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."

The Apple AirPods Max offer a premium audio experience in a stylish and sleek design. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, some users have found them to be less comfortable compared to other headphones in their price range. The weight and clamping force may cause discomfort during extended use. Additionally, while the sound quality is impressive, it may not match the level of the AirPods Pro 2. Audiophiles or individuals seeking the highest level of audio fidelity may find the AirPods Max to be slightly lacking in comparison. Furthermore, the noise-cancelling feature on the AirPods Max does a good job in reducing external noise, but it may not excel in keeping the sound from leaking out. This could be a concern for those in shared or quiet environments where sound leakage is not desired. My wife could hear music even at low volume, other Top end headphones I use do NOT have the some issue. Despite these drawbacks, the AirPods Max still offer a premium and convenient wireless listening experience, with seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem. The build quality is solid, and the adaptive EQ and spatial audio features enhance the overall audio experience. The battery life is commendable as well, allowing for extended listening sessions without frequent recharging. Ultimately, if you value sleek design and seamless integration with Apple devices, along with above-average sound quality and acceptable noise-cancelling capabilities, the AirPods Max could be a suitable choice. However, if comfort and superior noise cancellation are your top priorities, considering other options might be worth exploring. The headphones ARE extremely solidly built as you'd expect from apple. Just wish they were slightly more comfortable as my ears were getting sore after just a couple of hours. MY ONE annoyance and it's a biggie. YOU CANNOT switch the blasted things off.

People talk trash about these headphones mainly because of the price, myself included... until I tried them, they are a game-changer, the noise cancellation is beyond amazing, the sound quality is the best I've ever heard, the build quality is elite. these will last forever and there's not going to be a reason to upgrade. Sony xm3/4s are good... but they're made of plastic, they don't feel as good as AirPods Max and they definitely won't last as long. sound quality, loudness, and ANC I give in favour of the Airpods Max. the controls are also superior and the transparency mode is amazing, it's like your not wearing any headphones at all. Complaints about the weight must be coming from babies because after 10 hours of use with a lot of head movement my neck/head is fine. When I got these headphones I wanted to hate them. I wanted to return them and keep my xm4s but they can't stand up to the Airpods Max at all. they do cost twice as much but I bought the xm3s and then the xm4s which did me £600 together, all because my xm3s cushions basically collapsed, so I couldn't use them anymore, so I got the xm4s to replace them and sadly they are also on the way to the same problem. the AirPods Max have replaceable earcups and the rest of the headphones is made of metal which is stronger and more durable than plastic. to put why AirPods Max are a better choice than Sonys xm3/4s I've done an easily understandable analogy: On the Sony headphones side, It's kinda like buying a car with the seats, steering wheel and tyres only made last about a year and having to buy a new car each time they wear down, with the engine, in this case, the drivers still working. When on the AirPods Max side, you could buy a car that's made to last for a long time with easily replaceable parts. I say this because the drivers in my xm3s are still working but the ear cushions are flat (which forced me to buy a new pair and I opted for the most recent pair with that being the xm4s), when/if this happens to my AirPods Max I'll just buy new earcups. instead of a new headset, like Sony is making you do with no replaceable earcups and inferior build quality. These save you money in the long run. people get confused with apple. let me clear it up: They make things last a long time, Apple will continue to release firmware updates for these headphones. Apple will always make the replaceable earcups for these headphones. people still use the AirPods they bought 4 years ago (my xm3s were lucky to make 1 year). people need to understand these will last years and years guaranteed. If you still hate these headphones then you just simply hate how successful apple is, I'll admit I'm no fanboy, the way apple makes a problem then sells you a solution is diabolical but it's just business, but in this case, Apple is selling a fantastic pair of headphones at a reasonable price considering the longevity of the product. ps. I use them on my pc with Bluetooth and they work just fine.

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.

The AirPods Max is a polarising product. Apple bashers will hate them, audiophiles will be sceptical, Apple fanboys will (for the most part) love them. But the elephant in the room - the cost and THAT case. If you're tied into the a different ecosystem like Samdroid-Windows, or just don't like Apple products in your life for whatever reason you've convinced yourself of, then the AirPods Max aren't for you. But trust me, you're missing out. First off, no matter what "What Hifi" says (and in my opinion they have a history of giving questionable favourable reviews), these ARE better than the so-called market leader, the Sony WH-1000XM4. And it's not even a close run thing. They are sonically superior, the build quality is streets ahead, they look better, the Apple ecosystem works better than standard Bluetooth, and despite being much heavier than the Sonys, they are more comfortable for longer periods of time. The only place the Sony has the AirPods beaten is the battery life and the fact they have a proper case and a couple more accessories. The spatial audio is super clever but a bit of a gimmick to me. The ANC is excellent, and you can tap the button on the right ear cup to switch to transparent mode which works really well. The Digital Crown, which is similar to the one on my Apple Watch, works well for volume and track skipping and play/pause. The only thing I'd say is the rotary dial is a little sensitive. To the elephants: Cost - I got mine in a January sale from amazon for £400 on their 5 monthly deal. That's £150 off retail. Now I own them, I wouldn't feel begrudged if I'd paid the full amount. They're that good. Case - I bought a £22 Spigen hard case (also off Amazon), which is actually better made and higher quality than the case the Sonys come with, so even though I had to pay for them, it's better too. If you want to spend that much money, then you won't regret it. If you are sceptical, I'd suggest go to the Apple store and try them out. If you're an Apple basher, well why have you read this far? I mean, really. Genuinely an astonishing product from Apple.

A few weeks ago I bought the Sony WH1000-XM5’s and was a little disappointed with them. To be clear the Sony’s are great headphones but after all the stellar reviews they got I found the sound to be a little muddy ( even eq’d ) and I also had issues with the sound breaking up a bit at high volumes or being a little pitchy if I tried to eq the break-up out. However, they are very good and unbelievably comfortable to wear and the ANC is absolutely fantastic As a fairly heavy Apple user the airpod Max’s had been nagging at me for a while but I was finding it hard to justify the price, was worried about a new version coming out in Sept, and had only just bought the Sony’s. Well, late one evening, when most of my more regrettable Amazon purchases are made, I decided to bite the bullet. On the whole I was not disappointed. The Max’s sound noticeably better than the XM5’s ( to me and the type of music I listen to) and the sound stage is much better. The MX5’s are great and you wont be disappointed but if you have more money than sense, like me, the Max’s do offer an even better audio quality than the already excellent XM5’s. The ANC is very close between the 2 but I think the XM5’s are very marginally better, but its really close. its not all roses though, and I will definitely be keeping my XM5 for one very good reason. The Max’s are a LOT heavier than the XM5’s. They are not uncomfortable but if you try laying down in the Max’s or walking around, the weight makes them shift noticeably on your head. So if you are sitting upright (ish) and not moving a lot the Max’s are fine. If you want to lay down with them on they try to slip off your ears, and they waggle about a bit as you walk around. The XM5’s are almost like wearing in-ear phones in that you almost forget you are wearing them they are so light and so comfy. So for long plane flights, or travelling in general I’ll be using the XM5’s. When I’m chillin’ at home I’ll use the Max’s. couple of other minor mentions. People keep saying the pass through on the Max’s is better than the XM5’s. This is true, although only by a small amount, but honestly who cares? If you are talking to someone or want to hear something just take the damn things off! I also don’t use either headset when I am making or receiving phone calls so could care less about those features on either headphone. The other issue is more of a worry and requires some investigation. These headphones seem to cause massive battery drain on my iPhone and iPad, an issue seemingly heavily reported on the tinterweb. It also makes my iPhone 13 feel like the screen is on-fire, so it’s clearly doing some heavy processing, possibly because of the atmos and lossless audio streaming over bluetooth. on the whole though, I agree that so far these are the best sounding, but not most comfortable, ANC bluetooth headphones I have ever heard. And sound is ultimately what headphones are all about, right ?

I tested these carefully against the highly rated (and over £200 cheaper) Sony WH-1000XM5. For me there is no comparison - the Apple Airpods max have significantly better sound quality and I find them lots more convenient and intuitive to use than the very fiddly Sonys - not just with Apple devices but also with my Philips TV. I did try the Sony app and equalizer - which helped the sound a bit - but not enough. The volume control knob is genius. I personally love how they stay on (in low power mode?) ready to use when you put them down. Unlike the Sonys - which switch off each time then you have to remember which knob to press and how many seconds you have to hold it down to connect - every time! Battery life hasn't been an issue. Though I normally only use them at home so if they run out of juice I can plug in a long usb lead and keep listening. BRILLIANT for music and BRILLIANT for great sound when watching tv - without disturbing neighbours and without being yourself disturbed by them. Vastly better than the top rated sonos sound bar and better than using optical out to my marantz amp and a big lead across the room to wired philips fidelio headphones - or to some excellent speakers - these apples are far clearer in every case. I didn't know Bluetooth headphones could sound this good! Even MOTD is a revelation with these - besides the commentary you hear the crowd pretty well which adds to the atmosphere. If you get to test these try this : With Qobuz or Tidal, set up Massive Attack's Unfinished Symphony Set volume up to max (at least just to start with) Press Play Wow! - or your money back. (note: like most speakers / earphones the sound quality might well improve after they have run in for a number of hours) I also tested them against Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) (small in-ear buds). These latter also sound great (better than the Sonys) and are keepers - but can't match the Airpods Max for a full deep sound. So my Sonys went back but the Airpods Max and Airpods Pro are awesome. I didn't actually like the Sky Blue colour of the Airpods Max when they arrived so changed them for space gray.

I am an apple fan but these are just not worth the price tag. Yes the audio does sound good and more like a room filling sound around your head vs in ear headphones that make it seem like the singers in your head. They do feel sturdy but even after a short time wearing them I would taken them off and the ear cups would feel damp and you could see a small bit of moisture. The case is horrible so they are no good for traveling, I had to get another hard case for using to and from work on the train as there was no way they would like to go in and out of my bag without getting scratched up at some point. As for noise cancellation, I used them on the train and they are not much different vs the AirPods Pro 2. I was hoping they would be better at drowning out the screaming kids on a train, but no such luck haha I found on the train I preferred the AirPods Pro 2 over the Max for comfort. They are heavy too at first you don’t think much when they are on your head but after a while I found I would need to adjust the position of them as they would start to become uncomfortable. Are they good overall? Yes. Worth the price? No, there are better ones out there really and more so if it’s the ANC feature you are after the most.