Apple AirPods Max - Space Gray

TL/DR: Superb build quality, astonishingly good audio quality and best in class ANC add up to be the very best noise cancelling headphones you can buy, as long as you intend to use them with Apple hardware. Users of Android phones or windows desktops are probably better served by other options.Longer review:The first impression when these come out of the box is the sheer excellence of the build quality. The aluminium ear cups, stainless steel head band and soft memory foam ear pads all add up to a build quality that looks, feels and is light years ahead of any other offering at this or even much higher price points. By comparison competing headphones that are made of plastic, however well made, feel nastily cheap by comparison. Apple always focus on build quality and aesthetics and here they have outdone themselves.Comfort is surprisingly excellent. These headphones feel and are weighty but never feel heavy even after lengthy listening sessions. The fabric & memory foam ear pads combine with the mesh on the head band to make them surprisingly comfortable despite their relative weight. Again full marks in this department.The active noise cancelling is very impressive. When switched on the outside world really does simply disappear. Best of all, the sound signature is in no way affected by turning on ANC. No distortion, no hiss, no background noise at all. Again very impressive. Similarly transparency mode is handled equally well - turn it on and the effect is that of the headphones seeming to disappear. External sound is clear but so is whatever music you have playing. The engineers at Apple did a superb job with the transparency mode.Being headphones the £1M question is of course how do they sound? The answer is very good indeed. The sound signature is close to the Harman curve so the Airpods Max have a natural and neutral sound. Detail and separation are excellent. The sound stage is good though admittedly not as wide as other headphones I've tried. Bass is punchy but detailed and doesn't sound muddy in the slightest. Treble is tight and highs are handled again with detail. Be aware though that because the sound reproduction is excellent these headphones will severely punish low quality or poorly done recordings.In terms of ease of use, I don't think I've ever had a pair of bluetooth headphones that are as easy to use. Pairing with Apple devices is effortless (I use with an iPhone 12 pro max and a 2019 iPad pro) and switching between Apple devices is seamless and "just works." Android or WIndows users will however be missing out on a number of features and are probably best served by other options.One final point - the case that these headphones come with is a horrible joke. Given how carefully designed and engineered the headphones are the case is head scratchingly awful. It feels nice and is made of decent material but it does a very poor job of covering the headphones. I would imagine that everyone who buys Airpods Max will instantly also buy a proper third party hard case to go with them. No idea what Apple were thinking there but the included case is quite literally nearly pointless as an actual case.All in all, are the Airpods Max worth the (relative to the competition) very expensive price? Value is obviously a subjective thing but in terms of build quality, ease of use, convenience and most importantly audio quality these far exceed all of the competition. For me personally they're definitely worth the price and I genuinely find it hard to put them down. 9.5/10 for the Airpods Max, 2/10 at most for the pointless included "case."

I was hesitant about the price at first, but after using the AirPods Max, I can confidently say they're worth the investment. The sound quality is phenomenal – rich, balanced, and incredibly immersive. Whether I’m listening to music, watching films, or taking calls, the audio is crystal clear with deep bass and crisp highs.The noise cancellation is outstanding, cutting out background noise effortlessly, and the transparency mode is equally impressive when I need to stay aware of my surroundings. The spatial audio feature adds an entirely new dimension to movies and music – it truly feels like you're in the middle of the action.They’re also surprisingly comfortable for long listening sessions, with the memory foam ear cushions and breathable mesh headband offering a secure yet light fit. USB-C charging is a welcome addition, and the battery life has easily kept up with my daily use.Overall, these headphones deliver in every category – sound, comfort, design, and features. If you're an Apple user looking for top-tier wireless headphones, these are a fantastic choice.

Like all Apple gear, these are expensive. Once you accept that, and with the expectation that the build quality and usability will be up there with the best that Apple produces, and, crucially, given that you've actually tried or own these, then you're in a position to give a balanced review. So, with that out of the way, let's look at these for what they are: impeccably built, fantastic sounding (IMO, for a wireless set), comfortable headphones that just work - brilliantly - with many devices. Switching between devices is handled with ease and they are a very comfortable wear, despite their weight on paper. The dial and button are a joy to use; every time my wife comes to talk to me I can quickly pause whatever's playing with one push of the dial, turn on transparency mode with a push of the button, and have a clear-as-day conversation before quickly resuming. Make no mistake: these headphones are extremely well designed and built. I have many headphones; some wireless but mostly wired, including a fully balanced audiophile setup and I can say that the sound quality is extremely impressive - for Bluetooth. I state that caveat because no wireless headphones will sound as good as a properly amped and cabled, balanced, setup with may seem obvious but it's still worth stating because there's no part of me that feels the Airpods Max sound deficient, within reasonable expectations. I could carry on describing how much I love these but I'll stop short of that and just say that I am extremely pleased. Summary: expensive, yes, but what Apple gear isn't? You get what you pay for and if you're in the Apple ecosystem and you want some over-ears, you'll do well to at least try them.

I’ve been using my AirPods Max for years now, and they still work great and sound amazing. I got them at a reduced price, which was a bonus. My only wish is that they came with USB-C, but that doesn’t take away from how happy I am with them. Highly recommend!