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AirPods Max

apple.com

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Re: AirPods Max

#631

Post by birdyrooster »

enos_feedler wrote: post #625
emcq wrote: post #606

It feels like we are seeing the result of diminishing returns with technology advancement. To make a product that Apple believes is significantly better than the competition they had to design a very intricate solution that includes: * High end look and feel not similar to the bulk of their products with lots of textile webbing and memory foam ear cups. These get way more wear and tear than normal electronics being e…

I don't understand the point you are trying to make. You lead with a statement that sounds like disappointment, but then build up to the engineering complexity involved. What are you trying to say? That this doesn't add up to a great product? How long have you been using them for?

I think the parent commenter is saying that in order to make a superior product these days, you need an extraordinary amount of investment for R&D which can only be made up by selling it at volumes that someone like Apple can achieve. I think their comment is about bang for your engineering buck.

Re: AirPods Max

#632

Post by mcdevilkiller »

enos_feedler wrote: post #625
emcq wrote: post #606

It feels like we are seeing the result of diminishing returns with technology advancement. To make a product that Apple believes is significantly better than the competition they had to design a very intricate solution that includes: * High end look and feel not similar to the bulk of their products with lots of textile webbing and memory foam ear cups. These get way more wear and tear than normal electronics being e…

I don't understand the point you are trying to make. You lead with a statement that sounds like disappointment, but then build up to the engineering complexity involved. What are you trying to say? That this doesn't add up to a great product? How long have you been using them for?

I think GP means that in the near future, significant tech advancements will only be able to be done by the tech giants.

Re: AirPods Max

#633

Post by dmitshur »

It’s hard to judge the price accurately without also knowing how long these will last before they need to be disposed of due to the wear and tear caused by regular use.

If they cost $550 and last 1-2 years, that’s quite different from them costing $550 and lasting 3-5+ years.

Edit: Relevant, AirPods Max Ear Cushions are attached magnetically, and replacements will cost $70.

Re: AirPods Max

#634

Post by OkGoDoIt »

friday99 wrote: post #575
zcw100 wrote: post #240

I think this is actually a fantastic place for Apple. I'm happy to trash Apple where appropriate and I've got plenty of complaints. I think Apple does it's best when the integration of hardware and software is really important and there is a very low tolerance for, I won't say bugs, but issues. They're headphones. I want to put them on and they need to make noise. I'm not dealing with connectivity issues, battery iss…

Thanks for pointing out the spatial audio. It amazes me all the comments about price but not discussing what features these actually have. Dynamic head tracking for spatial audio could be really amazing and is not cheap to implement. These aren't just some "dumb" headphones with speakers in them. I'm really interested in trying these out on the Xbox X which has Dolby Atmos on a big screen and hearing the sounds move…

I believe you only get special audio with paired to an iOS device which also includes an accelerometer. So basically iPad and iPhone. Any third-party devices don’t get special audio, as far as I’m aware.

Re: AirPods Max

#635

Post by georgeecollins »

emcq wrote: post #606

It feels like we are seeing the result of diminishing returns with technology advancement. To make a product that Apple believes is significantly better than the competition they had to design a very intricate solution that includes: * High end look and feel not similar to the bulk of their products with lots of textile webbing and memory foam ear cups. These get way more wear and tear than normal electronics being e…

I like that they are working on spatial audio. The AR applications are interesting.

Re: AirPods Max

#636

Post by doodpants »

blantonl wrote: post #308

For all the complaining about the pricing here, just set a reminder to yourself for 1 year later, when the pandemic has waned and some workplaces begin to return to normal. Then take a visual survey of how many people are wearing these in those hip open office development workspaces. You'll see the pricing didn't matter at all. You'll probably be wearing a pair yourself when you do that visual survey.

If you think of them as being just over half the price of a monitor stand [0], they're actually quite a bargain! ;-)

[0] https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MWUG2LL/A/pro-stand

Re: AirPods Max

#637

Post by OkGoDoIt »

perfectstorm wrote: post #405
blantonl wrote: post #308

For all the complaining about the pricing here, just set a reminder to yourself for 1 year later, when the pandemic has waned and some workplaces begin to return to normal. Then take a visual survey of how many people are wearing these in those hip open office development workspaces. You'll see the pricing didn't matter at all. You'll probably be wearing a pair yourself when you do that visual survey.

I have a feeling that this 'allows' Bose and Sony to raise their prices causing everything to normalize around $500 price range. Remember the original pixel (or nexus)? they were priced around $350-$400 and look where they are now ($700).

Likewise, smart watches used to cost in the neighborhood of $100 until Apple Watch came on the scene and now everyone thinks it’s normal to pay $300 for a smart watch. It was ridiculously overpriced when it started, and it’s still ridiculous now

Re: AirPods Max

#638

Post by davewritescode »

emcq wrote: post #606

It feels like we are seeing the result of diminishing returns with technology advancement. To make a product that Apple believes is significantly better than the competition they had to design a very intricate solution that includes: * High end look and feel not similar to the bulk of their products with lots of textile webbing and memory foam ear cups. These get way more wear and tear than normal electronics being e…

You could've made the same argument 15 years ago about the original iPod and its scroll wheel.

The difference between a good product and a premium product are the experience. Sometimes that experience is the most expensive part of the product.

Re: AirPods Max

#639

Post by wait_a_minute »

bitcharmer wrote: post #559
wait_a_minute wrote: post #553

I paid some $350 for the latest and great Sony wireless headphones earlier in the year, that I returned a week later. Why? Because they were not polished. For example, pairing to both my laptop and my phone at the same time was a nightmare. I could not listen to music on my laptop and instantly receive phone audio if someone called me. I also could not listen to music on my laptop, then close the laptop and resume mu…

With all due respect, why do I need to care? This post is about AirPods. I have Sennheisers. Should I write about their up- and down-sides too? What about Bowers and Wilkinsons owners? What about Bose owners? I think we all know that Apple comes nowhere new the quality of these brands. Could we please focus on the actual topic of the post here?

I'm summarizing my perspective on the AirPods Max and their price tag and on which conditions I'd be willing to purchase them, by comparing Apple's claims about them to specific problems I had elsewhere.

Re: AirPods Max

#640

Post by _imba_ »

kishinmanglani wrote: post #132

I'm a sucker. I just bought them. I love being able to switch between my iPhone and my Mac on my AirPods. I have the Sony MX3's, and they are great. I don't like toggling between devices and having it automatically connect to my last used device, have to disconnect it from one, blah, blah. This is what Apple does. They raise prices. People are stunned initially. Others follow, then those prices are the norm. iPhone w…

Most newest gen premium headphones can do that, Sony MX4 included.
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