[pnoble]

The cable is to reduce latency for video editors, music producers, etc. For those users, it's essential.

Indeed, though I'm guessing that Apple's primary motivation and use case for providing a cable connection for their ANC headset is to allow connection to in-flight entertainment systems.

 

[MSA1133]

APMs still impress me, I know that they’re using AAC but still, there’s some magic happening.

Especially on this track, at the 3:00 minute mark, the song shifts from being quiet and intimate into a full blown orchestra with HUGE sounds!

 

[shuttleboi]

I've been listening to the Airpods Max for a week. The sound is great. They're super comfortable to wear. The industrial design is what you would expect from Apple: modern, understated, and high precision. All the material is modern with no cliche elements like leather pads or huge insignia. It's a real pleasure to wear them and listen to music.

If you're not overly picky, then the Airpods Max is basically a $550 end-game headphone.

 

[angelom]

All the material is modern with no cliche elements like leather pads or huge insignia.

Cliche leather earpads? Really?? The majority of bt/anc headphones don't having leather eat pads, they having imitation leather. For some people, like me, real leather (that only available in very few models) is the only material that preventing the ears getting (very) hot and/or sweating.

Apple no huge insignia? Really?? In all the MacBook Pros I have in many years, the big (for me) Apple logo showing outside in the top, specially in previous models when the big Apple logo is lighting when you using the laptop, isn't really "understated", is saying for everybody "THIS IS APPLE LAPTOP!".

Is ok liking or even loving Apple products, but some comments are really showing real famboyism for Apple.

 

[shuttleboi]

Cliche leather earpads? Really?? The majority of bt/anc headphones don't having leather eat pads, they having imitation leather. For some people, like me, real leather (that only available in very few models) is the only material that preventing the ears getting (very) hot and/or sweating.

The Airpods Max obviously have fabric earpads. Nothing close to leather or faux leather. Feel free to use leather; I don't care. It's a trite material.

Apple no huge insignia? Really?? In all the MacBook Pros I have in many years, the big (for me) Apple logo showing outside in the top, specially in previous models when the big Apple logo is lighting when you using the laptop, isn't really "understated", is saying for everybody "THIS IS APPLE LAPTOP!".

I'm discussing the Airpods Max, not laptops. Where do you see the logo on the Airpods Max?

 

[Bompah]

If you're not overly picky, then the Airpods Max is basically a $550 end-game headphone.

If you’re not overly picky a £5 pair of headphones from Tesco can be end-game headphones.

AirPods Max are only endgame if you are interested in convenience more than sound quality. And I say that as someone who loves his APMs for convenient use. But if I had to choose, and I mean really choose between wireless and quality, I’d wave goodbye to Bluetooth in a heartbeat.

But it is great we don’t have to choose and can have endgame headphones in lots of different categories.

 

[shuttleboi]

If you’re not overly picky a £5 pair of headphones from Tesco can be end-game headphones.

AirPods Max are only endgame if you are interested in convenience more than sound quality. And I say that as someone who loves his APMs for convenient use. But if I had to choose, and I mean really choose between wireless and quality, I’d wave goodbye to Bluetooth in a heartbeat.

But it is great we don’t have to choose and can have endgame headphones in lots of different categories.

I use gear to listen to music. I don't use music to listen to gear.

 

[Jonathan268]

...

I use gear to listen to music. I don't use music to listen to gear.

Well Said.
I check out this forum almost daily, read all 180+ pages... you said it all.
Apple fan boy or not do not matter, I am what I am, I'm going to keep my APM for long time. My music my APM.

 

[plainsong]

I logged in for the first time in a decade or so in order to commend jude on his integrity and quality of effort measuring the AirPods Max.
Much appreciated.

Same dude, same. All of us oldies lurking here in the background, appreciating the hell outta Jude.

 

[CharlesL]

I use gear to listen to music. I don't use music to listen to gear.

Great quote. Certainly the category I fit in. I think for many people convenience does play a role in the devices you choose, at all levels. It’s certainly a big reason I didn’t buy over ear headphones until the APM. I don’t begrudge people who, as you put it, use music to listen to gear. I’ve certainly fallen into that category myself in other hobbies.

 

[justanut]

Ok I’m starting to get worried. I’m sitting here in the office, a comfortable 23 Celsius thereabouts with the AC on, listening to music and after 2hours or so I found my music starting to get really muffled and the ANC feels like it’s going nuts. I took off the APM, removed the earcups, no condensation! But what’s that around the centre of the drivers below the protective mesh? Freaking liquid! It’s around the circumference of the drivers as well.

It did dry up really quickly like in 5mins after I took them off.. but.. man.. is this even normal on other headphones? What will the long term effects be? Will Apple be making me pay for any damages from normal usage? I’m just sitting at my desk...

 

[tinyman392]

Ok I’m starting to get worried. I’m sitting here in the office, a comfortable 23 Celsius thereabouts with the AC on, listening to music and after 2hours or so I found my music starting to get really muffled and the ANC feels like it’s going nuts. I took off the APM, removed the earcups, no condensation! But what’s that around the centre of the drivers below the protective mesh? Freaking liquid! It’s around the circumference of the drivers as well.

It did dry up really quickly like in 5mins after I took them off.. but.. man.. is this even normal on other headphones? What will the long term effects be? Will Apple be making me pay for any damages from normal usage? I’m just sitting at my desk...

This is what happened to me within 24 hours of receiving them. In order to have the same happen again I’ve had to bring them out into the freezing cold (23 F).

 

[MayaTlab]

Ok I’m starting to get worried. I’m sitting here in the office, a comfortable 23 Celsius thereabouts with the AC on, listening to music and after 2hours or so I found my music starting to get really muffled and the ANC feels like it’s going nuts. I took off the APM, removed the earcups, no condensation! But what’s that around the centre of the drivers below the protective mesh? Freaking liquid! It’s around the circumference of the drivers as well.

Water droplets on the drivers above the voice coil and around the surround also appeared on mine after wearing them for a while. It's easily reproducible, systematic, and they never left the house (22°C, 40-50% humidity).
I didn't notice a significant change in ANC performance though. In terms of sound I'm not sure.
On the plus side it means that they're sealing pretty well.
While I've seen some form of droplet deposits on other headphones in the past, I never noticed it on the driver itself. I'd welcome a communiqué from Apple on the matter.
I'd also welcome FR curve measurements when the driver is dry vs. when it's wet.

 

[SparkOnShore]

Ok I’m starting to get worried. I’m sitting here in the office, a comfortable 23 Celsius thereabouts with the AC on, listening to music and after 2hours or so I found my music starting to get really muffled and the ANC feels like it’s going nuts. I took off the APM, removed the earcups, no condensation! But what’s that around the centre of the drivers below the protective mesh? Freaking liquid! It’s around the circumference of the drivers as well.

It did dry up really quickly like in 5mins after I took them off.. but.. man.. is this even normal on other headphones? What will the long term effects be? Will Apple be making me pay for any damages from normal usage? I’m just sitting at my desk...

It’s just another problematic first version product from Apple, like the APP which they finally recalled one year later. No, it doesn’t happen to other headphones. Most probably the use of fabric on the earcups is a wrong decision after all since they absorb much easier than leather. Also being completely open with the magnetic cups stuck on metal most probably adds to the way water appears on the drivers. I think other headphones with leather cups seem to be more sealed in a way. Not sure though. Apple will certainly eventually fix the issue after thorough investigation. They did the same with the APP and now the new replacement ones are working fine.

 

[tinyman392]

Water droplets on the drivers above the voice coil and around the surround also appeared on mine after wearing them for a while. It's easily reproducible, systematic, and they never left the house (22°C, 40-50% humidity).
I didn't notice a significant change in ANC performance though. In terms of sound I'm not sure.
On the plus side it means that they're sealing pretty well.
While I've seen some form of droplet deposits on other headphones in the past, I never noticed it on the driver itself. I'd welcome a communiqué from Apple on the matter.
I'd also welcome FR curve measurements when the driver is dry vs. when it's wet.

I had sound issues when water was on my drivers. It's specific to the ANC/transparency mode where the headphones tries to cancel out noise internally.