Jacob Krol / TheStreet
Now let’s set the scene. I’m flying about 36,000 feet in the air and have a window seat. There is an engine outside the window and I can hear it for about 5 hours, but I sit very quietly.
Yes, it’s my first time to fly a bit, but it’s also a great opportunity to get Apple’s AirPods Max at their pace. Yes, Cupertino-based tech giant’s $ 549.99 over-ear headphones. Launched in 2019, they recently became a “hot girl” product in the summer, reaching a new level of TikTok fame.
I’ve already spent a lot of time on the ground with these, and although they are expensive, they are some of the best headphones available. But after flying twice on AirPods Max, it’s a traveler’s dream if you have an iPhone.
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Strong ANC and transparency
Jacob Krol / TheStreet
One of the biggest attractions of AirPods Max is the promise of noise canceling and transparency modes. And to enhance the experience are two processors (Apple H1 chipset on each earcup) and eight dedicated microphones for canceling or picking up external sounds.
With ANC (Active Noise Canceling), the processor boots to listen to and block external sounds. Then you are just left behind in the vacuum of sound. Of course, you can fill it with music or talk to yourself in your head. This is a class-leading ANC that can also cancel low or medium frequencies such as HVAC, engines, footsteps, or carts rolling down the hallway. Similarly, playing music also helps to get complete silence, but it works pretty well at higher frequencies. Ultimately, it’s an ANC experience comparable to Sony’s WH-1000XM5, but AirPods Max is more comfortable.
It’s transparent mode that Apple steps up. It listens to and captures external sounds, but does not pipe them together with a digital layer that leads to a compressed sound. Instead, the transparency sounds natural and you won’t notice any changes in the robot. AirPods Max can also switch between these modes very easily.
Great sound and simple setup
Jacob Krol / TheStreet
And these two listening modes are paired with very nice sounding audio from AirPods Max. Each track provides a crisp, vibrant, bold sound that immerses you. Sony’s WH-1000XM5 is approaching, but there is something in the overall package for iPhone users.
AirPods Max works seamlessly within the Apple ecosystem. Once you open the box, place it next to your iPhone and pair it to sync with all Apple. ((((APPL). Device via iCloud. This allows you to quickly replace the connected device (iPhone, Mac, iPad, or Apple TV) and monitor the battery life of the connected device. You can also use hands-free Siri to control everything from lighting your home to sending messages, making calls, and reading notifications.
Also, while traveling, you don’t need to make sure your AirPods Max is connected, as it will automatically connect when you get on your head. Also, if you’re using an iPhone and Mac, you can easily switch between your primary devices.
You can also use Spatial Audio for music, movies, and TV shows by connecting to your Apple device. Basically, the ability to create surround sound experiences is based on where you are using the device connected to your AirPods Max. It’s a little software and AI trick to your ears. Still, when listening to tracks like Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Down on the Corner,” there’s the right amount of separation between the instruments. You can see from which direction they are coming. Also, if you turn your head so that the connected device is behind you, the separation will be reversed.
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It works with a variety of Apple Music songs and albums, as well as Spatial Audio-enabled movies and TV shows. Many of the Beatles are available alongside Olivia Rodrgio’s Sour, some Queen tracks, and more recently Harry Styles’ new album, Harry’s House.
Ultra premium build with comfortable and cozy ear cups
Jacob Krol / TheStreet
Part of the reason for the $ 549.99 suggested retail price is Apple’s choice of materials. AirPods Max is made primarily of aluminum and stainless steel, with ample cushioning for head-touching and head-facing areas.
Let’s take the ear cup. Aluminum faces the world, but when you touch your ears, the breathable memory foam rests comfortably. Also, like Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones, AirPods Max has oversized ear cups that surround the left and right ears. Also, if you wear them for training and your head sweats, the foam part of the earcups will magnetically adhere and you will be able to pop quickly.
And even on a pressurized plane, AirPods Max is ridiculously cozy around your ears. After a few hours, I didn’t feel much pressure on my skull ears. With other headphones, you usually need to remove the headphones to give your ears a breathing space and reduce the pressure around your head.
Breathability is essential here, but so is the top headband and overall weight. AirPods Max features a net canopy with physical holes in the ribbon, rather than a plastic band wrapped in memory foam and fabric material. It is thin and elastic, but caresses the top of the head. It also disperses pressure and reduces the tightness of the top of the head. This becomes apparent with most over-ear headphones after listening for a few hours.
Instead of incorporating a capacitive touch layer into the earcup, Apple chose an action button to control the listening mode and a digital crown for playback and volume. The latter is a larger version of the Crown, so anyone who has used or seen an Apple Watch will be familiar with it. One of the benefits of physical control is that it is used at low temperatures when wearing gloves.
Jacob Krol / TheStreet
Charge your AirPods Max with a Lightning cable, but you’ll also notice that there’s no power button here. These headphones are always on, unless they are on the included carrying sleeve. Once inserted there, it goes to sleep. And the sleeves, the case-whatever you call it-are very strange and don’t provide much protection.
This is a polyurethane material similar to Apple’s Smart Cover for iPad, rather than a full wraparound with a zipper like the Bose and Sony options. Protects only the lower half of the ear cup. The top bands and all the stainless steel arms that connect them are not protected. Oddly enough, protection is less important given the durability of the actual material.
You can also get AirPods Max in several colors to make it the only AirPods available in color. As for battery life, you can expect 20 hours from AirPods Max.
Let’s summarize
AirPods Max is expensive, but at its price, it’s tightly integrated with the Apple ecosystem, allowing you to silence noisy planes and get a non-discomforting experience at a distance of 36,000 feet. They are great and at least it’s worth considering if you can splatter on them.
The good news is that most of the time it’s discounted. Yes, you can buy it for $ 549, but Amazon can buy it for $ 479. Recently it has dropped to $ 450. And rest assured that after years of use, AirPods Max show no signs of slowing down.
And if you’re looking for rich sound, powerful ANC or transparency, and Spatial Audio for earphones, or just don’t want to spend money, the AirPods Pro is worth a look. It’s currently available on Amazon for $ 174.99.
Prices are accurate and in stock at the time of issue.
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