I ’m a headphone geek and have been for almost two X now . And without a doubt , the $ 550 Apple AirPods Max are the most fun headphone I ’ve reviewed in 10 years — but that does n’t necessarily mean you should buy them .
I ’ve try a lot about these earpiece over the past few week , and now that I ’ve take a yoke for myself , I have to be frank : I do n’t agree with a fortune of what I ’ve heard . I want to hollow into these headphones from the position of not only someone who has tested trap of headphones over the years , but as a studio musician , a fan of mellow - terminal sound , and a person who likes to make smart purchase with hard - earned money . Let ’s essay what ’s serious , what ’s great , and what ’s not - so - great about the AirPods Max and , of course , toss in some equivalence to theSony WH-1000XM4and theBose ANC 700 .
Build quality
When beholding the AirPods Pro , the most striking design constituent is their metal earcups . They feel great in your script — in fact , every part of this set of headphone feel great to the touch . The fabric cloth in the headband has a cool give to it , the telescoping portion of the headband has a gratifyingly smooth movement , the earcups are squishy and hide with a profuse textile , and even the oversize digital crown and noise - cancellation / transparency mode on/off switch button palpate peachy to twist and press . It ’s really astonishing just how gratifying they are to bear .
But for as square as they are to the pinch , they are n’t called handphones — they ’re called headphones , and they require to feel great on your mind . Now for some users , the AirPods Max may feel perfectly fine . Deep earcups , breathable capitulum cushion , and well - balanced clamp force help a minute . But the problem is that there ’s a lot of weightiness to make up for . Too much weight in my ruling . These materials are nice . They make the AirPods Max palpate super - opulent , but much utter , I finger like these headphones may be too heavy for some folk . Especially if you wear your headphones for time of day at a time as I do .
To be clear , Apple did an impressive job of deoxidize song on the cap and ears by using cagey engine room and materials , but there ’s a reason headphones like the Sony XM4 , Bose ANC700 , and even theBowers and Wilkins PX7Carbon Edition are made with high - course plastics and composite materials rather than alloy : Because they work well for acoustics , and they are lightweight and prosperous .
Connectivity
As you might expect , the AirPods Max study best with Apple product . Not only do they connect directly , but they can also switch from one Apple machine to another in a snap . Another benefit is that you’re able to use an iOS twist to turn ANC off in the headphones surgical incision of the ascendency panel , AND you’re able to actually toy with the digital sign processor ( DSP ) through the handiness section — which I will note again later when we mouth effectual quality . regrettably , if you are an Android user , you lose all of that . There ’s no move around ANC off as far as I can tell , and no adjusting the DSP without an Apple machine . So for connectivity , AirPods Max win for Apple users , while Sony and Bose , which both have apps for both weapons platform with pile of adjustability , win for everyone .
The outsize digital cap is grand .
Controls/interface
When it comes to controls , I have to give it to the AirPods Max . The oversized digital crown is fantastic . It ’s easy to find when wear the headphones , and the book restraint is oddly meet to turn — you even listen a little clicking sound as you adjust the mass . The digital crown is also highly accurate and granular . I had no job reaching my loudness sweet spotlight , whereas with other earpiece and phone volume check , I find I ’m always one click away from the loudness being too garish or too gentle .
Also , have an almost comically gravid push button just for toggle ANC and transparency style is actually a feather in the AirPods Max ’s crownwork . Again , finding the button while wearing the headphones is no problem , and the satisfying button wardrobe is a far better experience than control your handwriting over the correct earcup on Sony ’s XM4s or seek for whichever button may be the correct one on the Bose ANC 700 . I used to imagine the swipe ascendency thing was coolheaded , too , but I ’m kind of over it now . The AirPods Max have straight control on the headphones that I want to practice . This is the kind of hooey Apple just gets veracious .
Where’s the power button?
On the topic of bombardment life , charging clip , and the fact that there is no power button — this may storm you : I ’ve got zero trouble with any of it . get a line me out .
Some feel the fact that the AirPods Max do n’t have a big businessman clitoris and ca n’t really be shut wholly off is ludicrous . I do n’t think it is .
The AirPods Max go into a low - power mode after a short period when you set them down . In fact , I pose them down on my desk at about 8 p.m. and piece them back up at 7 in the morning the next daylight and they had discharged a measly 7 % . I can get that power loss back plus luck more with five minutes of charging , which nett you 1.5 hours of listening meter .
If the AirPods Max sit unused for about 72 hours , they go into an extremist - gloomy - power modality of sorts , sip even less superpower . much speaking , with such slow power passing , it is toilsome to imagine a scenario where needing a baron release is absolutely necessary . Perhaps if you keep them around your neck unused all day as a fashion accessory ? But even then , it ’s not as if they are draining quickly and bound to break down on you that 24-hour interval .
As for the claimed 20 - hour battery life , I ’ve found that rating to be conservative . I got closer to 25 continuous playing hours with ANC on , and that ’s enough to get through a match of days of exercise before you have to call back about charge . So I ’m good with the battery life , even if the evaluation is about half that of the Sony XM4 — in substantial liveliness , it ’s perfectly sufficient .
I think what ’s worthful about this always - on - standby strategy is that if you get a phone call or a Zoom call , they are immediately ready to go . Just put them on and click to serve . I love that — it ’s far better than having to farseeing - imperativeness a power button and wait around for the headphones to reboot up while the phone continues to reverberate .
What I do n’t hump is the USB - C to lightning cable included with the headphones . I cerebrate it was a mistake to go with lightning when USC - C is a much more reasonable selection .
That’s not a case
One area in which I agree with other reviewers and commenters is the so - called “ event ” that do with the AirPods Max . Since there are mass of others trashing this “ not - a - case ” as I ’ll call it , I do n’t sense the penury to pile on with more vitriol . It ’s not a case , it is n’t protective , and if it were n’t for the magnets inside it , which are needed to activate radical - low-toned - big businessman - musical mode , I ’d say convulse it .
transparentness mood is awesome .
ANC and transparency mode
I require to startle with transparence mode because it isamazing — perhaps the AirPods Max most telling feature . It ’s as close to NOT assume headphones as I ’ve ever listen . Everything else picket in comparison .
I ’m also looking forward to ensure out the active racket canceling on a trajectory one twenty-four hours because , from what I can differentiate , the AirPods Max may just dominate the skies . Since I ’m not getting on planes just yet , to prove the headphones , I test the AirPods Max , Sony XM4 , and Bose ANC 700 near some gimcrack fans and an HVAC arrangement . The AirPods Max did super well compare to thebest noise - canceling headphonesI’ve quiz .
The AirPods Max do even well with every day sounds like the pound of a mechanically skillful keyboard , slurping of coffee , and other annoying material . I tire out them into a coffee tree shop class and was surprised by how little I heard coming from the espresso machine and general barista noise . Is it thebestnoise canceling on the satellite ? I ca n’t say yet . I really need to get on a plane to be certain , but it is darn close . near enough that I ca n’t just call the Sony XM4s the reign champ any longer , as there ’s now another big dog on the mound . I will say , however , that the AirPods Max wo n’t bequeath anyone wanting for more racket canceling .
Call quality
The AirPods Max are owing for making calls and taking video meetings — even good than the Bose ANC700 , which are excellent in their own right . I found that ring disturbance were very well dampen , while voice pellucidity was superb . The AirPods Max are also very skilful at handling confidential information haphazardness .
Sound quality
Before I get into faithfulness , I do need to cite that I did some examination withSpatial Audio , which if you are unfamiliar , is a 3D sound technology that lets Apple make its headphone compatible with formats likeDolby Atmos Music . I think it is fun for watching movies , but I ’m less enthusiastic about its implementation for music . It ’s a cool feature , but not a selling compass point for me .
When it comes to audio faithfulness , the AirPods Max sound very good . In finicky , I think the midrange has gorgeous bearing and clarity — something that you do n’t get as much of from the Sony XM4 since they have have a extrusion in the midbass that tends to crowd the vocal scope .
The Sony ’s midbass prominence is also notable because it bestow the XM4 more biff , so when compared direct to the AirPods Max , the Apple can seem less impactful . That does n’t have in mind the AirPods Max lack solid bass . They in reality get very deep — deep than the Sony XM4 or Bose ANC 700 — so tonally everything is there . I just noticed that the bass guitar in many of the tracks I care to take heed to was less prominent and the kick drum had a small less punch than with the XM4 and Bose headphones . But , as mentioned before , the more balanced midbass allows for the Max ’s first-class midrange reaction .
“ I found Apple Music sound better than Spotify with the Apple AirPods Max . ”
As for the dual part , there ’s a skillful amount of glitter in cymbal and memorial tablet instrumental role , which I enjoyed quite a piece — sibilance or harshness is not an issue here . However , I did n’t note particularly well - executed subservient separation , and as far as soundstage and imaging go , I think the AirPods Max fare about average .
In oecumenical , I feel a little closer to the euphony when listening to the Sony XM4 and the Bose ANC700 , but I feel like I hear more detail with the AirPods Max , which are surely the most balanced of the three headphone I compare .
An interesting note : I get Apple Music sounded better than Spotify with the Apple AirPods Max , and I mistrust that ’s because Apple ’s default option streaming lineament is high than Spotify ’s .
I ’ve noted that some have said the AirPods Max audio better with the ANC turned off . I did not find that to be the grammatical case . Perhaps the frequency reply is flatter , but I feel like the music loses some of its liveliness . I also heard that making adjustments to the DSP through the accessibility carte du jour in iOS could improve the sound , but frankly , I like the manner they vocalize out of the boxwood with the balanced setting and the flimsy boost setting .
So from an audio view , I enjoy the AirPods Max very much , and I want to continue to listen solely to the AirPods Max a snatch longer because I ’m guessing my penchant for punch may subside a second over weeks and months , but for justly now , I tend to prefer the Sony XM4 sound signature . That ’s a profoundly personal preference , though . I can see why someone might favour the sound of the Max over the long haul , and I ’ll align this inspection if I commute my air . They sound very good . Good enough to lend some justification to their $ 550 cost tag end .
In terms of cool factor , there ’s no doubt the AirPods Max have it in nigger , and there ’s no doubt they are one of the most fun phone I ’ve gotten to try out in many years .
Our take
The AirPods Max are tinker’s dam - near perfect , with best - in - class racket canceling , the most remarkable transparence mode I ’ve ever learn , balanced and detailed phone with batch of deep and musical bass , and a very premium tactile property . My primary complaints are their exercising weight , which I worry may not mold for multi - hr use , and the lack of a proper carrying compositor’s case .
Is there a better alternative?
For a in high spirits level of comfort , I would suggest reckon the Sony WH-1000XM4 , which pop the question free-enterprise sound quality and noise - canceling , and superior assault and battery life in a light - free weight phone . The Sony also occur with a legit have a bun in the oven vitrine and are more portable . With that said , the AirPods Max are a wonderfully premium headphone with unmatched human body quality .
How long will they last?
give the great build lineament I just mentioned , I imagine the AirPods Max will last as long as their rechargeable battery will reserve them to . They come with Apple’sstandardone - year guarantee against manufacturer defect .
Should you buy them?
If you do n’t beware a big headset with a agiotage price tag end , then perfectly yes .
