Apple’s new Airpods Max headphones are here and have instantly become the talk of the town. There are many reasons, good ones, for them to stir humanity, but their price tag is quite a shocker for most people who were anxiously waiting for the launch, that by the way, came as a surprise by Apple.
It will not be right to say that they are the best headphones out there, but they are very good anyway and if some avid Apple-fan has around $549 to spare, they must buy these headphones and enjoy the luxurious feel and quality of this very sturdy and strong-built headphones. However, if you are only looking for a reliable set with noise-canceling features, then you can simply go for Sony’s 1000XM4s or Bose’s Noise Canceling Headphones 700 at around $200 or maybe less.
The Good Things About the Build and Design
The list of good attributes is quite long. First off, the design is simply outstanding. There is a knitted mesh that covers the stainless-steel headband that lifts off a lot of weight from the user’s head.
Then comes the rotating, aluminum-based ear cups. Two stainless-steel telescopic stems attach them with the headband. These stems allow effortless but controlled movement and allow the ear cups and headband stay in place according to every individual’s head dimensions.
The ear cushions are made up of acoustic memory foam and are covered by a breathable meshed layer. This is really comfortable, and the size and dimensions of the ear cups are perfectly fitting for every ear size. Behind the ear cushions are powerful, 40-mm drivers.
The ear cushions attach to the drivers magnetically. It is extremely simple for them to come off whenever the user wants, and they fit back in with a soft snap just like that!
These ear cushions are available in various colors which can be bought for another $60+.
One of the most remarkable things in the design is that there are just two buttons. One is basically a digital crown like that on the Apple Watch. Its swift rotation can help the user control volume, change tracks, and even skip tracks. It allows for easy operations because there are no chances of missing inputs or pressing the wrong button. Also, they are easy to handle with gloved hands too.
The other button is a switch between noise-canceling and transparency modes.
There is no power button on Airpods Max. They ‘live-up’ once a user puts them on their head, and they go in the sleep mode once they are taken off or if one ear cup is removed. Inside their case, they go in an ultra-low-power mode. But the charging stays fine for almost 20 hours.
There are around nine mics and random sensors in the build.
The Sound Quality is Amazing
This is one of the best qualities of these headphones. According to reviewers, the sound quality of Airpods Max is better than Sony’s or Bose’s headphones. Apple has arranged the sounds in high, low, and mid ranges, and has integrated H1 chips to the computational audio in both the ear cups. The random built-in mics constantly pick up and measure the sounds from the headphones. This helps them automatically adjust the EQ to make the sound comfortable for the user’s ears while locking it against them.
The sound quality is amazing, but there are other headphones too that have awesome sound qualities, so it all comes down to the users’ preferences in the end.
The noise cancellation is better than other headphones in competition. And when the user wants to hear the outside world too, then they can switch to the transparency mode, and it will instantly make them feel as if they are not wearing headphones at all!
Then comes the aspect of an extremely impressive and completely immersive surround sound system through the spatial audio.
If the user uses these headphones with an iPhone or iPad while watching movies with Apple supported apps, those devices already have positional awareness, and they give feedback to the headphones. That immerses the user with the surround sound completely. That’s a wonderful experience and surely something that other competitors have not yet quite reached. It is not equal to a full Dolby Atmos 7.1 surround system of course, but it is still amazing.
Convenience Level is At Par, But For Apple Users Only
Another good feature is that they easily pair up with the phone just by being held closely. The headphones can automatically switch between an iPhone, iPad, or Mac without the user’s input to switch them from here and there. Now, that adds the factor of convenience to the overall experience.
Sony and Bose headphones pair up with any type of two devices at a time.
The Case is Not That Great
A major flaw! There are no protective features, and the ear cups can get easily scratched, the meshed canopy headband can tear down with what Apple has provided in the name of ‘case’ for such expensive headphones.
There is No 3.5 mm Jack or Cable
There is only a lightning connector, but if someone wants higher quality, wired audio experience or if they want to plug in while flying, they will have to buy a separate cable for $35.
There is also no passive mode. When the battery runs out after 20 hours, the headphones simply die even if they are wired.
These Are Leisure Headphones.
They are perfect for using in a comfortable environment, but they are not meant to take along while exercising in the gym or jogging.
I’m Ava Paul, an experienced news website author with a special focus on the entertainment section. Over the past five years, I have worked in various positions of media and communication at World Stock Market. My experience has given me extensive knowledge in writing, editing, researching and reporting on stories related to the entertainment industry.
