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AirPods Max 2

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421–430 of 586 posts

Re: AirPods Max 2

#421

Wild. I have been eagerly awaiting this refresh, but this doesn't address either of the main issues with the original AirPods Max: 1. Still just as heavy. The AirPods Max sound quite good, but they are very heavy, to the point of being fairly uncomfortable after listening for any longer amount of time. This release as the exact same weight as the originals (13.6 oz). 2. Still no off button/position. They stay partial…

My two issues with the previous version (had two of them).

The noise cancellation was intentionally downgraded at a certain point. Because one pair worked until it also got an update.

Second issue is both stopped working. No idea why and both shortly after AppleCare ran out.

They are very expensive and it’s just not worth the risk.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#422
post #163

I'm not buying another expensive AirPods from Apple until they have their story straight w.r.t battery health and battery repair that is cost-effective. I'm done wasting money on these only to have battery issues, clicking noises etc in less than 2 years of continuous use. Irritating thing is how Apple hides bluetooth headphones pairing 2-3 clicks deeper than AirPods pairing – on iPhones and Apple TV.

Replacing the batteries on the Maxes is actually a fairly straightforward process (no adhesive melting required, just a screwdriver and a pry bar), and spare batteries can be purchased on Amazon or Ebay for around 50 USD. It's one of the better Apple products in that regard, very unlike the in-ear models.

Did that change with the Air Pod Max USB-C, because iFixit says you have to get past adhesive to get to the batteries, after you turn the specialized screws only a quarter turn, and then use a dental pick to separate the pieces after you heat the adhesive being careful not to melt other parts?

https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/AirPods+Max+Teardown/139369

>The next round of frustration: adhesive. That's right, releasing the locks and/or removing the screws isn't enough. Out comes the heat gun, which must be wielded very carefully to avoid melting all this plastic.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#423

> Up to 1.5x more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation Does that mean 50% better, or 150% better? Sure does look like weasel words.

Yeah, wouldn't this be measured in decibels (dB) of attenuation, not percentages. Percentages of what?

Re: AirPods Max 2

#424

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a slight audiophile, enough to own a Schitt stack and lower-end planar magnetics, overall cost would be slightly more than the AirPods Max 2. I did try the previous generation and walked away with no emotional response either way to the quality of the sound. The Apple tax makes me extremely skeptical that I would get $500+ worth of sound quality, however ANC upsets that equation quite a bit. For around the same c…

The AirPods Max 2 are primarily Bluetooth headphones, but support lossless audio over USB-C cable, for what it’s worth.

That is through a ADC then DAC, at least for the previous iteration, analog direct to the drivers was not supported. You would be compounding distortion, and largely throwing away what the external DAC+Amp had on offer.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#425

I really don't understand how these are $549. As others have pointed out, some people say the head band is not great. Others say the sound is solid but not exceptional. What makes these worth that much when there are so many options?

They just work. The integrated mic is clear and easy to use for daily standups. They connect to my work and personal laptop in a few seconds every time - I’m never left panicking right before a big meeting. Of course the audio quality, noise canceling, and battery life are world class, but that’s the case for their competitors too - the reason I coughed up the extra $150 for Apple headphones is because I know they’re going to fucking work exactly as advertised, no glitches or gimmicks.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#427

A tangential question: What are the best bang per buck headphones these days (preferably wireless)? Not earbuds, but over-the-head headphones. Tell me your favorites. (The internet is so polluted that I cannot find any reliable recommendation today so I'm doing a mini "ask HN" here.)

Wireless: - Top tier general: sennheiser Hbd 630 - good enough: sennheiser momentum 4 (affordable) - good ANC and “bassy”: Sony xm5/xm6 (‘muddy’ for some) - I like the Bose ANC profile: Bose QC2 All of them have bad microphones (worse than wired ear pods) All of them have good to great ANC All of them are wireless If you need a good mic then get dedicated headset for calls. Otherwise settle for “ok” I didn’t include…

> All of them have bad microphones (worse than wired ear pods)

Yeah this is why people just buy AirPods Max.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#428
The price gouging against Australians is sick on this one. should be 777 AUD. No other product in the lineup is gouging this hard. Seriously Tim.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#429

A tangential question: What are the best bang per buck headphones these days (preferably wireless)? Not earbuds, but over-the-head headphones. Tell me your favorites. (The internet is so polluted that I cannot find any reliable recommendation today so I'm doing a mini "ask HN" here.)

I found this forum last year https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php which opens the door up to a high number of lower cost manufacturers making very high quality products. although the forum audience (audiophiles) generally eschew wireless products and prefer open backed (loud for everyone else and no noise cancelling) headphones, there are all kinds of products discussed.

Audio Science Review is a tremendous resource. But dangerous from a time resource perspective. I choose my headphone amp (JDS Labs) after spending much time on that site.

My personal best bang-for-the-buck are the Yamaha Orthodynamic HP-1 headphones that I bought at an estate sale last year for $10 and paired with a JDS Labs amp for $100.

Audiophile headphones in the '70s cost $100-$200. That's like $600-$1200 in today's dollars. Are the AirPods "audiophile" level? Many people think so.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#430
>Ultra-low latency audio and Lossless Audio listening requires a wired USB‑C connection and compatible content from supported apps and services. (5)

>(5) Ultra-low latency audio and Lossless Audio listening requires a wired USB‑C connection and compatible content from supported apps and services.

Soooooooo Apple, you gonna tell us which content, apps, and services are compatible?

On another note, it seems excessive that your marketing page for this product needs 22 footnotes, disclaimers, and legalese consisting of 1,252 words.

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