The AirPods Max are a shocking piece of {hardware}. These aluminum earcups are weighty and scream high quality, and that fancy headband makes them tremendous comfy. The digital crown is a superb piece of design, and the earpads are gentle and relieve stress over lengthy listening intervals. They’re a critical, premium product that appear like they’re definitely worth the worth.
Solely there’s one, evident downside: I simply don’t like them.
Once I purchase a bit of sound tools, they should have no less than two of three issues: good worth, good sound, or good high quality. My Sony WH1000XM4s, for instance, are nicely made and are an excellent worth for what I need from them, however they don’t sound that good. My Sennheiser 599SE are of wonderful worth, they usually sound good, however they aren’t constructed to final. The issue I’ve with the AirPods Max could be very easy: whereas they’re stunningly made, the sound high quality doesn’t align with the worth tag, which means, by my standards, they’re not a adequate worth. They don’t supply something new to me, and once you’re spending upwards of $500 on a pair of headphones, that is an issue.
On the planet of client tech, nevertheless, we’re just one product revision away from potential perfection. Ought to Apple ever make a pair of AirPods Max 2, I’ve some strategies for a way they might enhance. However first, this is what I do not like concerning the first-generation cans.
The issue with the sound
To many, the AirPods Max will sound fantastic. Good even. And on the floor, that is true — the highs are crisp, the mids are welcoming, and the bass, clean. The issue is the steadiness of the sound. Just like the Beats that got here earlier than them (and with so many different headphones of immediately), the bass is overwhelming. It has a behavior of overtaking the remainder of the music, mixing all the things collectively into an enormous sound… blender.
Don’t get me mistaken; I like bass. I like bass-heavy music and intentionally arrange my dwelling audio system to emphasise a number of the decrease frequencies, however I like my bass to be managed and exact. I wish to hear the remainder of my music too: all of the devices, breaths, and idiosyncrasies of what I’m listening to. The bass is a large a part of that, however it’s not an important ingredient of a soundscape, and sadly, the AirPods Max suppose it’s.
What else is mistaken?
Sadly, the sound isn’t the one downside with the AirPods Max. They’re heavy for a begin, and whereas for some, that hasn’t been an issue, it was for me. I used them for a few hours and, as I used to be carrying them, they began to shift down my face. Slowly, however absolutely, they have been sagging over my ears. I adjusted the little sliders on the facet, and it stopped for a short time, however then began up once more later. I’ve not seen others with this downside, so perhaps I’m an remoted case, but it surely positive did take the luster off my first strive of some very costly headphones.
The earcups are gentle and cozy, however the materials they’re made from is sort of a magnet for make-up. I felt terrible as I handed them again to the one that’d let me strive them, taking with them an surprising layer of basis. I can solely think about how they’d look if I have been to make use of a pair day by day, as I’d hope to.
I felt terrible as I handed them again to the one that’d let me strive them, taking with them an surprising layer of basis.
After which there’s the case: a sorry excuse for a bit of microfibre-lined suede, it barely covers the headphones in a bag and cracks the earcups collectively once you slide them in. Apparently, it places them right into a sleep mode, but when I’m spending $550 on a pair of headphones, I need to have the ability to flip them off utterly from such an possibility and obtain a a lot sturdier case to guard them in a bag. My Sonys have been $200 cheaper, I can flip them off, and there’s an unbelievable arduous case within the field. It solely additional confounds why Apple’s case is so poor — you’re left having to seek out the greatest AirPods Max circumstances on Amazon and spend much more cash. Our reviewer, Christine Romero-Chan, was in a position to get her fingers on this Intelli CarryOn Case for AirPods Max and liked it, however once more, for those who’re already forking over tons of for the headphones, the included case needs to be sufficient.
The cardinal sin
I take advantage of Apple Music. I’m of the transformed. It sounds higher than some other music service I’ve tried, works higher than TIDAL, and capabilities throughout all my units properly. I additionally get a subscription with my telephone contract, which definitely helps. A part of my conversion to Apple Music after utilizing Spotify for therefore lengthy was the addition of Apple Lossless Audio — which makes use of the Apple lossless codec often called “ALAC.” I gained’t go too far into it, however like FLAC and different codecs, it has an ever-increasing bitrate that may assist your music sound higher. That’s doing a disservice to the complexities of the wonderful codec, but it surely’s the only method of explaining it.
Earlier than I start, I ought to point out that no Bluetooth headphones will play lossless audio — the Bluetooth connection merely can’t switch sufficient knowledge for the upper bitrate tracks to work. There are strategies to make Bluetooth sound higher, however none of them fairly get there. Apple Music Lossless Audio is identical — you want a wired connection for the conventional lossless bitrates and an additional DAC to get the very highest high quality accessible.
That being mentioned, you’d count on Apple’s most costly headphones to assist Apple Lossless Audio for those who plug them, wired, into your greatest Mac or iPhone. And positively, you’ll get higher sound than a wi-fi connection, proper? The standard of the sign from the wired supply will sound higher than a Bluetooth supply…proper? Effectively, not fairly. You see, the difficulty comes from a limitation constructed into the headphones themselves, and the way the headphones take care of the digital to analog conversion, and the reverse of the method.
On the telephone or MacBook finish, there’s a DAC, or digital to analog converter, that takes the digital sign from the supply (on this case, the telephone or Mac) and converts it to an analog sign that it launches down the headphone cable. This sign reaches the AirPods Max, the place it meets the ADC, or analog to digital converter. This takes the sign and reconverts it to a digital sign that the headphone’s noise-canceling middle can use — it wants a digital sign to mess about with the microphones and sensors that permit for the noise canceling. This ADC, nevertheless, is just able to sending a 24bit, 48KHz sign to the in-built amp, which isn’t a excessive res, lossless sign like Apple Music is able to placing out. It should even downgrade sound pumped out by a stronger exterior DAC.
You possibly can’t take heed to certainly one of Apple Music’s most enjoyable options on their top-of-the-range headphones.
Reddit person TeckFire, who taught me all the things I learn about this concern, places it greatest of their Reddit thread:
“The actual factor that AirPods Max can not do, full cease, is play Hello-Res audio. The ADC would down-convert any Hello-Res analog sign being despatched to it again all the way down to 24bit 48KHz audio,” TeckFire says.
This makes completely no sense to me. Whereas it is a function that solely essentially the most hardcore customers could be after, the very fact that there’s a built-in {hardware} limitation which means you possibly can’t take heed to certainly one of Apple Music’s most enjoyable options on their top-of-the-range headphones is baffling. It’s an issue that, identical to the others, is exacerbated by that price ticket. The AirPods Professional get away with it as a result of they’re fairly priced, very handy, and sound adequate for a pair of true wi-fi in-ear buds. However Apple’s flagship headphones needs to be one of the simplest ways to take heed to Apple Music — or so you’ll have thought.
What Apple ought to repair for AirPods Max 2
As a lot as I’m not a large fan of the AirPods Max of their present type, I can see how with some enchancment, they might be a implausible possibility for each listening at dwelling and on the go.
First off, Apple ought to repair the case for the AirPods Max 2. No person needs to pay $550 for a pleasant pair of headphones and obtain a glorified microfibre-lined nappy within the field. Give us a correct case that is sturdy and truly protects the headphones once they’re put in a bag.
As a lot because the construct high quality is superb and the headscarf comfy and supportive, they’re simply too heavy. These earcups might use a in addition to I’m actually unsure in the event that they’re made from the very best materials for these of us that use basis. I’m unsure easy methods to make them lighter, given the sheer quantity of aluminum on show, however there have to be someplace they will lose some weight. If nothing else, I’d like them to not slip down my face, smearing away hours of labor in seconds.
With enchancment on the bass, AirPods Max might be wi-fi headphones with an audiophile sound profile.
That sound signature wants altering too. It’s evident that the {hardware} can produce some nice sound. There are flashing moments of greatness within the highs and mids, however the bass is simply too current to make listening something apart from sufficient. I feel this might set the AirPods Max 2 other than the market. As an alternative of simply being “the identical bass-heavy sound as everybody else however by means of higher drivers,” it might be a case of filling a distinct segment — wi-fi headphones with an audiophile sound profile.
Lastly, they actually need higher Apple Music Lossless Audio assist. I’m not holding out for a Bluetooth replace to carry it alongside, however once you’re making an attempt to hear wired? There actually shouldn’t be any excuse. Apple Music Lossless is without doubt one of the largest causes I personally selected to ditch Spotify and leap over to Apple Music, and the truth that Apple’s flagship headphones aren’t shouting about certainly one of Apple Music’s greatest options from the rooftops is, as I mentioned earlier than, baffling. Simply let me plug my headphones into my Mac and take heed to Lossless Audio — and don’t construct in a {hardware} limitation that will get in the best way.
In all, I simply need them to really feel extra like they’re price that lofty price ticket.
With all these in consideration, I’d be way more seemingly to purchase a pair of Apple’s AirPods Max. Most of my fixes are, for essentially the most half, at a {hardware} degree. There’s no technique to obtain an replace that makes them weigh much less, and it’s seemingly unimaginable to replace the onboard DAC to assist above 24bit 48KHz res audio. The audio tuning may be doable to tweak with software program updates, however I had a play with an equalizer with little luck so I’ve my doubts.
In all, I simply need them to really feel extra like they’re price that lofty price ticket as a result of even with the greatest Airpods offers, they nonetheless really feel far too costly. When there are many different choices accessible at far more reasonably priced worth factors, the AirPods Max really feel like a monetary slap within the face.
Oh yeah, and Apple? Spatial audio is dangerous for music. Cease. Please.
Please Apple, enhance the AirPods Max
It is fascinating that if the AirPods Max have been cheaper or doubtlessly the identical worth as their rivals, I might need a nicer total opinion on Apple’s flagship headphones. However they’re not, and it wants to alter. There are such a lot of options to the AirPods Max that individuals produce other choices.
Alas, it appears just like the AirPods Max have bought nicely sufficient that Apple gained’t care about what I take into consideration the AirPods Max 2 (not that they’d anyway). The those that purchase them don’t care concerning the issues that I do, and it is apparent that I’m not the audience of the AirPods Max.
I like Apple, I actually do, and maybe that is why the AirPods Max sting a lot.
Besides, maybe I’m, or needs to be. I stay Apple. I’ve a Mac. I’ve an iPhone. I write about Apple. I look on the Apple Watches with envious eyes as I work out whether or not I can afford one, saving the pennies for an Apple Watch Sequence 8 and an iPhone 14. I’m an Apple Music buyer, and I subscribe to Apple Arcade. I like Apple, I actually do, and maybe that is why the AirPods Max sting a lot. An costly pair of headphones from Apple needs to be proper up my alley, particularly in the event that they go all in on Lossless Audio.
I pray that Apple will do one thing very un-Apple, and admit the AirPods Max aren’t excellent — and, very similar to the Mac Professional wheels that got here earlier than them — far too costly for what they’re. I nonetheless maintain out hope for the AirPods Max 2 to ship what my ears deserve. Who is aware of: MagSafe is again, so stranger issues have occurred.
In case you should…
Even when after my inane diatribe you continue to desire a pair of metallic Beats, you possibly can go to Amazon and discover a pair. You’ll get some very heavy, very stable headphones, and who is aware of, perhaps you will love the best way they sound. To every their very own.
