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AirPods Max 2

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Re: AirPods Max 2

#471

Post by bwv848 »

timothyduong wrote: post #388
bwv848 wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Best bang for the buck in terms of sound quality is probably the Hifiman HE400SE, which is less than $100, the AKG K701 and Sennheiser HD6XX, which are about $200. The catch is that you need a proper setup to drive them. But to be honest, getting the tuning you like that suits the music is more important.

HD6XX was too harsh in the highs for me. I think HD600s are tuned ever so slightly better. Also base DACs from a MBP M1 (max) were fine to drive it for me. Both HD600/XX

I’m sure it’s driving issue, 650/6XX’s treble is supposed to be smooth and veiled. I wouldn’t consider the HD6 series at all if you only have an unbalanced setup, the difference on my DAC is night and day.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#472

Post by steve1977 »

stego-tech wrote: post #375
steve1977 wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you're one of the few people who actually can consistently tell MP3 and lossless apart? https://abx.digitalfeed.net/

Yeah, at least for certain kinds of music. Don't get me wrong, I'm not soapboxing out here against folks who enjoy lossy music (my flatmates enjoy our local library transcoded to MP3s), nor am I going to praise-be the "high-res" audio movement. I just happened to have someone sit me down for a critical listening session on quality kit with a CD I had ripped before and my iPod with the MP3, and it was night and day to…

But have you tried the ABX test I linked to with a proper set up, e.g. your HD800?

If you compare a CD on a proper system with an MP3 on an iPod, you're really comparing Apples to oranges. Also depending on with which encoded the MP3 was created. The iTunes encoder for example was infamous for rather bad quality.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#473

Post by testbjjl »

mvkel wrote: post #402
testbjjl wrote: post #399

Sorry, Apple audio stuff, while really impressive audio quality has made me deaf. I’ll take bad to no engineered audio quality and keep what I have left of my hearing for conversations and nature. Rapid degradation in my sense of hearing.

I don't understand. Are you blaming Apple for turning your volume up too high?

For me, I think it has more to do with length of exposure. Certainly my fault. Perhaps analogous to social media use and smart phones. To avoid temptation I try to limit then restrict my usage. It seems that some people “blame” side effects of social media usage on social media companies? Is that different for you? Sometimes, it can take some time to realize you’re dealing with a more potent form of a similar experience.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#474

Post by unknown2342 »

wahnfrieden wrote: post #272

Surprised to not see others comment on the terrible durability of these. Condensation (from normal use, not outdoor or gym) easily breaks these after a year or two. If not that, the twisting ribbon cable eventually breaks. Repairs are difficult and expensive and uncertain.

I agree I had the same issue. I did send them in, but the issue still remains. I can’t connect to my devices. Maybe they did fix it.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#475

Post by mft_ »

zamalek wrote: post #285
Paria_Stark wrote: post #227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doubt audiophiles are really the target for the AirPods Max.

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 new(ish) Sennheiser HDB 630s have been getting fairly spectacular reviews for sound quality, and cost a touch less than the Airpods Max 2s.

Leaving the rest of your equipment aside, those would be the first options I'd consider in the Airpods price bracket.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#476

Post by mft_ »

Foobar8568 wrote: post #462
bombcar wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sennheiser HD 800 S is $1700 and has been around for years. Or the Meze Elite Tungsten at $4,000 - if Apple can get 80/90% of the way there at $549, they'd be a steal for the right customer .

You can't compare wired and open back design with Bluetooth headphones. Anyway, I own a Meze 109 pro, and cheap iems with 3M hearing protection that I use when my commute is too noisy. Replace nicely my old ANC headphones.

> cheap items with 3M hearing protection

Can I ask which, please?

Re: AirPods Max 2

#477

Post by barrell »

alstonite wrote: post #7

My AirPods Max 1 left a headband dent in my skull from how poor the quality of the headband was after more than a year of daily use. They also are super heavy and don't travel well at all. Apple deciding that, on their 2nd refresh of these (after usb-c), they still aren't going to fix those fundamental issues is very frustrating for what feels like a very disproportionately expensive product (even by Apple standards)…

I wrapped my headband in some macrame yarn and it resolved all of the discomfort. I can’t say it’s exactly stylish, but I do get a lot of comments on it.

I only really wear them at home or when traveling though, so they’re not a fashion accessory for me.

Still wish they would have improved the headband, but if anyone else is struggling with discomfort, I’d recommend wrapping it in yarn XD

Re: AirPods Max 2

#478

Post by mikehall314 »

ffsm8 wrote: post #452
StefanKarpinski wrote: post #145

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…

Personally the thing that really surprised me about mine was the amount of condense water builds up under the pads when I'm wearing it over a workday. My noise cancelling started to go flaky until I stumbled upon that - after I've dried it off after every use and stopped using the "case" /store pads separately from headphone things improved a lot again. It feels like a serious design issue, I'm really confused why so…

Yeah, the condensation issue was a problem for me too. I ended up having to take them in for repair to Apple several times.

The noise cancellation went flakey, the auto-switching went flakey, they would crash [1] if lifted one cup from the side of my head. Apple ended up replacing them completely, but then the new pair eventually developed all the same faults.

I hope some of these are addressed in the new models, because despite all this I really enjoy them as headphones.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#479

Post by rswail »

nomel wrote: post #185
seizethecheese wrote: post #164

I'll briefly join the chorus: AirPods Max were the worst value for money I've ever spent on a tech product. But more interestingly: what happens at a company like Apple that leads them to not cancel this product and come up with something totally new? Is it that the success of their other products pulls this along so well that they are numb to this product being a dog? AirPods Pro (the earbuds) are a great product, s…

> so perhaps the headphones org just doesn't have to face the music? Some people don't like anything in their ears. Some people have ear canals that don't work/aren't comfortable with "standard" tips. This is why headphones will always exist.

I got airpods (Pro v2) and got the squishy memory foam tips from a 3rd party that are a) comfortable, and b) actually stay in my ears.

I hate normal headphones because they make my ears get sweaty and are heavy and uncomfortable.

Re: AirPods Max 2

#480

Post by derencius »

46493168 wrote: post #170
thorncorona wrote: post #111

20 hours of listening is surprisingly low -- sony xm6 -- 30h bose qc ultra -- 24h would recommend the sony anc headphones, they're quite good.

XM6 does not support audio over USB-C (The USB-C port on the XM6 is only for charging) QC Ultra 2 does, but the headphones turn off when plugged in and have to be turned back on while charging AirPods Max with USB-C and AirPods Max 2 appear to be the only headphones among this group (XM6, QCUltra2, AirPods Max with USB-C, AirPods Max 2) that support both Audio over USB-C and automatic charging while in use.

I have a B&W Px7 S2 supports, and it supports charging and audio via USB-C.
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