Apple AirPods Max Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones - Space Grey

Perfect personal audio for iOS users: easy switching between devices, clear wide sound stage, comfortable and good battery life. While the case is a little silly, works enough to keep dust off the headphones. I’m reaching for them every time I want to listen to music or a movie. Perfect personal audio for iOS users: easy switching between devices, clear wide sound stage, comfortable and good battery life. While the case is a little silly, works enough to keep dust off the headphones. I’m reaching for them every time I want to listen to music or a movie.

These Headphones are simply the best I have ever owned, the sound quality is in a different league and the noise-cancelling second to none. These Headphones are simply the best I have ever owned, the sound quality is in a different league and the noise-cancelling second to none.

A thousand bucks is a CRAZY price to pay for earphones. So is that 'investment' worth it? Unashamedly, yes.

I recently returned a Denon Dolby Atmos Receiver, AVR-S960H (price $2000) that performed miserably compared with my 1986 Denon PMA 500V Amplifer matched with KEF speakers of the same era. The rich classical sound just was not there, although the surround sound effects were intriguing.

Reconsidering my options, and taking specialist audiophile advice, I began to explore several options

a $3000 receiver, plus more for speakers. A receiver such as Denon AVR-X series or Yamaha RX-A2080
a Sennheiser Sound Bar, $3000
Two end-of-...view more A thousand bucks is a CRAZY price to pay for earphones. So is that 'investment' worth it? Unashamedly, yes.

I recently returned a Denon Dolby Atmos Receiver, AVR-S960H (price $2000) that performed miserably compared with my 1986 Denon PMA 500V Amplifer matched with KEF speakers of the same era. The rich classical sound just was not there, although the surround sound effects were intriguing.

Reconsidering my options, and taking specialist audiophile advice, I began to explore several options

a $3000 receiver, plus more for speakers. A receiver such as Denon AVR-X series or Yamaha RX-A2080
a Sennheiser Sound Bar, $3000
Two end-of-line Apple Homepods

I came to realise that I would not often get to play the full surround sound since my flatmates and neighbours need their acoustic environment uncontaminated by my music or movie selections. Thus, my search began for surround sound headphones that also met my audiophile requirements for classical music.

All the reviews for the Aiprods MAx seem to confirm these miracles were what I was searching for.

But NOWHERE could I try these Airpods. I had to buy on faith, and risk a $200 restocking fee if they didn't meet my needs.

I'm pleased to say, the Airpods delight.

As best I can tell, the lossless recording of 'In dulci jubilo' at the King's College Choir Centenary Service of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols presents the massive organ with its full depth and quality. I felt transported to the best pew in the chapel.

Listening to pianist Ivo Pogorelich play Beethoven Piano Sonata 111 and Schumann Symphonic Etudes and Toccata was stunning. I felt I was just three metres away from the most brilliant Steinway piano, every nuance, including the dropping of the sustain pedals was there!

At last, I can play music through my AppleTV without needing to turn ON the loudness inhibitor. I can hear the full range of sounds without distortion.

The Dolby Atmos surround sound of the C.S. Forrester/Tom Hanks movie GreyHound performs as claimed. If you move your head in relation to your iPhone, the sound maintains the same position in space, relative to the screen. Astonishing! A problem solved I never knew I had!

The background noise suppression is an added bonus. I'd estimate background talking and noise is reduced to 10% - 15% of the actual level. I have taken to wearing the Airpods when I read, listening to no music, just to cancel out the noise of the refrigerator, heat pump, disk farm fan, and cooker extractor.

I did find initially that my temples began to hurt after a while from the pressure of the pads. This is a 'known feature'. I didn't need to apply the solution discovered by Patrick Plaggenborg. I just extended the pods down from the headband.

It's not quite obvious if the headphones have a left and right side. Yes! They do. The volume crown switch should be positioned to the right side. If you look inside the muffs, you'll see subtly woven a big L and R. If you remove the magnetically-attached muffs (nice!), there is also an L and R.

Apparently, the Airpods can be connected by wire to my old-style stereo headphones output, using a 3.5 mm to Lightning connector. So far, I've not made that work, as when I put on the headphones, they instantly activate my iPhone or AppleTV, which overrides the 3.5 mm source.

Yes, the AirPods Max Pro are FABULOUS. The reproduction of classical music would require me to spend at least $3000 to $5000, and the surround sound experience is 'better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick'.

Thanks, Elijah, at PBTech, New Lynn.

Plaggenborg, P. (2021, April 12). Finally solved the AirPods Max clamping force tightness [Reddit Post]. R/Airpods. www.reddit.com/r/airpods/comments/mpjwp8/finally_solved_the_airpods_max_clamping_force/

I normally don't like using noise cancellation headphones because I feel they change the music, for some brands (most notably Sony or Beats) that is exactly what happens, the inverted wave is introduced into the listening stream and you lose parts of the music ever so slightly. That being said .. The ANC in the these headphones is incredible and is isolated from the listening stream. These are the headphones where you can tell obviously the difference in lossy MP3 vs lossless. Ignoring the Apple spatial audio and the Apple features (that I find annoying) the bass is deep (not overdone but still can be felt) the treble is clear and rivals a...view more I normally don't like using noise cancellation headphones because I feel they change the music, for some brands (most notably Sony or Beats) that is exactly what happens, the inverted wave is introduced into the listening stream and you lose parts of the music ever so slightly. That being said .. The ANC in the these headphones is incredible and is isolated from the listening stream. These are the headphones where you can tell obviously the difference in lossy MP3 vs lossless. Ignoring the Apple spatial audio and the Apple features (that I find annoying) the bass is deep (not overdone but still can be felt) the treble is clear and rivals a good set of speaker, the listening box (from speaker to ear) means that the headphones do bleed sound and are not discrete, but honestly if you want (and can perceive) quality sound these are the headphones for you.

I have not tried these as a headset, and honestly I am not sure I want to, it seems to cheapen the quality I would expect.

Been wanting these for ages and they did not disappoint! The sound quality (especially with Apple Music), noise cancelling, and transparency mode are best in class. I was worried about the weight but it honestly doesn’t bother me after many hours of use. Been wanting these for ages and they did not disappoint! The sound quality (especially with Apple Music), noise cancelling, and transparency mode are best in class. I was worried about the weight but it honestly doesn’t bother me after many hours of use.

I was blown away by the best in class noise cancelling these headphones produce and have been in awe of the spatial audio experience when watching content on the Apple TV and iPad. This product packs a punch much bigger than I could have expected, so much so that I bought a second pair for my partner. Solid 10 out of 10 and I would recommend these to anyone who wants a premium experience in both form and function and especially those who already have Apple products as it integrates into that ecosystem with unbelievable ease. I was blown away by the best in class noise cancelling these headphones produce and have been in awe of the spatial audio experience when watching content on the Apple TV and iPad. This product packs a punch much bigger than I could have expected, so much so that I bought a second pair for my partner. Solid 10 out of 10 and I would recommend these to anyone who wants a premium experience in both form and function and especially those who already have Apple products as it integrates into that ecosystem with unbelievable ease.

Highly recommend this product! Specs are top notch! Highly recommend this product! Specs are top notch!

Reviews of this product are pretty accurate. Really good headphones, nice noise cancellation, very nice sound quality. If you have an iPhone, it works even better with connecting automatically the moment you wear it. I’m guessing those who aren’t happy with the product are android users because it really works well within the Apple ecosystem. Reviews of this product are pretty accurate. Really good headphones, nice noise cancellation, very nice sound quality. If you have an iPhone, it works even better with connecting automatically the moment you wear it. I’m guessing those who aren’t happy with the product are android users because it really works well within the Apple ecosystem.

Yes, these are expensive, but I have tried dozens of bluetooth headphones. IMO these are the best headphone for working form home. They are heavier than all other headphones, but the design and materials makes that weight almost unnoticeable once you wear them for a few hours.They are extremely comfortable.
Spatial audio when using apple products (especially the Apple TV) is amazing

Cons:
Just one, these are my third pair since they were released, not entirely sure what the failure has been, but it think it has to do with bluetooth. Basically my last two pairs just stopped connecting via bluetooth to any device.
They are pricey, so splu...view more Yes, these are expensive, but I have tried dozens of bluetooth headphones. IMO these are the best headphone for working form home. They are heavier than all other headphones, but the design and materials makes that weight almost unnoticeable once you wear them for a few hours.They are extremely comfortable.
Spatial audio when using apple products (especially the Apple TV) is amazing

Cons:
Just one, these are my third pair since they were released, not entirely sure what the failure has been, but it think it has to do with bluetooth. Basically my last two pairs just stopped connecting via bluetooth to any device.
They are pricey, so splurge on the Apple Care.

Rather impressive sound and noise cancelling.

My daughter said they were the best thing ever, she wore them for the entire distance to UK from NZ and couldn't hear babies crying or much else on the flights. Rather impressive sound and noise cancelling.

My daughter said they were the best thing ever, she wore them for the entire distance to UK from NZ and couldn't hear babies crying or much else on the flights.

Yes, they sound great, just as they should at this price. And they feel solid and well made, I don't think there will be any quality issues like I've had with other headphones. They really work well with iPhone/iPad/MacBook Pro etc in that they recognise when you've stopped using one device and then latch onto the other when you start using that. No idea if it's the same for Android/PC etc. Yes, they sound great, just as they should at this price. And they feel solid and well made, I don't think there will be any quality issues like I've had with other headphones. They really work well with iPhone/iPad/MacBook Pro etc in that they recognise when you've stopped using one device and then latch onto the other when you start using that. No idea if it's the same for Android/PC etc.

Great set of headphones, not so good for travel. Found their electonics good with transparency mode and noise cancelling good. Sound isn't as good as my wired cans though Great set of headphones, not so good for travel. Found their electonics good with transparency mode and noise cancelling good. Sound isn't as good as my wired cans though