Today is the day of the launch of AirPods Max in the United States and many other countries, and as orders begin to arrive, first impressions of customers’ headphones begin to appear. We’ve already shared impressions of AirPods Max media and YouTubers, and customer feedback provides an additional perspective.
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AirPods Max photos shared by MacRumors Boardiesboi forum member
MacRumors forum member Boardiesboi picked up a pair of AirPods Max at an Apple store and said they are “top quality” and “very well made,” adding that the stainless steel design and aluminum is “far ahead” of the plastic used in QuietComfort by Bose WH-1000XM4 35 II Headphones and Sony. They also found that the Max AirPods had better sound quality and active noise cancellation than the Bose and Sony options.
Boardiesboi considers the headphones to be “light and airy,” but said the Max AirPods are “much heavier” than the Bose and Sony headphones. “I wear them for about 45 minutes and I start to notice the weight in my ears (not on the top of my head),” they said. (Apple says the AirPods Max headband is designed to distribute weight and reduce head pressure.)
Of course, not everyone is so impressed with the AirPods Max. MacRumors forum member Macaday said that while the AirPods Max have superior build quality and aesthetics, they weren’t convinced they were better than Sony’s WH-1000XM3 headphones:
Mine arrived a couple of hours ago and while it’s too early to make a final call, on initial impressions I’m not sure I like it above my Sony XM3. The sound signature is certainly very nice for some, but for me it lacks warmth and depth compared to Sony’s. The ones from Sony are also much more comfortable, forget about wearing them, as the AirPods Max really have a heavy presence that feels like a pressure on your head and ears.
It surprises me a bit if I’m honest that Sony has a much nicer sound. The AirPods Max probably have a little more detail in the mid and high levels, but being able to equalize the Sony means I can get a much more personalized sound that suits me.
The maximum volume is also higher at Sony, which helps make quieter recordings. Both have no high volume distortion.
The quality and appearance of the construction pass into the hands of Apple, the crown to control the volume is bright, but sound and comfort are certainly the number one priority and this is where I fear that Sony’s victory Bye now.
MacRumors forum member LongWayHome ranked Bose’s QuietComfort 35 II headphones and Sony’s WH-1000XM4 headphones ahead of AirPods Max in terms of comfort, noting that AirPods Max are heavy:
I now own them for about an hour and they sound great and the noise cancellation is excellent. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that these things are heavy. I’ve been carrying them for an hour and I can definitely feel their weight. I hope this doesn’t become something I don’t like to wear for long periods of time because of the weight, but I think most everyone will feel it when they wear it.
Moriarty, a member of the MacRumors forum, noted that AirPods Max headphones are “deep and wide” and consider this to be more noteworthy:
The headphones are deep and spacious (at least as big as my QC25). My ears touched the inside of the XM4, so I turned them on – I don’t have that problem with the AirPods Max. I think this feature hasn’t gotten half the attention it deserves. So many wireless headphones have too small headphones and I can’t stand it. There is no problem here. That’s why, in part, headphones are so great. Most of the depth is occupied by the headset and driver, and all the electronics are around the edge. It is very well thought out.
Several customers expressed their appreciation for the physical controls of the AirPods Max, compared to the touch controls of some other over-ear headphones. Like the Apple Watch, the AirPods Max has a digital crown for volume control, playback, phone calls and Siri, as well as a noise control button to switch between active noise cancellation modes and of transparency, the latter allows a little more on the outside. sounds inside.
Like the reviewers, many customers agree that the “Smart Case” carrying case included with the Max AirPods ranges from “useless” to “horrible.”
“It’s almost as if Apple’s design team forgot about the case and got one of the cleaners to design it on a piece of paper,” ironic MacRumors forum member honglong1976 quipped. “The case is absolutely useless for travel.”
Priced at $ 549, the Max AirPods are available to order from Apple.com, but currently have a delivery estimate of 12 to 14 weeks. For more impressions, visit the AirPods subforum in the MacRumors forums. And if you’re still waiting for your AirPods Max, keep track of your order with other Apple fans in our pre-order discussion thread.