Description
BREATHTAKING AUDIO QUALITY — Apple-designed dynamic driver provides high-fidelity audio. Computational audio combines custom acoustic design with the Apple H1 chip and software for breakthrough listening experiences.
FOCUS ON WHAT’S PLAYING — Active Noise Cancellation blocks outside noise so you can immerse yourself in music.
HEAR THE WORLD AROUND YOU — Transparency mode lets you hear and interact with the world around you.
PERSONALIZED SPATIAL AUDIO — With sound that suits your unique ear shape along with dynamic head tracking, AirPods Max deliver an immersive listening experience that places sound all around you. You can also listen to select songs, shows, and movies in Dolby Atmos.
ACOUSTIC-FIRST DESIGN — Designed with a knit-mesh canopy and memory foam ear cushions for an exceptional over-ear fit that perfectly seals in sound.
MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Pair AirPods Max by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen. AirPods Max pause audio when you take them off. And Automatic Switching makes listening between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac completely effortless.
LONG BATTERY LIFE — Up to 20 hours of listening, movie watching, or talk time with Active Noise Cancellation and Personalized Spatial Audio enabled.
tre91396 –
Ive had the AirPods Max for a couple weeks now. they do a lot of the great things that you expect from apple products. The set up is super simple and quick, just bring them next to you iPhone and youre basically done. They switch between your devices seamlessly. Take a call on your iPhone and they connect to your iPhone, play music on you iPad and they connect to your iPad. it just works. The sound is great and the spatial audio feature is absolutely insane for compatible apps. so why only 3 stars i have two reasons, one of which i alluded to in my title. The noise cancelling is a little disappointing. Maybe I expect too much, but while background noises like the fishtank filter disappear completely, I can still hear a lot of things like the faint sounds of the TV. The noise is certainly muted, just not cancelled. the other issues I have is that background noises while Im on calls are picked up very clearly and heard, more so than on AirPod Pro or AirPod original, at least thats what Im told. When you factor in the price combined with these two concerns, it translates to a 3 star rating, despite how good entertainment sounds on the headset.
Jose –
Are they worth 550 If you have an iPhone yes. Android or anything else, maybe not. The iPhone will give you audio editingtuning options that you will not find elsewhere. On the iPhone make sure you are updated to the latest iOS that help the phone truly recognize the headphones, and then update the firmware of the headset itself. I consider myself an audiophile, and when I try new headphones, the sound test I put them through is fairly simple, and I play 5 key songs of different genres that I would say have hidden sounds or instruments that cheaper headphones would not catch. These pass the test, and surpass the Bose and Sony headsets in separating instruments, the soundstage effect. If you are a person who cant tell the difference in good headphones versus others, dont waste your time, because you wont be able to justify the reasoning for the pricing. The comfort is amazing, and I can wear these for 4 hours plus with no discomfort. They look great, and noise cancellation is amazing on these headphones.
Grant V –
These headphones are fantastic. The sound quality is great. They have a wide sound stage just like all the reviewers have mentioned on YouTube. The noise canceling is also very good. My only concern is that the noise canceling does seem to hunt from time to time if you move your head up and down or side to side in a really noisy environment, like a loud truck. The chips are certainly working to optimize the noise cancelation. When I purchased them I was a little hesitant about the price. When I wore them for the first day, I was really concerned I had made a bad choice. The clamping force to hold them on your head is high. This is due to the need to manage the weight but it is also to make the noise cancellation more effective. Depending on your head shape, this may affect you more than others. What worked for me is to shorten the headband to almost the shortest position to make them comfortable. In this position they dont stab into my head nearly as much around the temples and side of face. The head band is perfect and so are the ear cups. After finding a good fit I can say I would buy these again in a heartbeat. They really are the best wireless Bluetooth headphones on the market, especially if you are in the Apple ecosystem.
FrankieFontaine –
My Space Gray ones came today. While they will never replace my Audeze LCD 3 with my Apogee Duet DAC these sound wonderful and brings the best listening experience with the Apple line. Music, movies Spatial Sound, phone callsFaceTime all sound excellent and the sound cancelling is the best Ive heard. I have a huge head and these are very comfortable without being too tight and I wear thick frame glasses.. Maybe Im used to my heavy Audeze. These are worth the 550, essential for Apple lovers. They feature neutral sound and a wide soundstage. The dynamic EQ option can be turned off in the Apple Music app. These will certainly be my travel headphones, perfect for flying and long passenger rides. My AirPods generation two now will be my activity and fitness sound option. Also, they sound even better connected to my Pono player with 3.5mm to Lightning.
JoeBiggs –
These are beautiful and stylish headphones. They sound very good but not the first choice if you want more bass heavy headphones. I cant get the battery to stop draining, I am told I have to keep them in the case to put them in low power mode. Why They have really really good noise cancellation. I dont believe these are worth the price but that is subjective. I believe they are worth about 350. If you own Apple devices devices that is a plus as they connect easily to them. The pads are very comfortable and fit over my big ears.The biggest negative is they are heavy, I get the use of solid materials to give you the feeling of quality but with headphones that weight translates into discomfort when wearing while leaning back or after a extended listening sessions.
Goalier95 –
If youre familiar with regular AirPods, youll know Apple makes it super easy to connect with all your existing iOS, MacOS and Apple TV gear. Yes, they are heavier than Bose or Sony NC headphones but they are very comfortable to wear for hours at a time. My ears arent in discomfort which is amazing. When I first used them for the first time listening to some Blue Man Groups Persona.. I was actually getting goosebumps because Ive never heard this song sound so good before. The bass is impressive and its very natural, clear sounding tone. Youll definitely love how tight and controlled the bass is.Music listening is so immersive is all I can say. Sounds like you are in a recording studio while the artists are playing live in front of you.Havent gotten a chance to try out Spatial Audio but with more movies coming out this year, itll be something to look forward to.Ive also gotten some silicone ear covers that will help prevent the clacking noise and scuff marks that some users have mentioned plus it adds some grip.So far battery life is decent, it takes a hit if you are constantly using noise cancelation and loud volumes but its not a deal breaker.I was skeptical about these at first but they are truly an amazing product for what you get. The build quality, comfort, soundimmersion and ease of use if youre in the Apple ecosystem is truly fantastic.
Elitistaxis –
The AirPods Max is well worth the money. Ive owned many highend headphones, and these are my top headphones because they solve so many problems for me.I wanted headphones that I can use for Zoom, phone calls, music, gaming. I had a separate pair for each use scenario, but these solve all of my needs.I love everything about these headphones. Ive received many compliments for the mic clarity when using the AirPods Max for Zoom sessions and phone calls.These are audiophilegrade quality headphones. Ill put these up against some of my favorite Sennheiser headphones.These headphones are for those that demand the best in sound and mic quality. The fact that theyre Bluetooth, have a seamless transition from device to device is a bonus.Buy a USB donglesuch as the Creative BTW3, and youre ready to use these with your gaming console of choice.Another fantastic product from Apple. I wouldnt say I like the Airpods or Airpods Pro much, but the Airpods Max is a purchase I dont regret.
AppleSheep –
I have owned Bose QC3, 700, Sennheiser PXC550, Sony XM3 and I am glad I gave AirpodsMax a shot. It to my ears are the best of the lot when it comes to wireless headphones. Back in the days, when anybody tried on BOSE QC3, they used to go wow. After that, things have been similar for the most part. Sony XM3s was the next wows. But this takes it to a different level. The whole experience build quality, ease of use, comfort, noise cancellation, transparency mode is simply awesome. yes 550 is steep. I had BBuy credits accumulated and I just used it all for this and I have no regrets. I will plan to purchase different color ear cushions once they are available for purchase. The magnetic hold for the ear Cushions are really cool as those are what get spoilt first over time. Extremely easy to remove and put back. The ear cups not just cushions, also detach with a SIM card ejection tool if someone really wants to do that. I have had these on for many hours and no issues. It seamlessly connects to my apple devices and switches from one to another seamlessly. The Audio quality is astounding. Every single detail is crystal clear and the sound feels wider when compared to other headphones. No doubt these are expensive, but Id rather purchase one exceptional then two mediocres .BestBuy also delivered this way before time. Thank you BestBuy.
Jared –
Switching between multiple Apple devices will drive you insane. It will say that its connected but then no audio will be present until you reconnect a FaceTime call, for example. I am constantly having to reconnect them, and I have attempted to change settings between automatic device detection and when last used neither work.These are kind of a firstgeneration trap, to be honest. They are somewhat of a ripoff considering the sound quality is just simply not that great. Coming from the AirPods Pro, I was underwhelmed that these just do not sound that great and do not provide natural noise isolation. Noise cancellation actually gives me headaches, and noise cancelation mode is virtually the only way the sound quality is half decent.Do yourself a favor and forego your Apple fandom this time. Get a pair of Bose or Sony instead. Theyre not worth the aesthetic and definitely not worth the premium in price. The pads also shrivel up a little bit during use, so theyll be looking ugly in no time flat
Tan –
The most noticeable thing besides the price tag, is the build quality. After taking off my Sony XM4s and putting these on, the build quality is excellent. They feel premium and they are comfortable once you find the right spot on your head. The lack of an included cable was only frustrating for me because I use a Windows desktop for work and wanted to plug them in. Easy to just buy the cable. For anyone looking for true wireless, the lack of a cable is irrelevant.Sound quality is on par with Sonys. Im not an audiophile, but for me theres a noticeable difference in the mids. Sounds less muddy.The Digital Crown is perfect, wasnt sure what to expect but its easy and convenient, dont have to hope youre touching invisible touch buttons.My Nieces would love this, My Question is why are people not buying the Pink color No review why I havent seen it on anyone yet either.It should look good on my niece. Since she loved everything she uses rare.
Dur –
Sound quality The AirPods Max has exceptional sound quality before accounting that its wireless. Lows are powerful with mids and highs being accurate. The overall sound is clear and dynamic. Instrument separation also achieves top marks.Wireless Codec The AirPods Max utilizes Apples inhouse audio codec AAC via BT 5.0. The wireless connect is stable and instantaneous. The audio is high resolution without any stutters.Construction and feel Despite the weight of these headphones, the AirPods are comfortable and can be worn for hours. The headband system works and feels extravagant period. The ear cups have an acoustic seal and have top class quality. The headphone is primarily built of stainless steal and aluminum with the rest being mesh. Everything from the AirPods Max film is present and everything said feels understated. 1010 for construction.Overall The best wireless headphones money can buy period.
Mjd1969 –
I was on the fence about these headphones for a while after they came out. I already had the Bose NC700 headphones, so I didnt NEED new headphones, but Ive fully drank the Apple koolaid so the attraction was there. I finally broke down and purchased them. I used them for about 2 weeks including several cross country flights. In the end, I returned them to Best Buy as there just wasnt enough improvements there for the huge cost increase over the Bose.Pros Great sound. Really solid sound with great range. Its truly impressive. Good Noise Cancelling. Works great, but really not better than the Bose. I like that Apple kept it simple and NC is either on or off. No annoying multiple levels like Bose or Sony. Solid build. No plastics here. These things are built like a tank. Great switching between Apple devices. I switched between an iPhone, iPad, Macbook, and AppleTV seemlessly. It made things so easy.Cons Heavy. That solid build I liked came with a big weight penalty. These were extremely heavy compared to the Bose and it bothered me after an hour or two of wear. Because of the weight, the headphone shifted often when I moved and Id have to readjust them. Every time I grabbed the cans to readjust, I would hit one of the buttons and pause the music or turn off the noise cancelling. I could probably learn not to do this but over 2 weeks, I did this a lot. Hot. The ear cushions were very comfortable. I thought theyd have more breathability than the faux leather on the Bose units, but I was wrong. My ears got very hot and sweaty after just a short time wearing them. I could see visible moisture in the cans when I took them off. This never happened with the Bose. Case. The case is ridiculous. Seriously, its embarrassing. It covers the cans, but I was constantly worried about the fabric on the headband tearing while in my backpack when travelling. I ended up buying a 30 case off Amazon to protect them better. Also, while in the Apple case, the low power mode only kicked in occasionally. A few times I went to bed with the headphones at 80 only to take them out the next morning at 20. Really annoying. Just put a power button on it. Cost. Even with a 50 discount while on sale, these are VERY expensive. Despite how much I liked the sound, NC, etc. They were just not worth 200 more than the Bose.Maybe gen 2 will have a lower price point and a workable case. Id definately consider them again, but these ahd to go back for a refund.
Beelove –
As an Apple Fanboy, I really wanted these to be the ultimate headphones, but they fall a little short. First, inexplicably, Apple gives you no control over EQ customization on iPhone. By comparison, Sonys app allows you to costuming numerous aspects of the sound to your liking.Second, the noise cancellation is good, but there are some annoying artifacts. These headphones give me the feeling that my ears are plugged, meaning I can hear a lot of my internal body noises. Again,Boses and Sonys highend headphones do not do this but still provide excellent noise cancellation.Third, because of the materials used, they are a little heavy. If you wear them while lying down, you will feel them pull backward toward the back of your head. Sonys and Boses headphones also do not have this issue.In sum, the sound signature is very similar to AirPod Pro headphones, which are also much more comfortable, convenient, and affordable. So just go with that or Sony or Bose headphones, while Apple fixes the problems with these.
Magsafe –
I was given some AirPods wireless as a gift. I use them, but Im not a big fan of earbuds. I have a pair of Bose soundlink headphones. They sound pretty good but wanted a pair of noise cancelling headphones. I tried the Sony Xm4s in the store and I didnt care for them. I feel their base is overkill. Didnt like the bose 700 either. To be honest Im know audiophile, but I felt the sound of my apple AirPods wasnt bad. I had made a comment to my wife before the apple air pod max were released that I wished apple made some over the ear headphones. They did Im very deep in the Apple ecosystem. Apple Music, MacBook Pro, iPad, iPhone 12 Pro Max etc. I know their products are pricey but they last. I love the sound and the build quality of my air pod max headphones. It makes my Bose soundlink headphones sound cheap. Spatial audio is awesome Really no words to describe it. I know these are pricey, but I just love the vintage style and build quality of these headphones. It reminds me of my cameras. I have a Nikon D3 and Nikon D750. The bullied quality of my D3 makes my 750 feel like a toy. Build quality is important to me. I dont know if I would recommend these for someone that is not invested in Apple. If you are, in my opinion these are worth it. You pay for quality.
ConvincedToBuildNotBuy –
I have found this purchase to be a solid decision.ProsStylish is AestheticGood Audio BalancingIncredibly Easy to Connect to iPhoneConsComes with Charging Cable but not the brickBass range not the most dynamicPrice is a bit high for the productI was able to buy this item at a slight discount from 499 to 449 making the decision to finally get a new Bluetooth headset and be a bit ridiculous about it logical in my mind. Overall Im pleased with the product. Its intuitive, noise cancelling is excellent and the audio is better than most headphones.However having owners left many higherend headphones these are definitely good but dont blow the competition out of the water. I own a HyperX gaming headset with better dynamic range in the low end.What you buy this product for is the aesthetic, the absolute wonderful intuitive product connectivity and user interface and a product built well.NOTE this item comes with the power charging cable but NOT the power brick. You will need to spend an extra 20 for the 20W USBC brick. Kinda lame but hey thats Apple nowadays.Allinall Im happy with my purchase.
TechPastor –
Disclaimer Fully invested in the Apple ecosystem but also fiddle around with other OSes and devices.Sound quality These have great sound for Bluetooth headphones. They are crisp and have great bass. Sonys have sounded muddy to me anytime Ive listened to them. Sure, they hit hard but it distorts and muddies everything up. Bose do not have good bass thump but have great performance on classical music. These hit the sweet spot on both ends.Yet, it isnt perfect. They simply do not get loud compared to other headphones. Im not going to knock them to much for this fact.Comfort Ive been wrestling with this item on my headphone list. These are heavy and I definitely have head fatigue. Im sure this isnt the case for everyone but for me they simply are too heavy for long periods of wear at this point. Im going to give them a few more days to see if things improve, if it doesnt then Ill be returning them.EcoSystem if you arent fully in the Apple ecosystem stay away. You can pick up good enough Bluetooth headphones for far cheaper.Case well its not much of a case. Its bad. If it is anything like the Apple keyboards for iPad Pros then it will age disastrously.Verdict At 550 before tax, the AirPods Max have great sound quality for Bluetooth headphones, Ive wanted to love them but I find myself reaching for my AirPods Pro far more frequently due to their portability and comfort. They have a great build quality but it is the choice of materials that make them uncomfortably heavy. As a result, I believe these are a premium product that only the true Apple loyalist will embrace fully. As for this tech lover, I simply am not sold on these due to comfort and price.
SuperWario –
The moment I opened the box and placed these headphones in my hand I knew they were something special. The quality and craftsmanship is just spectacular. They look a lot better in person too. Like most, I was a bit surprised by the weight at first, and perhaps it takes a little getting used to. 24 hours into using them and its no longer a worry for me. Can I just go back to saying how nice these feel to hold There are subtle innovative elements that set these apart from your typical Sony and Bose headphones.Im not an audiophile, and I cant express the sonic characteristics of what Im hearing as if Im describing some fine wine, but I can tell you they sound crisp, balanced and with sufficiently detail to my ears. The sound is truly enveloping, and the bass is more than sufficient in my mind. Ive been listening across a ton of genres and they sound fantastic. Probably as soon as you can get Bluetooth wireless to sound.The controls are super intuitive. The lack of a power button makes sense the more I think about it. Just throw them on no messing around with pairing, etc. Ive seldom keep these in the case and observed hardly any battery drain. ANC and Transparency modes are nicely implemented. At home Im using Transparency most of the time.Lastly, Spatial Audio is one of things that need to be experienced. I was pretty startled at times just convincing the surround effect can feel watching an episode of Mandolorean.
PBurri –
The goodThe sound quality is 9.0 out of 10,Good controlsGreat noise cancellation.Spatial sound is very good.BT connection with Apple devices is great.Not so goodThe ear pads texture feels a bit rough on skin.Headphones are heavier on the head, while they may be okay with 510 people. So they areNot great fit for vast majority of population below that sizeApple may want to make head bands with two different sizes just like Apple Watch.Apple should allow music to play from direct Lightning, USBC and USBA sources as well, along side Analog.BT mic quality in windy environments isnt that good.
Wackytabacky –
These headphones are worth the price I was very pleasantly surprised with the sound quality and the overall build of the headphones. In my opinion theyre not as heavy as other reviewers said that they were and I found them to be very comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. I really like the fact that you can listen to them while theyre charging, major plus in my book. Prior to the AirPods Max I was using one of the Sony XM1000 models that doesnt allow you to do so. These are definitely big headphones, so if youre looking for something compact, these arent for you. Another cool feature is Spatial Audio. I cued up the final episode of The Falcon and Winter Soldier and was blown away I was in the midst of the actionIm not a person who has super high standards when it comes to cases for my headphones so I dont mind the silly case Apple provides, nor do I care that they never truly turn off. The trade off you get is being able to charge your AirPods max for 5 minutes and get 1.5 hours of listening time. There are other gripes that Ive seen reviewers have but Im not going to die on any of those hills. These are a very nice pair of headphones and Im glad I bought them.
truesight –
First I want to say that the audio quality is good. Its great. Its not mindblowing like many youtuber hype it to be, but you will be happy with it. Apple make product that will satisfy 8090 of the customer and it is the case here. At least in the sound quality department. I would say I like this APM better than my 400 set up schitt stack Sennheiser HD6xx because the sound profile here is fun to listen to. For listening purpose, you should go for a pair with a fun profile like this instead of the boring flat curve stuffs. The bass is great it is tight, it is deep, and it is wellseparated from the rest, like using a pair of speaker with a separate subwoofer. That said the XM4 vs this one is very close and can ultimately be tied to preference in tuning. This one is safer the treble is not as bright so it will work for more types of songs. I prefer the APM by a tiny little amount in the Sound departmentThat being said, this is a first gen Apple product there are some flaws with it that is not highlighted by youtube reviewers. The practicality of this pair is poor. It is good for listening at home, not actually very good to use on a long flight. Heres why1 Its bulky and it doesnt fold. The carrying case is useless. Its gonna take so much space in your carry on. The Sony XM4 beat it hands down here. Most people would be happier carrying the XM4 on a plane than this.2. It is uncomfortable for me after 30 mins. It hurts my head. At first i thought it was the clamping force being too strong. So I screeched it out like some people on the internet did. It got more comfortable for the first 30 mins, then it still hurt. Turns out the cushion do not have the appropriate density, so after 30mins it collapse to nothing and the metal ring of the ear cup pressed on my head and that metal ring is very hard and edgy. Another negative for the APM making it not the ideal choice for carrying to an airplane.3. Noise cancelling at this point it is no longer relevant since this pair is only good for listening at home. Bose, Sony, APM will all do fine when you use at home in term of noise cancelling. You would not care.So to sum it up it is a joy to listen to, but cant be enjoyed for too long. Even without the price difference, the XM4 is a strong competitor for it on the basis of practicality and comfortability alone. This APM can autoeq while for the XM4 you may want to make use of the EQ functionality and they would be very close like Coke vs Pepsi.This APM would be a no brainer if the price drop by 100 and they address the comfortability issue. The bulky and carrying issue can be lived with but the comfortability is a hard sell to many people.
sproesser –
You should know before buying, these do not come with a wall plug for charging. Also, the chord they come with is USBC on the end that plugs into a charger. So, if you dont own a laptop with USBC, or already have a wall charger that accepts USBC, then you will have no way of recharging these. I find this pretty unacceptable for a premium quality and priced product. Otherwise, these are awesome, and I am really enjoying these. One thing I dont see other reviews comment on is the uniqueness of these headphones. I have owned all kinds of headphones, including Bose. There are so many little qualities to these that are unlike any headphones I have ever tried. From the way they feel when you first put them on, the unique material, and how they have a very futuristic feel, to the innovative never before seen features Apple has implemented. Its pretty neat.
Gstew1116 –
I love Apple so much that I have an Apple tattoo. So I was expecting to like these, despite the ridiculous price. But I was not expecting to LOVE these SO much. I had purchased a nice pair of Sonys right before Christmas, not knowing that these were being released so soon. As an Apple fan Im ashamed to admit that I stalked these online waiting for them to come in stock and as soon as I did I snatched them. They are a little heavy but that helps me feel Im getting what I paid for. The noise cancellation is incredible for over ears. Just as good as my AirPods Pro. The spatial audio works so well with the size of the cans. They are very comfortable. I am excited that I can change out the ear pads if they get dirty or for fun. I work out in these so Im sure theyll get dirty and that was something that made me sad about the Sonys, they got dirty and couldnt be replaced. But believe it or not, one of my favorite things about these is the transparency mode It sounds as if I am just not wearing the headphones, but I can also hear what is coming through them. My kids love to talk to me when Im on conference calls and it makes it so easy to hear both them and the call. Love these
Mikey –
While they sounded nice, were comfortable… I got an allergic reaction from wearing these.For most people, you will not have this problem. So far I seem to be one of the handful of people who had an allergic reaction. My guess its in the adhesive used to glue the synthetic material to the foam. After wearing over a period of two days, had a severe allergic reaction. I can only guess its the glue … but since they are made in China… who knows.If you do not have any allergies or sensitivity to materials… then these may be good for you.I mean that they sound great, love the noise cancelling and were relatively comfortable to wear. If only Apple had an alternative cup w a leatherlamb skin or something.These were meant to be a replacement for my Beats pro, that fell apart after a couple of years.
Josh –
I bought these headphones on a whim thanks to PayPal PayIn4, since I was going to do a lot of air travel and heard these were the best noise canceling headphones available, while also having incredible audio quality. I can confirm that yes, the noise cancelling fades a loud aircraft engine to a low hum which gets drowned out by clean punchy bass and clear vocals.Im not much of an audiophile, but even compared to my 150 Fidelio X2HRs, I can tell the difference in detail in well mastered songs. Ive finally had that cool moment of noticing details in songs Ive never heard before because my AirPods just couldnt cut it. Even podcasts and videos have vastly improved vocal clarity which surprised me at first.Spatial audio is a cool technology Apple likes to promote, but its pointless to enable on TV shows available in stereo, and Id rather watch movies on my TV or laptop, so Ill have to wait until macOS Monterey and tvOS 15 to really try out the feature. From what Ive sampled using my iPhone though, the technology works very well.The last feature I really love about these headphones is the under appreciated Transparency Mode. Thanks to the eight or so microphones lining these headphones plus Apples processors, it really sounds like you arent even wearing headphones when this mode is enabled. Pausing your audio or turning it down makes it entirely possible to have conversations without even taking off the headphones. Having a button to instantly toggle transparency and noise cancellation makes these headphones a perfect set to wear outside your home.They are comfortable too. Ive never gotten a headache from long term use, which happens with most headphones Ive tried, although if you wear glasses you may feel more pressure on the side of your head.I bought the cable to use these headphones wired since the Nintendo Switch doesnt have Bluetooth, and while you have to turn the volume on the headphones all the way up device and headphone volume is separate when wired, the quality was still excellent and noise cancelling and transparency still work and can still be toggled with the button.Battery life seems to be the advertised 20 hours and the weird sleep mode case thing is stupid and unprotective, and I can tell the aluminum cups will show scratches on the corners eventually since they knock together whenever I remove them from the case.Overall, highly recommend for Apple users if you can accept their quirks and inconveniences in certain situations
Ausdan –
I purchased these mainly to watch movies and for air travel when I start flying again. I previously owned the Bose 700, and bought AirPods based on positive reviews knowing that I could return them if they didnt live up to the hype. After using them for several days, I found them to live up to the hype and to be worth the extra cost due to the following reasons1 Comfort AirPods fit better on my head and dont squeeze as much. Plus my ears dont get hot and sweaty since the earcups breathe.2 Noise cancelling With a better fit and larger earcups, I get a better seal which improves noise cancellation.3 Ability to replace battery unlike other wireless headphones, Apple offers a battery replacement program for 79. Not sure what to do when the batteries on Sony and Bose headphones start to wear out.4 Apple Integration Perfect integration and automatic device switching with Apple products.5 Controls I love the dial volume control much better than touch controls which are finicky and dont allow precise volume adjustment.6 Sound I really prefer the sound over the Bose 700. Very balanced and no detectable distortion even at full volume.7 No detectable audio lag when watching movies on iPad or Apple TV Bose 700 exhibited noticeable lagYes, the Smart Case sucks, but there are a number of aftermarket cases available for around 20 that give total protection when storing in a backpack or luggage. A pricey product, but I believe you get what you pay for with the AirPods Max.
BenM –
This is probably the worst Bluetooth headset Ive ever owned. Already had one replacement, about to call for another. In two months. The first headset would fail to power on sometimes, theres no power button to do it yourself. When it did manage to turn on, you would press the noise cancellation and notice a sometimes 10 minute delay in response from the device. They sent a replacement set that fails to enter pairing mode and doesnt connect to any device that isnt apple. So I guess Ill send off for pair three, but get ready to give them a cool 600 every time their terrible product breaks that theyll refund you after you receive your replacement and they receive your old device. Bonkers.When the noise cancellation works, its great. The transparency mode is nice when youre not waiting ten minutes for the headset to respond, LOL.Sound quality isnt much better or worse than other high end headsets. Which, at this price point, I really expected.Man, the sponges. The pop off absorbent pads that barely magnetically seal to inside of your pro max eat cups get dirty, fast. Buckle up for a weekly cleaning routine for them and the mesh handle of your device that is now unusable for 24 hours following Apples cleaning instructions, if you can find them.The support documentation in the support app for the on device instructions to ensure I was entering pairing mode correctly hasnt been updated from the AirPod Pros, even though the title is correctly listed as the max. Which is hilariously considering theyre earbuds and the pro max doesnt have a button on a case to reset themThe device switching I was most excited about this feature, because I transmit to different devices all day long. Video conference on the MacBook, podcast or call on the phone. Shouldnt take too much contextual info to make the swapbut it just never works. Pop a new teams video call and youll need to unpair and repair the headset from the Bluetooth menu on the MacBook, then reselect from your phone when youre done. Love explaining to my team the 30 second delay in my ability to speak or hear them every meeting. So great. My old headset not apple did this flawlessly at half the price.Give this hunk of garbage a hard pass.
NeoMaximuz –
Apples famous Airpods, now Max While these do sound very good, they dont sound great in my opinion, especially for the price. They are very cool, comfortable, and look great. But for half the price you can get some truly great sounding cans from Sennheiser. If what you want is great audio, wired is the way to go anyway.Are these fun Heck yes, especially with Apples lossless audio, and particularly for movies. But if you have to choose between the Pros and these, Id say go with the Pros 90 of the time. I use my Pros several times a day, and these only a handful of times a week. Now, if youre not a very picky listener, and love the convenience of both wireless audio and Apples seamless integration between devices, and want to spend over 500, then by all means, these are great in my opinion, and have a much more natural sound than other wireless headphones, like Beats, do. Also, bear in mind that while you can enjoy Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos with these, you cant do lossless, even if you do wire them.
AlaskaJaxx –
YepNo regrets and Id buy em again if I lost them Best sounding ANC headphones on the market my favorite cans are BW ans Sennheiser wired and the APMs besting Sony BW and Bose for best ANCs. From long term comfort, incredible soundstage and amazing instrument definition from the decay of a piano key to the shimmer the high hat jazz splash details are there.And the master tracks and lossless audio amazing.Watching movies is another 1010 for Apple. Seemingly below 20Hz with the boom youd expect in a theater to the spatial audio supporting ATMOS, DTS Dolby 57.1.All of which are supported fully only by iOS and Apple devices.I still love the sound matches up with the S21 but the extras bells and whistles if you will, are Apple only.Price is justified.
Chris –
As much as I wanted to dislike this product due to the high price tag, I just cant dislike them. I already own the Sony XM4 headphones and had watched reviews on these. I saw mixed reviews. Some said they loved them, some said they were not worth the money. I really like my Sonys until I listened to the Airpods Max. Now…I cant really listen to the Sonys as I find the sound to be muddy and missing separation between things. The Airpods Max have such better separation and clear, crisp sounds in the higher frequencies. While I still feel the Sonys do have more punch at times, I know find that it is not clear and muddies the sound in the midrange. The subbase on the Airpods Max is so clean. The sound on the Airpods Max is great on bluetooth, but the sound is even better when connected via a cable and the use of a DAC. The sound is also greatly improved when listening to HiRes sources like Amazon Music HD or Tidal.If the excellent sound quality was not enough to sell me, the noise cancellation is certainly right on par with the Sonys, but they blow the competition away when is comes to the pass through mode. With other headphones, I found the pass through to be more gimmicky than an actual value. Some have implementations that make is useable, but the Airpods Max make is pleasure to use the mode. It is so natural sounding that I dont mind carrying on a conversation with the headphones on. That was the feature that had me completely sold.While the first portion of this give the headphones a rave review, I do have to mention the only part I hate about the headphones…the dreaded case Call it a bra or a purse or whatever else is floating around out there, I really dont know what Apple was thinking. Outside of putting the headphone immediately into their low power state, there is nothing else of value with the case. It is ugly, not the easiest to get the headphones back into, and provides no protection for a product with a high price tag. There have been Apple products in the past I have questioned that have eventually become accepted original Airpods…I dont see how that can happen with this case. My recommendation is to check around on Amazon as there are already 3rd party options available that will offer the low power state.TLDR These are the best sounding bluetooth headphones I have used, have tremendous build quality, work perfectly in the Apple Ecosystem, and have the best pass through audio mode I have ever heard. Look for an alternate case option.
Shaun –
I had the AirPods Max for 1 week before I returned them to Best Buy. While I think the premium materials were used outstandingly to make the headphones and the sound quality is very good, the headphones have some huge cons that prevent me from allowing myself to pay the large price tag and love them. First, the headphones are very large and do not fit a smalltoaverage adult head. Due to this and the heaviness of the headphones, they move around quite a bit when on. Also, having no ability to power these off allow the battery to die quickly. Even when using the smart case, I found that I would only be able to use them for a few hours one or two times before they immediately needed to be charged again. Not sustainable, especially for someone that wanted to use these while traveling. I hope Apple makes some much needed improvements.
Kisuke20 –
Best pair of headphones Ive bought to date, the design is solid, but very light weight, the noise cancellation does a solid job keeping loud noises from preventing you from listening to your music when outside in the city or vacuuming at home.Now the only downside is they are closed back which means no air flow so it does get a bit warm when wearing for long periods. But thats only a minor issue.The buttons are very easy to find when wanting to turn up the volume or turn onoff noise cancellation to have a quick chat with someone. And when noise cancellation is off it makes it seem you dont even have headphones on anymore which is crazy.And to leave off these are the easiest headphones to set up with any Apple device and they automatically name them for you so thats one less thing to worry about.
lemme14 –
For Apples first attempt at overear headphones, these are a pretty good set of headphones. I want them to be great headphones, especially being in the Apple ecosystem. I do like them, but they need to figure out the battery issue. Noisecanceling is awesome. Transparency mode is awesome. I do wish there was some adjustable settings inbetween those two but for now it is all or nothing. These things are heavy compared to most other headphones, but they are comfortable on the ears and the headband goofy as it looks is comfortable as well. The phone call quality is excellent. The audio quality is pretty good as well not an audiophile, but sounded good to my ears. The build quality is nothing short of spectacular.Unfortunately, the battery issue is real. I cannot understand not having an onoff button, but I could accept that if the headphones properly conserved power, which they do not. When I dont put them in the case, they will lose 1012 per night about 14 hours from the time I stop work until I start again in the morning. When I put them in the horribly designed, handbag case it is even worse. I lose 2030 per night in something that is supposed to conserve power immediately. For now, I have just taught myself that these are a device that needs to be charged every night, just like my iPhone and Apple Watch. It should not be like this. Either Apple needs to fix the power conservation mode or allow for one of the buttons to turn them on and off. Heres hoping to a software fix soon.Other than that one, major issue, these headphones are near the topofclass in everything else. Unfortunately, for a lot of people the battery issue will be a nonstarter. You will need to decide for yourself if that is the case based on your use and needs.
malcolmp –
An unusual product. Sound quality is really good for a bluetooth headphone I feel they have better instrument separation and sound stage than the Sony Bose equivalents. ANC is really good, transparency model is directional and pretty amazing. Very solid build quality.Negatives Expensive. The socalled case is stupid, but the power draw isnt much if they are not in the case. Heavier than Sony Bose but so far comfortable. Probably not as good as wired headphones that are cheaper, but then you dont get the ANC, transparency, wireless etc.Try them out, if you cant hear the difference between your existing headphones and these, dont buy them For those that value detail and sound stage and want wireless headphones these are impressive.
Someonetookmyname –
Amazing build quality and, despite their weight, pretty comfortable to wear.I enjoy using the dial for controlling playback and volume. Its tactile and precise. Sound is astonishingly good for a first effort at proper wireless ANC headphones. Good bass, clear through the mids, and some top end sparkle. Definitely in the top end selection of Bluetooth ANC headphones. There are other options that have slightly more depth to their sound and clarity but they are far and few between, as well as costing at least as much. And, of course, airpods gain nice extra features with Apple devices equalisation, automatic device pairing.So, why not 5 stars Well, although very comfortable, they are heavy and do slip back on my head if Im not sitting upright. Sometimes the automatic switching between audio on my iPad and on my iPhone is janky and doesnt work without me intervening manually. They only have AAC and SBC audio codecs, so the best audio quality is only available on iOS devices. The bra case is a complete joke. Lightning wired input and charging only. And that price is still painful on the wallet.Spatial audio hasnt proven to be a stunning improvement over any other headphones for me so far. There is limited content that supports it, and that is mainly on Apple TV. The locking sound to your device screen is very effective but I havent noticed any amazing surround sound effects whilst watching movies. For reference, I tried Greyhound on Apple TV, with Dolby Atmos and spatial audio on. Its a movie full of explosions and audio effects yes, there was some positioning of sources but not really convincing surround in my opinion.Overall, though, theyre pretty great if you are using Apple devices and Id recommend them as one of the top choices for wireless ANC headphones.
Headphonesdude –
Im not sure what to compare these to. I tried to compare them to what popular opinion says in the best headphones going around right now. The Sony WH1000XM4, yet these are about 600 cheaper than the Apple Airpods. So I didnt think it would be a fair comparison. However the Sony XM4 not only holds up, but it better than the airpods Max for a couple of reasons.Airpod max prosThe build quality is very nice. The metal is cold to the touch and the dial feels very premium. They feel like they are more expensive than other brands that use plastic and they are.The ANC is about what youd expect from Apple, its quite good Just like the other airpods.The consI think the worst part of the product is that you need an iPhone to use them. When you use an Android, or a Windows pc, then for some reason you cant pause for some reason Also no voice assistant Also there is no sound app or equaliser for them that you can download. Its unfortunate that Apple just doesnt want people that have Windows and Android to buy their products.They do not sound better than most headphines from Sony, drop, bose. The much cheaper drop thx pandas sound noticeably better in quality of overall sound.The smart case is a disaster. It does nothing to protect the headphones and actually leaves the most vulnerable part of the product exposed and well… vulnerable Further to this the case does not charge the headphones, and you cant actually turn the headphones off without them actually being inside the silly case. This means you always need to carry it with you. This wouldnt be so terrible if the headphones actually folded into a neat compact travelling size allowing them to be portable and protected.Also, the Sony WH1000XM4 have a much better noise cancelling system so if thats what youre after, then go for them because they also come with voice assistant and all the folding and charging the apple is missing.
WestSide –
its really tough to beat the set up general ease of use these, especially if youre in the Apple ecosystem. Starting w your iPhoneiPad, its as easy as turning them on by your device. With the latest software on Macs, its also much easier switching between your portable devices Mac this previously worked less well than one would like. The sound quality the noise cancellation are excellent theyre pretty remarkable. Dont want noise cancellation Turn on the transparency mode. For the weight, theyre also rather comfortable.Some downside include not being able to turn them off. They go to sleep but theres not off the bracarrying case … which doesnt do a create job of protecting the metal housings pulling the headphones out of the bracase clicks the two cups together, which I feel will lead to abrasions over time.
hepcat –
First the good The sound is excellent as is the noise cancellation. In addition to noise canceling having an onoff option theres also a transparency option which actually amplifies outside noise. Thats controlled by a well placed button on the top front of the right earpiece. The right rear has a Digital Crown like on the Apple Watch that you twist to adjust the volume or press to pause the music. Both are easy to locate and intuitive to use. The build quality is very good and solid and they are quite comfortable even for extended wearing. The ear pads are attached by magnets and are replaceable This is great for me as every pair of over the ear headphones Ive ever had have eventually worn out the ear pads and I end up just buying a whole new headset. The downside is that the replacements are 69 each. Which brings me to the bad Theyre expensive. Though you can usually find them for less than the 549 list price. I did, at Best Buy, plus I also got an additional 35 off since it was my birthday. These headphones are really best for people in the Apple ecosystem, especially if you want to use them wired to a device with a headphone jack. That requires an additional lightning to 3.5mm jack cable for an additional 35.That being said, I knew this all going in, bought them anyway, and Im very happy with my purchase. Would really like to give them 4 stars with the small ding for the cost
ReviewingForBBPoints –
First lets address the elephant in the room. 600 for a pair of headphones is pricey. It took me about 12 weeks before I finally convinced myself that the price can be justified after reading up on the reviews. These earphones are seriously impressive. I also have the AirPod pros, and the noise cancellation on these is like x5 as good as the pros. Beautifully crafted and nice premium feel. My only gripe is that you cannot adjust the length of the flex band. I was actually shocked when I first put them on and thought maybe I was missing something. After a few days, the earphones adjusted to my head size I have a big head, but even still putting them on are uncomfortable at first. The sound quality and noise cancellation is honestly worth the trouble and price though, so as long as you are not sacrificing your rent or bills for them, definitely put these on your must buy list.
HiFi80sMan –
As a wireless headphone, yes, they are on the expensive side. However, to put things in perspective, when talking about headphones from affordable to expensive, they are on the lowmid side. Highend wired headphones from beyer, Focal, Audeze. Sennheiser, etc. are at least 2x the price to 4x6x.That being said, in terms of wireless performance, they are the most pleasing to my ears. Soundstage is wide for a closed back headphone, while imaging is very good. Those aspects combined create a very open, detailed musical experience wirelessly. Tuning is ever so slightly colored in subbass region which I love and perhaps some additional sparkle in the highs. Upper bass and mids sound great sound is not wooly and vocals are detailed present. Anyone that appreciates an airy, clean, yet bodied sound will likely love these. In terms of sound, for me, they beat out everything in the uppertier wireless class XM4, NC700, AONIC 50, Amiron, MW65, all of which I either have or had and soldreturned.Build quality stands alone. Aside from quality materials, the fabrication quality is topnotch.Yes, the case sucks. Youll need to order a proper case. The headband mesh feels nice, but I question its long term performancedurability. I have no evidence its an issue, but I would baby these things if I were you.
audiophilefirefighter –
TLDR audiophile opinion 800 build quality, 200 sound quality.Disappointing overall. First off, I dont have a gripe with the price as an audiophile these are actually in the middle to low price range of the 3 headphones I own. I went into these expecting an overear experience on par with the quality of AirPods Pronot world beating audiophile grade performance, but a nice sound overall, with the convenience features of easy connectivity, great battery life, and noise cancellationtransparency mode. The headphones have a flat sound curve and lack bass, are incredibly heavy, and the case…well, Im sure youve read about that.Perhaps my biggest complaint is transparency modethe microphones are so sensitive that a noise like your hair rubbing against a couch, or even scratching your shoulder will be amplified 10x in your earsI cant imagine wearing these if you have tinnitus or some other sensitivity condition.The build quality is fantastic, and on par if not exceeding other headphones that approach or exceed 800. though the headband material being made of seemingly the same material as the iPad magic keyboard that shows wear after weeks worries me, as the case does nothing to protect it.
Mark –
Im a headphonehead through and through. Ive owned Shure IEMs, Sennheiser HD660, Sennheiser HD8, and recently HifiMan HE500s.The Airpods Max trades evenly for sound quality, while also having features like wireless, active noise cancelling, and transparency.Wireless works great with both Apple devices and using Bluetooth. I have great range and can leave my phone in one room while walking around taking a call.Active noise cancellation is better than the latest Bose, easily. When its on, you barely hear anything.Transparency is also amazing, turning it on makes you forget youre even wearing them, which is also due to the extremely comfortable earcups and headband design.Just wow. I love these.
nmp14 –
They were pretty good when they worked I dont know about 600 kind of good though.The problem They only worked for 5 days. Ive never had something malfunction in so many different ways as these.They randomly turn off and wont turn on till they feel like it everything from sounds, connections, transparencycancellation modes and even the power light near the charge plugin all die. When they are finally on, my iphone and mac will both fail to connect to them even if i reset the headphones and restart devices until they feel like it which isnt often. When they do finally connect, they dont detect that Im wearing them. The mode change button doesnt do anything and if I try to manually change modes on phone, it tells me to put them on theyre on. When they finally work, they work for 2030 minutes and then break all over again. Sometimes only one ear works until the other one magically feels like working again. They only charge as much as they want if they are 30 sometimes they stop charging once they hit 54 and then die. Completely unresponsive till they feel like fixing themselves.Resetting, putting in case, charging, etc. None of these fix any of these issues. Practically unusable.
NickZiggy –
Apple products are expensive. You are paying for the quality of the product, the design, the ecosystem, and the Apple branding.To me, there are a few main factors to look at when buying over the ear wireless headphones Sound Quality, Noise Cancellation, Comfort, Battery Life, and lastly Price.Sound Quality 810If you own a pair of AirPods Pro, then you will notice the Sound Quality to be mostly the same when listening to music. When I first tried on the AirPods Pro, I noticed a significant difference in audio quality compared to the Original AirPods. I expected that same difference when putting on the AirPods Max but that wasnt really the case. For music, my listening experience was similar to the AirPods Pro. However, the Max has much less distortion when at an increased volume level. Lets talk about audio when watching movies. The key here is Spatial Audio and the use of the 40mm drivers. Spatial Audio is a feature that is also on the AirPods Pro however the Max really optimizes this feature. Watching movies that utilize the Spatial Audio feature make you feel like you are sitting in a movie theaterNoise Cancellation 1010When Apple introduced Transparency Mode on the AirPods Pro they set a new standard for the headphone market. This feature has transferred over to the AirPods Max with even better noise cancellation due to the over the ear design of the Max. You feel completely isolated when in Noise Cancellation mode but as soon as you press that button turn on Transparency Mode you are brought right back to reality.Comfort 810These things are heavy At 385g these headphones have some mass to them. Due to the aluminum design, you will feel them on your head. I found the mesh bridge at the top to take some of the weight off the top of my head but not all of it. Will cause head fatigue if worn for extremely long periods of time.Battery Life 810They dont have the best battery life for wireless headphones however this is completely due to the large 40mm drivers and the fact that there is no off button on this pair of headphones. The only way to turn them off is to put them in the case. The case is dumb, the only thing it is useful for it to protect the ear cups from banging together when they are in transport.PriceThese headphones cost 549… thats an insane price to pay for headphones. However, these are not your everyday consumer headphones. They are an Apple Product.OverallIf you are looking for over the ear headphones and are deep in the Apple Ecosystem then these are the headphones for you. If you are an everyday consumer and care more about price then look to Sony. If you just own an iPhone and want headphones and them being over the ear isnt a dealbreaker, then get a pair of AirPods Pro.
MrMuteButton –
I wasnt considering these based on the price and how fancy the design was trying to be. After scanning the closest competition from Sony, Beats and Bose Ive owned previous versions of them all I decided to purchase try these and bring them back within 14 days if they didnt measure up.My need is a stellar headphone set for video calls with unwavering noise cancellation, a solid microphone that carries through on the other end of the call, and a way to turn off the noise cancelling without removing the headphones.The volume knob is a great bonus, button for speaker mode works great, the transparent mode is incredible, the mike is so good it took time to get used to. The mike quality in transparent mode alone eliminates the Bose quiet comforts from future considerations.The cans are heavy but I feel like Im less likely to damage them.My main observation is the quality when paired with a Mac or Apple device makes the cost irrelevant because Ive bought a high end version of every brand headphone BBY sold over they last 10 years and Ive never heard sound so perfectly matched to.a rooms acoustics. I frequently think the sound isnt coming out of the headphones because the acoustics produced are flawless and with the right media, you cant tell your not in the room with people on the other end of the call if you close your eyes.If I have to say so etching negative so you can trust my word on this, Apple left the cord up design up to the intern or the revenue officer. Its so stupidly short and nonconforming they shouldnt have bothered, But they did because they dont want to be on the news for not including one. I have serious concerns about the effect of charging it via my laptopwill have on my Mac Air over time. The shortness guarantees the headphones will be scratched up good in 6 months.But that sound and they fact that every feature works better than I could have expected, significantly surpassing the competitions feature quality makes this the first set of overpriced headphones from BBY in 10 years that are 100 worth buying.
Prudie –
I had previously only had in ear wired headphones and had found that they never fitted well inside my ears and the wires were easily damaged so decided to try over ear headphones. I read reviews before buying these headphones and learned that they seem heavy but dont feel heavy when wearing them, and find this so true. They are really comfortable, easily synced with my phone and iPad and have great sound. They can completely cut out background noise, and when I remove them from my ears the speakers of my phone or iPad cut straight back in and vice versa when I put the headphones back on. I am extremely pleased with them, really glad that I bought them and recommend them. The little case may be a bit flimsy but I like it and always put the headphones in their case in a safe place so it is not a problem. Charging the headphones is very straightforward and they charge quickly.
Raymone –
Ok.I waited 7 months before I purchased these. I looked at countless YouTube reviews and other videos. I couldnt see them in person, or listen to them anywhere. So when the price went down to 479 that was the button pusher for me.Build quality is top notch, pairing and matching up with the Apple ecosystem was on par. Sound stage was awesome and at times I was in awe of the different things I hadnt hear while listening to songs Ive listened to before. Transparency mode was the best Ive heard on the any headphones I have so for. I have the Sony XM4, Skullcandy crush ANC. And Ive listened and used plenty of Bose products.However. Having said all of that here is why I took them back.They are too heavy and super uncomfortable around my ears, to the point where they made my head hurt. I purchased a carrying case, ear cup protectors, both front and back and a head band protector.I really miss them, but the clamping pressure was just too much to bear. Maybe a third party will come out with an ear cup that can help even out the clapping pressure, but again. It was just too muchLast I wish they were louder. Not by much, but there were times where the music was hitting the sweet spot and Id want to turn it up and there was nothing else left. They also needed to be louder for movie watching.I might purchase them again open box and then they would be worth the trouble. But after tax they were still 523.
Mark –
Great headphone with some annoying lack of design consideration. Some considerationStrengths Great sound Like the Siri integration. For example, when you get an iMessage Siri will narrate the message to you and allow you to respond Good build Good noise cancellationWeaknessesFirst of all everyone knows about the case issue but it is much more than that.a Lack of soft power switch is an issue. When I get home from a run, I have to put them into the case to turn them off and not have my phone automatically route calls to my Airpod Maxb If you dont seat the headphones into the case it does not turn it into low power mode. On multiple occasions I wanted to take the headphone for a run and they were discharged even though they were in the case.c No warning for when it runs out of battery, without keeping an eye on the battery meterd As a product with these design issues, is overpriced. More mature brands Bose, Sony do not have these 101 issues.
Chris –
Ive had all the Sony and Bose ANC headphones and still have the NC700s which I liked lot but these are just next level.I use headphones everyday to watch TV via Firestick on some TVs and via Apple TV in the master bedroom. I work from home so being able to connect to the TV and answer a call with the Bose NC700s was a nice feature but it wasnt perfect and most of the time the person on the call would complain I was breaking up probably due to WiFi or some kind of interference. Additionally, while watching TV the NC700s audio would crack for a couple seconds and Id miss words and have to skip back which was annoying.These hickups caused me to yern for a set of ANCs that just worked all the time everytime like my Airpod Pros. Problem with the Pros is the limited battery time and no volume adjustment so you cant use them with the Firestick.Which brings me to the Maxs. These just work and when Im watching TV and a call comes in on my iPhone I just answer it and switch to the APMs and it just works and works seemlessly. Couldnt be happier with the quality and the sound and the integration especially with all things Apple.If you have the money and use headphones for more than just music these are the ones to ownNote My first pair BH sent me ended up being defective after about 3 days of use. The right ear cup started to make this faint inconsistent fake wind noise in the background of whatever I was listening to with the ANC active. Turning off ANC made it go away and transparency mode as well. In any event I worked with BH and they worked to overnight me a replacement pair and its been bliss ever since.Protip GET THE APPLECARE with these You just never know with them being so new what will happen.
CrazyLegs –
All I can say is WOW For a 1st generation, Apple pretty much hit this out of the park. If the price point was 400450, this would have easily gotten a 5 Star.There are a few cons that I want to point out on these. Price is the biggest con with these. I cannot justify paying 550 Tax for a pair of headphones for a typical non audiophile user. As a normal consumer, 400 is pushing the upper limits for a pair of headphones, but because this is Apple, they priced these higher than normal because they can actually get away with it. The other cons are the case and not having a 3.5mm adapter if you want to plug it into an airplane or computer. First off, both of these are not deal breakers for me, it would have been nice for them to include a 3.5mm jack, but being that its Apple, they will find any way they can to squeeze consumers for every last penny. The case does what it needs to for the most part. I am concerned that the mesh part of the head band is not protected at all since thats the most vulnerable part. But, this will lead 3rd parties to come up with a protective sleeve or cover for it.The AirPods Max are heavier than the competition due to the aluminum stainless steel material used here. Apple did not cut corners when they designed this and I am glad because they do not look or feel cheap at all. Starting to see why they charged 550. They look classy in a throwback kind of way. The ear cups and head band dont protrude out and pretty much follows the curvature of your head. Despite it being heavier, the mesh band does a great job at spreading the weight out as to not develop any pain at the crown of my head. The clamping design on the ear cups will bear most of the weight. The ear cushions are nice and soft and I did not feel my ears getting hot or sticky like the leatherette ear cups on the competitions. Even though I didnt feel any pain on the crown after hours of usage, I did notice that my neck was a little sore. If thats the case, you can just lie down or lean your head back on to a pillow or something.As for the sound, these are the best sounding headphones I have owned. My go to prior to this was the BW PX7s. I really like the sound on these because it was balanced and clean without too much bass to muddy up the sound. The Sony XM4s would be great if they were the only headphones on earth, but they are not and I am not too much of a fan of their sound signature. I feel they are a little too warm and bass heavy that muddies up the mids and highs for me. They too also got hot after wearing for a while.The AirPods Max are well balanced with just the enough bass to give the song a little life. Although, I did wish there was a little bit more subbass for the rumble effect. But all in all, the sound on these are so clean and does not distort even at max level. The sound separation are so great that I am able to hear more instruments on these than any other headphones Ive tried. If you have an iPhone, you can go in and change the settings around to boost the soft sounds. You can do this by going into SettingsAccessoriesAudioVisualHeadphone Accommodations. I have my set at Balanced Tone and Moderate.If you have the money to spend and in the Apple ecosystem, these will be the best money spent for your ears. Just keep in mind that out of the box, they might not sound great, but after some burn in time, you will start to appreciate what Apple has done with these.
TimG –
Purchased a pair of space grey but will admit that I intend to return them. Here are my pros and consProsVery easy setup, excellent connection to Apple devicesSpatial audio is a very cool featureEQ is balanced and neutral tonesThey are surprisingly comfortable on the headNice sound stage and instrument seperationBattery holds up strongConsThese are HEAVY. As in, you cant do anything except sit down and listen to them heavy. Definitely not for motion or workouts.The case is just terrible. Easy to take in and out, but you literally use the most delicate part of the headset to carry them.The sound is nowhere as crisp as I was anticipating based on reviews. I found the mids and vocals to be receded which was very surprising.I have the same issue with the airpod pros in that the pressure on the ears gives me headaches. This one depends on the user, but despite the earphones themselves being comfortable, the pressure from the cups cause headaches.When all is said and done, I am a person that focuses entirely on value. These simply dont sound like they are 550 dollar tax headphones to me. The sound quality just isnt there. They dont sound bad per say, just not at that price range. I would say a more fair price for them would be around 400. I would anticipate that happening in the future.
Charger –
Yes, it is like all the reviews you will read it is heavy and expensive, so why would anyone buy it. Well, the reasons are pretty simple. It is top quality and the style and build design is unique one would say it is definitely an Apple product. More important is what they deliver. Really, really good sound. Music is clear and crisp and delivers just the right of amount of sharp high notes and good quality base perfect mix. It supports Dolby Atmos and upgrades the normal stereo sound to a new level. Sound comes from all directions and adds more depth you will notice the difference. Additionally, for video and movies it also supports spatial audio. This means sound is focused from your iPad, or iPhone and soon Apple TV and as you turn your head, the sounds stays to the front of you. Just think of sitting in a large movie theater and the sound remains in front of you as you turn your head. This also produces greater division of how the other sounds in the video movie play. You feel you are sitting there, live, in the actual setting. Once you hear this, you will see how great the headphones work. Yes, much of this is dependent on the Apple products and the music, videos, and movies that are recorded with these features. Now, as to the weight. Once in place you get use to the weight thanks to the headband design and comfortable memory foam cups. Finally, these will last a long time and always be your goto product. Just think of how you felt about your first iPhone and its design and features. Now, multiple that times 10 and you can understand just why these headphones are so great. Yes, the case is a design most hate, but it does serve the purpose of helping to control battery status when not in use. Already third party cases are appearing. As to the battery it is OK and Ive not had a problem with too much of a drain while used or in idle state. I agree that overall use is about 20 hours. Bottom line Id buy again.
iBuyTooMuchTech –
Other headphones I own when trying out these AirPods Max.1. Sony WH1000XM32. Bose QC35 first gen3. Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro wired, running on a THX AAA 789 ampBuild QualityTop tier in the wireless ANC active noise cancelling class of headphones, expected for the stiff 550 price tag and it delivers. Aluminum and stainless steel throughout while the mesh headband may have questionable long life it is surprisingly nice to the touch. Earpads are comfortable, Apple labels them an acoustic fabric which has a unique feel.ComfortNot as comfortable as the lightweight Bose QC35s but very good considering their weight and build. Ive worn them for about 3 hours straight with no discomfort. Ive got a big noggin so clamping pressure can be an issue, but the AirPods Max have a good balance. I believe the wide mesh at the top of the headband does a good job of distributing the weight of these cans.Ease of UseIf youve got iPhone, iPad or Mac then the feature set and ease of usesetup is great. I dont really recommend these for Android or PC users as they arent worth it when considering the features you lose out on. Pairing is easy, switching between devices, etc as long as youre in the Apple ecosystem.FeaturesANC is top tier right up there with Sony possibly slightly better. However due to the pandemic travel has been difficult so airplane testing hasnt been done. They do a very good job overall. Transparency mode though is a step above the competition which others can sound digitized or muffled. AirPods Max doesnt sound like this at all, it mimics real world hearing as if you arent wearing them really really well. Spatial Audio, a sort of simulated surround sound, is the best in class when content is available. It wont replace your home theater setup but for on the go movie watching it is a more immersive and fun experience.SoundTop tier for their class of ANCWireless. They do not stand up to a more traditional wired setup like my Beyerdyamic DT1990 Pro but as far as sound goes in comparison to others like Bose and Sony they are better in basically every way. Bass was surprisingly good and not too muddy or overblown like the Sonys can achieve so if youre a basslover Id go Sony but for a more balanced sound go AirPods Max. The Bose QC35 arent really that great in the sound department in my opinion, theyre a really boring headphone. AirPods Max are fun without being over the top and also dont take themselves too seriously by trying to be analytical or flat.ValueEye of the beholder moment here. Are you in the Apple ecosystem Do you value build quality Are you looking for a unique feature set like Transparency mode and Spatial Audio If you said yes to all of these then the value is there in my opinion.Im not going to rank sound quality directly to value as everyone hears a little different so some of you out there may dislike this headphones sound. I recommend giving it a try if you are curious, worse case scenario is you can return it within the generous return policy at Best Buy if you dont like them.Ill be keeping my pair sort of I want the blue color so Ill be returning the white pair to get a blue pair when they finally become available. I mean, whats up with that Other colors shouldnt take so long.. but oh well.I gave this headphone an excellent rating based on their category against other wireless ANC headphones and assuming the person buying these is probably a Apple user who is deep in the ecosystem.
Andres –
Really happy with these. The convenience of these just working seamlessly with all my apple products and the amazing sound quality makes it my favorite apple product thats come out in a long time. If you have an Apple TV, you will have another reason to love these.Honestly the best feature about these, aside from the sound quality are the noise cancellation and transparency modes. Transparency mode is like wearing a hearing aid because I can hear better with it on than with my own ears Way better ANC than the AirPods pro and my old headphones bowers and wilkins px.Pro tip 1 I have a big head and initially the clamping force felt kind of strong on my head. Wasnt a fan of it. I kind of just wore them in over time and also flexed them apart a bit and now they fit my giant head better. Theyre super comfortable.Pro tip 2 the seal is so good on the earpads that if you press the headphones against your ears, it will create a suction that, for me, is unpleasant. Youll know what I mean. Just dont press them against your head.Pro tip 3 35 cable is worth it if youre seeking the best sound quality. Listening to lossless music on Tidal through my external DAC is a great experience. The SQ difference isnt enormous because its already pretty good via airplay, but its worth it to me to have the option and the cable also gets rid of the audio latency and that lets me edit videos.
Vargas13 –
Absolutely best headphones I have ever owned. I am an audio file and have an 80K Macintosh system at my house, over 200k in my home theater, probably 10 sets of audiophile headphones and these things are my absolute favorite. Only things I dont like are 1. The headphones get hot after a while and you have to pull them apart and clean inside with a microfiber because moisture from your ear gets inside 2. Im not sure why Apple decided to use lightning instead of USBC, after Ive got everything set up for wireless USBC I now have to drag around to a Lightning cable to charge them. 3. I think you absolutely must buy the 35 3.5mm to lightning cable if you are an audiophile, Thats the only way to get true losslessHIFI audio use Tidal and it makes all the difference. Also my first set lasted about 3 weeks and then quit all of a sudden. I took them to Apple and they said that was the first pair they had ever seen come in that were dead. They told me they had never seen a pair quit before. They didnt have any to give me under warranty replacement because I guess they never quit so I ended up buying a new pair and I will return those once my new ones from Best Buy show up
Mister E –
I have been using these now for 3 weeks so the speaker units are nicely loosened up. They have displaced my Sony WH1000XM3 and my BO H9s, which have been really good. These Maxs have a very different sound signature which I have grown to love and superb with all types of music. They initially feel very heavy in comparison but you soon get used to it as they are top notch for comfort. I can wear these 6hours straight easy. The Sonys always get too hot on my ears and have to adjust or remove after a while. Playing high quality tracks from Apple, Amazon HD, Tidal or Spotify and the magic happens wonderfully balanced from subbass through to highs. Used to watch DD or Atmos movies and these things are crazy, better than sitting in an iMax cinema.Youve already read plenty of reviews elsewhere on sites regarding pros cons most slamming the price and the bra case. Personally I think they are worth it and unlike the majority the case is great. I hate those big solid cases, this offers adequate protection as far as I am concerned.These are brilliant headphones and should at least be tried.
HL102 –
I also have the SONY XM4 but after reading all the good review of these I decided to bite the bullet and give these a try. 600 is not a small amount to swallow for a pair of headphones. Im not an audiophile, but definitely someone who appreciates good sounding music. After receiving these, I immediately compared them with the XM4 back and forth with the same songs from Apple Music. Here is what I found1 the sound the AirPods Max definitely sound better, but not by a whole lot. They have slightly better instrument separation. The highs are more crisp I thought the XM4 was already very good in this regard but the AirPods Max are just even better. XM4s bass is a bit deeper but the AirPods Maxs is still good and Id say even a bit less muddy than the SONYs. I guess each to their own. Overall, every time I put on the AirPods Max for the same song, the song alway sounds just a slightly clearer and more pleasant for my taste.2 the comfort Sony wins this one hands down. Although I didnt feel much about the extra weight, theres definitely that clamping feeling on my head with the AirPods Max. Every time when I switched back to the XM4, my head immediately felt relieved. However, I also found that I was able to get used to the AirPods Max and wore them for hours without issues.3 the Transparency mode Apple definitely wins this one, and, to my surprise, this has become the main reason Im keeping these. The Maxs transparency mode is just so much better than the XM4s. I found myself sounding a lot more natural and even have a bit heightened sense of hearing with the Maxs transparency mode on. The Sonys sounds just too robotic to me. I also like the simplicity of activating this feature by just a push of a button on the Max.4 the Handoff feature I have an iPhone, an iPad and a Mac Mini. The airpods just switch between them effortlessly. However, I also have these connected to my work Windows 10 PC. The auto handoff feature will stop working if theyre still connected to the PC. Just keep this in mind.5 Build quality. Apple wins this one for sure.Overall, Id say that the sound of these is about 50100 better than the XM4s. Considering the added features, much better build quality and the leather carrying case which I hate btw, I was actually surprised that the 550 asking price actually seems to be reasonable to me now since the SONYs MSRP is 350. Sure, it sucks these headphones dont have an onoff button and wont turn themselves off until you put them in the ugly case. But, on the other hand, they easily last about 3 days of use in my case. I think if I can charge my phone every day then I can certainly charge these once every 3 days. To be honest, I was going to return them after first wearing them and feeling the clamping effect on the first day. But after a couple of more days of extensive use, Ive decided to keep them around because I think theyre worth it.
cowebber –
These are fantastic. The noise cancellation and transparency is best in class. The case is weak but I think Apple did that on purpose to scratch accessory makers backs.I have a pretty technical ear and the sound quality is very good. I cant compare it to dedicated headphone amps with actual audiophile grade headphones but I think these are punching way above their price point which is to say its competing with 8001000 headphones. Also note none of those higher end options offer the same feature set as these.All music sounds great, but some genres and artists seem to sound better and cross into another dimension. Electronic music sounds otherworldly Feed Me is an example of an artist that sounds incredibly good on these headphones. I have been listening to a lot of liquid drum bass on these. Complicated compositions shine you can hear each element of the track separated beautifully.Soundstage is wide and you can hear details you wouldnt notice otherwise. When you find the right music and hit the noise cancellation, these really are an escape pod into another universe. That Journey Into Sound commercial is pretty much a dramatic example of what its like to use these. They transport you from reality. They are easy and satisfying to use. The build quality and finish is phenomenal.If youre a casual music listener and dont like to have long listening sessions then these may not be for you. If you dont have any Apple devices that will work with these then you wont get all the benefits but will still probably enjoy them, you may be better off with Sony or Bose. If you are the kind of person who loves to sit back on a day off and lose yourself in an album or a mix then you will adore these.Spatial audio is mind blowing but thats just the cherry on top. These are a lovely personal listening device. If its in your budget and music is important to you then you wont regret buying these.
Rose –
I was skeptical about spending the money, but I am so glad I did. These Airpods Max are amazing. The sound quality is unreal, and the noise cancelation is mind blowing. NOT FOR GAMING. If you are buying these as a gaming headset dont waste your money. These headphones are for people who listen to music, podcasts and watch moviestv. The spatial audio combined with Dolby Atmos is truly an experience. The Airpods Max also quickly switch to whatever iOS device you are using via iCloud. If you are listening to music on your phone, but then pull out your iPad to watch a movie, they automatically switch over to whatever device you are using. Highly recommend these to anyone deep in the Apple ecosystem especially if you get them during a sale.DO NOT BUY if you are an Android user. These are not for you Im sorry, but Apple made these for the Apple ecosystem.
Mike –
There are an abundance of reviews on the AirPods Max, so in this review I do not go through the usual attributes, but rather focus on specific itemsissues. Hope this helps. When you a prospective buyer are here, its likely that you have already done your research, and that you are set to buy it but might have some reservations. Yes, the aesthetic, sound, functionality, and build quality are awesome. Phone call quality is phenomenal. Just deal with the case or buy another one from a 3rd party.Let me address certain issues that many of us might have concerns1 Battery drain. Yes, it was an issue. The root cause appears to be the old firmware which causes the APX not to be or at least consistently in sleep mode when placed in the case and likely connected via Bluetooth or constantly trying to look for connected devices. After the firmware update, the issue was reasonably resolved please do not expect it to not lose less than 3 over a span of 12 hours.2 Connectivity issue. In an ideal situation, when an APX is taken out of the case and put on ones head, there are a visual indicator and subsequently an audible indicator that the APX is connected to a mobile device e.g., an iPhone. Indeed, the sound is output to the APX from the mobile devices source. However, at times, the sound indicator is present, with or without the visual indicator, and the APX is not connected to the mobile device. I have to manually connect the APX. After multiple resets, this issue appears to be mitigated, and only happens once awhile.3 Weight moistureheat. After wearing for an extended period of time, theres moisture and heat built up over the ears, probably due to the mesh material. For me, neither the weight nor the builtup moisterheat is a contributing factor in causing unbearable discomfort. In deed its very comfortable to wear. To some, I could see that the builtup moisterheat could cause discomfort. A brief removal of the APX could likely help mitigate the moistureheat issue.4 Observationautomatic music resumes. With the auto head detections being turned on, when the APX is taken offremoved, music pauses and will resumes upon sensing that the APX is put back on your head over the ears. However, I observed that the music is paused and can be automatically resumed only if the APX is removed no longer than 15 seconds. If there are more than 15 seconds, resume functionality needs to be manually activated.In brief, its a great wireless headphone at its price range with a few nuisances that not only can be mitigated, but are substantially outweighed by the positive attributes.
Bruno –
I like these headphones because they sound good musically as well as have very good sound canceling and transparency modes. I can lay in bed and listen to music using sound canceling while my wife watches tv at a pretty high volume. The headphone volume level I use is also very low while read Apple NEWS and the sound is still very good while blocking out the tv noise. Battery life is good and they are comfortable to wear. I watched many YouTube video reviews of the AirPod Max before buying. I recommend you do the same before purchasing as there are a lot of good and varied reviews. I also love how well the Max works with all of my devices because it auto switches from device to device on its own. The volume button and sound canceling buttons are similar to the Apple Watch and work very well. There are several YouTube videos that give you tips and tricks on how to fully use these headphones. Spacial audio is really cool as well and you can use these headphones with the 4K Apple TV device for late night watching movies when others are sleeping.
bkbkbk –
The sound quality, comfort and syncing with Apple devices is phenomenal. Im very happy with these headphones when Im using them.Noisecancelling is incredible. Ive used them with noisy people at home and on a transPacific flight. Theyre better than my AirPods Pro and my Bose QC35 headphones. Amazing.Unfortunately, its difficult to use them when the battery phantomdrains overnight. Theres an unaddressed bug in the software that just slowly kills the battery at all times. Keeping my phone and my car batteries full are both significantly easier than babysitting the APM battery.At this price point, having a dead battery every morning just doesnt fly. I would not buy these until the battery issues are adjusted.
Hommerun –
I am a bit of a geek when it comes to headphones. And the same holds true for Apple products. I have owned a pair if AirPods Pro true wireless headphones and was impressed with their innovative and simple operation but had to part with them as they did not fit well and would not stay in my ears or form a tight seal in my ear canals. The high price of the AirPods Max over ear cans really put me off the notion of buying them. And the fact that they only work with the Apple AAC Bluetooth codec, or with the lower standard SBC Bluetooth codec seemed to make the pricetovalue gap even more pronounced. Last night I picked up a pair of blue AirPods Max at my local BestBuy and am completely sold on them. What changed my mind They were on sale at what I felt to be a more reasonable price. And Apple just released its public beta version of TVoS 15 for the Apple TV 4K product which features Apples spatial audio with head tracking capability. Spatial Audio enabled video via Apple has been available since last fall on the iPhone and iPad. But not on Apple TV 4K. And it is also coming to the Mac very shortly, More and more Spatial Audio content video and audio is being added as well. Spatial Audio for Apple Music debuted earlier this month. Watching TV last night streaming The Tomorrow War on Amazon Prime Video via Apple TV beta Software update was a phenomenal experience with the AirPods Max. The immersive multichannel like effect with directional tracking is crazy good. Apple TV allows you to pair two Bluetooth devices so two can watch together. AirPods Pro will also work with Apple TV 4K and spatial audio. But what about listening to music I stream a lot of music and have been testing out various tracks on Tidal, Amazon Prime Music, and Apple Music, to rave results. I am not talking about lossless quality tracks but solid hifi tracks and spatial audio tracks and am super impressed with the clarity and quality of the audio. Do your own research by all means but I am sold on these. The versatility, excellent fit and finish, funky design, and ease of use across all devices is a win. I am hoping pricing will continue to ease on these as volume sales increase and Apple fully delivers on its device and content transformation plans.
Wolf –
These are excellent headphones they have superb sound quality, stellar noise cancellation, decent bass, and they look very unique. I would easily rate these a 55 but there are a few very major setbacks that compelled me to return them at the end of the day. First off, the case SUCKS I dont know what they were thinking when they decided to release these headphones at 550 with a case like that This case is flimsy, barely covers the headphones, offers no protection and it is just plain ugly, the case alone devalues these headphones by at least 50. Another setback is the bass the bass is subpar at best. It is decent but headphones like Sony MX4 or Bose NC700 have way better bass. The headphones are also VERY heavy You absolutely know that youre wearing them the whole time you do wear them and it sucks. Last but not least that price is DISGUSTING.Again, these headphones are excellent but could easily be better. Are they worth the 550 price tag ABSOLUTELY NOT. For about 200 less you can get other headphones better than these. I do very much like what theyre selling here and look forward to seeing the necessary improvements in their next pair.
ronhz1 –
I have had these headphones for about 2 weeks and I really enjoy them. I like the feature where you can turn onoff noise cancellation and how fast the headphones charge. It doesnt take long. I think what I also enjoy is that even if the battery is low, you can still use them while charging. You cant do that with other headphones. I like the metal durability, its great because there is a lesser chance they will break as easy as those that are made of plastic. I also like that you can change the ear cushions with ease. They are magnetic so you can easily replace when needed. They just snap on and off very quickly. The sound quality amazing. I highly recommend these headphones to anyone looking for something to enjoy their music and moviesvideos.
Balboa3 –
I have way too many headphonesearbuds in my home. My wife says that I have a problem, and shes probably right. My first reaction when I saw Apple introduce these headphones was I cant wait to try them out. Ive been using their AirPods, and AirPods Pro since release so I had high expectations for them. Then, they announced the price, I had to pause. I really didnt think I was going to end up purchasing them. I do own a few headphones around the 400 mark, but the Maxs price seemed a bit too high for something unproven.Fast forward a few months, and I finally had the opportunity to purchase these headphones. My curiosity won out and I took the plunge. They finally had the Sky Blue color I was looking for, and I placed the order. I have zero regrets purchasing them, and they have become my default, goto headphones.Sound quality is unmatched. There are other headphones that come close. Sony and Bose have some great headphones that cost a couple of hundred less that have great sound. Those headphones get very close to the sound quality of the Max, but the Max wins out by a bit. The Max have great, great separation, and some amazing bass. Regardless of what type of genres you listen to, you will find some nuances to your music that you probably havent noticed before.Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode are also both amazing. The noise cancellation does a great job of muting the world around you for the most part. It struggles with some low frequencies from my experience but easily drowns out most noise. Ive yet to hear a better transparency mode from any other manufacturer. Transparency mode on the entire AirPods line up is unmatched. It sounds natural and not roboticamplified.I have heard others complain about weight being an issue. The Max are noticeably heavier than most of the other wireless headphones. After using these for over a month, I can confidently say that I dont notice the weight at all anymore. I use the Max for hours on end for movies, music, podcasts, and calls and I dont have issues with them sliding around, or feeling pressure. They are comfortable for me.What pushes these headphones ahead of the competition for me are the Apple ecosystem features. The fact that they auto switch to whatever ever device I am using, iPhone, iPad, or MacBook, is amazing. Just like the other AirPods, once you pair it to one Apple device, iCloud connects it to every other Apple device. Access to iMessages, Siri is great. The connection is solid and once again unmatched. I can go outside, all around my home and not lose connection or hear stutteringdrop out when I leave my device in the bedroom.The cost is considerable, but if you are considering some of the slightly less expensive offerings from Sony or Bose, and you are already invested in the Apple ecosystem, Id give these a chance. I am glad I did, and I would be hard pressed to go back to a different set of headphones.
Vasantsv –
ProsThese headphones have a very rich treble forward sound, which is good for sound quality and music clarity. The memory foam ear cups wrap around your ear very well to make them comfortable to wear.ConsThese headphones lack bass. Like if apple allowed people to tweak sound using an eq, like the Sony headphones most people know about, then I would given these five stars. However, the sound is too treble heavy that the songs sound too sharp at high volumes and lack richness. They are also heavy headphones as they are made of metal as opposed to plastic. This makes them put pressure on your head and is noticeable after extended periods of usage. Overall, the larger amount of cons associated with sound quality and comfort is making me return the headphones. If apple had included an eq and made them less heavy, these would definitely be on top. But the very heavy price tag makes it harder to justify such cons.
OkayThen –
Meh. Ive used a lot of headphones, and while these are good, they arent 550 of good. Noise cancelling works fine and creates a little pressure on your ear. They are comfortable to wear, but I worry about the durability of the mesh and rubber coating. Spacial audio is a fun gimmick, but you would do better to invest in a great audio surround sound system than depend on headphones for surround sound. Im an Apple fan iphone, ipad pro, 2021 iMac, but these fell flat. The Sony M4 works better for me. If these were around the same price, I might keep them, but youre not really doing any better and the M4s come with a great case, have better bass, better battery life, and are more travel friendly than these. These also dont like connecting to blue tooth devices that arent apple products. You can do it, but it isnt easy, can take a few tries, and they dont like to stay connected. These are by no means terrible headphones, tut worth an extra 250 No way.
Rgrafx –
First off, These sound great. Crisp voices, large soundstage, solid base and balanced sound. I own some expensive wired Sennheisers I use for late night movie watching and also some bluetooth Sennheiser Momentums over ear for casual use. The AirPods Max approach the wired Sennheisers as far as sound stage and blow the the Momentums out the water. I now have those up for sale on Ebay.Everything just works seamlessly which make the user experience great. I would frequently have to repair the Momentums with my Apple TV and the connection would drop sometimes. The AirPods Max just automatically works with all my devices. Haters will tell you that 550 is too much for headphones. Well that is drop in the bucket for good audio and is far from expensive. Your paying for fit in finish, sound quality and user experience.Highly recommended
John –
Im always on the look out for good headphones as I travel quite a bit. Noise canceling is a must. Wasnt sure if these would be an upgrade from my Bose ones and they were. Ive been most impressed with the noise canceling now that Ive gotten back on a plane. It really cut out all the background engine and ventilation noise even better than the wired headphones they give you upfront. The only bummer is you cant plug them into the airplanes system unless you get the adapter. Also I noticed if you turn on transparency mode on the plane you cant hear most of your movie.One small downside is that Ive noticed its hard to hear yourself when on video meetings like Teams, but that odd easily remedied by turning on transparency mode which is awesome too, its almost like getting amplified sound.Overall I think they are a buy, if youre in the Apple ecosystem.
RayG –
Purchased on sale which is what finally caused me to buy and glad I did.Had no doubts on the quality its an Apple product, but these feel very premium with no plastic.Sound quality is very high for iTunes tracks including Lossless, but particularly for Dolby Atmos songs which can be hit or miss, but come with a wider soundstage. These will not work with HiRes audio tracks, but trust that you wont care to notice.The excellent sound is more obvious when listening to Dolby Atmos movies, so these headphones are great for home theater listening. Action movies will popAirPods Max are at the top of the consumer headphones space. I do think audiophiles must admit the sound is very good, but these are not for studio recording and that shouldnt be an expectation. Sure, you can drop 1000 on some wired audiophile cans, but thats not the market for these.These are very expensive consumer headphones for sure, but if you catch a sale, they will not disappoint.
spezaled –
Wow. Thats the first and most prominent thing that comes to mind…over and over. I know they cost more than most of their competitors, but for me, they are absolutely worth it.I own the Sony M4s, Shures, Yamahas, Masters and Dynamic, Nuraphones and Bowers and Wilkens and the AirPods Max bests them all…by a lot. I cant believe how crisp and tight the sound is. The spatial separation is phenomenal and the bass is just right. Plus, there is zero distortion at any volume Ive tried. Ive started listening to all my old favorite songs from years ago and its like hearing them for the first time. Im seriously impressed.Yes, the storage case is virtually useless but for me, the build materials and attention to detail of the AirPods Max are unparalleled in the wireless ANC segment. Plus, as I mentioned, the sound is stunning. They are also very comfortable and I do not notice the extra weight at all. Since their introduction, I have been a huge Sony 1000MX supporter and have owned each iteration. But now, the AirPods Max are my gotodailys.
SophEl –
I decided to buy these as I am in and out of hospital at the moment, I was looking for great quality and comfort. Unfortunately I didnt see before I bought but I know with very you are safe and exchanges can be made. However there is no need for that These headphones are amazing. So easy to sync with my apple products and my non apple products like my laptops, pairing is simple and takes no time The sound quality is the best I have experience. I have an eclectic mix of music which the handle amazingly great highs and lows. My main concern was the comfort and fit as they do seem heavier than most of the competitors but I have been able to wear them all day and have fallen asleep in them. The comfort band helps with this. The control buttons work seeming less, and the noise cancellation is second to noneI cant recommend these enough especially from very with the bnpl option to make them more affordable.
James –
My previous set of overear noise cancelling headphones were the Beats Studio 3, then upgraded to the Sony WH1000XM3 as they were the reigning champ of consumergrade overear noisecancelling headphones. I took a leap and decided to go with the Apple Airpods Max as I am already deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem. Ive had them for a while and Im already sold. The Sonys hurt my ears after a while of wearing them for more than 30 minutes at a time. The noise cancellation on the AirPods Max are better than the XM3, too. Perhaps the upgrade Sony XM4s are better, but as they were basically the same as the XM3s, I decided Id throw more money at the monster that Apple is. My only complaint is the case or bra as Ive referred to them as, is soso. A proper case would have been much better, especially for travel reasons.
Abdullah –
Overall this headset is perfect for music BUT since it has a microphone then the game changes. Noise canceling is by far the best, exceptionally good instrument clearance and almost perfect bass. Issue is with using the microphone for calls or meetings because they will hear every sound in your surrounding so if another person is in another or same meeting and others are talking it will be quite uncomfortable and unclear hearing you. Another problem is this headset still not compatible with Microsoft Teams that for example my corporate is using in their meetings. Some people used a dongle to use it with teams which adds 50 to the overall price that is not cheap. Personally, didnt like the bag that holds or supposed to protects the air pod max but there are few 3rd party bags in the market, again, for add up to the original price. I think the price is way high for quite number of negatives but that is just my personal opinion.
IAmGOD –
so lets start this off with im an apply fan boy I buy everything apple. The build quality for these ARE beautiful the case and everything screams expensive and elegant. the sound right out the box is not worth 583 bucks thats because apple puts a safety thing to lower sound. u have to fiddle around with the settings to turn that off and it will get noticeable louder… loud that it hurts my ears and gives me a headache after 30 minutes of use the vibration from the base is awesome but the base isnt over powering the quality of the sound is CRYSTAL clear sounds like people are speaking inront of u. the noise canceling is the same as the AirPods pros in my ears and the transparency IS AMAZING its like I have nothing on. These ARE MUCHH better then the most expensive beats… the bad thing and the major thing is.. The headphones are heavy on the head and bothers me after about an hour of use……thats my only complaint about them other then they are very expensive and u want to for SURE PROTECT THEM. oh one more thing sometimes it struggles to connect to your phone and it takes about 10 minutes to reconnect but they updated the headsets and its much better now.
rjl226 –
Very good design, comfortable, excellent noise isolation and cancellation. Mic works better than my Bose QC 35ii and Surface 2. Spatial audio is awesome, and I love the autoconnect to my Apple devices. I do not feel the weight of the cans on my head or ears in fact, because of the weight distribution, they feel better than my Bose and Surface 2 headsets.For audio quality, they are more even across ranges than the Bose. The Bose are much heavier on bass, with Apple being more balanced. If you LOVE bass, then Apple may disappoint a little. Otherwise, the Apple headsets are very comparable in sound quality and clarity. The Surface headphones, while pretty good, dont really compare and, for me, are better used for general computer audio.The smart case has been widely panned, but Im okay with it except that the silver headset comes with a white case, which means its gonna get dirty. I can see throwing it into a suitcase, wince it doesnt add the bulk of the typical case.Overall, a nice set of headphones. Sound is onpar with my Bose QC 35ii, but more balanced.
Mark –
First off I have had many headphones. although ive never swallowed such a hefty price. I must say this is by far the best pair I have ever owed. I have had several from Bose to Sony .. I had x2,x3, and even the x4 Sony headphones and while they are much lighter, and have a few features like eq . these AirPods max have much better ANC and the fit is amazing. yes they are heavy and you feel the weight but they have stayed on for the most part. compared to the Bose and Sony I feel the AirPods max have more volume. I would say the sound is more flat although everything sounds great. the bass is not overpowering but it does thump. the mids are not muddy and stay clear through volume without distorting, the highs are great as well . they pair much easier than either the Bose and Sony . Noise control is also easily adjusted and volume on the crown is a welcome change to touch controls or gesture features found in other headphones. I would have to say this is easily one of the best headphone ive ever owned. I also saved over 100 buying open box.
Jonny –
This is the headphone to get if you are immersed in the apple ecosystem like I am. Yes they have an apple tax but price aside they are amazing. If you have the money to afford these but are hesitant because of the performance, dont be.Noise canceling and transparency mode are perfected in this version. The sound through apple music and Disney plus Dolby sound amazing, I can identify so many instruments and beats using these. Seamless pairing and intuitive controls make a priceless experience. The bass isnt overwhelming, its not reference level flat but elevates songs if you enjoy bass.The volume rocker, though being small, makes controlling the volume precise to fine tune the audio if its too loud or not loud enough to a level your phones physical buttons cant get to.The 3.5mm 35 cable does work great and worth it for plugging into a computer or other audio device.The build, this was the best for last, the way these feel taking out of its case and putting on really makes you feel like you spend 550 and are using an apple product. Yes its heavy but the mesh headband helps alleviate the pressure on your head. The cups breath to a point I used them for a full 10 hours and didnt notice my ears overheating.If you are looking for a sign to buy these, do it if you can afford them, if you are looking to get amazing value look elsewhere.
PeterJ42 –
A thousand bucks is a CRAZY price to pay for earphones. So is that investment worth it Unashamedly, yes. I recently returned a Denon Dolby Atmos Receiver, AVRS960H price 2000 that performed miserably compared with my 1986 Denon PMA 500V Amplifer matched with KEF speakers of the same era. The rich classical sound just was not there, although the surround sound effects were intriguing. Reconsidering my options, and taking specialist audiophile advice, I began to explore several options a 3000 receiver, plus more for speakers. A receiver such as Denon AVRX series or Yamaha RXA2080 a Sennheiser Sound Bar, 3000 Two endofline Apple Homepods I came to realise that I would not often get to play the full surround sound since my flatmates and neighbours need their acoustic environment uncontaminated by my music or movie selections. Thus, my search began for surround sound headphones that also met my audiophile requirements for classical music. All the reviews for the Aiprods MAx seem to confirm these miracles were what I was searching for. But NOWHERE could I try these Airpods. I had to buy on faith, and risk a 200 restocking fee if they didnt meet my needs. Im pleased to say, the Airpods delight. As best I can tell, the lossless recording of In dulci jubilo at the Kings College Choir Centenary Service of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols presents the massive organ with its full depth and quality. I felt transported to the best pew in the chapel. Listening to pianist Ivo Pogorelich play Beethoven Piano Sonata 111 and Schumann Symphonic Etudes and Toccata was stunning. I felt I was just three metres away from the most brilliant Steinway piano, every nuance, including the dropping of the sustain pedals was there At last, I can play music through my AppleTV without needing to turn ON the loudness inhibitor. I can hear the full range of sounds without distortion. The Dolby Atmos surround sound of the C.S. ForresterTom Hanks movie GreyHound performs as claimed. If you move your head in relation to your iPhone, the sound maintains the same position in space, relative to the screen. Astonishing A problem solved I never knew I had The background noise suppression is an added bonus. Id estimate background talking and noise is reduced to 10 15 of the actual level. I have taken to wearing the Airpods when I read, listening to no music, just to cancel out the noise of the refrigerator, heat pump, disk farm fan, and cooker extractor. I did find initially that my temples began to hurt after a while from the pressure of the pads. This is a known feature. I didnt need to apply the solution discovered by Patrick Plaggenborg. I just extended the pods down from the headband. Its not quite obvious if the headphones have a left and right side. Yes They do. The volume crown switch should be positioned to the right side. If you look inside the muffs, youll see subtly woven a big L and R. If you remove the magneticallyattached muffs nice, there is also an L and R. Apparently, the Airpods can be connected by wire to my oldstyle stereo headphones output, using a 3.5 mm to Lightning connector. So far, Ive not made that work, as when I put on the headphones, they instantly activate my iPhone or AppleTV, which overrides the 3.5 mm source. Yes, the AirPods Max Pro are FABULOUS. The reproduction of classical music would require me to spend at least 3000 to 5000, and the surround sound experience is better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick. Thanks, Elijah, at PBTech, New Lynn. Plaggenborg, P. 2021, April 12. Finally solved the AirPods Max clamping force tightness Reddit Post. RAirpods. http://www.reddit.comrairpodscommentsmpjwp8finallysolvedtheairpodsmaxclampingforce
Sonosbuyer –
Outstanding Headphones and Functionality. There are so many reviews online about how expensive these headphones are and how there are other headphones with similar quality at far lower prices. All that is true, but these arent just simple headphones, they are a significant part of a larger ecosystem. If you are part of the Apple Ecosystem, these headphones shine.For me, I work at home full time. I use a MacBook, iPad and iPhone all day long to work with my various meetings and phone calls and to do my work. I can spent up to 9 hours in a single day in meetings. Having a pair of comfortable headphones that block out almost all hot external noise, sound amazing, and connect between those devices seamlessly is incredible. It simplifies my life and takes away so many little frustrating issues I had with previous headsets, Bluetooth headphones and Mics. After work, I often watch movies and listen to music and podcasts, and all these things are superb with these headphones.The negative reviews out there are just relatable to me. I get about 25 hours of battery life on a charge more than enough for any day or any period where I dont have a few minutes to charge a few minutes of charging provides 1.5 hours playback. I find these totally comfortable more comfortable than the Bose Quietcomfort IIs. The case they come with is legitimately not all that useful, but Ive put it immediately in storage. The battery drain that people worry about then these are not in the case isnt an issue for someone like me who uses and charges these on a daily basis. the 13 drain that you would have without the case is overridden by the fact that they are always instantly on and ready to use. Phone rings, simply put them on my head and answer.In summary, other than the price, which will be high for some regardless of the perceived value, these are amazing. If you are someone in the Apple ecosystem and you can afford them, would use them enough to justify the price at least every second day and dont mind headphones in general, they are amazing. If you fall outside the above criteria, they probably are not meant for you anyway.Oh, and the transparency mode is so great. Ive had more than hour long conversations totally forgetting that the headphones were even on.
WayneMcK –
The AirPods Max looks great, but how it sounds is whats most important. These sound really goodcrisp highs and midtones and adequate bass these arent going to overpower you with bass, so if you like heavy bass, these arent for you, but honestly I cant tell a lot of difference between these and my Beats Studio 3 wireless. Where I can tell a big difference is how they feel when wearing them, and this is where Im regretting paying 600 for these. Not sure if its the weight or how they clamp onto your head, but it only took a couple of songs before I started feeling a weird pain around ear. Wearing them a little longer only made it worse. It feels like you have a vise clamped on your head. Hoping they limber up a little. Im really on the fence now about returning them. If I cant listen to more than two songs without wanting to rip them off my head, whats the point Other issuesthe case is terrible. They dont protect the headphones very wellyou cant just throw these in a bag with other items. At this cost, a full case should haves been included. Also, when you remove from the case, you have to be careful because when they are turned to fit in the case, the metal clanks agains metalseems like it would be really easy to scratch and ding these from them constantly banging into one another. One final note on how these lookthe blue is darker than what it looks in the photo. I consider that a pluswasnt really looking for a light color. the earphones are more of a gray color than blue. Overall, a very class look.
Jimmyw86 –
I actually dont have any negatives about this. Im honestly okay with the carrying case and the battery life seems to be pretty decent. Its good enough to where Im going to sell my Hifiman Anandas and my JDS Labs Atom Stack. Does the Hifiman sound better Absolutely, but its not worth the extra amount of money and the AirPods are just so portable. Ive also owned the Sony WH1000XM4, Sennheiser Momentum 2 and Momentum 3. I like the sound quality of this over the other pairs. Its just a lot of fun to listen to. Makes me forget about my Anandas. Spatial Audio is just okay but once they tune it correctly, I think it could be pretty amazing. Best sounding Bluetooth headphones. I also find these to be extremely comfortable. Normal head size and there was no fatigue or discomfort after 4 hours of use. No condensation like some other users.
AirPodMax –
I purchased these AirPod Max on March, and havent switched back from them since. I own 1st and 2nd generation AirPods, AirPods Pros, Beats by Dre, QC Bose noise cancellation the latest model and now the AirPod Max. And Im very impressed on the transparency with these on my ear. You can hear very clearly and the noise cancellation is pretty decent as well.Far as the price goes, I seriously have no problem with the price and I even purchased another pair but different color because I love the color choices. The carry case is a little different and something to get used to. But Im not using the actual case it came with, I purchased a charging carry case and ear covers to protect the outer shell. These headphones are phenomenal and I definitely recommend these to anyone.The sound is also great. It depends on which music app youre using.Great buy and definitely pleased with thee that I had to write a review.
JoeyT –
I have been waiting for Apple to offer over the headphones since the rumors started. I received the headphones within 15 days of purchase, way shorter than I anticipated. Thanks Best BuyNow to the headphones. They are heavier than most, be the design is incredible. They actually are more comfortable than my Beats Solo 3. Great ease of use as well. I wont get into how great the sound is as many reviews can confirm the sound is spectacular. I also purchased a year subscription to Tidal hi fi music through a Best Buy deal of the day. Using the headphones to listen to hi fi, master and atmos recordings is superior to any headphones I ever heard. Apple needs to incorporate into iTunes and Apple TV 4K as Tidal atmos music does not transfer to headphones. Again, these headphones are expensive but well worth it as they sound incredible The highs and mids are beautiful and the bass is, for just right…..pulsating when they are sled but always tight and in perfect harmony with the song.
BUYER –
The most noticeable thing besides the price tag, is the build quality. After taking off my Sony XM4s and putting these on, the build quality is excellent. They feel premium and they are comfortable once you find the right spot on your head. The lack of an included cable was only frustrating for me because I use a Windows desktop for work and wanted to plug them in. Easy to just buy the cable. For anyone looking for true wireless, the lack of a cable is irrelevant.Sound quality is on par with Sonys. Im not an audiophile, but for me theres a noticeable difference in the mids. Sounds less muddy.The Digital Crown is perfect, wasnt sure what to expect but its easy and convenient, dont have to hope youre touching invisible touch buttons.I would highly recommend.
JM001 –
I finally received my APMs and I did some research and looked at many reviews. So I have to comment on the experts observations and they were right about some things but absolutely off the mark on others and I would challenge them anytime.1. They are slightly heavier than most headsets2. The sound quality is like no other3. Comfort is absolutely outstanding. I wore them for 5hours straight and no issues4. Price is a tad bit to high, but Im starting to see whyThe comment I disagree with the most would be the fact that there is no 35MM option to plug your headsets.1st. You have Bluetooth2nd. You have the option to plug in the Type C to a computer and to the head set. If you find your self traveling and dont have a high speed smart phone, but you can afford to buy these headsets you are completely wrong. If you have these headsets and a smart phone while traveling on an aircraft you should be watching movies on your smartphone and no need for a 35MM cable. I have to say that these cans are very nice.
David –
These are noticeably better than the Bose 700s owned and the Sony XM4s used in every categoryexcept weight, EQ tunability, and compatibility. I can wear either of the competitor phones all day and never know it, but I typically need a short break after a couple of hours with these on. In addition, both competitor models offer inhouse EQ tuning with these, I have to rely on iTunes EQ, which is fine. Furthermore, I have found that these do not work well with MS softwareWindows. Fortunately, I reside mostly within the Apple ecosystem, so this is not much of a worry. But definitely do not buy these if you do not intend to use them mostly with Apple devices.On the upside, these offer relativelysuperb sound, clarity, noise cancellation, and build quality. The soundstage is noticeably wider, to the point at which the 700sXM4s now sound muddled to me And the vocal and instrumental clarity are unmatchedoutside of true audiophile territory, of course and, to my knowledge, you cant get audiophile headphones at this price. And, yes, the noise cancellation IS even better than that of the XM4s The range of cancelled frequencies is broadcovering the highfrequencylowfrequency deficit of the 700sXM4s. Plus these are very wellmade when you pull them out of the box, you immediately know that youre holding a premium product. Except for the case D, which somehow merits its own review Ill say something positive about the case its currently the only one on the market that allows you to store the phones without having to retract the headband. To me, this is important I dont want to have to readjust the headband every time I use these.
bryanc –
So these sound pretty awesome, very clear sound and great if you watch Disney plus or Apple TV media with spatial sound sounds even better then AirPods Pro. However, there are 2 reasons I went for Sony instead.1. The look of these. While definitely sturdy and well built, these just look like I was going to the shooting range lolThe headband looks good but this leads me to 2The case it comes with just plain sucks.These just arent that portable in terms of packing on a trip. I fear Id destroy the headband somehow. Sad that Apple cant create a better case for these, and sad they must nickle and dime you on wired cable and wall plug at this price point.Sony headphones fold up and for half the price have many similar features though Apples transparency mode does sound much better, and no spatial sound on movies but Sony has some awesome features and are just simpler to use.Overall though these are great sounding but Ill wait for version 2
Ck333 –
i had very high expectations for these and they quite frankly have overdelivered. First off let me try to describe how PHENOMENAL the audio playback is on these bad boys. its brought back a feeling of hearing some of my favorite songs for the first time as Im hearing frequencies of the song i never knew was there. everything sounds so crisp and oh so clean even at high volume no muddydistortion sounding. its truly a profound experience. i also would like to mention how remarkable the noise cancellation is. YOU are fully locked in and its just you and whatever audio you are enjoying. but the option of transparency mode is there as well which at first was mind blowing for me lol. perfect for when you want to enjoy some tunes but also need to be alert of your surroundings. I will say there is one downfall Ive noticed and it may not be a big issue to some but the smart case provided with these headphones is quite weird to me it offers no protection except for the cups. i dont think Apple hit the mark with that design. but dont let that take away from how truly special and profound these headphones are. if you can look past the price 550 pick these up and really give them a chance. i am excited to continue my journey with these
OldnerdThomas –
After listening my way through various headphones over the years, I have settled on these most recently.If you as a purchaser are focused on a price point then this isnt the product for you. However if youre after quality of reproduction near to studio reference headphones then please read on and seriously consider these.In most expensive headphones the high and low tone reproduction is excellent, however due to most plastic housings about 95 mid tones are either flat or muted. I like to listen to many styles of music, from electronic, to classical, to jazz and thanks to the Apple AirPod Max I can hear and pick out Alto Saxophones that I couldnt hear with expensive Sony and Sennheiser models.The ability to pick out soprano, from alto, to tenor and baritone saxophones when theyre all playing together it a testament to the audio engineering that has gone into this product design.Something other brands dont allow is purchasing replacement ear pads that magnetically snap in for quick replacement.If the price point is a deterrent on quality of sound then maybe a Bose or Sony is for you, otherwise you wont be disappointed.Enjoy.The aluminium housing whilst heavier than the plastic ones do not buzz or vibrate the way plastic ones tend to.
TheRev –
There has been much said about these headphones, most by people whove never actually used them. I agree that 550 is quite a bit for a pair of BT overtheear headphones when you compare to the Sony and Bose models, at least on paper. But then you get them, open the box, feel the quality, pair with ease, and hear for the first time. Then you realize they sound this good, and yet still will sound better once they are properly broken in after significant hours of usage. Spatial works amazingly well. Noise Cancellation is superb. Transparency mode sounds like its live. Digital Crown works just right. Quality is worth more than 550The case sucks. Its the downside to the AirPods Max outfit and seriously Apple owes us all an apology, and a free case once they get rid of this stupid oneOverall, the soundstage is amazing and Im listening to tracks I havent listened to for awhile, just to hear the music again. Id recommend Amazon HD music, and a hardwire connection for best results. That being said, the Bluetooth transfer quality with Amazon HD music is quite good, with Apple Music a close second.Highly recommend, if you have it in your budget.
Pikachupacabra –
Its a beautiful headset. Well finished and premium looking. Sound quality is in the same as those cheap looking Beat headset. The sound quality doesnt follow the aesthetics. Its good but not impressive. I hope they do a better use of the computational audio spacial audio in other applications and music. Good noise cancelation and transparency mode. The unit I got makes sometimes a crackling static noise when large truck or train passes by. Earcups had a strange toxic smell when I took them out the box. The case is not very convenient . It does not fully protect the device. It is not very convenient to be carry it around. The headset will take a large space in your backpack, purse or briefcase . Not very comfortable for my ears. Pricey and not for every person. Im back to my Bose QC2
Lokella –
Im normally cautious with making big purchases. Ive seen like dozens of YouTube reviews of these pair of headphones before making the purchase. Honestly, if you have the money, Id say go for it. This is my first pair of headphones Ive own so I cant really compare it to others but I always choose to wear this than my AirPods Pro. Ill list of some pros and cons on my opinion of these headphonesProsReally nice sound quality and noise cancellingtransparency modeReally comfortable to use for long periods of timeBattery life and charging is really goodConsThe costThe accessories for protecting the headphones such as silicone coverings for the speakers. Without them you would see them collide against each other. I bought a 3rd party smart case from Amazon because the case it comes with doesnt offer much protection.This is personal in my opinion but after long periods of usage, it flattens a trench across my hair. But thats how my hair is and would def happen on other headphones.Wouldnt recommend wearing these for working out. Its not as secured for intense exercisesOther than those Im really happy with my purchase. This was something on my mind for weeks and I knew I had to have it.
AJShu –
Ill start with a disclaimer Im fully committed to the Apple ecosystem.With that said, Im disappointed with this product, and Ill try and break it down into three big categories as a nonaudiophile listener.ComfortThese things are heavy. Thats basically it. They. Are. HEAVY. You know they are on your head, you feel them anytime you move your head, and not in a flattering way. I was tired of them by the two hour mark. These things are about a 25 comfort for me, comparatively my go to QC35ii are a 55 and XM4s 45.SoundExcellent sound, but as mentioned above, being a non audiophile listener, I didnt appreciate much of a difference between the Bose, Sony or these. The bass is best on the Sony, if that matters to you. The sound IS excellent but I cant justify the price difference for the sound alone given how similar they sound.CaseDisaster. Like iPhone 4 antenna gate bad. A case is meant to protect at its very basic purpose, these fail to do the bare minimum. Just awful. 15.Overall if you are in an apple ecosystem, I personally cannot recommend these. I think the comfort is a big point for me, and not everyone will have the same experience. Consider picking up a pair to trial them yourself.Ill personally stick to my AirPod pros for now. Im confident Apple will get these right eventually, and Ill be first in line again, but for now I think there are several things they need to fix.
TimmyWimmy –
Amazing build quality, comfortable and premium sound quality. I moved from Bose quietcomfort 35 which i thought were amazing to these and honestly they are just so much better. The sound is incredible, excellent noise cancellation and the transparency mode is just awesome. as soon as you hold them in your hands you can straight away feel the quality. They fit perfectly and dont feel bulky like the bose headsets. Expensive however if you use headphones often you will get your moneys worth. The only downfall is the skimpy case it comes with. The case looks good however doesnt offer too much protection aside from scratches.Overall, if they were stolen i would buy them again.Go test them for yourself.
Longmatey80 –
You may want to hate this product… but its actually good.The GREAT Noise cancelling is excellent. Transparent Mode makes you hear better Connectivity amazing paired with an iPhone or Mac, expect full 60 foot range. Microphones AMAZING. Works amazingly in extremely loud environments. Battery life 20 hours of continues playback confirmed. Sound Quality really good. Although Ive heard better, the competition is hundreds more to come close to the quality of these.The not so great Weight, these are heavy headphones. Compression, they will compress your head and may become less comfortable for long durations. Headphone purse The casepurse they come with is a little annoying and poorly designed. Size these are not smalllight headphones. Loudness They get plenty loud enough to hear, but could get louder. Bypasses in the iOSMac OS settings can be enacted if you know how.
Londonman –
I am an avid user and loyal to the Sony XM4. They have been the best noise canceling super base mid and low range Bluetooth over the air headset that I have ever experienced.. until now. The Apple AirPod promax is by far the best quality Bluetooth and wired headphones I have ever experienced. Now with spatial audio the quality for all genres of music is exemplary. Granted They are heavier but due to the mesh headband which rests and distributes the weight so evenly you dont even know youre wearing them. The headband and ear cushions are replaceable and quality build is far superior to any competitor. Noise Cancellation is the best I have ever heard together with the nine microphones using these on teleconference is a pleasure. Watching movies whilst wearing these is comparable to my Bose surround system. I found a wonderful slim fitting highly protective case with auto shut off function on Amazon which completes the package
Justok4now –
Sound is pretty great I love the noise cancelling ability. Quiets everything externally down to where you can almost not hear the external noise. The sound of the audio is great too but Im no expert on sound regarding lows, mods, and highs.I like the phone ability too but if I have an extended call, tends to drop the call. I will update my review if this is something else than a dropped call. Shorter calls didnt seem to be a problem.I do wear these while sleeping if outside noise is distracting. This is where the noise cancellation is at its best. Not sure if this phenomenon can be avoided but the earphones cushions tend to feel warm. This is from natural body heat and no ram air while sleeping. So perhaps this will be better during colder or winter times. This is my own thing though. The only thing I am knocking it down a star is for the dropped calls.I use these about everyday. I will use these while I travel because I feel pretty confident that the noise cancellation will do its job.Note that I do where these for primarily the cancellation. I have a out of round tire on my car and when I am using these while driving, I dont hear that awful whirling sound. Im not sure if I should recommend wearing these while driving.
siraleksy –
THE BEST. Simply stated. I ordered these thinking they wouldnt match up to Bose, BO, MD, and all the other Magnolia products and I was blown away. The hard thing to stomach is the price, but, they performed better than the rest. Ive tested the Bose 700 series, Sony WH1000XM4, Sennheiser Momentum, Bang Olufsen Beoplay H9, Bower Wilkins PX7, and the Master Dynamic MW65. None of them compare in sound quality, overall look, weight, and design. The Sennheiser Momentum headphones had a great bass kick, but that was it. The interchangeability of the AirPods Max really sells me on them as well. Ear paddings are magnetic and easy to replace, clean sleek design where you can add silicone earphone covers for protection. All around great design from Apple that I was not expecting.
PastorJ –
Excellent sound Everything that you would come to expect from a premium apple product. Bass is not overpowering and actually adds to the crisp sound experience. Very easy to pair with apple device and also to switch devices. I have an iMac, iPad, and iPhone and am able to connect to all 3 seamlessly. to sure how it would work on nonapple devices but it is bluetooth so I am sure connectivity would not be an issue. The noise cancellation is awesome and rivals that of the BOSE headsets which actually do this the best in my opinion. The transparency mode works exceptionally well and the spatial sound is INCREDIBLE Just like watching a movie in the theatre when watching movies and video on iPhone, iPad, or computer. Another really cool feature is that you can connect with your Apple TV to allow for a personal viewing experience that does not disturb any one else in case youre watching TV late at night. Aesthetically these things are very nice Mesh ear cups are comfortable, though after long periods they do get a little warm. Ear cups can be replaced as well after wear, though for 60. The headset is a bit heavy due to the aluminum, but doesnt really bother me much when wearing them. One thing I would change is the case. For a 550 headset you would think that it would warrant some type of hard shell case, but you have to get that after market. Also battery lasts a while, but does drain if not placed in case, since that is the only way they turn completely off. Other than those small things I think these are an exceptional purchase and am enjoying them immensely