Poll: AirPods Max

[Deleted member 209350]

I've just spent the last ten minutes going through the last few months worth of your posts in the Apple forums @ZP9 and then came back in here to basically post what's been said above.

You're clearly here just to bash Apple at every available opportunity. I consider that trolling so take this as an official warning.

Im not anti-apple, im more anti-apple fanboys.

I have an iPhone 12 pro that I just bought and use airpods pro as my daily headphones. I just dislike the behaviour of the apple fanboys

 

[Throrik]

A few more iterations and a price drop would making for an interesting proposition.

I agree, I think these look really nice, but I'm also not an audio guy and think that the AirPods sound fine, just that I prefer over-ear for comfort. But wouldn't pay more than £300 for a pair.

 

[MrRockliffe]

Sony havent been doing "mobile photography" for long at all... Its completely different comparing a mobile camera to an actual one

Sony have been making mobile phones with cameras for years, and have been in the flagship game as long as anyone else. Furthermore, they're even the manufacturer of the sensor that the majority of companies use, so if anyone should be able to make a high quality integrated system, it should be Sony.

In fact, that's their ethos (or was) - the idea was that you'd be able to take a film right from production all the way to home viewing, with each stage using Sony's products.

Camera, Microphone, Monitor, Speakers, PC, TV, Home Cinema, Projector etc

The reasoning for this was that it would allow them to exert immense control over the quality of content, so that the viewer sees exactly what the filmmaker intended.

 

[Deleted member 209350]

I agree, I think these look really nice, but I'm also not an audio guy and think that the AirPods sound fine, just that I prefer over-ear for comfort. But wouldn't pay more than £300 for a pair.

The pricing is the main issue with them, if they were priced similar to the XM4's or 700's (which lets be honest, seems like their main competition) it would have been a much more reasonable conversation, but the fact they are double the price and probably perform worse... Yeah not a good look

 

[Feek]

Im not anti-apple, im more anti-apple fanboys.

You generally won't find rampant "fanboys" in here, there's no need to rant as much as you do so my warning stands, please tone it down.

 

[Deleted member 209350]

Sony have been making mobile phones with cameras for years, and have been in the flagship game as long as anyone else. Furthermore, they're even the manufacturer of the sensor that the majority of companies use, so if anyone should be able to make a high quality integrated system, it should be Sony.

In fact, that's their ethos (or was) - the idea was that you'd be able to take a film right from production all the way to home viewing, with each stage using Sony's products.

Camera, Microphone, Monitor, Speakers, PC, TV, Home Cinema, Projector etc

The reasoning for this was that it would allow them to exert immense control over the quality of content, so that the viewer sees exactly what the filmmaker intended.

I get that, but the camera's in mobile is more about it being computational and way more software based, which is clearly different from the hardware based stuff they are best known for. I do agree that they could have done a better job, but they are a company thats so focused on multiple different things I think its quite hard for them to focus more on phones when its one of their least-selling products

 

[Feek]

The pricing is the main issue with them, if they were priced similar to the XM4's or 700's (which lets be honest, seems like their main competition) it would have been a much more reasonable conversation, but the fact they are double the price and probably perform worse... Yeah not a good look

We can do nothing but speculate about the sound quality at the moment, let's wait until some proper reviews are out before assuming that the quality will be sub-par.

/edit - That's a generic comment, not aimed at anyone specific. So many people assuming the quality won't be as good as the competition so let's wait and see before making that assumption.

 

[Deleted member 209350]

You generally won't find rampant "fanboys" in here, there's no need to rant as much as you do so my warning stands, please tone it down.

Fine.

Just as an FYI, I do think Apple make some good products despite their pricing and can be pretty innovative like with the airpods pro which are pretty much class leading imo, but the overhead headphones market is a completely different story. Cant just waltz in and charge a **** ton for what seems like an inferior product all round knowing that there will still be a ton of people buying it because of the logo

 

[Throrik]

Just doing some more reading on these, don't like the fact that they're 'always-on' unless they're in the iPurse/iBra - plenty of room to have put an iPhone/iPad

 

[Deleted member 209350]

We can do nothing but speculate about the sound quality at the moment, let's wait until some proper reviews are out before assuming that the quality will be sub-par.

Not saying they will be sub-par, but just not quite at the levels of the competition is what I predict. Even if they are on par sound quality, the overall package like the carry case, no headphone jack, lightning charger etc... will make it inferior overall at almost double price

 

[MrRockliffe]

I get that, but the camera's in mobile is more about it being computational and way more software based, which is clearly different from the hardware based stuff they are best known for. I do agree that they could have done a better job, but they are a company thats so focused on multiple different things I think its quite hard for them to focus more on phones when its one of their least-selling products

You've just proven my point then - these new headphones are about computational audio, with lots of processing and software involved. So even though Sony have tonnes of experience in that sector, Apple have proven to be superior at computational stuff in mobile devices (such as the camera).

 

[Deleted member 209350]

You've just proven my point then - these new headphones are about computational audio, with lots of processing and software involved. So even though Sony have tonnes of experience in that sector, Apple have proven to be superior at computational stuff in mobile devices (such as the camera).

yeah thats fair enough I suppose, but the sound quality isn't my issue. I know apple have good audio quality given their laptops and phones have had good speakers for a while now and their airpods pro are great sound quality wise. The issue will most likely come with the noise cancelling quality and the overall package mainly.

If you compare the Airpods Pro to the WF1000 from Sony, the majority consensus is that the sony's sound better and have better sound quality and better base. Now if you scale that to the airpods max and the XM4's and assume they both have a similar jump, it still doesnt justify the price point and lack of stuff the XM4's come with.

Unless the sound quality and noise cancelling is a lot better, the price tag is definitely unjustified. Lets see what the reviews say anyway (from non-apple biased places)

 

[MrRockliffe]

yeah thats fair enough I suppose, but the sound quality isn't my issue. I know apple have good audio quality given their laptops and phones have had good speakers for a while now and their airpods pro are great sound quality wise. The issue will most likely come with the noise cancelling quality and the overall package mainly.

If you compare the Airpods Pro to the WF1000 from Sony, the majority consensus is that the sony's sound better and have better sound quality and better base. Now if you scale that to the airpods max and the XM4's and assume they both have a similar jump, it still doesnt justify the price point and lack of stuff the XM4's come with.

Unless the sound quality and noise cancelling is a lot better, the price tag is definitely unjustified. Lets see what the reviews say anyway (from non-apple biased places)

I don't think you're looking at it right.

The XM4's are designed to be a high end, mass volume item, sold in mass.

The AirPods Max are designed to be a high end, premium, luxury item, sold in mass.


If you compare the AirPods Max to the B&O H95, then they begin to look good value for money.

https://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/headphones/beoplay-h95?variant=beoplay-h95-black


They're a different category of product, and it's why Marques (MKBHD) was right to question if they should be compared to the XM4s.


I think he should be comparing them to Master and Dynamic and the B&O stuff

 

[Junglist]

If you compare the Airpods Pro to the WF1000 from Sony, the majority consensus is that the sony's sound better and have better sound quality and better base. Now if you scale that to the airpods max and the XM4's and assume they both have a similar jump, it still doesnt justify the price point and lack of stuff the XM4's come with.

As an owner of both WF100XM3 and AirPods Pro I can say that the APP are a much better product. The Sony's had rubbish connection quality and I'd often get audio drop outs for a few seconds, the wind noise was terrible when using the highest NC setting you had to use a dedicated wind mode which affected the sound a bit and then that's before getting into the benefits APP have on iOS compared to the Sony ones.

I was unhappy enough with the Sony's that I opted to get a pair of APP after maybe 3 months of owning the Sonys. Not only that but the APP were much more comfortable for daily use. They're just a much better product

 

[Deleted member 209350]

I don't think you're looking at it right.

The XM4's are designed to be a high end, mass volume item, sold in mass.

The AirPods Max are designed to be a high end, premium, luxury item, sold in mass.


If you compare the AirPod Max to the B&O H95, then they begin to look good value for money.

https://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/headphones/beoplay-h95?variant=beoplay-h95-black


They're a different category of product, and it's why Marques (MKBHD) was right to question if they should be compared to the XM4s.


I think he should be comparing them to Master and Dynamic and the B&O stuff

I do see what you're saying, but does that mean its just all based on what you priced an item then? If the Maxs cost £350 instead of £550, their natural competitor would be the XM4s and Bose right? It should be on the quality/features of what you're getting.

Though I guess it depends on how you look at it really

As an owner of both WF100XM3 and AirPod Pros I can say that the APP are a much better product. The Sony's had rubbish connection quality and I'd often get audio drop outs for a few seconds, the wind noise was terrible when using the highest NC setting you had to use a dedicated wind mode which affected the sound a bit and then that's before getting into the benefits APP have on iOS compared to the Sony ones.

I was unhappy enough with the Sony's that I opted to get a pair of APP after maybe 3 months of owning the Sonys. Not only that but the APP were much more comfortable for daily use. They're just a much better product

I think the AirPods Pro are better overall as well, but in terms of sound quality and NC they aren't as good, which is my point. But then the APP makes up for it in connecting much easier and not dropping out, and in some cases (like high pitch sounds) get NC'd out better than the WFs. But purely from an audiophile perspective, WFs are superior.

 

[Junglist]

I think the airpods pro are better overall as well, but in terms of sound quality and NC they arent as good, which is my point. But then the APP makes up for it in connecting much easier and not dropping out, and in some cases (like high pitch sounds) get NC'd out better than the WF's. But purely from an audiophile perspective, WF's are superior.

I have to disagree really. From memory the WFs may have went louder but that was about it. I certainly didn't think they sounded any better. In an office setting, riding my motorbike, walking around town etc, the APP were better in every department.

I was desperate for the WF1000XM3 to be better as I didn't want to spend basically the same price again buying the AirPod Pros but enough was enough and I passed them on.

Though saying all that, they did support that Sony 3D audio thing and when i signed up to Deezer to try it out, it was a pretty cool bit of technology. Wasn't many supported songs but after listening to Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing it did feel like he was singing right in front of me

 

[Deleted member 209350]

I have to disagree really. From memory the WFs may have went louder but that was about it. I certainly didn't think they sounded any better. In an office setting, riding my motorbike, walking around town etc, the APP were better in every department.

I was desperate for the WF1000XM3 to be better as I didn't want to spend basically the same price again buying the AirPod Pros but enough was enough and I passed them on.

Though saying all that, they did support that Sony 3D audio thing and when i signed up to Deezer to try it out, it was a pretty cool bit of technology. Wasn't many supported songs but after listening to Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing it did feel like he was singing right in front of me

Maybe I didnt listen to them enough them because from what I remember they sounded better and had better bass. Either way, it wasnt a huge difference and the ease of using the APP made me keep onto them

 

[Mekrel]

I don't think you're looking at it right.

The XM4's are designed to be a high end, mass volume item, sold in mass.

The AirPods Max are designed to be a high end, premium, luxury item, sold in mass.


If you compare the AirPods Max to the B&O H95, then they begin to look good value for money.

https://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/headphones/beoplay-h95?variant=beoplay-h95-black


They're a different category of product, and it's why Marques (MKBHD) was right to question if they should be compared to the XM4s.


I think he should be comparing them to Master and Dynamic and the B&O stuff

Why should they be compared to those products though? B&O and Master and Dynamic are audio only brands where as Sony & Apple have far more in common in regards to manufacturing across multiple electronic categories. If you're saying B&O and M&D are premium brands then you're essentially saying these have to purely compete on sound because those brands aren't known for good ANC, yet they still exist in the market at a high price point (i.e. people buy them at high cost despite ANC being worse than mainstream brands such as Sony).

I get both sides of the argument at the moment, some points raised are moot such as the lack of NFC because Apple have never designed something work well on non-Apple devices and Apple have done a fantastic job of getting their audio products to pair extremely quickly with their phones. At the same time, charging that sort of money and putting that excuse for a case out and missing a proper 3.5mm jack cable is criminal.

Obviously these will sell because Apple have made their brand so desirable and I believe people do get value out of how well their devices work with other Apple products.

 

[Somnambulist]

Just doing some more reading on these, don't like the fact that they're 'always-on' unless they're in the iPurse/iBra - plenty of room to have put an iPhone/iPad

If enough people complain they’ll just make a software fix so it goes into sleep mode after not being in use for 10mins or perhaps a combination button/crown press, or we just wait for 3rd parties to get their hands on them and make better accessories than what is an oddly woeful effort from Apple.

 

[Deleted member 209350]

If enough people complain they’ll just make a software fix so it goes into sleep mode after not being in use for 10mins or perhaps a combination button/crown press, or we just wait for 3rd parties to get their hands on them and make better accessories than what is an oddly woeful effort from Apple.

It does go off, but only after 2 hours though (According to the MKBHD video)