to wait until bluetooth 6, I guess.
Also... call quality on bluetooth needs to support higher quality codecs. Is terrible. Come on, its 2021.
I think that this website has archives from the early 2000’s before Jobs was an infallible genius whose every action and product brought cries of joy from all that witnessed them.
Steve Jobs had plenty of detractors and sometimes what they said about him and what Apple was doing was accurate. It’s the constant’Steve Jobs wouldn’t do it this way” or “the company went to pieces once Steve Jobs died” as if people that bought Apple products or services never had a complaint about how he did things. People complained.
We used to go to the Apple store all of the time. It was our shrine. No longer, maybe 2 or 3 times in the last 10 years. Apple is different. Affordable iMacs and Airs which are really good, didnt' have that before, didn't have stuff on sale before, now Apple has sales all of the time. Audio seems like a bomb with Homepod and those headphone. Those are not mass market products, just high income products.
Apple screwed up badly with recent MacBook designs, bad keyboards, thermals, I stopped using their laptops due to failures.
Apple will always be a hit and miss corporation like a lot of them. The iPads are a failure for software. Hardware is amazing, but will have a massive hit once you can put OS X on it.
Yes, people buy them. And, wouldn’t you know it, people love them. I’ve had the Sony’s, Bose, and AirPods Max. To me there’s no contest if you have all Apple products. Love the Max.
They’re a joke. This post gave me a good chuckle, nice one!
This is what happens when your company loses focus and becomes the new me too.
The AirPods Max are a nice proof of concept but the people in the pro headphones category will actually go and buy pro headphones. Most others will end up with Beats or AirPods.
HomePod, iPod HiFi, AirPod Max = RIP.
The AirPods Max are a nice proof of concept but the people in the pro headphones category will actually go and buy pro headphones. Most others will end up with Beats or AirPods.
HomePod, iPod HiFi, AirPod Max = RIP.