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New AirPods and AirPods Max Launching in 2024, Updated AirPods Pro Coming in 2025
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I hope that the AirPods Max have lossless and some of the new features the AirPods Pro got.
I also hope they switch to a titanium headband to make them lighter.
I also hope they switch to a titanium headband to make them lighter.
This blows my mind given the price of them but I suppose it shouldn’t given the iPhone just got USB-C.
“Hey Siri” support, Find My integration, Live Listen, Headphone Accommodations support, real-time monitoring of decibel/noise level, Spatial Audio support with head tracking, easy switching between devices.
That said, I don’t think AirPods Max are currently worth what Apple is charging for them, and I got the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones instead. They do lack most of the above features, though they have Immersive Audio instead of Spatial Audio and their own built-in (though admittedly not as good as Apple’s) method for switching between devices.
What the Bose have that the AirPods Max lacks: custom EQ, multiple and programmable modes for ANC and/or transparency (including attenuation of wind noise), USB-C charging, a headphone jack, more foldable design.
As far as sound quality and ANC/transparency quality goes, I haven’t been able to compare the two myself, but every review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultras that I’ve seen has said they meet or exceed the AirPods Max. I can say that while not necessarily audiophile quality, the Bose are exceptional in terms of audio performance, and the ANC is incredibly good. The transparency mode has just the slightest hint of “I am listening to the world through microphones rather than directly through my own ears” which I don’t even notice unless I’m actively listening for it.
I think the AirPods Max will need to do a lot more than just swap Lightning for USB-C and the U1 for U2, and call it a day.
It would be nice but I'm not holding my breath. I think the lossless is low range, which is why it only works inches away from the Vision Pro.
But the Apple Watch is an iPhone accessory and it doesn't charge with Lightning.
The AirPods Max come with a charging cable anyway, so it would've been no big deal to just include a USB C cable.
Oh! I think I have this too. I bought the USB-C Pro 2s a couple of weeks back and last Friday my right ear canal swelled up and has been painful since. The only obvious culprit to me are the AirPods as I was using them a lot. When the swelling finally goes down I might try some foam tips. For now I’ve gone back to my trusty AirPods 3, which don’t sound quite as good, but they also have never made my ear canal swell up!
Spatial Audio/Dolby Atmos for anything on the Apple TV box. It makes a huge difference (unlike with music) on certain types of movies and shows.
I also have a pair of Bose Ultras that just came out and are great, but their Spatial Audio is an onboard algorithm vs using the proper mixed content like Apple uses. So it's fake and sounds like it. Turn that off and they're great.
I have the Sennheiser momentum 4’s and for wireless cans the sound is pretty great.
New! AirPods Max with USB-C and lossless audio! (Note: For lossless audio you must also be wearing a Vision Pro. Total weight: 1.13kg / 2.5lb.) /s
I’ve never quite understood who the AirPods Max were for. It’s like they’re too expensive for most and not good enough sound quality wise for audiophiles. I’m curious how many they’ve actually sold.With regards to sound quality, probably very little. At least not enough to justify the cost difference. However the APM2 will have the U2 chip for easier connectivity. There will be Siri integration (if you use Siri, I don't). And if you wear them in public, you get to let everyone know you can afford Apple.
You don't get a carrying case that looks like a bra with handles with Sony, Bose, or Sennheiser headphones.
My AirPods Pros definitely have better ANC than my Momentum 4’s but the 4’s have much better sound quality. For me the AirPods Max looked heavy and clunky and I wanted a headphone jack so I could used them as wired too.
That’s what I’m thinking
Maybe pick up updated APMs for around the house next year and replace my 1st gen APPs which I use for being out and about in 2025
There are tons of third party tips to try, I like the comply foam tips personally
My Airpods Max bricked recently, they lived 28 months. Frankly I blame the latest update as there were no issues and then suddenly I couldn't get them to hold charge.
Since repairs are $300, I used this as an excuse to explore some alternatives (SONY wx1000-mk5, Focal Bathys, Bowers & Wilkins PX8). Here's a brief review:
Connectivity: just about anything on the market supports 2 or more simultaneous bluetooth connections.Replacing one of the three generally means activating bluetooth pairing (holding a button for longer than is comfortable) and then selecting the headphones in Bluetooth settings. It's actually less annoying than some of the odd situations I'd get into with Airpods Max where they would decide not to sync with anything.
ANC: B&W have the best noise reduction, followed by SONY, followed by Apple. Focal are the least excellent, not ideal for commuting or airplanes.
Transparency Mode: Nothing matches the Airpods Max. Focal are good enough; both B&W and SONY are actively bad and their apps do not help. I think transparency is a big deal -- if you wear headphones all day, you need to be able to hear as well wearing them as not. Only Apple gets this.
Build Quality & Materials: B&W are the best by far -- they're incredibly well built and beautiful. Focal really disappoints -- they say "aluminum and magnesium" but they're build from plastic -- but the look is at least interesting and doesn't look cheap (I ordered the Dune colorway). The SONY are crappy, it's depressing, although the blue color is pretty.
Comfort: SONY. So lightweight and gentle. The B&W are close, though they're tight around the ears. Focal last.
Sound Quality: Nothing is close to the Focal in terms of sound quality -- they are a joy. Apple second, B&W have great resolution but a neutral and somewhat cold presentation even with EQ enabled. SONY are good, but not as good as most wired headphones you can buy for half the price.
Call Quality: SONY > B&W ~ Apple. Focal have weird issues with the microphone gain and sometimes you won't be heard.
Other notes:
- The Focal app has a feature which will test your hearing and adjust the EQ accordingly. As an old, I can't tell you how much this feature has improved my appreciation of this already excellent sounding headphone.
- The SONY app has a feature that will identify speech and kill the music as soon as it is detected. In my experience, this activates frequently in crowds and all the time if you sing along to your music. I can't believe they brought this ****** feature live.
- The AirPods and B&W have head detection. This is a pretty nice comfort feature that makes the bad transparency mode on the B&W less egregious.
- None of the alternatives stink as badly as the Airpods Max earpads do -- they get sweaty but you just clean them off.
- None of these options is water resistant and all of them should be for $400+
PS I am keeping the Focal. Sound quality this breathtaking is worth a few quirks for me.
PPS I am considering also keeping the B&W. It would be an extravagance, but the incredible looks and commute-proof ANC might be worth it.
Since repairs are $300, I used this as an excuse to explore some alternatives (SONY wx1000-mk5, Focal Bathys, Bowers & Wilkins PX8). Here's a brief review:
Connectivity: just about anything on the market supports 2 or more simultaneous bluetooth connections.Replacing one of the three generally means activating bluetooth pairing (holding a button for longer than is comfortable) and then selecting the headphones in Bluetooth settings. It's actually less annoying than some of the odd situations I'd get into with Airpods Max where they would decide not to sync with anything.
ANC: B&W have the best noise reduction, followed by SONY, followed by Apple. Focal are the least excellent, not ideal for commuting or airplanes.
Transparency Mode: Nothing matches the Airpods Max. Focal are good enough; both B&W and SONY are actively bad and their apps do not help. I think transparency is a big deal -- if you wear headphones all day, you need to be able to hear as well wearing them as not. Only Apple gets this.
Build Quality & Materials: B&W are the best by far -- they're incredibly well built and beautiful. Focal really disappoints -- they say "aluminum and magnesium" but they're build from plastic -- but the look is at least interesting and doesn't look cheap (I ordered the Dune colorway). The SONY are crappy, it's depressing, although the blue color is pretty.
Comfort: SONY. So lightweight and gentle. The B&W are close, though they're tight around the ears. Focal last.
Sound Quality: Nothing is close to the Focal in terms of sound quality -- they are a joy. Apple second, B&W have great resolution but a neutral and somewhat cold presentation even with EQ enabled. SONY are good, but not as good as most wired headphones you can buy for half the price.
Call Quality: SONY > B&W ~ Apple. Focal have weird issues with the microphone gain and sometimes you won't be heard.
Other notes:
- The Focal app has a feature which will test your hearing and adjust the EQ accordingly. As an old, I can't tell you how much this feature has improved my appreciation of this already excellent sounding headphone.
- The SONY app has a feature that will identify speech and kill the music as soon as it is detected. In my experience, this activates frequently in crowds and all the time if you sing along to your music. I can't believe they brought this ****** feature live.
- The AirPods and B&W have head detection. This is a pretty nice comfort feature that makes the bad transparency mode on the B&W less egregious.
- None of the alternatives stink as badly as the Airpods Max earpads do -- they get sweaty but you just clean them off.
- None of these options is water resistant and all of them should be for $400+
PS I am keeping the Focal. Sound quality this breathtaking is worth a few quirks for me.
PPS I am considering also keeping the B&W. It would be an extravagance, but the incredible looks and commute-proof ANC might be worth it.
Hearing aid replacement? I can't see walking around with AirPods in my ears for 16+ hours/day if and when I need hearing aids.
The Sennheiser Momentum 4s are considered by many to best both the Sony XM5 and AirPods Max in terms of sound quality. Their ANC is definitely not as good, though (but not by any means awful).
If the AirPods 4 don’t revert to being tappable and having a fit like the 1-2, that’ll be a sad day for me when they discontinue the 2.
What blows my mind with the AirPods Max is that if you want to use them plugged in you have to buy a Lightning to 3.5mm audio jack cable and then use use the lightning to 3.5mm adapter dongle to listen to almost-lossless audio. (And for whatever reason a Lightning to USB-C cable doesn't work to plug it into an iPad, Mac, or iPhone 15).
Hopefully the next generation Max takes a cue from the Beats Studio Pro by supporting proper lossless over USB-C.
I love my AirPods Max but I hate that case so much. I definitely don’t mind it being heavy because it’s made of really premium materials. I hope APM2 has wireless lossless.
Very excited for all the future AirPods.
I had actually soured a bit on my Pros and 3rd Gens as the auto-switching was so hit and miss and rarely worked for my Macs.
I actually thought auto-switching to Macs would never work the way Apple initially advertised.
But now they do! 👏
I had actually soured a bit on my Pros and 3rd Gens as the auto-switching was so hit and miss and rarely worked for my Macs.
I actually thought auto-switching to Macs would never work the way Apple initially advertised.
But now they do! 👏
I remember usb c on the 12 inch MacBook in like 2016. It’s insane how slow this transition has been. In my patrol vehicle we have usb c ports and my site phone is usb c. I have to bring a whole separate cord to charge my phone until recently