AirPods Max
Apple's first over–ear headphones are here
APPLE HAS INTRODUCED AirPods Max, its first over–ear headphones, at $549. There are top–quality rivals available for much less but, in addition to promising premium acoustic performance, AirPods Max offers features you won’t find on most non–Apple headphones, such as Spatial Audio, Automatic Switching, and Audio Sharing. (The exception is Beats, which Apple acquired for $3bn in 2014, but this is a more premium product than anything Beats currently offers.)
The distinctive design of the AirPods Max has divided opinion, but Apple says every part is designed for an uncompromising fit that creates the optimal acoustic seal for many different head shapes. The breathable knit mesh canopy distributes weight to reduce on–head pressure, the stainless steel frame is wrapped in a soft–touch material, and the telescoping arms stay in place to maintain the desired fit. The anodized aluminum cups attach with a “revolutionary” mechanism that allows each cup to pivot and rotate independently to fit the unique contours of the user’s head as well as balance and distribute ear cup pressure. The ear cushions are “crafted with acoustically engineered memory foam” to create an effective seal — a critical factor in delivering immersive sound.
The Apple–Watch–like Digital Crown enables you to adjust volume, play or pause audio, skip tracks, answer or end phone calls, and activate Siri. The noise control button switches between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode, which lets through ambient sound while you listen to music.
What about the sound quality? Apple says a unique dual–neodymium ring magnet motor ensures ultra– low total harmonic distortion of less than 1% across the entire audible range, even at maximum volume. With a 40mm Apple–designed dynamic driver and 10–core Apple H1 chip in each ear cup, the headphones use computational audio to deliver “the highest quality listening experience possible.”
Adaptive EQ measures the sound signal and adjusts the low and mid frequencies in real time. In addition, each ear cup has three outward–facing microphones to detect ambient noise, plus one mic inside the ear cup to monitor the sound reaching your ear. Using computational audio, Active Noise Cancellation continuously adapts to the headphone fit and movement in real time.
Speaking of movement: using the gyroscope and accelerometer in AirPods Max — and iPhone or iPad — the Spatial Audio feature dynamically tracks the motion of the user’s head as well as the device, then remaps the sound field so it stays anchored even as the user’s head moves, helping deliver an immersive, “theater–like” experience for content recorded in 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos.
AirPods Max automatically detect when they’re on your head, and pause when you remove them or simply lift one ear cup. Beamforming microphones help isolate your voice on phone calls, so it’s clear even in windy conditions.
In addition, like other AirPods, AirPods Max features one–tap setup, automatic pairing with all the devices signed in to your iCloud account — including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. And there’s automatic switching between them when, for example, you’re listening to music from your Mac and want to take a call. Plus, audio sharing means you can share an audio stream between two sets of AirPods on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple TV 4K.
As for battery life, AirPods Max delivers up to 20 hours of audio, talk time, or movie playback with Active Noise Cancellation and Spatial Audio enabled. Slip the headphones into the soft Smart Case supplied and they go into an ultra–low–power state to preserve battery charge.