The MacRumors Show: Surprise AirPods Max 2 Announcement

[MacRumors]

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's surprise announcement of the AirPods Max 2 this week.

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The AirPods Max 2 introduce a range of improvements primarily driven by the addition of Apple's H2 chip, which replaces the H1 chip used in previous models. This new chip underpins most of the upgrades, enabling more advanced computational audio and significantly enhancing the overall listening experience.

One of the most notable improvements is Active Noise Cancellation, which Apple says is up to 1.5x more effective than before, making the headphones better suited to noisy environments such as travel. Transparency mode is also refined, with more natural-sounding ambient audio and improved clarity when hearing voices and surroundings.

The H2 chip also facilitates a suite of new adaptive listening features. Adaptive Audio dynamically adjusts the balance between noise cancellation and environmental sound depending on your surroundings, while Conversation Awareness automatically lowers playback and enhances nearby voices when you begin speaking. Personalized Volume builds on this by learning your listening preferences over time and adjusting volume levels accordingly. In addition, Voice Isolation has been improved, helping to prioritize your voice during calls and reduce background noise more effectively.

Audio quality is enhanced with a new high dynamic range amplifier and updated signal processing. These changes should result in more consistent bass, clearer midrange, more natural vocals, and improved separation of instruments. Spatial Audio has also been refined, offering more accurate sound placement and a more coherent soundstage.

Wireless performance sees an upgrade with support for Bluetooth 5.3, which reduces latency compared to the previous generation. Alongside audio improvements, several new features have been added, including Live Translation powered by Apple Intelligence, the ability to use the Digital Crown as a camera remote for taking photos or controlling video recording, and expanded Siri interactions, including hands-free activation without "Hey Siri" and gesture-based responses.

Despite these updates, several core aspects remain unchanged. The design, materials, and overall form factor are identical to earlier versions, battery life remains at up to 20 hours with noise cancellation enabled, and the headphones continue to use the same Smart Case. Pricing is also unchanged at $549.

AirPods Max 2 will be available to order on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app starting Wednesday, March 25 in the U.S. and more than 30 other countries, and they launch on an unspecified day in early April. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about Apple's concentrated week of announcements that saw the introduction of 10 new products.


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Article Link: The MacRumors Show: Surprise AirPods Max 2 Announcement

 

[M4irmidnight]

Not sure about “significant improvement to listening experience”

 

[MasterControlProgram]

It’s almost like Apple ran out of H1 chips and had to start putting H2 chips in the same old AirPods Max casings.

 

[SDAVE]

There's so many things they could've done to fix this thing. Making it have a smaller footprint, getting rid of the mesh headband, using a different surface material (it gets dirty fast and erodes) and maybe supported AirPlay 2 for wireless lossless or develope a lossless wireless codec over bluetooth, better Mics (without it using BT SBS codec) but they got lazy and didn't.

I'll stick with my Lightning Gen 1 thx. I have other (better sounding) headphones but the ANC on APM Gen 1 are really solid so I use them often.

 

[Happy_John]

It’s almost like Apple ran out of H1 chips and had to start putting H2 chips in the same old AirPods Max casings.

Pretty much.

Streamlining costs by consolidating the chip lines.

Just as Apple put the M4 in the iPad Air because continuing to produce the M3 and M4 hips would have been more expensive than only producing the M4 chip, producing the H2 chip is cheaper than producing the H1 chip and the H2 chip.

But that’s no assurance of any significant improvements or change in their sound. The APM sound solid because of the phayical speaker drivers in them. But you do get new features that aren’t that relevant to over-ear speakers, because they’re features designed for earbud AirPods. Do you really want to use your APM to remotely take photos on your iPhone? Are you going to use them for live Translation?

But there’s also absolutely no point in listening to someone repeat the spec sheet and press release. (My bad, I know that’s exactly what I’ve done).

It’s not a review unless the reviewer has actually tried and tested them.

 

[realtwang]

Is everyone missing the fact that there is a new high dynamic range amplifier in this new model? That is not part of the H2 chip, so unlike what they are saying on this podcast, an entirely new amplifier would constitute new internal hardware.

 

[SDAVE]

Is everyone missing the fact that there is a new high dynamic range amplifier in this new model? That is not part of the H2 chip, so unlike what they are saying on this podcast, an entirely new amplifier would constitute new internal hardware.

It's not going to sound that much better than APM which already does not have good drivers, if you compare it to the competition. APM is overpriced. I personally don't use APM for the sound quality but convenience.

 

[kcwookie]

All I know is that I’m ordering one. I love the original.

 

[Happy_John]

It's not going to sound that much better than APM which already does not have good drivers, if you compare it to the competition. APM is overpriced. I personally don't use APM for the sound quality but convenience.

the APM areoverpriced but I wouldn’t say the drivers are bad, they’re solid. I think the sound quality is comparable to Sony XM4 and XM6, and better than the XM5.

 

[SDAVE]

the APM areoverpriced but I wouldn’t say the drivers are bad, they’re solid. I think the sound quality is comparable to Sony XM4 and XM6, and better than the XM5.

They're average at best. No midtones and blown out highs.

 

[Happy_John]

They're average at best. No midtones and blown out highs.

Personally, I think you’re being too harsh. They’re not the very best over-ear headphone on the market, but they’re easily a pratchawce for Sony’s high-end consumer offerings, and that’s the market they’re płacing themselve in.

The extra money is basically a mix of Apple tax, AirPods connectivity convenience, a very nice phsyical control system (no horrible touch controls) and the fact that they’re not plastic.

I like mine, I have no urge to upgrade to this new iteration, but equally I end up grabbing the APM over other headphones when at home for entertainment.

They’re not reference headphones, they’re not designed for professional audio production, but they’re not claiming to be. They are what they are.

 

[klasma]

How many posts will we have with the exact same information it is out of hand

I think they’re still missing the “10 reasons to wait for the AirPods Max 3” article.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

Too bad the Max 2 retains the flimsy mesh headband material that eventually stretches upward until it no longer suspends the steel frame of the headband above your head, at which point those two steel bars press down into your scalp, leaving deep indentations. At least those indentations fill in an hour or two after you remove the headphones, and go back to their original shape, but the same can't be said for the headband mesh. Fortunately there are third-party cushioned headband covers, which is what I use.

 

[Bones402]

$549+tax...for headphones.... Hard pass for this low-income earner.

 

[Genelec8341]

The original Max got a headless panther in objective testing by Amir on audiosciencereview without the use of some EQ.
Maybe the v2 will sound better, but I'm not very optimistic.

 

[Happy_John]

Too bad the Max 2 retains the flimsy mesh headband material that eventually stretches upward until it no longer suspends the steel frame of the headband above your head, at which point those two steel bars press down into your scalp, leaving deep indentations. At least those indentations fill in an hour or two after you remove the headphones, and go back to their original shape, but the same can't be said for the headband mesh. Fortunately there are third-party cushioned headband covers, which is what I use.

Yep. It’s annoying that users have to come up with a fix, but it’s not difficult to so, and then they’re a lot more comfortable. The we aught is fine as long as the bars are digging into your head, and if you’re bald like me, those dents are very obvious.

 

[DblHelix]

Personally, I think you’re being too harah. They’re not the very best over-ear headphone on the market, but they’re easily a pratchawce for Sony’s high-end consumer offerings, and that’s the market they’re płacing themselve in.

The extra money is basically a mix of Apple tax, AirPods connectivity convenience, a very nice phsyical control system (no horrible touch controls) and the fact that they’re not plastic.

I like mine, I have no urge to upgrade to this new iteration, but equally I end up grabbing the APM over other headphones when at home for entertainment.

They’re not reference headphones, they’re not designed for professional audio production, but they’re not claiming to be. They are what they are.

Agreed. They sound on par with many other headphones I have. The only one that sounds better are my grado sr325 and my Sony mdr-z1r

 

[johnsawyercjs]

Yep. It’s annoying that users have to come up with a fix, but it’s not difficult to so, and then they’re a lot more comfortable. The we aught is fine as long as the bars are digging into your head, and if you’re bald like me, those dents are very obvious.

I can imagine that. I'm not bald, just slightly balding, and when I first felt those indentations I wondered if they might be accelerating the balding. Somewhat painful too.

 

[SDAVE]

Personally, I think you’re being too harsh. They’re not the very best over-ear headphone on the market, but they’re easily a pratchawce for Sony’s high-end consumer offerings, and that’s the market they’re płacing themselve in.

The extra money is basically a mix of Apple tax, AirPods connectivity convenience, a very nice phsyical control system (no horrible touch controls) and the fact that they’re not plastic.

I like mine, I have no urge to upgrade to this new iteration, but equally I end up grabbing the APM over other headphones when at home for entertainment.

They’re not reference headphones, they’re not designed for professional audio production, but they’re not claiming to be. They are what they are.

They're just average dude, don't make excuses for Apple haha. They could've taken some learnings from Gen 1 and made changes. It's a heavy set of headphones with major flaws. I don't even like the Sony headphones so that doesn't matter.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, the AirPods Pro 3 are solid, they have gotten better each generation.

 

[PowerMac5500]

Be careful. I have gotten warned and posts deleted for questioning the repeated nature of posting the same thing. Mods take down criticism of content but leave talk about starting world wars...🧐

You're not kidding about that, the rule police are brutal here. Watch out for the weeeeez.

And so it's on topic. This is a lame refresh. There's no 2 about it. This is 1.75 at best.

 

[Sami13496]

I have never owned the Max. I own AirPods Pro 2. The Max cost two to three times as much. Do they sound two to three times better?

 

[Happy_John]

I have never owned the Max. I own AirPods Pro 2. The Max cost two to three times as much. Do they sound two to three times better?

They do sound better, but not 2-3 times better.

But more than that, they’re not really AirPods. You wouldn’t use them to go to the gym, go running, answerphonecalls. You see lots of people weaing iPods in teams / streaming, etc, but very rearely are they wearing the APM.

They’re really overear headphones for watching mniesz and listening to music, mosty at home. One of the only times I’d take them out of the House would be if I were going on an airplane. I’d never weather in the car, but I would wear AirPods / AirPods Pro.

No, they’re definately not as practical as „proper” AirPods. Not an „essential” part of the Apple setup. IF you like them can stomach the price, get them and you’ll like them. If you don’t Think they’re for you, you won’t miss them.

They re what they are: what over-ear headphones would be if they were made by Apple, with all the Apple-ness that comes with that.

 

[Arctic Moose]

I’m glad they finally did this, but also really annoyed that I bought a pair after the USB-C update expecting the next release to be at least another 3-4 years away.

 

[Happy_John]

I’m glad they finally did this, but also really annoyed that I bought a pair after the USB-C update expecting the next release to be at least another 3-4 years away.

I don’t think you’re missing anything, to be honest.

If the chip change did make a significant improvement, it wouldn’t have been such a low key release - they would have been available at the March 4 event for influencers to try and YouTube about.

That they weren’t available to test and stream about, that there weren’t significant improvements to go „wow” on-screen about, does suggest this is just chip consolidation.

 

[Rayansb]

It's basically the same product with the same problems. No mechanism to power them off. Too heavy. Still ships with that ridiculous bra. This is hardly a gen 2 product.