{"id":189649,"date":"2021-02-26T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-26T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/"},"modified":"2021-02-26T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-02-26T14:00:00","slug":"premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/","title":{"rendered":"#Premium Price for a Premium Experience \u2013 Review Geek"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a33785116d6e\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a33785116d6e\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#Heres_What_We_Like\" >Here&#8217;s What We Like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#And_What_We_Dont\" >And What We Don&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#Designed_Well_and_Incredibly_Comfortable\" >Designed Well and Incredibly Comfortable<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#The_Dumb_Smart_Case\" >The (Dumb) Smart Case<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#ANC_Transparency_Performance\" >ANC &amp; Transparency Performance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#So-So_Battery_Life\" >So-So Battery Life<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#Sound_Quality\" >Sound Quality<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#TonalityFrequency_Response\" >Tonality\/Frequency Response<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#Technicalities\" >Technicalities<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#They_Sound_Great_Wired_Too\" >They Sound Great Wired, Too<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#Extra_Features\" >Extra Features<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#Heres_What_We_Like-2\" >Here\u2019s What We Like<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/premium-price-for-a-premium-experience-review-geek\/#And_What_We_Dont-2\" >And What We Don&#8217;t<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#Premium Price for a Premium Experience \u2013 Review Geek&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content-area\">\n<div class=\"single-review-card\">\n<div class=\"review-card-heading\">\n<div class=\"rating\">Rating:<br \/>\n<strong>8\/10<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong class=\"more-info-hover\">?<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong class=\"rating-info\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1 &#8211; Absolute Hot Garbage<\/li>\n<li>2 &#8211; Sorta Lukewarm Garbage<\/li>\n<li>3 &#8211; Strongly Flawed Design<\/li>\n<li>4 &#8211; Some Pros, Lots Of Cons<\/li>\n<li>5 &#8211; Acceptably Imperfect<\/li>\n<li>6 &#8211; Good Enough to Buy On Sale<\/li>\n<li>7 &#8211; Great, But Not Best-In-Class<\/li>\n<li>8 &#8211; Fantastic, with Some Footnotes<\/li>\n<li>9 &#8211; Shut Up And Take My Money<\/li>\n<li>10 &#8211; Absolute Design Nirvana<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/strong>\n<\/div>\n<p>Price: <strong>$549<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-70438 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/38e59d725ceb67fade347de419f077f1\/p\/uploads\/2021\/02\/02ba8e23.jpg\" alt=\"AirPods Max with Smart Case standing on a rock\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Peter Cao\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Peter Cao<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As an \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Audiophile\">audiophile<\/a>\u201d the AirPods Max intrigued me. They\u2019re priced a bit high for a set of consumer headphones, and as most audiophiles know, active noise cancelation (ANC) degrades sound quality in one way or another.\u00a0With this review, I set out to find out if the AirPods Max sound notably better than other popular ANC headphones on the market, most of which are much lower in price.<\/p>\n<div class=\"review-card-body-inline\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"pros\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heres_What_We_Like\"><\/span>Here&#8217;s What We Like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Class-leading ANC performance<\/li>\n<li>Great, almost-balanced sound<\/li>\n<li>Superb comfort and premium design<\/li>\n<li>Physical buttons for ANC and <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a> control<\/li>\n<li>Near-infinite headband adjustment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cons\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_What_We_Dont\"><\/span>And What We Don&#8217;t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Lightning for charging and wired audio<\/li>\n<li>Worse battery life than other ANC headphones<\/li>\n<li>Smart Case offers almost zero protection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Many would think that the AirPods Max\u2019s competitors would be headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM4 or the Bose Noise Canceling 700. And that makes sense, as most consumers aren\u2019t willing to pay a premium for headphones.<\/p>\n<p>But the reality is that the AirPods Max are priced much too high to realistically compete with any of the aforementioned headphones. In reality, the AirPods Max\u2019s one true competitor is <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/redirect.viglink.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bang-olufsen.com%2Fen%2Fheadphones%2Fbeoplay-h95%3Fvariant%3Dbeoplay-h95-goldentone&amp;key=204a528a336ede4177fff0d84a044482\">Bang &amp; Olufsen\u2019s H95<\/a>, which are priced $250\u00a0<em>more expensive<\/em> than the AirPods Max at retail price. I\u2019ve tried the H95, and honestly, when it comes to sound quality, it\u2019s really close. At that point, you\u2019re looking at which one is more comfortable for you or what features one has over the other.<\/p>\n<p>But I\u2019m going to be honest. When I first picked up the AirPods Max on launch day, I expected to test them, review them, and return them. I was thinking, \u201cNo way do the AirPods Max justify its price point.\u201d And after two months with them, I\u2019m pleasantly surprised. The AirPods Max exceeded my expectations not only when it comes to sound quality, but in almost every other category as well. Let me explain.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Designed_Well_and_Incredibly_Comfortable\"><\/span>Designed Well and Incredibly Comfortable<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-70440 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/20d6941e0f74a3d8ec657c8f596463c1\/p\/uploads\/2021\/02\/b004c2cb.jpg\" alt=\"AirPods Max on a table displaying ANC and Digital Crown buttons\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Peter Cao\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Peter Cao<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I\u2019ll try to keep this part simple and to the point. The AirPods Max are very comfortable for my head.\u00a0 I had some discomfort when I first used them from the clamping force, but that went away after the first day or so of use. After that acclimation period, I had a chance to <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel<\/a> with them and had them on my head for 12 hours straight with no issues when it came to comfort.<\/p>\n<p>The AirPods Max are heavier than most other ANC headphones on the market, but they aren\u2019t <em>that heavy<\/em>, especially when compared to wired headphones. Most of the weight can be chalked up to the stainless steel headband and aluminum ear cups. If you\u2019ve worn wired headphones in the past, the AirPods Max will feel no different.<\/p>\n<p>The headband is an interesting design choice. I have the green model, which means I have the minty green\/off white headband. I haven\u2019t run into any staining or discoloring issues with the headband. It\u2019s made out of a mesh material, which is surprisingly comfortable. I hardly feel the headband on my head at all.<\/p>\n<p>The earpads are made out of what <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ears to be the same mesh fabric found on Apple\u2019s HomePod smart speakers. The pads are both large and extend deep, which means those with big ears (like me) won\u2019t have an issue with the drivers or pads touching your ears.<\/p>\n<p>Most Bluetooth (and ANC) headphones are uncomfortable on my head, so I was pleasantly surprised to see no comfort issues with the AirPods Max. Usually, with other ANC headphones, I\u2019d start to feel discomfort around the crown of my head (despite the lighter weight of most other ANC headphones) after 30 minutes to an hour of use.<\/p>\n<p>For headband adjustment, Apple uses what it calls a \u201ctelescoping arm.\u201d It\u2019s one of those things that makes you think, \u201cWhy change this when what we have works perfectly fine? \u201d Fortunately, the stainless steel arm allows for very fine and precise adjustments. There\u2019s a good amount of resistance and the arm feels super sturdy, so they won\u2019t get readjusted if you slightly bump the headband.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of precise adjustments, the AirPods Max feature actual buttons for ANC and media controls. Placed on the right ear cup, the dedicated ANC button lets you toggle between ANC and transparency mode. Right behind it is what appears to be a supersized Apple Watch digital crown. Here, you can single-press the button to play\/pause\/answer or hang up a call, double-press to skip forward a track, triple-tap to go back, press and hold for Siri, and spin the dial to adjust the volume.<\/p>\n<p>The AirPods Max easily trump any set of headphones that use touch controls that are often finicky and unreliable. Oh, and unlike most other headphones I\u2019ve tested, you can simultaneously tap the ANC and Digital Crown buttons to pause and enter transparency mode and vice versa in one go. Usually, you\u2019ll have to press one after the other, otherwise it flat out won\u2019t work.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Dumb_Smart_Case\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"moka_anchor_thesmartcase\">The (Dumb) Smart Case<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-70612 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/08313807e58f8b9fbaafcf5f9164d418\/p\/uploads\/2021\/02\/a35421a5.jpg\" alt=\"AirPods Max Smart Case\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Peter Cao\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Peter Cao<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The AirPods Max\u2019s Smart Case is both the most unique and dumbest headphone case I\u2019ve used. First and foremost, calling it a \u201ccase\u201d is a stretch. The headband is fully exposed, and there are odd slits all over that expose the aluminum exterior. It seems Apple intended you to carry the headphones by the headband, but in reality, most want a robust and sturdy case for travel.<\/p>\n<p>The Smart Case is also the only way to \u201cturn off\u201d the headphones. They go into an ultra-low power state when in the case that helps prevent battery drainage. However, I have been hit by the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/69492\/psa-airpods-max-battery-drain-is-real-dont-buy-them-for-now\/\">battery draining issue so many people have been seeing where the AirPods Max are draining even while in the case.<\/p>\n<p>The one upside with the case is that it does help allow the headphones to stand up on their own. So, there\u2019s that.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"ANC_Transparency_Performance\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"moka_anchor_ancandtransparencymode\">ANC &amp; Transparency Performance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-70439 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/55c11714ea50f8a676aced51bb0c96d5\/p\/uploads\/2021\/02\/0cea05aa.jpg\" alt=\"AirPods Max hanging on a tree\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Peter Cao\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Peter Cao<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>ANC performance is another area where the AirPods Max shine. Compared to the previous ANC King\u2014the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sony-WH-1000XM4-Canceling-Headphones-phone-call\/dp\/B0863TXGM3\/?tag=reviewgeek-20\">Sony WH-1000XM4<\/a>\u2014the AirPods Max easily perform 20-25% better, at least according to my ears. The biggest differentiator between the two is the AirPods Max are able to block out inconsistent noise such as talking more effectively.<\/p>\n<p>Where the AirPods Max completely blow every other set of headphones out of the water is in their transparency mode. You almost forget you have the headphones on your head. Combine that with a transparency mode that not only sounds very natural but three dimensional as well. It\u2019s one of those things you\u2019ll have to try for yourself.<\/p>\n<p>For comparison, the AirPods Pro\u2019s transparency mode is really good, but lacks any sort of depth. But with AirPods Max, there\u2019s a sense of distance and soundstage.\u00a0This is likely thanks to the nine microphones on board, eight of which are used for ANC and transparency (and three for voice; two of which are shared).<\/p>\n<p>Not surprising though, as the AirPods Pro already had one of the best transparency modes out there. The AirPods Max simply cranks it up to 11.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"So-So_Battery_Life\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"moka_anchor_batterylife\">So-So Battery Life<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-70441 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/ea13834055014552763cda29ccad0848\/p\/uploads\/2021\/02\/e32fd07c.jpg\" alt=\"AirPods Max laying on a table\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Peter Cao\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Peter Cao<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Apple claims 20 hours of battery life between charges with ANC or transparency mode turned on. For the price, this is pretty disappointing as many other ANC headphones (most priced much lower) have 30-40 hours before needing to juice up again.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, in my experience, I\u2019ve been able to squeeze closer to 24-25 hours. Still not the best out there, but the extra few hours make them above-average. And, unlike the Sony XM4s, you\u2019ll be able to charge and listen to your AirPods Max via Bluetooth simultaneously. There\u2019s no USB audio, which is pretty disappointing for those wanting to have high-res, low-latency audio while charging. But I\u2019ll take that over not being able to use them at all while juicing up.<\/p>\n<p>The AirPods Max charge over\u2014<em>sigh<\/em>\u2014Lightning. But to be fair, the logic makes sense. If you own an iPhone, it charges over Lightning. All other AirPods in the lineup charge over Lightning. It\u2019s <em>fine<\/em> for most people.<\/p>\n<p>But for me, I\u2019ve switched over to wireless charging on both my iPhone and AirPods Pro. If you\u2019ve done the same, that means you\u2019re now carrying a Lightning cable <em>just for your headphones<\/em>. It\u2019s not a dealbreaker but is definitely annoying.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sound_Quality\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"moka_anchor_soundquality\">Sound Quality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Sound quality will be split into two parts: tonality\/frequency response and technicalities. The following will be my subjective opinions. If you\u2019d like objective tests and graphs, check them out at <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/crinacle.com\/2020\/12\/19\/apple-airpods-max-review-the-audiophiles-perspective\/\">Crinacle<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rtings.com\/headphones\/reviews\/apple\/airpods-max-wireless\">RTINGS<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"TonalityFrequency_Response\"><\/span>Tonality\/Frequency Response<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-70623 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/bd78f6e4b252df290c2af4692d535bc9\/p\/uploads\/2021\/02\/0168b7e1.jpg\" alt=\"Peter wearing AirPods Max\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Peter Cao\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Peter Cao<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For most consumers who\u2019ve only had ANC headphones like the Sony XM4 or Bose QC35, tonality is likely what you care about. Frequency response (or tonality) represents how the headphones sound.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m happy to report that the AirPods Max are mostly balanced here. There\u2019s a small sub-bass boost, giving the AirPods Max a bit of thump, rumble, and warmth. In terms of treble, there\u2019s a dip somewhere in the lower treble region, making vocals sound a bit dull. But, it does pick back up in the later ranges and gives the AirPods Max quite a bit of detail in the treble overall. The AirPods Max seem to follow the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/redirect.viglink.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.headphones.com%2Fpages%2Fmeasurements-and-frequency-response&amp;key=204a528a336ede4177fff0d84a044482\">Harman frequency curve<\/a> pretty closely. This is especially true in the midrange, which appears to be balanced throughout the range.<\/p>\n<p>The AirPods Max join a small group of ANC headphones out there that sound fairly balanced. But that\u2019s not all that surprising. The AirPods Pro also follow the Harman curve pretty closely as well and make a few small adjustments to make the sound more enjoyable for the average consumer.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to equalization (EQ), the AirPods Max are pretty limited. You get a few accessibility options on your iPhone or iPad that let you set them to \u201cBalanced Tone,\u201d \u201cVocals,\u201d or \u201cBrightness.\u201d It\u2019s all generic and you don\u2019t have access to a graphic or parametric EQ here. Though, you can always wire them into your computer and EQ them via a third-party app. Just note that the EQ doesn\u2019t stick on the headphone end, so you\u2019ll have to enable it on every device you connect to (which is only available on iPhone and iPad via the device\u2019s accessibility settings).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Technicalities\"><\/span>Technicalities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In terms of technicalities, the AirPods Max are okay. Their soundstage is wide for a set of closed-back headphones. This is mostly due to the large and deep ear cups, allowing for a more spacious sound overall. The AirPods Max aren\u2019t analytically detailed, but they are pretty good. Good enough for the average listener to pick up details they\u2019ve never heard before, but not too detailed where they can be fatiguing to listen to after a period of time.<\/p>\n<p>Imaging is a bit odd. Compared to various other headphones, the AirPods Max sound \u2026 off. Certain instruments aren\u2019t being placed where I\u2019d expect. More quiet sounds can get lost and blend into the rest of the mix if things get really busy, which is disappointing.<\/p>\n<p>Technicalities aren\u2019t as important for a set of ANC headphones, especially when you\u2019re using it in a busy city street, loud plane, or in a coffee shop. The noise floor is too loud to pick up subtle details anyways.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"They_Sound_Great_Wired_Too\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"moka_anchor_wired\">They Sound Great Wired, Too<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-70614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/5d70299402415b0d7ccc2b9c1c4b2ac1\/p\/uploads\/2021\/02\/f5a55d65.jpg\" alt=\"Lightning to 3.5mm cable\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The AirPods Max lack a proper headphone jack. In fact, the only connector on them is Lightning. This means you\u2019ll have to shell out $35 for <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Apple-Lightning-3-5mm-Audio-Cable\/dp\/B07Z5R5DL4\/?tag=reviewgeek-20\">Apple\u2019s Lightning to 3.5mm cable<\/a>. No, you can\u2019t buy a third-party one on Amazon (yet) as you\u2019ll need a cable with an Analog to Digital converter (ADC). Your $9 Lightning to 3.5mm adapter won\u2019t work either because it only has a Digital to Analog converter (DAC).<\/p>\n<p>In laymen\u2019s terms, this means that your typical Lightning to 3.5mm adapter converts the digital signal from your phone to an analog signal something like a pair of speakers can understand. Apple\u2019s special cable does that in addition to converting the analog signal coming from your computer\u2019s audio jack back into a digital signal that the AirPods Max\u2019s Lightning connector can understand (it\u2019s bi-directional).<\/p>\n<p>Stupid cabling and port decisions aside, the wire is worth it if you\u2019re looking for the best sound possible and lower latency. It\u2019s not zero latency as the onboard amplifier and DAC are still working and that adds some latency, but that isn\u2019t noticeable. I wasn\u2019t able to notice a delay while working with Logic Pro on my Mac mini.<\/p>\n<p>The AirPods Max also sound notably better when wired, which is to be expected. I had a handful of people blind test wired versus Bluetooth, and they all noticed a difference in 9 out of 10 tracks I had them test. The source material was Qobuz running directly from a Mac mini.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s even more interesting is that when I plugged them into my desktop headphone amplifier\/DAC and was able to get them to play much louder than they are capable of over Bluetooth or directly into the Mac mini without any distortion. I did manage to get them to distort when I turned them up louder than any human would ever want to reasonably listen to. With that said, outside of volume there was virtually no difference between using the amp versus my Mac mini\u2019s internal headphone port.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Extra_Features\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"moka_anchor_extrafeatures\">Extra Features<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As with other AirPods in the lineup, the AirPods Max feature one-tap all of your Apple devices. Simply take the AirPods Max out of their Smart Case and bring them near your iPhone or iPad. From there, tap \u201cConnect\u201d and your AirPods Max will automagically pair to all of your Apple devices associated with your Apple ID.\u00a0You\u2019ll get other AirPods features such as automatic play and pause, which work exceptionally well. Just lift either ear cup and music will pause, release, and it\u2019ll start playing. Put the headphones on and they automatically turn on and pair, take them off and they pause.<\/p>\n<p>Spatial Audio offers a surround sound-like experience with your headphones. You\u2019ll need an iPhone or iPad for it to work (no Mac or Apple TV) running iOS or iPadOS 14.3 or later. It\u2019s a cool party trick and it does what you\u2019d expect. Your iPhone or iPad is the anchor, and the audio moves as you move your head, similar to being at a movie theater. The surround sound effect is fantastic given its two-speaker limitation but don\u2019t go out and pick up the AirPods Max just for the feature.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"moka_anchor_conclusion\">Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-70442 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/thumbcache\/0\/0\/a034122420c26f1c80301f8051a60ad7\/p\/uploads\/2021\/02\/86294915.jpg\" alt=\"AirPods Max standing up right on a table\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" data-credittext=\"Peter Cao\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Peter Cao<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The AirPods Max are a great set of headphones with a few questionable choices, which may be dealbreakers for some. For me, the higher cost is worth it due to the way they fit on my head and the comfort alone. The superb build quality and ANC capabilities may be a reason you pick them up versus their competitors. Of course, if you are deep in the Apple ecosystem, and are looking for a set of over-ear ANC headphones, the AirPods Max are a no-brainer.<\/p>\n<p>The AirPods Max continue to be fairly difficult to find and there\u2019s a clear demand for them despite their premium price tag. With that said, their price tag will be the biggest reason a lot of people won\u2019t pick up a set of AirPods Max, period. If you\u2019re in that group, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sony-WH-1000XM4-Canceling-Headphones-phone-call\/dp\/B0863TXGM3\/?tag=reviewgeek-20\">Sony\u2019s WH-1000XM4<\/a>\u00a0offers great ANC performance, longer battery life, and a lightweight, comfortable design for $200 less.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single-review-card border\">\n<div class=\"review-card-body\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"pros\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heres_What_We_Like-2\"><\/span>Here\u2019s What We Like<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Class-leading ANC performance<\/li>\n<li>Great, almost-balanced sound<\/li>\n<li>Superb comfort and premium design<\/li>\n<li>Physical buttons for ANC and media control<\/li>\n<li>Near-infinite headband adjustment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cons\">\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"And_What_We_Dont-2\"><\/span>And What We Don&#8217;t<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Lightning for charging and wired audio<\/li>\n<li>Worse battery life than other ANC headphones<\/li>\n<li>Smart Case offers almost zero protection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\nsetTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n  fbq('init', '1137093656460433');\n  fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. 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