Description
About this item 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. PRECISION CONTROL — Use the Digital Crown to play and pause music, to answer, end, and mute yourself on calls, and to control volume and skip between tracks. A SMARTER CASE — Store in an ultra low-power state with the slim Smart Case. LEGAL DISCLAIMERS — This is a summary of the main product features. See “Additional information” to learn more. Show more
Miranda –
4.0 out of 5 stars
They’re great headphones overall!
Ok, I’ve had these for a few weeks now and here’s my thoughts.First, the pros. Honestly they are pretty comfortable and yes, very pretty. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love Apple’s aesthetic? I got the green color and it’s gorgeous. I love that they come with a nice little case too. The battery life is great, I can do about a weeks worth of workouts without going below 25% battery. They also charge super quickly. The sound quality is good! They’re also nicely padded. They also stay put while I’m running which is a huge plus.Cons: the sound is good, but I don’t think they’re $500 good. I really wanted to wait for the next gen to come out but I don’t think they’ll be out for quite a while from what I have heard so I bit the bullet and splurged. I did buy a case for the actual headphones because I don’t love that the fabric padding gets so sweaty when I work out, but the case I bought seems to help with this a lot. All in all, they’re probably the best headphones I have used to date. However, there is always room for improvement (:
16 people found this helpful
Vivi –
4.0 out of 5 stars
it’s good but damaged
the sound quality of these headphones are amazing but when i received it, the outside cover was scratched and there are some minor cuts in the case.
Janonymous –
4.0 out of 5 stars
I wanted to love this product
I wanted to love these – the style, the look, the good reviews, love my Macbook, high price tag, more ‘mesh’ type ear cushions, etc. Even the case didn’t bother me or lightening charger.But style does not exceed comfort or practicalness.These are too heavy, and not so much just sitting on your head, but moving around. The point of Noise cancelling premium bluetooth headphones for me was to be able to work around the house, and use some nice headphones instead of earbuds. I have a big head, so I figured the reviews were wrong about the heaviness, but they are. If you bend down, lean one way, move around too much, they’ll slide or fall off. This is a deal breaker 1 for me. They are comfortable otherwise, the band and cushions are amazing, but you can’t change the weight or looseness on these, only the up and down adjustment.2nd dealbreaker – definitely can’t make music with these. Which probably isn’t an issue for most, but if you wanted to use these time to time with music recording, don’t even think about it. There’s some weird interference there with the internal makeup of the sound (EQ I think?) and the bluetooth delay.That being said, if you love apple, and want to just use these for chilling on the couch wireless or not moving around much, or have a head the size of Joe Rogan or the Rock Dwayne Johnson you should be fine.They look awesome, the volume knob and action knob are super helpful, and the sound is good (not great – not a lot of bass, it’s true – I didn’t even want bass booming in my ears, but you won’t hear much regardless, moreso the vocals) and they are super well quality made (durable, steel, materials, etc) so I can’t give it lower than 4 stars on that alone, and they will work for most if you aren’t needing to be mobile.No chance you can use these working out or exercising though.
45 people found this helpful
wan wan –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best headphones I’ve haed
I love these things, the pocket sting isn’t there for me since I had saved some Amazon gift cards for this purchase. I spent about $80 of my own cash on them, but honestly I’d gladly spend the full price after using them.They fit wonderfully and the comfort is top notch, you barely feel the weight of the cans because of the strap. The adjustments are smooth and hold steady, I was a little worried the friction based metal sliders would shift and move but true to Apple fashion, they don’t shift and slide.Audio quality is superb as well, these are my favorite things to listen on. Paired with a phone, TV, or stereo system there’s excellent bass, treble and mids.Audio cancellation is amazing and I’m sad I held out this long, I can’t hear coworkers with music and can barely hear normal conversation volume when it’s paused. I use them when mowing the lawn and they drone out the buzz of a small gas engine.People warn of water condensation and gym use for several hours. This isn’t an issue if when you take a break, just remove the cups and check for sweat droplets, wipe it out and let them air dry during your rest. As for rain…wear a rain jacket with a hood or umbrella!Pairing these is simple with Apple products, and the exact same with a windows laptop…but I don’t suggest these, or any wireless headphones for competitive shooters or rhythm gaming. There’s noticble lag in two genres you don’t want lag.
18 people found this helpful
QR –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Even With The Drawbacks
These headphones… are amazing. The audio quality is fabulous, they last all day and then some, and they don’t hurt sensitive ears (iykyk). There are 2 drawbacks though: price point and top of head comfort. The band is ridiculously uncomfortable. I purchased silicone protectors for these, and it made the top of the headphones even more uncomfortable and pulled out my hair. Due to this, I’ve been using them without the top silicone protector. I will say it does stop after continuous use (and I personally am willing to let it slide), but definitely worth mentioning for people with potential sensory sensitivities. The noise cancellation is phenomenal as always, and the volume control is the cherry. Going from AirPods to these, the volume control wheel is a lifesaver. I adore these. I use them frequently and I would purchase them again, even if they are expensive. To me, they are worth every penny. 10/10
4 people found this helpful
Ismayil Ismayilov –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great sound
Great sound, phenomenal transparency mode, there is no word for material quality.
Alphamom_mrs –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best in my opinion
Love the battery life and the best noise canceling and the sound quality is fantastic!
Ben –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Airpod Max – Worth it? When comparing to Bose, Sony noise cancellation headphones
I’m a user of Airpods Pro and Bose’s and Sony’s noise cancellation headphones. I went into the Apple store to try out the Airpod Max and was immediately sold on its build quality, aesthetics and sound.Comparing with other products, the Airpod Max is more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. Since the earcups are made of metal, it has a premium feel to it. I got it in the white color and since the head band is fabric, I do have concerns of it wearing and dirtying over time. We shall see.The noise cancellation is better than other comparable products. When you activate it, you don’t really feel it like you would other noise cancellation headphones in the $3-400 range. I’m looking forward to trying it on an airplane to test its comfortability.Overall, 4/5 stars – since I haven’t been using enough to test its durability and easiness of cleaning. I recommend it even if you already have another noise cancellation headphones since it’s really top of the line.
10 people found this helpful
Larry D Laye –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome the only thing is the ear cups absorb sweat
They sound great and the noise canceling is second to none but the ear cups are sponges for sweat
Michael McRee –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best I have ever owned
Best oveer ear head phones I have ever had
JoMo –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Seamless integration with iOS devices (EDIT: but get the extra warranty)
There are certainly cheaper headphones with equivalent sound quality, but these are well-constructed, comfortable for extended wear, have streamlined physical controls which are satisfying to use, and work hand in glove with an iPhone- it doesn’t even shut off completely, it just senses when it’s off your ears, and pauses playback. Removing this one layer of friction means I’m more likely to take the headphones off when I want to give my ears a breather, and the phone goes back to using its internal speaker while I catch up on email or whatever, and back into the music/podcasts just by putting the phones on. The earpads, held in place by magnets, are secure, but detach without a struggle for cleaning, and their texture is sufficiently breathable and spacious to make for long listening sessions with better overall comfort than most, IMO. L and R channels are marked by a pattern sewn inside the ear cups- a little hard to see, as it’s a similar color, but easy to tell in the dark if you remember that the controls are all on the right channel. And they give you a clickable knob for volume and basic track controls, similar in feel to the crown for the Apple Watch, just on a bigger scale. The other control, a button which toggles the transparency of the noise cancellation, is immensely handy, and allows you to converse with people and clearly hear others without having to shift the phones off your ears. NC reduces even a screaming vacuum cleaner to a muted hum. The spatial audio, for apps that support it, can be a little uncanny at first, and familiar to Airpod Pro users- it does feel like the audio is coming right out of the phone, rather than the sound being piped into your ears. The default carrying case has taken criticism for only covering the cans and not providing much protection, but I kind of like it for the portability- it packs up like a little handbag, and the headstrap becomes a handle. I might buy a third party box if I ever need to pack it for a long flight, but this is fine for my daily needs. When the cans are folded for storage, the metal shells kind of clack together without the case, and is definitely in keeping with Apple’s design philosophy of charging end users a lot of money for a product which demands additional accessories just to keep it from denting and scratching.There is no traditional headphone jack on the the thing, and it doesn’t look like there’s even a way to connect it with an adapter, which is unfortunate and should be a dealbreaker if you need that. I just need the Bluetooth, though, and the supported BT 5.0 sounds fine to my ears.There is an option to help locate the phones with Find My, though it will only show where they were last connected to your phone, and it even allows you to play a locator noise through the speakers, so you can hear them in a relatively quiet space from about 8 feet away. What would really have been cool is if they incorporated an AirTag in their design, because at about $500, I live with the uncomfortable possibility of them being stolen if I turn my back.In short, they are comfortable, they are expensive, they sound great, but if you want skull-rattling bass, there are better options. They’ll work with any Bluetooth-enabled source, though you’ll probably only feel their full value if you intend to use them with Apple products, and if I do ever lose them, I’ll be ordering a new pair the next day.(Added 7/31)About a month ago, I started hearing some weird distortion, then one day, six months from purchase, they just refused to sync. I don’t know exactly what the cause was, but I do wear them in hot summer weather and was surprised to find that some sweat can build up behind the ear cushions, so maybe that’s the culprit? I dunno. They’re the only Apple product I have with the AppleCare+ coverage, and replacement was quick and painless, so I consider that money well spent.Anyway, nobody said these things were waterproof, which is why I was so careful with them. I still wear them outdoors, but now I pull the ear cushions off every few hours to see if any water has built up inside the cups. Gross.I also toss them in a baby bottle sterilizer at the end of the day. Nobody should have to deal with manky earmuffs!
91 people found this helpful
Cecilia Gamboa –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Noise FREE
These headphones were more than I wanted to spend BUT so worth it – wow, I love them. I used them for a flight I was on and it cut the noise completely out of all the things that were going on around me. I was able to watch a movie, listen to a book and podcast no other noise. TOTALLY WORTH IT
Rodney –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great headphones
I have many sets of headphones, some very nice ones, and these stand alone in terms of being something different – there is so much tech jammed into these, it makes them very different than anything else on the market.Sound – Sound quality on these is very good, very clean. Personally I’d like a lot more bass, but even someone who isn’t a basshead would still probably like more bass. They’re not weak or anything on the low end side, and booming bass is there, it’s just too much in the background for my tastes. If stupid iOS just gave you an EQ, you could probably easily fix this, and some of the sound profiles you do get can hep, but for the love of everything, just give me a stupid EQ so I can choose the sound I want. In any case, again, the sound is very good, very clean. I’d say it’s pretty easily better than my Bose QC25 but not on-par with my Beyerdynamic DT 990 open backed headphones (which I still think are the best headphones I’ve heard and I’ve compared them against sets costing well over $1k). But these headphones are about a lot more than sound, and that’s why they go up to 5-stars…Sound Field/Stage – The sound stage on these, the openness of the sound, is amazing for closed back headphones. When you’re playing music that supports Apples spatial sound (everything in Apple Music for example) it’s incredible, it really feels/sounds natural a lot of the time. I’ve used other ‘virtual surround’ garbage, and it’s terrible, but whatever Apple is doing, it works. My favorite thing is that you can set your phone in front of you, then walk around, and it sounds like the sound is coming from the direction of the iPhone, so it gives you this incredible sense of space (and it does not hurt the sound quality – for most music it sounds better in my opinion). This is something you really have to experience to understand as I don’t know of anyone else that does this – and it’s really impressive in person.Noise Cancelling – Absolutely top notch. Between the good fit of the headphones and the actual tech, you can block out a ton of stuff, they work better than my Bose QC25’s, that still were best in class as of a year ago. Also, for the cry babies, I do not notice the pressure effect – it might be there still, but it’s not nearly as noticeable as the Bose.Battery Life – Seems to be excellent. Only downside is it uses an iPhone plug, not USB C. I still have and need an iPhone plug so it’s not a huge deal at the moment, but for the future, when it’s all USB C, this is going to become a pain.Comfort – It’s pretty comfortable. I heard lots of people say these are big and heavy and uncomfortable, and while they are big and heavy, for me at least they’re pretty comfortable. Those Beyerdynamic DT 990 are amazingly comfortable, can wear them for hours, that’s not the case here. But compared to my Bose QC25, I can wear the AirPods Max for longer without any issues. Still, it’s not like the comfort of earbuds, which I can wear all day, but for big over the ear headphones, the Max’s are pretty good.Build Quality – Top notch in my opinion, make everything else I’ve ever used, anything else I’ve ever even tried, feel plasticky and cheap.Wireless – No lag, no drops, works great. I wish they had upped the bandwidth so you could carry stuff like fully uncompressed audio, like blu-ray audio, but probably have to wait for V2 for that. With that said, I’ve never really noticed anything, everything sounds full with no compression. Obviously that isn’t the case, but just saying, I do not notice any negatives as far as wireless goes.Overall, 5-stars. The sound, with less bass than I’d like and with no EQ in iOS, only gets 4-stars, but the other features make these unique and quite amazing. The spatial sound is what makes these special, and you can’t get that with any other over the ear headphones, and it works remarkably well. I think it uses actual head movement for tracking, so it’s not just a software gimmick they can do on any other headphones (I think that’s the case), but it’ something you need to hear in person to appreciate.
84 people found this helpful
xFARQUADx –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Sound and Comfort, but Overpriced
Title: Great Sound and Comfort, but OverpricedRating: 4/5 starsI recently purchased the Apple AirPods Pro Max, and there’s a lot to like about them. The sound quality is outstanding, and they’re incredibly comfortable, making them perfect for long flights as someone who travels frequently for work.However, I was slightly disappointed that they don’t support conversation awareness or adaptive mode, features that would have been handy. Moreover, the noise cancellation, while good, doesn’t seem to match the level of the Apple AirPods Pro 2, which is a bit of a letdown.The build quality is excellent, and they fit really well. The battery life is impressive too. But at a price point of $550, I can’t help but feel that they’re overpriced. If you’re an audiophile willing to splurge, these might be for you, but for most, there are more cost-effective alternatives out there.
One person found this helpful
Aaron –
5.0 out of 5 stars
After 5 months I write this review. Amazing headphones, a must-have for Apple nerds.
I believe these headphones shouldn’t be taken outside. They are expensive. I have a cool hanger thingy that looks like a banana hanger where these hang on, and they never leave my home. The sound quality is insane. I cannot stress how amazing the sound is. I went from a 120$ pair of Sony headphones which I didn’t have any gripes with, but I didn’t know what I was missing until I popped these on and pressed play. These headphones are the way apple justifies being an apple nerd in the sound quality department. It just makes sense if you own apple products already. Did I mention they are expensive? The noise canceling is mind blowing. I can vacuum with these and still hear what im listening to quite clearly. My girlfriend gets completely blocked out when I have these on, I literally cannot hear her because the noise cancelling is insane. My neighbors dog who never stops barking? Bye bye didn’t even struggle canceling that out. It basically makes you beyond legally deaf which is what it should do. You can push a button next to the Apple Watch style volume crown which turns on transparency mode, which is surprisingly good as well. It basically lets you keep the headphones on and hear as if they weren’t on, actually you can hear a bit better than normally from my personal experience. Its weird how good these functions perform in practical use and I find myself using transparency mode as it is easier than just taking them off. I gave this review 5 stars after debating in my own mind the battery life. My old Sony headphones which were only $120 which isn’t necessarily cheap, but it isn’t $450. Those headphones, the Sony, had over 30 hours of battery life. HOWEVER I decided to still give 5 stars even in the battery life department. The reason is simple and it is because of how the noise cancelling is just insane. I just figured (idk if im right) that the insane noise canceling must require more power. The way I figured this isn’t necessarily scientific so idk. These headphones have really blown me away and they are super comfortable, they sound amazing, and I never really find the battery life as some kind of issue that im always running into, so I just put 5 stars. If you are on the fence, just ask yourself, do you like nice stuff? If you are like me and have a MacBook an iPad an iPhone an Apple Watch a house full of HomePods, AirPods, ect. Your deeply enslaved in Apple at this point. There isn’t any turning back from the plane of higher existence that apple is selling myself and those like me. Ease of use is unmatched, just pop them on. The headphones even know wether it should connect to my phone or my laptop or iPad as it connects to whatever device im currently using, which is super nifty. I don’t have to even push a button to go from laptop to phone, I can just pause whatever is on my laptop, grab my phone and start playing music and it automatically switches. This is standard of apple H series microprocessor powered headphones however, so its not necessarily something new compared to any of the other AirPods, but I have noticed that it has superior range compared to the normal AirPods earplugs. This last section of my review will be a summary. I listened to all my favorite songs with these on and they sounded almost unrecognizable. If your in the apple ecosystem, and you are on the fence, just buy them. Treat yourself to amazing noise canceling, insane sound quality, and apple ecosystem no-effort compatibility. Sure the case sucks but it looks cool on a desk. Mine is blue and it does look slick and modern but function is just cosmetic and serves to magnetically shut off the headphones while inside the case. If your going to travel with these, yeah you gotta buy a sturdier case for sure. Dont throw these in a bag without a hard case. There are many good hard cases on amazon, and that is something to take into consideration before you make your purchase, it is not going to last long on the go without one. Hope this review was somewhat helpful, I have owned these for 5 months now and I love them.
120 people found this helpful
Juan da SilvaJuan da Silva –
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Balanced Audio Experience
I recently got my hands on the Apple AirPods Max, and I must say, they didn’t disappoint. The headphones arrived promptly at my doorstep, securely sealed as expected. The initial unboxing experience was nothing short of satisfying, and I was eager to dive into the audio quality.Speaking of sound, the AirPods Max offer a solid audio experience. The audio is clear, and the bass is punchy, delivering an enjoyable listening experience. However, I did find myself wanting more in terms of customization. Apple’s limited equalization options leave a bit to be desired, as I longed for the ability to fine-tune the sound to match my preferences.One noteworthy aspect that slightly underwhelmed me was the exclusive wireless nature of the headphones. While they provide convenience, it becomes apparent that their true potential shines when paired with high-fidelity audio sources. Listening to music with the AirPods Max is a delight, but the wireless limitation can prevent you from fully appreciating the depth of sound they are capable of delivering.To make the most of the remarkable sound quality, it’s evident that Apple intends for you to immerse yourself in the Apple ecosystem, particularly through their Apple Music service. While other platforms like Spotify and YouTube Music offer good sound, the complete enveloping experience is best achieved when paired with Apple Music.In terms of build and design, the AirPods Max exhibit a touch of luxury with their sleek aesthetics. They do carry a tad more weight compared to their leading competitors, but personally, I didn’t find it bothersome. However, it’s important to note that these headphones are not designed for gym use. The lack of waterproofing and the tendency of the ear cushions to trap heat make them less suitable for intense physical activities.When it comes to noise cancellation, the AirPods Max do a commendable job. While they might not be the absolute best in the market, they effectively filter out a significant portion of external noise, allowing you to enjoy your music without excessive distractions.In my conclusion, the Apple AirPods Max provide a well-rounded audio experience that caters to music enthusiasts seeking premium sound quality. While there are some minor drawbacks, such as limited equalization options and the exclusivity of their audio potential, these headphones are a solid choice for those within the Apple ecosystem who prioritize exceptional sound and design.
33 people found this helpful
Anthony Murvine –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just as described
My niece doesn’t know she is getting this for Christmas and the seller even double boxed it wich I really appreciate, I did open the 2 boxes and the packaging is in mint condition, will definitely be doing business with seller again, Thank you so much
LaurieJay –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Headphones
I read a lot of reviews before purchasing these headphones. I love them. I am a regular person, not a techie. I know if I like something or not, that’s all. They are comfortable. They sound great. The noise cancellation is better than I’d expected. Someone in the same room was talking to me and I didn’t hear them, only my music. They are a tad heavier than I had expected. That would be my only criticism. Other reviewers mentioned something about issues with the buttons, IDK but the buttons have not been an issue for me. In addition to the headphones I already had AirPods, which I also love and use daily, but these headphones take it to the next level.
6 people found this helpful
M. CordobaM. Cordoba –
1.0 out of 5 stars
Water/Condensation buildup after 3-4 hours
Summary: TLDR;Love the sound, great comfort on top of head (but a little tight on the side of the head around the ears), awesome for movies (spatial audio is awesome) and music. Excellent ANC. Connection from phone to iPad and back is perfect. However there is water buildup after 3-4 hours underneath the earcups – repeatable when just sitting at my desk at 66-70 degrees. Connection to a MacBook Pro and back to phone is just not as seamless, and it gets lost sometimes. I returned them but tested them extensively for 3 weeks, really wanted to keep them but the water flaw is too concerning at this price to risk it.Detailed Review:I’m going to start with the good:- spatial audio is really good. Watching the Mandelorian is great – more for the surround sound experience than the more gimmicky thing with turning your head – which is “cool” but adds little to no value. Whereas surround sound – experiencing noises from different sides really helps with the immersion.- sound quality is excellent for Bluetooth headphones. I preferred these instead of the XM4. I am not an audiophile but I like good sound and these seemed more balanced. I have $200 wired seinheiser headphones that I might like a tiny bit better for music for what it’s worth.- construction build quality is definitely a step up from competitors.- connecting to iOS devices is excellent and to a MacBook Pro is good – but not great. More on that later.- ANC really good equal pretty much to XM4. I think xm4 is slightly better at some things and these are better cancelling other noises. Overall excellent- headband / top of head very comfortable. Much more so than the xm4.Neutral:- lots of people made a big deal about no power off button and talk about it just “draining battery” unless you put it in the case. I tested this a lot, and it seems Apple is accurate when they say it goes to low power mode after 5 minutes of inactivity. Losing about 1% every couple of hours. Essentially losing 5% when left without a case overnight. I’m talking 5-6pm to 8am. However I had an issue where they wouldn’t turn on (only 1 day) with a full battery. Since there is no power button… I removed them form my ears out then back on, I stuffed them in the “smart case” removed them, nothing. I plugged them to the lightning cable to see if the charge light would turn on, and then they immediately started working (battery read 109%, I only plugged them in for 5 seconds). It only happened one day out of 20… but annoying nonetheless.- ear pad material is soft but course so moving it side to side hurts my ears. But leaving then on (normal use case) is comfortable.Cons:- the “case”. It has a nice material but it doesn’t provide any protection for them at all. Fairly pointless and you can see all the jokes online about it. I don’t think it looks bad, it’s just pointless without any protection. Going to ultra low power mode a day sooner (it still takes like 15 hours or something, not sure why it’s not instant to that power mode).- the price. Just a tad too high to swallow, but I had returned the XM4 for various small annoyances to splurged on this hoping it solved the issues – it mostly does but the last 2 points made me return them:- connecting to MacBook Pro and iPhone “automatic switching”. I was hoping this would be better than the XM4 (which constantly got stuck on the wrong device and had no way other than turning off Bluetooth to send it back to the laptop). It is better, but it’s not perfect. It’s perfect between iOS devices – going back and forth from phone to iPad is seamless and pretty amazing – much better than anything out there. However once a MacBook is involved it’s a different deal. There is a little prompt at the top right that shows up that you need to click when switching back and forth, but it no always shows up. Sometimes it does, sometimes it switches automatically and sometimes I need to connect the headphones to the MacBook again. I’m still not sure when it does which of them. However removing them from my ears and putting them back on resets it and I’m connected to the MacBook or the prompt shows up for me to click. Overall I’m not sure why they couldn’t make it as seamless as iOS where just clicking pause on one and play on them other switches the connection immediately: there is no awkward prompt or anything. Overall I was disappointed on the instant switching when involving my MacBook Pro. Still works better than the xm4 and Bose 700 that sometimes gets lost in between with no easy reset.Finally why I returned them – you can see the pictures I attached. I wanted these as primary work headphones (conference calls – which they work great, ANC which works great, easy switching which works very good but not great, and for music and movies which they are excellent).However the stories online I thought maybe affected few people. The first day I didn’t have any buildup, nor the second or the third. However today after a 4 hour session, I checked and there was enough for me to not be comfortable that these expensive headphones would last the 10 years I was hoping they would.If it weren’t for the water buildup I would probably keep them, they are that good, but this is a deal breaker since Apple does not cover water damage as part of warranty.I was simply sitting in my desk, half basement. I didn’t walk or exercise or anything. Temperature was 66 degrees Fahrenheit so fairly cool. The theory online is the metal acts as a heat sink in comparison to the warmth between your ears and earcup area.Update: I have been able to consistently (daily) repressive the condensation issue. It was not a one time thing. After 3-4 hours every day I get to wipe the inside because there is water. Yeah I returned them.Anyway I’m not gonna risk holding an expensive paperweight. Too bad because they are great headphones with a fatal flaw.I contacted Apple and the just said: “we are aware of the claims and are looking into them”. They are not just claims they are very much real. And you don’t have to wear them for 20 hours – this was only 4 hours.If you have a question feel free to ask. I’ve tested these and the xm4s fairly extensively.
345 people found this helpful
charles aracena –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Supremely high-quality and comfortable headset with awesome sound and noise isolation!
I’ve always wanted to try out the AirPod max, and, they got my chance at purchasing one. The headsets have quite a heft to them, but the mesh fabric that is tightly held between the two stems of the headset make it for a surprisingly light feel with no fatigue. The headset connected flawlessly, and the quality of the sound is well worth its price. The noise isolation is second to none, charging the battery was quick, and the battery life is extremely long, considering how fast a charge is and how much volume it can output. Highly recommended!
3 people found this helpful
eitan eldadi –
5.0 out of 5 stars
User-friendly, active noise canceling
I’ve had the Sony active noise canceling for almost 2 years stop working obviously not under warranty anymore. Very disappointed then I ordered the Sennheiser double the money is the Sony has .a lot smaller than it looks in the pictures next morning failure to connect to Bluetooth. Finally I said the hell with it and I’ll spend the big bucks and I bought the promax actually covers your ears and doesn’t touch them for somebody who works with their headphones 12 hours a day big difference in addition to that I work with a shop vac and an extractor makes a lot of noise the active noise canceling actually works, 90% of the noise is canceled. Also very user-friendly the volume button is great. That way you don’t accidentally swipe and change the song instead of increasing the volume plus the headphones don’t ask again then to get touched and hang up on a phone call and the fact that you can program for it to be either transparent mode or active noise canceling without going through the neutral in between plus it happens quick there’s no delay I know announcement like in the Sony that it’s going to do that so overall absolutely worth the $500 I spent let’s just hope it lasts longer than the Sony.
11 people found this helpful
Michael –
5.0 out of 5 stars
OMG THese are Amazing!
Lets start from what everyone wants to know first.Pros:1. Holy mother goose, the sound quality is like nothing i have ever heard, it’s Fantastic, Surround sound with everything it connects to2. The build quality is far superior to every headset i have ever used. I have had BOSE, JaBra, Sony, and this headset blows them away. IT is all metal save the ear cups and head band thingy. The headset is made out of a single carved out air craft aluminum .3. COMFORTABLE , i wore these for 7 hours straight and never had any issues of being too tight, and despite what other reviewers have said, they dont feel heavy on my head at all. Nor does it heat up around your ears.3. Battery life. I have not charged them yet and after 20 hours I still dont have to charge them, they are at 30%4. The controls are perfect. Rather than mess with the touch type , the volume is a small well placed knob on the right that adjust the sound volume and pause and other functions i still haven’t explored.5. Noise Cancellation, OMG, you wouldn’t believe the sound quality of noise cancellation, I went to the flight line at the army base near me, (yes I’m a vet) and was by one of the blackhawks talking to my friend. They started up the Blackhawk, and i called someone and they couldn’t hear it at all. You can hear you own voice like normal rather than the muffled sound you usually get with Bluetooth and noice cancelation, A ++++++6. Connection. Everyone of my apple devices automatically paired with out me even prompting. It was completely seamless. I can with between my Mac Mini, IPhone 11, and iPad with no problems. In fact i can connect to any device and go a lot further than that standard 30 ft. I have a quarter acre and i can go anywhere around my house and not lose the signalCONS: Oh boy here we go1. The case is stupid, when i say stupid it looks like your carrying a purse around, IT DOES NOT protect the headset. There are cases on amazon made for the IPod Max, that will put it to sleep when you put them in.There is no way to turn them off at all. When you leave them out they go into low power mode after 15 minutes. Or you can put them in the case it came with and they go to sleep.2; No brick, for $550 you would think they would include a charging brick but all they give you is a Lighting cable that does NOT have a standard usb connection on one end.The cons are few and mostly just trivial things and certainly not a deal breaker. These headphones are so amazing its worth every penny and would last you.a lifetime.I see reviews complaining about the weight. Really? These things are NOT that heavy, In fact every expensive head phones ive used make your ears sweat, they flake, and always feels tight.YOu dont even notice these headphones after awhile.I realize they are expensive but you get what you pay for. And in this case you are getting probably the best headphones you could ever imagine that will not fall apart, feel uncomfortable and give you an amazing sound quality in all areas.No , I’m not paid for this, no, i am not biased about Apple these simply blow away all the other super expensive headphones
671 people found this helpful
Piloupim –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best headphones I had so far..
Even if quite heavy, very comfortable.Noice cancelling very effective even in noisy environment like office.Commands easy to reach and operate
TiaTia –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Headphones
Arrived earlier than expected. Exactly as pictured and sound quality is great.
Jennifer Earls –
5.0 out of 5 stars
These are awesome
My son loves these!
Jesse KaneJesse Kane –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great quality
Apple always has strong quality for all its products and these are no exception. I love how heavy they are but how light they feel on your head. The noise canceling is great for flying and gym. Love them!!!
One person found this helpful
aafanatic –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love these headphones!
I don’t need these, I wanted these. I already have the Beats New Studio Pro, the Beats Studio Earpods +, the Apple Airpods Pro 2. But these are iconic and just plain classy. Are they heavy? Yeah. But I still work out in them fine. The sound is superb. The Apple Airpods Max 2 are not coming out anytime soon, and with the new firmware updates they don’t need to. Is the case goofy? Yeah. But, with the new firmware you don’t have to put them in the case for them to go into sleep mode. I’m not into ANC, so I won’t speak to that, but the Transparency Mode is awesome. The overall sound quality is like the Airpods Pro 2, maybe better. The Airpods Pro 2 are way better than the Airpods Pro 1, so please don’t think that I am comparing them to those. Even if the Apple Airpods Max 2 came out in a couple of months, I would not regret getting these now. And, I’m glad that I bought them new, and didn’t try to save a couple of bucks getting them from the grey market. I got 13% off at Amazon, and that”s good enough for me.
14 people found this helpful
Realview –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I’m 4 years late
The quality is amazing on these I wasn’t planning on liking them but when I first tried them on I instantly regretted not getting them sooner. The quality is truly outstanding I used them for a couple of hours before picking up my ps5 headphones and saying Wow these feel like cheap plastic. I later tried Sony my Sony headphones and for the first time I noticed they felt cheap compared to Apple. These headphones have changed my life for the worse as now I’m realizing how awful my other headphones are.The one thing I don’t like apart from the missing type c or Aux port. The sound quality at first felt like they didn’t sound loud enough but after a day or two I adjusted and learned to appreciate these headphones as now I never get the message saying the volume is too loud. I felt like I was destroying my hearing with my other headphones but these not only are they the most comfortable to wear they protect you from blowing you ear drums. The best part is I have them connected to 3 Macs, 2 iPhones, Sony tv, Rodecaster for monitoring only because of the Bluetooth latency. I can switch back and forth with ease making them the perfect headphones
16 people found this helpful
Bryan M.Bryan M. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome!!!
Oh man these are THE Best headphones I’ve ever owned! Sound quality is just incredible!
Brian R –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome
Love these – everything is crystal clear and best sounding headphones out!
Martine Locke – Realtor –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I mean, nothing else compares
They’ve got us over a barrel and they know it. Theses are beautiful – both in color and sound and you really won’t regret buying them. I mean, if you do, I’d say there are bigger problems because the sound quality for just listening to music on the go or videos etc, is superb. I’d never use these in the studio or anything too serious but they are quite the yummy purchase. And that blue….it’s glorious.
3 people found this helpful
KelsiKelsi –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most impressive headphones I’ve ever owned.
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As you can see, I have an array of headphones that I use for different reasons. I also love them all for different reasons, but the Apple AirPods Max are the most impressive thing I’ve ever heard music come through.I wanted them from the day they dropped. Actually, I wanted them from the day they were announced in the Keynote presentation. I couldn’t afford them, because who can? When I got a job eight months ago that came with a generous home office stipend as part of the compensation package, I knew that these headphones would soon be mine.The noise cancellation is out of this world. I used to wear Bose Quiet Comforts every single day, and thought that the noise cancellation on those was good. I’m not saying that it wasn’t good, but after experiencing that feature on these headphones, I could never go back. I also absolutely love that with the push of a button, you can switch from noise cancellation to transparency mode, which not only turns noise cancellation off, but uses a group of different microphones to bring the outside world into your headphones, almost like hearing aids. I am hard of hearing, and I really appreciate that feature.The headphones are a little heavy, which took some getting used to. My Bose headphones were incredibly light and at times I forgot I was wearing them. You definitely don’t want to accidentally fall asleep with these on, because you will absolutely have a headache when you wake up. That is honestly the only negative thing that I can come up with, however.I prefer my regular AirPods 3rd generation when I’m cleaning or walking my dog, as well as when I’m outside, but otherwise, these are my go to headphones. The microphone is incredible! All of my colleagues say that I sound super clear in meetings, and when I am FaceTimeing with family or talking to someone that I’m gaming with I’ve only heard the same. I generally use my Kraken Kitty headset for gaming, but I’ve definitely busted out the AirPods Max as well.Obviously, there’s also no ignoring that if you’re already fully immersed in the Apple ecosystem, the convenience that comes with buying these instead of a different brand is undeniable. Being able to switch from your iPhone to your iPad to your MacBook and back to your iPhone during phone calls and while listening to music — seamlessly without having to worry about pairing — is incredibly smooth and enjoyable. It’s also great to be able to see your battery life on your screen. They also pair without issue with devices outside of the Apple ecosystem, like the Nintendo Switch!I am well aware of the fact that most people can’t just up and decide to buy a set of headphones like this, but if you’ve had them in your cart, or on a wish list for a while, and you have been saving up, but afraid to make the leap, just go ahead and leap! You won’t regret it.
101 people found this helpful
BMan –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great bluetooth headphones
Since I mostly work from home and listen to music when I’m not on the phone I use several bluetooth ear pods including AirPod Pros.The Max version has always intrigued me but I have quite a few over ear headphones so until they went on sale there was nothing compelling me to purchase them.I’ve had them long enough to break in the drivers to some degree. Yes like most dynamic headphones these need to be broken in for 20 to 50 hours before they can be judged for sound quality.1. I’m a headphone guy so sound quality is my first priority. This is an excellent headphone. They blow away my bluetooth Sennheisers on sound quality. They even compete with some wired headphones. They may not reach the level of my Grado 325’s but they are much more comfortable. My Focal Clears, which incidentally match well with the output voltage of my iPhone, are superior but are much more expensive. And wired. BTW you can’t get Lossless audio through Bluetooth so a wired headphone has that advantage. And you can’t talk through the Clears. My wired Sennheisers don’t really have the output levels to match an iPhone so they are not in the consideration. These have a wide range sonically and reproduce all kinds of music well. And unlike some Beats models they are not bass heavy. I think they work best with Spatial Audio off. iMy only complaint is that the midlevel sound stage is a bit compressed regardless of volume. Apple did their home work in designing these headphones. I’d go so far to say that you will not find another headphone wired or not that has as good as sound for the money.2. Comfort/Fit. One goes with the other. The head band is comfortable for my large head and does not squeeze my ears. The ear pad material is not what I’d like but it is surprisingly comfortable. Typical of any headphones they are best used without glasses for maximum comfortable. If you use glasses put the pads on your ears with the glasses on for maximum comfort. I do not notice any weight – these are much lighter than most wired headphones. The ear space fits my large ears although ideally a couple of extra mm’s would be better.3. They connect easily once you go through the initial connection procedure. Most importantly they have excellent battery life. They have double or more battery life than Pros. Put them in the case when you are through with them for the day as it is the only way they turn off. You will otherwise lose battery life as they are otherwise constantly scanning for possible bluetooth targets. The case is not great but it works well for being put into a bag or backpack. Generally they do a good job of picking up your voice in telephone or FaceTime mode.4. They are an excellent value. Usually a substantial discount means that there is a newer model is coming out. My research suggests that is not the case. There is likely to be a newer model of the Pros coming out which explains their greater discount.I am very pleased with these headphones and I think that you will be equally as pleased.
62 people found this helpful
Marek Kubiak –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth the money
I was doing long research before buying competing with other top tier ANC headphones. I bought them little bit below retail and it was worth it. If you are using Apple ecosystem u will love it (laptop, phone etc). But it also works very nice with non Apple divorces, like Amazon TV with working ANC. The quality is very good. Thanks to the anc u don’t listen to music too loud, which saves your hearings. Battery last me couple days of use. I only have some problems with charging. Just check with iPhone if they are charging, so u will not wake up with 50% battery. I also put case, bc they can screech.They might be a struggle in the future bc of lightening charger. I would recommend buying them as soon as there will be type-c version or next gen. Type-c will give you more options
8 people found this helpful
Everardo Ochoa –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved them!
Super comfortable! Noise cancelling worked amazing! Great sound!
Amazon Customer –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Apple Headphones
Love them, holds a charge for hours, love the color and the comfort on my ears and head.Only thing i would change is you can hang up on someone by touching the top of the head phone and there is no power off
z. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
🔥
👌
Brenda jones –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Headphones
theseheadphones are AMAZING 👏
Robert Till –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Quality, a bit Clunky tho..
The pure quality of these headphones is phenomenal, but it is true when they say they’re kinda clunky.. in a durable high quality kinda way if that makes sense. I love them 🙂 also pls be aware of the moisture issue.. use a cover thingy
JayJay –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best headphones I’ve ever had🤷🏽♂️
Definitely the 2nd most amazing overhead headphones I’ve owned. Would recommend if you’re in the budget for quality headphones. Sound is great, feels good on my ears even after 4-5+ hours of listening. The portability of these are great also. I’ve also purchased some protection for these. Feels sturdy, strong, good bass, and highs. Noise cancellation is also fantastic. Up to par with other high end headphones that are for professional music creators.
2 people found this helpful
Jay HashJay Hash –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent headphones, made in the typical “first draft” Apple way
Full disclosure: I purchased these headphones back in April 2021 and gave them some break-in time (until June 2021) before I reviewed them, so this is my experience of having them for more than 90 Days.I owned a pair of Beats Studio Wireless 2’s for about 4 years, and they were a useable set of cans. They had some pretty smart wired connections, good battery life, and were rather comfy to wear… but their wireless connections were a nightmare, the integrated Mic awful, and the noise-canceling mediocre. I was looking for a change, and being a consumer of Apple Products and with the generally good reviews I had seen for the Airpod Max, I decided to take the (kind of) expensive plunge. And honestly, I was not disappointed.As with any good review, we’ll break it down into the Pros & Cons and explore both.BUILD QUALITY/DESIGNPROS:The build quality on these headphones is nothing short of phenomenal. They are made of Metal and some nylon or rubber here and there (for the headband and earcup padding) and they feel VERY SOLID. The piston style adjustments on the headband always feel super tight and mechanical (still even months after using them). The earcups are always tight on my head, allowing the headphones to clamp down on my ears and prevent noise leakage. The Earcups are built out of what looks to be a rubberized polycarbonate and padded mesh fabric and are held in by MAGNETS, making them easy to replace if they get soiled or if you want a different color.Also, found out after the fact, the headband is ALSO replaceable if you want a different color later on down the line. The metal the speaker boxes are made from are the standard matte Apple aluminum, and the control buttons on the right speaker box are on par with the dials and buttons included on their Apple Watches (in fact, I’m pretty sure they’re the same buttons, just “upsized” in the CAD program when making this device). It all feels very expensive and well built, and even 100+ days after initial use, still feels “brand new” and solid.CONS:Whereas I love the build quality, there are some pretty glaring design flaws and comfort issues that come along with this first outing from Apple.First, whereas the headphones still fit like they were brand new, I’d hope for some relief on the hard clamping aspect present in them. When I first wore them, I was finding the clamping done by the headphones very tight and threatening to give me a headache if I wore them too long since it was like a vise on my head. This has lessened slightly over time, but it is still very tight. I don’t know of a fix for this outside of constant wear to try and get them to bend a flex to a less tight shape on my dome, but so far they still hurt a bit when wearing them for an extended time.Second, even though I like the good piston mechanics on the ear height adjustment with the headband since it takes some force to properly adjust them, sometimes you have to grip on the speaker boxes and pull downwards on them while pushing upwards on the headband with your cranium to get them to adjust to your liking. This wouldn’t be an issue if the dial and button were on the bottom of the headphones, but since they’re on the top of the right speaker box, it is notoriously difficult to adjust them on your head and not accidentally press one of the buttons, causing playback or the headphones to go into pair mode (which happens if you hold down the buttons for too long). You’d think, “oh, just grab the sides of the speaker boxes”, which makes sense, however as I stated they are made of Apple’s standard aluminum, and to add to that the edges are very rounded, so getting a grip on the side of the headphone speaker boxes is difficult at best.SOUNDPROS: The sound quality on these is an absolute beast, and it’s by far the best pair of headphones I’ve ever used. The audio is clear, and you can hear highs, lows, and everything in between. However, I will be the first to admit, while I am musically inclined and love listening to audio, I’m by no means an Audiophile or claim to be able to hear what types of sounds are being emitted cleanly and loudly, and which aren’t. I usually can if I have good reference, but as these are the best headphones I’ve ever owned, so they become the new baseline. Also, the built in noise canceling is the best in the business right now, and is definitely better than its closest competitor. The reason why it is so good is due to the multiple microphones established in the soundbox housing, which not only work EXTREMELY well for the ANC, but also for phone calls. The phone calls made from these headphones are nearly studio mic grade in how they sound, and are much better than most things included on computers or competitor headphones nowadays.CONS: Though I am not an audiophile, there is something that I can tell— when there is killer bass and when there isn’t. And to my ears, these don’t have a superheavy bass that will rattle your fillings, which is *fine*, but I thought there would simply be *more* bass in the audio. The bass may be enough for most music, and what it has is ok, but nothing akin to the huge bass I was *expecting*. The nice thing is that if you delve into the Accessibility Settings for your Apple product, you can set an audio profile for the headphones so it’ll enhance the audio based on how well you hear (so already, this enhancement is *proprietary*; not a big deal for me as I own nothing but Apple devices, but YMMV).EASE OF USE/ACCESSORIESPROS: If using Apple products, the handoff of the headphones to the other devices works really, really well and hasn’t needed to be paired more than once to each device it is used on. The pairing process is nicely simple if it does go wonky, and doesn’t have nearly as many issues as other BT that gets locked into a single device. The equipment/accessories that it comes with are acceptable (charging lightning cable, bra-esque “case”). The stop/start/volume dial is very responsive and easy to click using the same click sequence that Airpod Pros have used for a while (Double click to advance, triple-click to go back, quad click, etc…). If you take them off your head, the headphones have a similar light sensor that other Airpods have to determine if they’re in your ears or not, and will halt the music accordingly or start playing if they recognize they’re back in place on your head. The lightning cable to charge the headphones is embedded in the base of the right-hand speaker box, and charges using the same style cable that your iPhone and old Airpods do, so you should already have at least one cable for it if you own Apple products.CONS: Hooo boy, ok. So with any early adopter technology, there’s always going to be some bugs that need working out, or some design flaw that (where not crippling) makes the headphones more of a chore and less fun to use. This may be our longest section, but please take these with a grain of salt— none of these are dealbreakers for *me*, but since I’m not you, YMMV. Here are the issues I found in no particular order, but NEED to be discussed as I’ve often seen them glossed over elsewhere—- Analogue Connection. There is no direct analogue connection with these headphones. As most audiophioles claim, digital (especially wireless digital) will never be an acceptable connection replacement for analogue. And most high-grade cans have some sort of analog 3.5mm jack that can be plugged into a normal headphone port that will allow you to use these headphones with devices that don’t transmit via BT, like a Record Player, or high-end sound system. The Airpods Max unfortunately have no such analogue connection. “But!” you may exclaim, “You can always use the Lightning port and plugin a Lightning to 3.5mm converter cable!” This is true… to an extent. First off, to get that feature to work, you need to get a SPECIFIC cable— Apple’s Lighting to 3.5mm cable. The reason? Because that cable, and seemingly ONLY that cable, is BI-DIRECTIONAL. This means that no matter what end you plug your source into, that cable will translate the audio both ways. Most to all third-party cables (that I was able to find in my research) are like an annoying 13-year-old listening to music in 2011: all they play is ONE DIRECTION. Also, to top off the annoyance, when you DO use the Apple Cable, it takes the analogue source, transfers it to the headphones, whose signal is then converted to digital. Automatically, mandatorily, every time. This may be a problem for some people who demand their Analogue output to be heard in its original analogue glory. Also, the Apple cable that you HAVE to use is super cheap feeling and thin, instead of the normal thick or braided casing most headphone cables use. Did I mention that Apple also DOES NOT include this cable with the headphones? It’s extra. Like about $30-$40 extra. So you may be better off with another set of headphones if you want a good, wired, analogue signal.- The “Case”. I feel like the case that is included with these headphones will go down in history alongside the 1998 iMac USB Puck mouse, the Apple Newton, and the Magic Mouse Lightning port as one of their more GLORIOUSLY STUPID design decisions. The “case” is made of what I can assume is leather, but for a set of ~$550 headphones, that’s about the only “premium” feature they boast. There is minimal padding. There supposedly is a magnet included in the area where the headphone edges touch that triggers an internal reed switch to put the cans in standby mode. Half the “case” is exposed to the elements and doesn’t fully cover the electronics, so it isn’t ideal as something to protect from inclement weather. And lastly, and most egregious, is that there is no way to use the case to carry around the headphones or attach them to anything— no belt clip or loop, no hanging clip, nothing. So believe me when I say that you’re gonna need a case for these things if they’re ever gonna leave your home, and it’s almost imperative if you live in a place with inclement weather. I bought a full zip case that has a built-in magnet for the reed switch, has a few pockets for cables, and is very padded. It was worth the cost to make sure that my headphones that cost *half a thousand dollars* stay safe. Apple’s lack of protection has not only garnered users’ ire, but made the Airpod Max case into little more than a joke, and I really can’t see a counterargument to either of those things.- Lack of Lossless audio on their own products. So as many know, Apple has just announced that it will have lossless audio on its Apple Music platform soon, which is a boon to audiophiles everywhere. But in everything I have read about it, they always have the caveat that the lossless audio currently doesn’t work with the Airpod Max headphones. Even if you buy the bi-directional cable from Apple. And there has been no “we plan to support it soon” soundbite, or “we will be updating the Airpod Max firmware to be compatible in XXX of 202X”. So, if that is super important for you, just know it may not be supported on this model of Airpods Max, possibly at all (Apple is notorious in doing this, and will just release it in the next version). So if it is released eventually, I wouldn’t expect it on this model, and you’ll have to plunk down another half a thousand bucks to get a set that will work with the feature.WRAP UP/FINAL THOUGHTSIn the end, I’m really pleased with these headphones. They are some of the finest pieces of audio equipment that I have ever owned, and I love all the premium features they included. Certain areas leave something to be desired on them, but they are niggling feature issues or design kinks that will be worked out later. I am hopeful that these headphones will stay the same for a few revisions and the firmware/software will evolve to support more features, as well as the accessories (and third-party solutions) to be able to work more universally with non-Apple products or be more robust in their construction. To be fair, for a first draft Apple product, they are the accessory that I’ve had the least amount hassle with.All in all, I highly enjoy and recommend these headphones, and if you are an Apple Fan and budding audiophile, I believe you will too. Let’s just hope that Apple keeps improving these models to make them feel like they were worth the ~$550 price point.
1,679 people found this helpful
David W. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bose Noise Canceling 700 vs AirPods Max vs Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra
UPDATE OCT 2023: Here is my original review which still holds true now that I have owned the Bose NC 700 for a couple of years. Last week, I bought the new Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra over-ear headphones. I added that review and comparison at the bottom.————————Original review……For the past ten years I have enjoyed and been dependent upon noise canceling headphones. With that has come a journey into the audiophile community with others who are on a quest for high-fidelity sound. My journey led me to many headphones that sound absolutely pristine but none with noise canceling and few are wireless. Until late, the Bose Noise Canceling 700 are my compromise for great sound and noise canceling in a wireless headphone. So, when Apple announced the AirPods Max, I had to try them to know how they compare to my Bose 700. Here are my conclusions so far…STYLEThe fit and finish on the AirPods Max is absolutely beautiful! Love it much more than the Bose. I just like the way they look and feel. Before I purchased the AirPods I probably watched 50 unboxing and review videos. So, I thought I had a good idea of how they looked. They are nicer in person. Sleek, premium, modern and minimalistic.COMFORTComfort is about the same! AirPods Max are definitely heavier but do not necessarily feel much heavier on he head as the weight is balanced well. I have larger ears and the ear cups on the Bose 700 go a little deeper to make room for my ears. So, over several hours, the Bose do feel slightly more comfortable. The Bose also do not get as warm as the Apple.TRANSPARENCY MODETransparency mode, in my opinion, is actually more natural on the Bose. The Apple headphones actually amplify the sound around you a few decibles too much. In other words, things sound louder than they actually are with the transparency mode on the AirPods Max. Also, the Bose reproduces your own voice much more naturally when in transparency mode.SOUND QUALITYSound quality at certain volume levels is almost exactly the same. Kind of unbelievable. It is as though Apple reverse engineered the Bose 700 and copied its sound signature and noice canceling to within 5 percent. There is a definite sound quality difference though that changes with the volume level. This is all about the DSP. Of course, the digital signal processing (DSP) is called Computational Audio on the Max and Volume Optimized EQ on the Bose. This is what works differently and what accounts for sound differences dependent on the volume. Basically, the Bose sound better at 60 percent volume and below. Bose just has it dialed in so that everything sounds rich and balanced. I usually listen to music at about 55 percent volume on my iPad. So, I prefer the sound of the Bose. The sound at 60 percent and below on the AirPods Max suffers from a veiled upper midrange. An alto saxophone, for example, will sound as though it is being played behind a wooden door.Now between 60 and 70 percent volume is where both headphones sound virtually the same. It is uncanny! Both sound absolutely wonderful. Probably the best you will ever hear on wireless noise canceling headphones (yes, the Sony has an amplified and unnatural mid-bass making them sound deep but not high fidelity).At 70 percent volume and above the Bose DSP begins to lower the bass response to avoid distortion. The bass gets progressively quieter as you increase on the Bose to where there is virtually no bass at about 90 percent volume. The AirPods Max, on the other hand, handle bass very nicely from 70 all the way up to 100 percent. In fact, they sound perfectly balanced all the way from 60 to 100 percent volume with no sound quality degradation. If there is a fault it is that the bass loses a little nuance. In other words at high volumes the bass is a little over controlled. The softer vibrations like on the trail of a bass string get lost a little.So to summarize the sound comparisons. The two headphones sound equal from 60 to 70 percent volume. The Bose sound bette at 60 percent volume and below. Finally, the AirPods sound better (by quite a bit, it’s not even close) at 70 percent volume and above.CONTROLSThe final comparison are the controls. Apple wins in my book. The Digital Crown has a perfect feel to it. It rotates very smoothly with a perfect amount of resistance. It presses well also. Apple has hyper dialed-in these controls. It makes me never want to have to use the touch-pad on the Bose 700 ever again.WHICH ONE IS FOR ME?Everything is comparable on these two headphones, but in the end, sound quality at my preferred listening level wins out. Since I listen to at about 50 percent volume, the Bose continue to be he choice for me. I just have a fixed routine for when I use noise canceling headphones.Now, I am sure that Apple could probably update their firmware to adjust the computational audio in order to fix the balance issues below 60 percent volume. If they did, then the fit and finish and controls might win me back over to the AirPods Max. But, the slight compromise in long-term comfort would cause me to hesitate a little.ONE LAST THINGOne last thing, the spatial audio is pretty Amazing. If I had to watch movies on my iPad these headphones would be a must. The surround sound effects are as good (slightly better) than my Bose home theatre system. The overall sound quality for movies is slightly less (more sterile and hollow sounding, probably because of the limited Bluetooth codec) than my Bose home theatre system.—————————-BOSE QUIET COMFORT ULTRA VS BOSE NC 700 (and AirPods Max)Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra HeadphonesSeveral years ago, I discovered Bose Quiet Comfort headphones. My first pair wore the QC15 and I have owned every iteration since then. Until now, the best of the best have been the Bose NC700 which are spectacular headphones. Now, I find myself the proud owner of the company’s newest over-ear headset, the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra. After thorough comparison, I can confidently say that the new Ultra are an upgrade in every way. There is especially one aspect which causes the Ultra to make them an absolutely must-have for music lovers. I will get to that in a moment, but first here are my thoughts on how the NC700 and QC Ultra compare:COMFORTI am very happy to report that the Bose QC Ultra are more comfortable than the NC 700 headphones. They are lighter, there is less clamping force and the headband distributes weight better on the top of your head. I used to consider the NC 700 headphones as the second most comfortable pair of over-ear headphones second only to the QC45. Well, the Ultra now take this 2nd place spot and they are almost as comfortable as the 45. Very Great!NOISE CANCELINGYes, Bose has also improved the noise canceling. When in quiet mode the headphones put you in a place where the world simply disappears. Each iteration of Bose headphones through the years has improved upon the previous in this area. The Ultra are no different. In fact, when I was testing them out my wife was standing 3 feet from me and trying to talk to me. I never even knew she was talking. This has never happened with my older NC 700.SOUND QUALITYThe QC Ultra are more of a spiritual successor to the NC700 than they are the QC45. The sound is much more similar to the NC700. What they retain is the excellent clarity and instrument separation. The mids are just as perfectly present. Also the highs have a very pleasing ring without ever sounding harsh. What was great on the 700 but even better on the Ultra is the bass. Bose says that the new Ultra are now taking samples of sound inside the ear ups and then actively adjusts the bass to sound best dependent on the shape of ears, the seal of the pads, etc. This really does make a difference. I wear glass which compromises the acoustic seal. The Ultra compensates for this and makes the bass sound deeper and have a greater punch than my NC700. So, the sound signature overall is better and gets WAY better with immersive audio. But, we are getting to that.IMMERSIVE AUDIOThis is the feature! If you are a music lover then this is the feature which gives the biggest incentive to upgrade from the NC 700. Music with immersive audio just sounds better. I have several setups of actual stereo bookshelf speakers around my house. I always preferred a good pair of music monitors over headphones. Why? Because you can hear and imagine the soundstage in front of you. Good recordings place an orchestra or band members several feet from each-other as you listen. With live listening you can hear the music spread throughout the venue and this is what immersive audio on the Quiet Comfort Headphones does. It places the band a couple feet in front of you. It feels like you can point to and reach out and touch the various vocalist and instruments. It is so great! It is exactly like advertised. Immersive audio makes it sound like you are listening to a good pair of speakers in a room acoustically ideal for premium audio. Now that I have heard it, I can never go back to regular headphones.CONCLUSIONThere is so much more good that I could say about the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra headphones. The buttons are well placed and are useful – even the touch-sensitive volume slider works well enough! The app also just works and all the needed settings are there to easily adjust. The carrying case looks premium and is compact. It is smaller than the NC700 case and even more compact than the QC45’s storage option. There are some things I do not like about the headphones. For example, immersive audio for movies is still not as good or immersive as Spacial Audio on Apple’s AirPods Max when watching Dolby content. Also, the placement and function of the buttons is different than what I am used to on the 700. In the end though, I am ecstatic with what Bose has done in their newest iteration of Bose over-the-ear noise canceling headphones. My NC 700 are going on eBay and I look forward to many great years with the Ultra. Well done Bose!
493 people found this helpful
Jesse Peterson –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Apple AirPods Max: A Masterpiece of Audio Engineering
Apple’s AirPods Max headphones are a true marvel of audio engineering. From the moment you open the sleek, minimalist packaging, to the first time you slip them over your ears, the AirPods Max exude a sense of quality and refinement that is unmatched in the industry.Design and ComfortThe AirPods Max are not just headphones; they are a statement piece. The sleek, stainless steel frame is beautifully sculpted, and the plush ear cushions are incredibly comfortable, even for extended listening sessions. The knit-mesh canopy ensures a perfect fit, and the overall design is simply stunning.Audio QualityThe AirPods Max deliver truly exceptional audio quality. The custom-designed dynamic driver produces a rich, detailed soundstage that is sure to please even the most discerning audiophiles. The bass is deep and impactful, the mids are clear and present, and the highs are crisp and defined.Active Noise CancellationThe Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on the AirPods Max is simply the best in the business. It effectively blocks out all ambient noise, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your music, movies, or podcasts. The Transparency mode is also a great feature, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings without having to remove your headphones.The AirPods Max are packed with features, including:Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head trackingDolby Atmos supportAutomatic switching between Apple devicesUp to 20 hours of battery lifeEasy pairing and setupThe Apple AirPods Max headphones are the best wireless headphones on the market. They offer exceptional audio quality, industry-leading ANC, a stunning design, and a host of useful features. If you are looking for the ultimate listening experience, the AirPods Max are the only way to go.Pros:Exceptional audio qualityIndustry-leading ANCStunning designComfortable fitLong battery lifeEasy pairing and setupCons:ExpensiveConclusionThe Apple AirPods Max are a true masterclass in audio engineering. They offer an unparalleled listening experience that is sure to please even the most discerning audiophiles. If you are looking for the best headphones money can buy, the AirPods Max are the only option.
13 people found this helpful
SMU GradSMU Grad –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Spatial Audio is AMAZING for watching movies, Superb fit & finish, nice neutral sound
After two years of debating, I finally decided to buy the Apple Airpods Max after they dropped the MSRP and found them on sale for the first time. I’m normally a Bose guy and have three pairs of Bose (a regular pair w/O NC but punchier base, an older pair of NC’s, & a pair of NC700 which gI got with my 700 Soundbar, 700 Sub & 700 Surrounds)…I also own a pair of Sony 1000’s which I bought my Dad or watching Horror movies at night after my Mom has gone to bed at night.But the noise cancelling, fit and finish, nice neutral sound and the AMAZING “Spatial Audio” which will play Dolby Atmos while watching movies and videos (nearly all 4k UHD movies on Netflix work w/ dolby Atmos & Spatial Audio on headphones) blow all the others out of the water.The case is made out of leather(ish)? material, which is nice, but is almost too minimalistic and won’t offer much protection in a fall. Luckily, there are a bunch of cheap hard cases all over the internet for $20 or less which is much cheaper than Apple’s version.Keep in mind I bought these mostly for watching movies but even if only use them for listening to music these headphones beat the competition all around. If you plan to use these while exercising I’d look somewhere else bc they are quite heavy and if you’re audiophile willing to spend $1,000+ on studio headphones (and the headphone amp & other accessories which usually cost more than the headphones themselves) these will not work as a substitution.But so far, I feel these headphones justify the higher price Apple charges even at the original MSRP of $599. A competitor even had a refurbished pair for $360! I plan to sell all but my Bose 700’s to pay for these bc only these two models will allow two pairs of headphones to be used at the same time while watching a movie.. and I take especially good care of my electronics bc Im on a fixed income and each purchase is a major sacrifice.I haventbhad them long enough to comment on battery life but connected to my iPhone automatically and walked me through the set-up process. A+++++
11 people found this helpful
Izzy GonzalezIzzy Gonzalez –
5.0 out of 5 stars
CLACK TOGETHER SOON AS REMOVED FROM CASE
So this is coming from someone who’s really ocd about my devices, i personally and if you care for expensive items, definitely buy ear muff cases for them. Reason why i bring this up, as soon as you remove the headphones from the case. The headphones immediately clack together. And over time i feel like that’ll cause scratches and dig marks. You’ll understand once you’ve received your half grand headphones. For the head band theres a silicone band protector here on amazon, j recommend purchasing as well, same for the cushions. Just to keep the device in good shape and lasting longer than it should. Understand your hair, ears and face give off oils, and over time can damage your very expensive headphones. Sound quality 10/10 AMAZING. Noise cancellation 10/10. The ear muffs are metal, i hear a lot of complaints about it being heavy on your head, i didn’t have that problem. Fits and feels fine to me. Everything you see in the picture is what comes in the box. I recommend these to anyone, but not everyone loves Apple products. They look sleek and nice to the touch. Oh i left one part out, amazon has a case to storage your headphones overall so when you wanna carry them you can put them in the case and your bad, backpack or whatever without damaging them. Hopefully my review is a help to anyone that reads all of this!
4 people found this helpful
iRambes –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ultra-Picky Review
Take my review with a grain of salt and or from a super picky perspective. These headphones are incredible. From the build quality, the feel, the fit, and the finish, they are worth the hefty price tag. The sound is bold with an open sound stage, medium bass at lower volumes and super punchy full bodied bass at higher volumes. The bass is not overwhelming and adds that “feel” to the music you are listening to without distortion. The issue I have is that these did not meet my expectations. I did not expect something BETTER, but I expected something DIFFERENT. I read reviews and heard feedback from some people I know and I created an expectation of my own as to what to expect with these headphones. Of course with them being Apple, they have to be great, which was true.From what I expected, the best way I can compare is when you go to an electronics store and see a super high quality QLED 4K LED Ultra HD tv in cinematic mode playing a movie and you can just tell that the scenes in the movie are on a stage or a set and you can see the layers to it, that is kind of what I expected from these headphones. I expected a super dynamic sound stage, I expected to hear each instrument and sound around me instead of layered, and to feel that I was in an open room. But that is what you’d expect from a different type of headphone. This is solely what I thought to expect, but not what I got. The takeaway from that is that my expectations were just different but I was not let down at all. I am returning them and going to do more research on what type of sound I am looking for.All in all, if you’re unlike me and my wild mind that doesn’t create images of things before you buy them, you will love these headphones. The aluminum is beautiful, the mesh on the headband feels like a cloud, and the sound and noice cancelling is spectacular. My only true gripe about the design is that when you take them off and want to put them on your neck, the bare aluminum might be uncomfortable on your collar bones. You might want to turn the ear cups and fold them flat, but they fold outward from your body and you have the whole metal body resting in your collar bones. I just wish they would fold in the other way so the ear cushions are resting on your body. And one last bit is since they fold that way, the aluminum ear cups, when folded will clank against each other and can cause scratches over time. Again, this is my extremely picky review on these headphones, but you’re probably a normal person and will love them, so please do buy them. You will not regret it!
92 people found this helpful
Garp –
4.0 out of 5 stars
As a complete package, well worth $550 – UPDATE
These are my favorite headphones. When you account for the sound quality, noise cancellation, convenience, comfort and the quality of the build, it makes the price more palatable.That said, there’s no denying that they are expensive. At the same time, they pretty much reside in their own category of headphones. You can easily get better sounding headphones for less than $200 – but those are wired and lack active noise cancelling. You can shop around other Bluetooth headphones with ANC (XM4, QCII35, 700 etc…) but those don’t sound as good. Though they certainly don’t sound bad and they’re a couple of Benjamins cheaper. I firmly believe the Max’s ANC is also better than all the previously mentioned gear, though not by much when compared to the XM4s. One very nice thing about the AirPods Max is the ANC causes no hiss at all, not even a little.But there’s just no comparison when you compare the build and comfort. Other Bluetooth ANC headphones feel cheap. Once you handle the faux leather and creaky plastic parts you understand why they’re much less expensive. The cloth and foam ear pads on the Max are nearly perfect. They form a good seal, even with glasses, and they’re comfortable for long listening sessions. The aluminum and stainless steel parts feel both durable and even luxurious. The mesh headband distributes the Max’s substantial weight very evenly. Moreover, everything is modular and repairable on the Max. The circuit boards, batteries, cups, pads, the headband itself – all disassemble with relative ease so your purchase may just last for decades.Much has been made of the Max’s weight. In my experience, it’s a non issue. Lounging in the house, washing dishes, sitting at the computer – the weight is fine. BUT, the clamping force is another matter. These things firmly squeeze your head. Initially, I thought I was going to have to return them. Having used them for a couple weeks, they’ve loosened significantly. Possibly, I’ve also acclimated to them.Transparency mode is amazing. Without doubt, it’s the best implementation I’ve heard. I’ve yet to try out Spacial Audio because until it works with my TV, it’s a gimmick that I don’t care about. I don’t watch movies on my iPhone or even iPad. If you do, you may feel differently.I do wish I could use them to block out sounds without playing music or white noise. But when not playing audio, the ANC causes too much pressure on my eardrums.I also wish there were an accompanying App that enabled more intuitive EQ or control of other settings: like perhaps degrees of ANC or better monitoring of battery life and standby. This seems like an oversight on Apple’s part.Yes, the case isn’t much of a case and it is annoying that they don’t include a cable for wired listening. But those are small things and do not detract from the sound quality, convenience and materials of the headphones themselves.The ear pads do make my ears warm in my usage. I don’t see how any closed back headphone with a decent seal wouldn’t make one’s ears warm. That said, the warmth doesn’t bother me at all and I don’t feel that they’re uncomfortably hot.Recently, there have been many reports of condensation and/or sweat accumulating beneath the ear pads on the plastic housing that protects the drivers. Though I don’t doubt these accounts, I have yet to have it happen. After using the AirPods Max for three to four hours, at my desk and around the house, they’re as dry as can be. I don’t know what combination of temperature, humidity, body heat and time causes moisture to appear. All I can suggest is that if you purchase the AirPods Max, try and reproduce the issue with your normal usage. Hopefully, it will be a non issue for you as well.If you own a couple of Apple devices, say a Mac and an iPhone, the Max’s convenience makes them even more compelling. Normal Bluetooth pairing can be mildly annoying or, depending on your devices, VERY frustrating. There’s no such hassle with the AirPods Max. They just connect. They just switch. They just work.If you’re cross shopping, there are a couple of Bluetooth headphones that might sound slightly better, but they lack ANC. There are many, many headphones that are both cheaper and sound better, but they are wired and lack ANC. The AirPods Max really are in a different class compared to the $350 range of Bluetooth ANC headphones the market has become used to.In my opinion, these should not be compared with lesser ANC BT headphones but with the BO H95s. Though I’ve never owned the H95s, I have held, listened to and envied them. They’re amazing. But they’re also $800 and the ANC is not as advanced. In comparison, the AirPods Max are a bargain, even if they don’t sound quite as nice as the H95s – though they are very close.I’m very pleased with the AirPods Max. As a complete package, I’m not aware of any other headphones, at any price, that are competitive.*UPDATE*This morning I shoveled snow for a little over an hour while wearing the AirPods Max. Admittedly, my understanding of atmospheric physics is pretty low, but I figured my very warm head combined with freezing temperatures affecting the aluminum would likely induce some condensation. But, after shoveling, they were as dry as can be. Again, I’m not casting doubt on the many reports of moisture below the ear pads, but I can’t reproduce the effect.
119 people found this helpful
Nicholas CalderoneNicholas Calderone –
5.0 out of 5 stars
ULTIMATE LISTENING EXPERIENCE
After I perused the specs and got over the sticker shock of the price tag, I thought, “These might be worth the investment for me.” I have high-end hearing loss, and because of that, most speakers, earbuds, and headphones don’t do much for me. I have an especially hard time hearing dialogue on our TV unless the sound is being pumped through our HomePods. That is what caused me to pause and really consider the purchase. “What if the AirPods Max is like putting HomePods on your ears?” That was worth it to me.After setup was completed, I put the headphones on my ears and heard the first sounds through the AirPods Max. It was a Christmas song that I had heard dozens of times before. The sound was so rich, deep, and clear that it was like I was hearing the song for the first time. “Ok, there is no way these sound this good.” At that moment, Robyn, my fiance, walked into the room and said, “So, are they like having HomePods attached to your ears?” All I could do was nod yes. She gave me a look and I handed them over to her. She put the headphones on her ears and scrolled through my library until she found something she wanted to play. She then said she had to have a pair.When I test headphones, I have a few go-to songs I like to try out so that I can get an idea of the listening experience of the headphones from every angle. The songs are pulled from a variety of genres including soundtracks, rock, grunge, punk, classical, and even a bit of rap. The AirPods Max does an incredibly nice job with all of them. The headphones keep a nice, deep bass sound while protecting the integrity of the rest of the track. I also found that vocals are crisp as well and I really love that as I turn up the volume, that I don’t get any distortion. That’s not been the case with other headphones I’ve used.Overall, I’ve been impressed with all the features of the AirPods Max. Here’s a brief rundown of my thoughts on the main features of the headphones.Active Noise Canceling (ANC): Until I used the AirPods Max, the ANC on the Sony headphones was the best I’ve ever used. I took the Sony headphones on a flight a few years back and never heard the airplane’s engine noise. Therefore, I’ve always regarded the ANC on the Sony MDR-1000X as the ‘best’. While I haven’t taken the AirPods Max on a plane yet, I can say that it deadens ambient noises like dogs barking, vacuums, and TVs that are left on in the background.Mesh Headband: I love the look of the headband. I think it looks very clean and it accentuates the lines of the AirPods Max. The design is right up my alley.Weight: I’ve heard some people say that the weight of the headphones is an issue for them. I have noticed that they feel a bit heavier than other headphones I’ve used, but the weight seems evenly distributed to me and so it doesn’t bother me. I’ve worn the headphones for several hours at a time and have not had any issues with headaches or soreness.Buttons: I am a big fan of the buttons. This is odd for me to say since I never thought I would be a proponent of moving to analog from digital, but Apple did a nice job of blending in the Digital Crown and the ANC button.Smart Case: This is one thing I would have reconsidered if I were designing the AirPods Max — the Smart Case. I really consider it more of a ‘sleeve’ than a case because — well, that’s what it is. The sleeve is made with a single piece of what seems to be polyurethane material and utilizes magnets for the closure. While the sleeve does protect the metal earpieces of the headphones from getting scratched up, for the most part, it doesn’t protect the headband and there is even a cut out on the bottom that leaves the headphones exposed to the elements and potential damage. I also noticed that when I take the headphones out of the sleeve that the AirPods clink together. The only way I’ve been able to stop that from happening is if I physically place my hand there.Even though there might be a few minor things I would like to see improved about the AirPods Max, I’m absolutely thrilled with them. They are far superior to any other listening experience I’ve had and think that their price tag is worth the investment. Even though the cost is prohibitive for many, if you want the ultimate listening experience, I can’t recommend the AirPods Max enough.
130 people found this helpful
Brother Tao –
3.0 out of 5 stars
HAD HIGH HOPES BUT GOT THE HIGH HAT!
Well, I was having difficulty deciding after spending hours each of several days doing research. Most reviewers chose the Sony XM4 because of its much lower price, less weight and proven comfort and reliability. Of course that wasn’t good enough for me because I thought I was a little more audoholic than many so I needed to make a more insightful discovery. I had a Sennheiser several decades ago that was nothing more than a small piece of foam over a small driver and wired of course. It sounded awesome believe it or not so I moved on over to the Sennheiser Momentum 300 which most reviewers rated at or near the top in sound quality and build. It was marked down for modest noise reduction capability and a weight of 300 grams lying in between the Sony at 245 grams and the APMax at 385. Sony is plastic, Apple is metal and fiber and the Momentum is metal and real leather on the ear pads and headband. Apple Earphones are new age sexy, Sennheiser Momentum 300 are retro cool and Sony let’s call modern but plain. Price wise Sony is no higher than $348, Sennheiser is available for $330 down from $400 at introduction in 2019 or so and Apple is $550.Apple does Apple and I have discovered first hand how brutal they are about forcing you to do what they want. If you try to do anything other than pair them with your iPhone or iPad you will meet roadblocks. They only offer music at 48 kilobits per second so that is all they allow you to listen to in their headphones. If you try to hook up to a device with a higher bit rate it will be reduced before it passes through to your headphones. You can theoretically pay $35 for a special little wire that allows you to connect to a device that would otherwise allow you to plug into a receiver. You can only get it from Apple and even then the 3.5 mmonnection won’t fit into receivers because they take a larger jack which is 6.35. So while they sell adapters that will fit the bill they aren’t Apple approved. In short they don’t just want you to buy and use all their equipment. They force you to use their other products to use the headphones successfully. The weight of the Air Pods Max coupled with what they call clamping force makes them very uncomfortable to wear and don’t even think about exercising or running in them. They will bounce around as you move and I began to feel strain and stress from the fit within ten minutes. Sure, I bought them to entertain myself on long walks but I don’t know where I would put them for the walk home when they are too heavy to wear. You cannot hang them around your neck without choking yourself and then there is the bra/purse like carrier if you was to carry that. Won’t fold in on itself like many of most headphones.No matter how sexy it looks or how cool it makes you feel to be envied for your coolness the grimace on your face after an hour with these on your head will not attract anyone. I really wanted these as I was telling myself they must have the best sound quality and that is what I am all about. Still if I don’t like wearing them the music doesn’t help much and I am left with hoping a really cool person or persons will see that I am cool also. I don’t hate Apple and I have an IPhone 10max and an iPad(I bought my first one in April 2010 when the first one was introduced and was the very first truly friendly computer like device) and a MacBook Pro which I won’t replace.With these headphones they have gone too far with the silly and unnecessary allegiance to Apple required to use it easily. You can search for hours online to find workarounds but half or more of what people suggest doesn’t work. Meanwhile Apple knows all of this and basically gives us the old high hat if we are willing to buy products that compel us to buy only their other products to make them work. Connecting instantly to my iPhone when picked up or put on rather than having to use a typical Bluetooth prompt to accept a connection is not worth enslaving myself just to show aluminum on my ears. I am boxing these up even though they arrived earlier today. I bought them from Amazon because of their stellar return policy and I recommend you do the same if you want to try these. If I kept them I would be doing what many who read my review will do and that is defend and rationalize my choice. That is what human beings do. So if Apple product allegiances are important to you after spending this amount of money on top of all the other products you have bought from them feel free to put it on blast. I know this is a lot of money to spend for many if not most people and I wanted to write something for folks who haven’t had time to do a lot of research and are at a decision point.I am torn between the Sony XM4(leaving me light headed and looking average) and the Sennheiser Momentum 300(xciting to listen to but making me look my retro like my age). If you want to check out online reviews you will find that deciding who to listen to and trust is every bit as difficult as making your headphone choice. I don’t know who receives what in the way of free products to use or resell or even monetary compensation which might disappear with too much honesty. All I can do is tell you what I think and let you take it into consideration if helpful.I don’t care about corporations especially large ones as they take care of themselves just fine. I have learnedthat there are people who are loyal to and defend corporations and don’t like others criticizing them or their products. In my own life I find that my weakest point is often my best point pushed too far. I think the exuberance for these Air Max headphones and Apples marketing games has likely reached that place with these headphones. Who knows? Maybe I will update my review once I try the Sony or the Sennheiser or both. For now I will be happy to merely take a heavy load off my head!
209 people found this helpful
Joey Jaime –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best noise cancellation, sound quality, and a pretty good battery life
I was really surprised by the noise cancellation. One click of a button and you can either hear everything around you or you could hear nothing but the music and your thoughts and be locked in for a workout or whatever you might be doing. The sound is amazing, I personally don’t turn up the volume that much because the noise cancellation makes it to where I don’t need to have it any louder. They are really comfy and are super compact and easy to travel with.
D. H. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really nice upgrade from Bose 700
Had a pair of Bose 700 headphones for several years, and decided to upgrade recently when the ear cups basically disintegrated.I frequently use both my iPad and PC, and it was always a pain getting the Bose to switch between the two without going through the hassle of manually connecting the bluetooth almost every time (usually by having to hold down the pair button on the Bose) which got really annoying.I don’t have this issue at all with the AirPods Max. Always instantly connects to the iPad, and then when I turn on bluetooth on my PC, seamlessly switches over.Noise cancelling is great, just as good as the Bose. And I love the transparency mode especially for Meet or Zoom meetings. With the Bose even with noise cancelling turned off I felt like I was talking down in a hole, and as such did not enjoy using them for teleconferencing. Completely different experience with these AirPods. Transparency is like I dont even have then on. When I talk I can hear my voice loud and clear which is great.I was nervous about dropping $500 on these when I could get a new pair of the Bose 700 for ~$300, but so far I am incredibly happy with the decision.
12 people found this helpful
jesus garcia –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Confort
Great headphones as a present. I got told that these are wonderful one of the best headphones on the market. Very confortable and love them.
RL9RS9 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best over-ear headphones I ever had
These are the best over-ear headphones that I ever had. I have had these for a month now, and super excited my them. Before I bought these, I bought the new Beats Studio Pro, but ended up returning those after a week and getting the Airpods Max. The reason on why I got the Beats originally is because the price of the Airpods scared me. But after returning the Beats and getting the Max, I’m happy that I spent the extra $200, because it is worth it. From the great sound and bass, to how comfortable they are, they are worth it. I’m an Apple guy, and got all of their products, and I use these everyday, either for music or personal calls. Some say that they are heavy on the head, but I don’t feel any extra weight. They don’t make my ear sweat like the Beats did, and the noise cancellation is amazing. Can’t hear anything around me. Believe me, spend the extra $$$, and buy these.
8 people found this helpful
Chris Healey –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Woah
Okay, so let me begin by saying that I am a shameless Apple sheep, and buy most Apple products that come out. I have an iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPad Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook Mini, and I’m waiting on a Mac Studio to arrive. But for some reason I’ve resisted Apple’s attempts to make a speaker, and I don’t like to wear ear bud style headphones, so never purchased any AirPods. I’ve even experimented with non-Apple music solutions including Tidal, Amazon and Spotify among others.But with the recent price drop, and the fact that I fly a lot, I decided to give these headphones a try. I genuinely thought there was a 80% chance I’d return them, as I currently use the well reviewed Sony MX4s.The wow factor of these is unbelievable. Watching a movie or TV show on my iPad is incredible. I listened to the opening sequence to The Blacklist Season 1 Episode 1, which has some good audio. My wife, who is never that impressed with audio took a listen and was blown away.I got on board with Apple Music, and listened to the lossless music, and also the specially mixed spacial audio. Wow. Wow again. Yeah, I’d pay retail for these.I think the obvious gripes have been made already. The lightening port was a bad call, but I carry those cables for my iPhone anyway, so no biggie. Although I suspect these headphones will be the last of my devices to still require that plug.The case is idiotic, as is the decision to give me no manual control over turning them off. You seriously have to put these things in the horrific case to put them in low power mode, and there is reasonable question as to whether this case would provide any meaningful protection of these expensive headphones.Speaking of lunacy, the steps you have to take to coax the device into updating its firmware is also Apple arrogance at its finest. Why I can’t have a standby switch or button and an update firmware option is beyond me. And again, I’m a fanboy here.It’s also pretty sad that the design allows the cans to bang together if not handled carefully, which will surely result in scratches at some point.Oh, and want to listen with a wire, enjoy buying that $35 proprietary cable from Apple. Seriously. This is why people hate Apple.But despite these many very reasonable gripes, the bottom line here is that these sound better than every Bose pair I have owned, my Sony MX4s, and several Bang & Olufsen sets I’ve had. The seamless swiping between Apple products is also pretty sweet. The transparency mode is probably the best on the market too.There is no doubt I’d highly recommend them. Be aware of the need to bend a little to Apple’s will, in several areas, but know that the pay off is some pretty stunning results. I’m actually looking forward to going back to work on Monday to hear how they do on the plane. Flying to New Orleans, so should be in the air for around 3 hours.***UPDATE: Six months later…So these are great headphones. Unfortunately, after six months of use, it’s hard to justify a five star rating.Background noise control is great, transparency mode is amazing, the sound quality is excellent. But, they are heavy, you have to plan your entire business trip packing strategy around lugging these heavy and inconvenient items around. I had to buy a third party case to protect them, and use it with the stupid Apple case. They take up a huge chunk of back pack real estate.Then, after five months or so, they started randomly disconnecting. More specifically, it seems like the sensor that decides if I am wearing them isn’t functioning correctly. So if I scratch my head or move too suddenly, they shut off, disconnect, and then I have to pull out my iPhone or iPad, force them to reconnect, and continue. Given that these are heavy and not particularly comfortable, you find yourself trying to put off scratching an itch, just to avoid the hassle of reconnecting.My expectations rise with price, so at over $500, by far the most expensive travel headphones I’ve ever purchased, I do kind of expect flawless. For all their positives, there are a LOT of negatives, which is such a shame. I imagine that version 2 or 3 will be so cool. And, like a total sucker, I’ll probably buy them.For now, I’m going to switch to the AirPod Pro 2s, while these headphones are at the Apple Store being repaired. I may even sell them at this point. Such a shame.
42 people found this helpful
sarah swift –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love these
I love this, they stay on when I’m walking and working around the house. Wish they were a little more snug. The noise cancellation is great
Cristal meloCristal melo –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Me encantan!
El color es hermoso, y ni hablar del noise cancellation! Se escuchan bastante alto. Siento que vale la pena comprarlos especialmente para el gym, mi novio me los regalo de navidad y me encantaron!
TKParker –
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Absolutely did not want to spend the money….but
Ok so lets get this out of the way right now, these shouldn’t cost what they do; It’s ridiculous honestly.But…I’m so glad I bought these. I added to the cart, removed from the cart…added to the cart, removed from the cart. And in a fit of blind frustration I added them to cart and pressed buy now.but honestly now that I have them I’m not even thinking about the money anymore. they are that enjoyable.Sound quality is the best I’ve ever experienced. Period. They seamlessly and instantly connect to whatever device I’m using. (that’s so cool and rewarding) So in order to keep this short, I’m happy I own them & no I’m not worried about the money anymore. So if you have spent too much time debating & researching these headphones then I’ll suggest that you just close your eyes and press buy now.Be BlessedParker
10 people found this helpful
dham –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Headphones!
I am an Apple fanatic, so I will say that my review isn’t completely objective. This is not a sponsored review. I spent my own money on these. I will be honest, I had so much hesitation prior to purchasing these headphones based on some of the reviews. The biggest concerns were all the reviews that mentioned connectivity issues and the condensation issues. I can honestly say, after using these for a solid month, that I have not experienced any of these issues whatsoever. They connect automatically once on my head, and when I am using multiple apple devices, they will switch automatically based on whatever device is playing audio (except my MacBook Pro, but I do not mind manually connecting them. I literally takes two clicks…). The audio quality is probably the best of any headphones that I have ever owned. My favorite features are the immersive seal and the noise cancellation. The design of the headphones allows for your ears to be completely enveloped in sound, and when that seal is combined with noise cancellation, it is like the world around you disappears. I love them. They are pricey, but I have ABSOLUTELY NO REGRETS purchasing them. I saved up for them, and they are, in my opinion, worth every. single. penny. I did purchase Applecare+ for an additional 60 dollars. That’s a no-brainer, seeing as how expensive these things are. I also bought a thin silicon covering to protect from scratches. All in all, if you have the money, and you love apple products, and you like that premium apple feel, BUY THESE! Totally worth it.UPDATE:2 months in, and they still work great! After a recent update on my Mac, I’ve noticed that the headphones now connect automatically. Hand-off is now seamless with my iPhone, iPad and MacBook Pro. A small update, but a good one!
40 people found this helpful
McDeans –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very impressive
Excellent headphones with superb sound quality. When playing music each instrument is clear. Podcasts have sharp audio. Yes, very worth the price.
Kermet –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gift
they were a gift. they love them, perfect for Xmas.