Some AirPods Max Owners Complain of Condensation in Ear Cups

[kilimanjaro]

So since receiving my APM I definitely have had less “noticeable” condensation due to the cloth cups. When wearing for longer periods with my XM4 and NC 700 it’s noticeably more and sometimes I would need to dry my face off as the pleather material doesn’t aid in dispersion. But on the point of the thread, the condensation is only noticeable on the APM because you can remove the cups to view it. On any other cans that don’t have removable cups you can’t actually remove them to see the condensation build up which inevitably dries into the material. My personal opinion.

I agree that if you can’t see it, it (seems not) to be there.
I’ve got condensation on the (synthetic) pads of the XM4s. With the H95s, the pads are magnetic and a super soft calf leather - there’s never been any condensation when I’ve pulled these off.

 

[Will Tisdale 🎗]

Meh, I’m still keeping both of my pairs. Gotta wow the Starbucks crowd. Just kidding, I would never drink that trash I do have two pairs though. They’re okay. The build is better than the sound.

How do you manage to use both pairs at once? Seems like a pointless boast. ?

 

[kilimanjaro]

According to the article it happens with the Sony XM3’s. I wonder how Sony solved sweat?

Upon deeper introspection - I have had sweat on the pads of the XM4s.. I can’t see inside as another posted has mentioned.

 

[hsotnicam8002]

I wonder if this may lead to increased ear infections.

I don’t think there’s mushroom for microbial growth.

 

[farewelwilliams]

This has never happened with my Sony XM4s, or, Bang & Olufsen H95s.

It has happened with my QC15 and QC35. it also happened with my Sennheiser HD 600 but to a lesser extent.

 

[fourthtunz]

Since the AirPods Max headphones were released on December 15, there have been a growing number of complaints from MacRumors readers who have run into a problem with condensation.

Image via MacRumors reader Jordan921​

Some AirPods Max owners who have been wearing their headphones for a prolonged period of time have noticed condensation forming inside the ear cup. From MacRumors reader ssong:The condensation seems to happen regardless of temperature, and most people have reported seeing it after several hours of use, but for some, it shows up within an hour or two. One user has claimed that the condensation has led to issues with Active Noise Cancellation, but this has not been echoed by other AirPods Max owners and no one else has reported problems caused by condensation.

Other AirPods Max owners have said that the same issue has happened with headphones from other brands. From MacRumors reader JBGoode:The AirPods Max are not water resistant and those who are affected by the condensation are concerned about the longevity of the headphones with the water droplets pooling inside. The ear cushions are not affected and remain dry despite the condensation inside the ear cups.

Some AirPods Max owners have returned the headphones, while others have picked up AppleCare+ in case of future problems. Apple has not yet commented on the issue.

Article Link: Some AirPods Max Owners Complain of Condensation in Ear Cups

 

[Will Tisdale 🎗]

The way I’m reading this is that this is occurring regardless of activity or temperature, even after a few hours of just sitting at a desk. The hypothesis is that the design is trapping heat and creating condensation (the ear pads themselves aren’t even wet), so it has nothing to do with sweating and might actually be due to a faulty design.

It’s standard for any over ear headphones. There’s no way of keeping the sound in but letting the moist warm air out. So it gets warm and moist inside the cup and if there’s a cooler surface the moisture condenses.

I guess if people took them off for a few minutes every so often that would help...

Out of interest - AirPods Max owners - is the inside speaker grille made of metal?

 

[fourthtunz]

They gotta stop goin swimming with them on!

 

[eddiezus]

Bursor & Fisher, P.A. - Notice of Investigation

Did you purchase the AirPods Max?

www.bursor.com

saw this today on facebook!

 

[aleni]

Great! Xbox vs PS boys, Winblows vs Mac Geeks, Android Peasants vs iPhone Arrogance, Pro vaccine vs anti vaccine, trump vs biden, round earthers vs flat earthers, now dry ears clan vs wet ears clan! When is this gonna ever stop!? We need John Lennon to be revived asap!

 

[Aboo]

Bursor & Fisher, P.A. - Notice of Investigation

Did you purchase the AirPods Max?

www.bursor.com

View attachment 1708647


saw this today on facebook!

Lol, the return period doesnt even elapse till tomorrow for those in the Americas! Already with a class action law suit? Guess this is America....

 

[Reason077]

This happens with most over ear headphones. I'm a big critic of AirPods max but this is quite normal.

Yes. My Sony WH-1000XM3s had significant rust/corrosion on some of the internal screws, visible when you removed the ear pads and the internal foam. Presumably this was caused by the same type of sweat/condensation build up. But at least Apple will be using screws that don’t rust!

 

[EugenesSoggySalami]

Youre holding it wrong. /s

 

[480951]

It’s standard for any over ear headphones. There’s no way of keeping the sound in but letting the moist warm air out. So it gets warm and moist inside the cup and if there’s a cooler surface the moisture condenses.

I guess if people took them off for a few minutes every so often that would help...

Out of interest - AirPods Max owners - is the inside speaker grille made of metal?

A few other comments also remarking this can only be noticed in that area because the earcups are removable makes sense. Normally that wouldn’t be seen, only the condensation externally visible.

 

[Mac Prodigy]

Do you have a split personality?

Haha no. I just like the space grey and the silver. I have never ran into the issue at hand though. I guess it all depends on how folks use their headphones.

 

[iAFC]

This has never happened with my Sony XM4s, or, Bang & Olufsen H95s.

Have you looked inside of them?

 

[adammusic]

Zero sweat on my modular AIAIAI TMA-2 headphones.
F airpods max

 

[fumi2014]

You're wearing them wrong.

 

[Will Tisdale 🎗]

A few other comments also remarking this can only be noticed in that area because the earcups are removable makes sense. Normally that wouldn’t be seen, only the condensation externally visible.

It also could be because the internal speaker grille is metal, which means a lot more heat transfer to the outside and as a result a lot more condensation than if it was, say, plastic, which doesn’t conduct heat well. It looks like metal in the photo, but I wasn’t 100% sure.

 

[jcshas]

First one to call it ”watergate”.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Haha no. I just like the space grey and the silver. I have never ran into the issue at hand though. I guess it all depends on how folks use their headphones.

Maybe I should look for a slightly used sweaty pair on the forum marketplace.

 

[Will Tisdale 🎗]

First one to call it ”watergate”.

Sweatgate ?

 

[Mac Prodigy]

How do you manage to use both pairs at once? Seems like a pointless boast. ?

I wear whichever pair I want to wear at any given time. But I have worn one pair on my ears and the other around my neck, just to make the Starbucks phleebs jealous

 

[kirk.vino]

I’ve noticed that on mine as well. It’s never too intense though. I used to have a pair of older wired Bose NC headphones as well. I used to work out and run in them. They never stopped working and the sweat only ruined the cushions but not the drivers.
As many have pointed out, most closed back headphones have that as well. The only issue that Apple has created here is the ability to remove the cup covers and see into the cans, so now everyone can scrutinize it. You can even see the drivers after removing the magnetic cups, as the speaker grill is covered with a transparent partition. Most headphones don’t have that degree of transparency, no pun intended.

 

[Jimmy James]

Wow, that’s hot!