AirPods Max Long Term Review: Tips for Use, and Why I'll Never Travel with Them Again
Vložit
- čas přidán 28. 06. 2024
- CORRECTIONS
- You CAN listen to these while charging.
INTRO
My experience traveling with and using the AirPods Max over 6 months. This is a follow up to my original review, and goes over what I've learned. In this video, you'll see:
* Using Equalizers with the AirPods Max (how to best equalize the APMs)
* A list of services and products that support Apple Spatial Audio
* Why AirPods Max's lack of lossless output isn't that important
* Why I'll never again travel with the AirPods Max
* Why if you DO travel with the AirPods Max, you should buy a hard case
...and more. Note that I do treat "spatial audio" as not-separate from head-tracking, although it technically is. My comments on all of this, however, still stand.
My original AirPods Max Review: • Apple AirPods Max Revi...
TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00 Intro
00:28 Comments & Shout Outs
01:00 Disclosures & Quick Takeaways
02:28 Sound and Lossless Audio
04:00 Spatial Audio (Plus Supported Devices, Services)
04:54 EQ’ing the AirPods Max
05:45 Phone Calls, Features
07:58 Battery
08:33 Why I’ll Never Fly with These Again
11:57 (New) Conclusions & Scores
DISCLOSURES
Music licensed under the CZcams Audio Library License
- Lazy Walk, by Cheel
Product links are affiliate links, and I may earn commission if you buy. - Věda a technologie
Wow, I cannot disagree with you enough on the travel experience, I have been using mine for 3 months now and taken over a dozen flights and they have been great! I have had no problems with seal breaking when turning my head from side to side or up and down. I also we are glasses and do not experience an issues with noise cancelling. I don’t know if it a head shape thing or not. I have never experienced any of the popping noises you referred to hearing during climb out or descending. I also have not experience any discomfort during a flight, they are just as comfortable in the air as they are on the ground.
Now now, don’t sell yourself short: if you try hard, you CAN disagree with me enough. I believe in you!
Seriously, though, you bring up a lot of great points.
1. I still openly wonder of the feeling of pressure was just my sinuses acting up with the changes in air pressure (my flights were all in the back of the planes), combined with WHERE the APMs apply pressure. On the ground, I find them perfectly comfortable, thought a bit tighter than some other sets, but that’s fine for me.
2. If anything, the ANC seal issue just shows how good the ANC is when it’s fully activated. My glasses aren’t flush against my skin, so this is why the seal breaks for me. Of course, I’ve also used the same glasses while using the Sony XM4, and the seal wasn’t an issue there due to the type of pads used. (I still prefer the APMs over the XM4’s on the ground.) As for the headshape, that’s a possibility, but I also think a more oval shape, instead of a square shape, would have stopped that use: for me, the seal broke between the jaw line and my neck: I have a wide jaw and a thin neck.
3. Someone mentioned that the popping noises might be a software issue, so I plan to contact Apple about it.
Best of luck, and all the best!
@@NorbReviews its just headphones dude relax
@@NorbReviews its just headphones dude relax
Airports and planes are the only places I’d wear APMs in public for security reasons (thieves can’t run off a plane or past TSA with them!) and they’re great for that use case. They’re the only headphones you’d want to use transparency mode for long stretches of time to listen for airport announcements or simply make an order with a flight attendant. I have no problems with pressure or seal breaking either. Get a $20 hard case and use them!
@@vishnu9264 what do you mean relax? He’s just talking about his experience with the headphones, and why their experiences might be different…
Man what a great review, informative and thorough! Keep it up for this channel!
Thank you!
Your channel deserves more subscribers, you give out very high quality videos and have also helped me purchase my first pair of headphones. Thanks man
Thank you! This makes my week! I’m glad I could be of help!
I am so glad you created this post because I wanted a pair for flying. Thank you for the in-depth feedback.
My pleasure. Based on the feedback I’ve received, it seems to be highly subjective. If you have a solid returns policy you can lean on, maybe consider picking up a pair and giving them an honest try for yourself.
Ultimately, I ended up using both the Know Calm and the Bang & Olufsen H9, although the Bose NC 700 (which I’m trying now) are looking VERY promising (and are currently Ben v sold refurbished on eBay by Bose for about 1/2 the price of the AirPods Max).
Best of luck!
Thank you so much for going through all the caveats which a lot of reviewers miss. Also does the condensation still occur beneath the Earpads due to change in surrounding temperatures ?? Another great review and appreciate all the hard work you put in :D
Thank you! I’m happy to hear you liked the video. As for condensation, I’ve never had an issue with the condensation. I live literally next to a swamp where temperatures regularly hit 95°F and 90% humidity, have used it in the desert and mountains, air conditioning and outside of AC (although not much outside of air conditioning). I keep checking, but have never seen the issue, so I can’t speak to it.
@@NorbReviews thank you so much again & keep up the awesome reviews :D
Yes, i had the same issue when on flight. Had to remove it and sometimes on transparency mode.
I appreciate this honest review, but the comment section made me feel a lot better about my purchase. I did invest in the water field case to be able to travel with these without a worry and I can’t recommend it enough if you have the budget. But let’s be honest if you have the budget for the headphones you should for a quality case to keep them safe. It’s a luxury audio item.
I’m glad for the commenters who differed from my opinion. Truly! People should realize that reviewers talk about their own experiences and opinions. Mine is just one among many. Had you asked me directly, I would have told you to buy them and not to worry. (I would have recommended a pair of AirPods Pro for those times they APMs were uncomfortable, unwieldy, or just impractical.) They APMs are fantastic. And I completely agree about getting a better case. I just wish Apple had done better with their first.
I have taken about a dozen flights since owning mine. I absolutely love the way they cancel all the noise on airliners. I agree about the case, Apple missed big time with that. However I did find a good aftermarket case for about 25.00 that places them in sleep mode. I have better sounding headphones that I use for short flights but they don’t compare to the Max when it comes to noise canceling. And they are not as comfortable as the Max’s. The kicker for me is the fact that I can use these to watch the same movie on the wife’s iPad. No more dorky looking splitters or passing the iPad. Overall I do agree they are overpriced but I would still buy them again based on my 5 month experience with them.
I agree with pretty much everything here. I think the ANC seal breaking had to do with the shape of the headphones being square instead of oval. (Had they been oval, it wouldn’t have hit my jaw that certain way and the seal wouldn’t have broken.) If anything, the seal breaking shows just how great the ANC is when fully engaged.
As for comfort, I do still think it might actually have been a sinus issue due to the change of air pressure. They’re so comfortable on the ground for me that this is why I was so shocked. (My wife finds them tight, but she’s also sensitive to pressure in headphones due to sinus issues.)
Which headphones do you use for shorter flights? When I switched from the APMs, I used the Bang and Olufsen H9’s. ANC wasn’t as good, but they were more comfortable for me.
Do you have a link for the aftermarket case that places then in sleep mode please ?
That’s good to hear. I just purchased a new pair off of eBay for $330. I lost my airpod pro’s at the airport, and I don’t want to replace them with the same, right before they release a better version. In the meantime I will see how I like these. I’ve used the Sony’s NC headphones, and wasn’t impressed with build quality. Plus you give up a lot, when stepping off the reservation. The Max was the obvious choice for right now, plus the price made it easier to swallow.
Can you please let me know how did you connect it to airplane media
@@bedroo3518 sorry my friend, I don’t think there is a way to connect to airline devices. I just use the wife’s IPad. They do have a lightning connector, but I’m not sure if you can use that to hook it up. Good luck!
I did not get the issues you point out during flights. I found them great during two long flights (one 11 hours and another 6.5 hours with 4-hour layover). Noise cancellation worked fine and the only thing bothering my ears were the strings of the face mask.
Great review . Still have to test mine on the plane though and get back to you .
Thanks, and please do!
I was honestly shocked at how I felt while on the plane. I always felt the APMs felt snug while on the ground, but it never bothered me. (In fact, I like it.) Other reviewers had mentioned it was too tight for them and, in fact, my wife won't wear the APMs for that same reason. On the other hand, I have friends who say it doesn't really bother them, and they fly all the time.
I guess the lesson here is: (1) The APMs are snug. Whether that's good or bad is just personal preference. (2) The way they feel may differ at different pressures, and that may change perception.
Anyway, I ramble. Best of luck, and I'm looking forward to reading about your experience!
I am on the apple ecosystem and I understand your point, i do have a DAC and yes they do sound amazing, depending on equipment you use to decode the file. I can seamlessly go from device to device including my apple tv without any problems. Unless you have everything apple I don’t see how you will fully enjoy the Max i also have the air pods pro and when i don’t feel like carrying my purse pouch lol i use my AirPods pro. lol and please make sure you are always on the latest software update from any apple device they tend to fix majority of problems.
Completely agreed. Actually, I JUST got a pair of AirPods Pro, just to show myself how much I don’t need them because my Amazon EchoBuds are just as good and, yeah… yeah, I’m keeping the AirPods Pro. They’re just qualitatively better.
The travel thing can be said for any headphones that size, just put them around your neck. The holder it come with does not take that much space, I just put them in a pocket of the bag. Done. However the price is just too high, luckily it was a gift.
Funny enough I have the exact same colour and I absolutely had a great experience flying with them. Totally agree with you that you need a case. Sound quality for me is great and clean like you’ve said though I would love a little more bass. But all round I love them.
Yeah, the comfort thing is definitely a personal thing. I’m really glad to hear you’ve enjoyed yours! (If you see my first unboxing on the APMs, you’ll see I had the black ones at first. Traded them back for the blue. It’s so nice!)
3:52 “…maybe a smaller Pigmy elephant” cracked me up hahaha
Thank you for your opinions
My pleasure, and thank you for your time and comment.
Great review, thanks!
Thank you for watching!
When I bought mine I had the intention of using them in flight, however seeing how clumsy they are to handle without being able to fold one half in (alike say Bose) and comfortably put them in a hardcase, without scratching the lovely looking shells, I quickly dismissed that idea. They're too bulky to carry along on the plane.
So I use them in the office or at home watching a movie, listening to music. For all other stuff I use my Airpods Pro that have nearly the same level of ANC, but are far more portable.
No doubt these are expensive headphones and I'm often still wondering if I should simply return them, but then find myself not wanting to. They just sound so good...
thanks for the review i think i will stick with my B&O H8 s particularly as they will also plug into the flight entertainment system with the separate cable as well as having to also buying and aircraft adaptor
In your shoes, I'd probably do the same. I love my H9's and they're usually what I fly with now. Happy listening!
Never had those problems ever. I love mine!
Never actually used the equalizer in the Apple Music settings. Thanks for that tip !
My pleasure! I’m not a huge fan of it because it’s overtly simplistic, but it gets the job done at times. (Acoustic and Classical are my favorite settings.)
Great detail on the noise cancelling, I am curious, which ones gave you the least amount of grief while flying? The Bose 700s kicked my eardrums ass and the Airpod Pros did as well. Mostly just super annoying when it comes down to having to adjust the headphones. The only headphones that were fine were the ones from Delta for $2 lol. Great video, appreciate the thoroughness.
Thank you, and I’m glad you liked it!
Honestly, my favorite travel headphones have been the Know Calm (video here: czcams.com/video/vp7iKvU3-Ck/video.html) and the Bang & Olufsen H9’s (czcams.com/video/2KOaNQNVxFw/video.html). The Sony XM4’s were good, too, but I thought they had too much ear heat.
But hey, if $2 headphones do the job, that seems like a win to me!
at wired time Bluetooth on / off
does *airpods max* microphone works??
please reply....
i am asking for gaming ☺️
Nice review .. How did u use them in the airplane ?
I am having trouble connecting them with the inflight entertainment even with the Airplay pro
I just connected them to my phone and tablet. I didn’t have them connected to the in-flight entertainment at all, so I can’t speak to that.
Really good review, concise and clear comments. This helps me determine whether to buy one or not
Thank you!
@@NorbReviews so you’re advising us not to buy these ? Have you giving Apple your feedback to hopefully improve on a next generation product ?
@@coralreef909 - Oh, not at all! I think people take my critiques to be my hating the AirPods Max. This is not the case at all! In fact, I HIGHLY recommend them! They’re built well, have good sound, have great features, and are backed by Apple, which is THE best company for customer support in personal electronics. The $550 price feels steep, though, and with the prices having dropped lately, I think people would do well to try to find them for $450 or less.
Here’s the takeaway from my video: The AirPods Max are magnificent, and they’ve gotten one of the highest ratings I’ve given any wireless headphones. But I didn’t like them for travel. At all. Which is a shame, because that noise canceling and the passthrough are second to none.
But for travel, that’s when I understood HOW bad the case choice was, and how tight some people felt them to be. (Note that I live at sea level and have sensitive sinuses, both of which which impact my sentiment.) So, for travel, I now prefer other headphones, like the Know Calm and the Bang & Olufsen H9 (I personally like over-the-ear and on-ear headphones over in-ear for a few reasons.)
Now, as for Apple listening to me, I wish! If they did, I’d recommend the following:
1. Better case, please. More protective.
2. Instead of square, maybe go with teardrop-shaped headphones next time, though I do like their size. (Given their push for symmetry, I don’t think this will happen.)
3. An EQ app which allowed for some manual tuning would be nice. The EQ for Apple Music is not nearly enough, and I wouldn’t mind tweaking them at times.
Anyway, if you’re considering these, I think you’d do well. Pair them with AirPods Pro and you have headphones for just about every need you might reasonably have.
@@coralreef909 The most needed feature for next generation is the ability to EQ the AirPods Max. FR is the only thing holding this pair from being great.
Thank you so much for the very through review. Any idea how the Sony MX5’s compare?
I haven’t tried them yet, so I can’t really say. Sorry!
Update - I’ve tried them now. In fact, I’m finishing up my review now, plus I’ll do a comparison agains the AirPods Max.
Short of it: Both are fantastic. I find the XM5 more comfortable for travel than the AirPods Max. There are other areas where I’m happier with one versus the other, but that will come up during the video.
Give me about a month or so to get that published. I’m hoping to have the review of the XM5 by the end of next week, and I have another video where there is a comparison between them, so stay tuned: a lot of XM5 content planned.
I got the Max about 2 months ago, used on a flight from Frankfurt to San José Costa Rica (about a 12 hrs flight) didn’t take them off and I loved how they just cancelled all the annoying noises you get on a plane, I felt like I was in another galaxy and didn’t even noticed sometimes that I had headphones on. My wife was even making jokes that if the headphones became a part of my body already, they’re just amazing!!
Downloaded The Boys season 3 and the experience was wonderful! You can completely zone into whatever it is that you’re watching, they make you feel like you’re part of the movie.
The fact that you can connect many AirPods to a single device is great, I watched a couple of movies with my wife that has the AirPods Pro.
I also wear glasses. And these babies are just super comfortable.
Glad to hear you've been enjoying them! Something I didn't touch on which you did here is connecting multiple AirPods to a single device. It's something I hadn't really tried yet. I think I will! Thanks for watching and for the great comment!
@@NorbReviews it’s a really really nice feature. My wife and I enjoyed a lot
I like them a lot, but I find the ear cups to be scratchy. The spatial audio for movies on the ipad is amazing!
Huh. See, the cloth material on the earpads is one of my favorite things because it’s so much cooler for me. But I can definitely see people finding these scratchy.
right? below the ear?
I think you kind of answered this by saying they don't shut off however I just picked up a pair of these at Best Buy they was deal of the day $100 off plus I had about $100 of credit at the store but I didn't open them yet.
I use my headphones a lot on PC connected to a DAC and currently have the XM3's when I unplug the 3.5mm jack from the XM3's they immediately power off and then I have to turn them back on to connect to a bluetooth device which is annoying. With the Airpod Max when I disconnect the lighting / 3.5mm cable from the headsets will the seamlessly connect to my apple devices such as Iphone and when I plug the lighting / 3.5mm plug back into the headphones will they stop feeding audio from the bluetooth connection and instantly put it back to the wired output?
Thanks for video I just found your channel and subscribed.
Thank you for subscribing! If there’s something you ever want to see, hit me up here or on Twitter (@NorbReviews).
The APMs will automatically connect to the last device they were connected to after you unplug them. (It might take a second, and I’ve car bases where I had to actually connect them using the Settings. Not common, but it happens. I can tell because it doesn’t play the “connected” chime.) When you plug them back in, the Bluetooth will drop and they’ll start playing from the cable.
Which ANC headphones would you recommend in that range that have notably better sound quality? I'm talking wireless.
My go-to are the Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay series. I have the H9, but also consider the HX. If you want really great instrument separation, check out the Master & Dynamic MW65.
Feature wise, neither the BeoPlay nor the MW65 have anything on the APMs: that’s an area where Apple did superior work on. And the ANC in the APMs is still the best I’ve experienced. But when it comes to sound, I prefer both of those over the APMs.
I’ve definitely listened to them while they were charging
You are correct, and thank you for calling this out. I went back and tried them again, and this time it worked. Not sure why it didn’t before for me, but it works, and I was wrong. I’ve added a note in the description, and I’ll try to trim this out of the video.
can you give me some recommendation about the best value replacement for this headphones?
Depends what you’re looking for:
- Sound: Bang & Olufsen H9 because it’s a great, neutral sound, but Master & Dynamic MW65 if you like more detail. Sennheiser Momentum 3 is also great, as are the Bose NC700 and QC35ii/QC45. (QC35ii is better bang for the buck right now.)
- Noise canceling: Sony XM4. In fact, with the Sony Headphones app, you can get the sound pretty great on these. (My video here: czcams.com/video/qkEyRTwExSU/video.html.)
- Features: The AirPods Pro. For non-Apple, Sony XM4.
- Comfort: Bose QC45/QC35ii or Know Calm.
If you just want just serious bang for the buck, check out the SoundCore Life Q30 or Q35, since they’ll be about 1/4-1/5 the price.
For my money, the Bose QC35ii is selling for about $180-200 USD right now. That’s a very good price. And if Inhad to choose one, that probably would be it for that price, but not for the $299 price they normally go for. (In that case just get the NC700 or QC45.) The focus there is on sound, comfort, and noise canceling, but it doesn’t have any other major features. If you want more features the Sony XM4 is good, very comfortable, and has amazing ANC. But truthfully, the Bang & Olufsen and Master & Dynamic basically live on me. Those are my favorites.
I exclusively use my AirPods Max for my plane rides, train rides, bus rides, it’s my daily headphones cuz of the active noise cancellation! This is the first I’ve heard anyone not want them for travelling. I do have bags big enough to carry them when not in use!
I have used the Sony Wh-1000 XM 3's on many flights, and I think the popping sound you are hearing is just something that happens with noise-cancelling headphones while taking off on flights, it's not something just specific to AirPods Max.
That was my guess, too, but I didn’t experience it with any other headset I’ve tried.
I have to agree with a lot of your reviews except on travel. I have done a lot of flight and have enjoyed the headphones on my trips just my opinion
After my review (and much of the feedback I've gotten), plus talking to my doctors, I suspect my issue was sinus sensitivity. (If I could add to a video on CZcams after uploading, I'd add that bit.)
I guess the less on is, if you have sensitive sinuses or are prone to sinus issues, avoid these during flights.
I´m looking for a new pair of BT over ear headphones and I was seriously thinking about the Airpods Max but I found a lot of negative reviews on CZcams and the Sony Mh1000 XM4 looks like a very good option in terms of features / price, mainly thinking about double Bluetooth connectivity between an iPhone and a Macbook Pro. Do you have any comment about it?
All else being equal, for Apple users, except for my travel issue, I’d take the APMs over the XM4’s, unless price is an issue. If price is an issue, the fact that the XM4’s can be found for half (or less) of the APM’s price should be taken into consideration.
But between the two, I use my APMs almost daily, whereas the XM4’s are mostly just so I can compare them to other headphones.
@@NorbReviews Thanks for your answer.
all models of airpods dosen´t support lossless audio, you need a dedicated sound deck to use that feature and a wired connection
I would only get the APM if you own the Sonys XM4/XM3, Bose QC and a pair of AirPods Pro. Get any of these before the maxes.
In my book right now, AirPods Pro > Bose QC45 > AirPods Max > Sony XM4. The AirPods Pro win for one huge reason: convenience. I take those with me everywhere. The Bose have been a fantastic surprise.
You should try the MGET clones next.
I looked into these after reading your comment. I’m usually not a fan of copycat brands.
When you take the time to design something, you understand why you made certain choices, what got you there, and why something is or isn’t important. When you just copy someone else’s design, you don’t really understand WHY they did what they did. You just do what they did for cheaper, because you didn’t have to worry about any of the actual UX research (not to mention taking into consideration the market and environmental impact of their design decisions.)
I appreciate your suggestion, but I don’t think I’ll be doing any MGET products in the near future.
They have been great for me with travel. Just buy an aftermarket case for them
After spending $550+tax on these, the aftermarket case is definitely a sound investment.
I can't see why the clamping force of the headphones would be affected in any way by the pressure from the altitude? How does the pressure from the altitude affect the springs on the headphones and cause them to clamp harder?
I don’t think it’s the headphones. I think it’s my sinuses: my sinuses become more sensitive at lower atmospheric pressures, I guess. (I live at sea level, but air cabins are pressurized at 8,000ft.) But what that DOES emphasize is the pressure level they exert becoming more obvious.
A lot of people who I’ve asked to try these (plus other reviewers) have commented on the clamping force. (In fact, my wife refuses to wear the APMs because she finds them too tight.) This is a very personal issue, though, so it’s definitely something each person should judge on their own.
what headphones do you think are best for sound watching movies and utube on an ipad ? thx...cheers from Canada
AirPods Max (or AirPods Pro 2, for earbuds). That will give you the best movie-watching experience on iPad. I guess I could also mention the Beats Studio Pro, but there are a lot of reasons I don’t like recommending that one (namely sound cleanliness).
I have the AirPods Max they don’t support lossless audio With Bluetooth it’s so disappointing what can you suggest can you let me know in the future video
Lossless with audio won’t be a thing with BT codecs until at least the end of this year (Qualcomm aptX Lossless, though I’m still iffy about whether it’s at all really possible with current tech). Although TECHNICALLY it’s not lossless (due to the digital/analog/digital conversion), using the cable with the AirPids Max will provide “pretty much lossless” sound.
To improve your wireless experience, check out Bluetooth DAC/amps like the FiiO BTR5 (2021) Plug the AirPods into those and you’ll have both portability and top-tier quality.
I am slightly shocked to hear your thoughts on travel. I took mine on 2 flights and was amazing. one time it was so good that it cancelled out 2 crying babies noise with just a button. I usually dont feel any discomfort wearing it for long hours. I usually wear it continuously for work, thats close to 8--9 hrs a day. But other than that, i agree with you on the connectivity with a Mac as opposed to between iOS devices can be more seamless.
So, once I got the headphones to fit right, the ANC was as good as ever. If anything, breaking the seal just showed how GOOD the ANC actually is, which I touched on in the video (and how big the ear pads are in comparison to other sets, which I didn’ touch on). I don’t think I would have had the issue had the headphones been roundish instead of squarish. I guess this just doesn’t sit well with my large jaw and skinny neck.
As for the pain, honestly this is why I was so shocked, because they’re so comfortable on the ground for me. (My wife does find them too tight, but she has sinus issues, so I still wonder if that played a role with me.) On the ground, I’ve worn them for 6-8 hours without issue, sometimes even forgetting I had them on.
They are consumer bluetooth headphones which invalidates the complain about the cable or lossless.
You can‘t hear the difference anyways between AAC and lossless...
Get jailbreak then you can EQ them correctly and it also sounds better.
Accommodations sound processed and compressed imo.
Battery is definitely enough, charging every few days is totally fine. Never had them depleting over night.
The case is a cover not a case. The mesh is super sturdy and the cups are scratch resistant so the cover is definitely enough. Case makes it even more bulkier.
Never had the pressure problem, must be your head form.
1. I never complained about lossless. In fact, I defended Apple. You and I are literally saying the same thing.
2. I tend to avoid giving people advice that would void their warranty. If you want to jailbreak and void your product warranty, that's on you.
The rest is a matter of opinion. It's great you have your own.
@@NorbReviews This is the biggest myth around Apple. Jailbreaking does not void your warranty! Never ever. It simply doesn‘t.
The 1 year warranty is by the way pretty useless when you use your phone for 5 years but no it doesn‘t even void the shitty warranty.
Jail breaking ABSOLUTELY voids the warranty. support.apple.com/en-us/HT201954
According to Apple, linked above: "unauthorized modification of iOS is a violation of the iOS end-user software license agreement and because of this, Apple may deny service for an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that has installed any unauthorized software."
It's possible that you could jailbreak a phone and damage it, but still get support. Doing this would require successfully removing the jailbreak and restoring the iPhone to its factory settings in a way that makes the previous jailbreak undetectable by Apple. It's possible, but don't bank on that happening.
Regardless, it’s still outside the scope of my channel. I appreciate your enthusiasm, and I’m certain there’s an audience who could benefit.
Take care and all the best.
Would you advise buying used one?
If you can find one at a good price and you like it, I don’t see why not. Note: a lot of people are saying that the new Beats Studio Pro is pretty similar in sound and noise canceling while being lighter and more usable across platforms, so if the user price is higher than the new Beats, you may wish to consider that, too. I haven’t tried the Beats Studio Pro yet, so I can’t say.
I have mine for 1 week now and I’m experiencing condensation problems why haven’t you mention anything about it in your video ???
Because it was never an issue for me. I live in a hot climate, next to a literal swamp, where humidity is routinely in the 85% range, and I use these in both warm and cold (air conditioned) environments. I have not once run into this issue.
Is the noise canceling perfect to block out noise like thunderstorms
To an extent. In most cases, it will block without issue, but if the thunder strikes too close, then there’s nothing that’s going to block that! Overall, it should block most rain and thunder noise, since that’s basically white noise and low rumbles.
I lived somewhere where thunderstorms were a daily occurrence for a part of the year, and I don’t remember ever having any issues with these. To that end, I’d recommend them.
@@NorbReviews ok thank u
Whats the name of your chair, it looks comfy
La-z-boy Joel, Mesh Performance Chair. It’s fantastic, best chair I’ve bought.
@@NorbReviews I really appreciate your answer. I've tried the Herman Miller and it was too small for me, and The Ergohuman is bigger but the backrest is too wide so I can't place my elbows back when I want to. That one just looks perfect. Thanks again.
Perfect for me
AirPods Max are being sold at a Best Buy for $470. Is it worth spending money on that?
Depends on your need, but I’d say so. Of all my headphones, the APMs are the ones I most often keep at my bedside. If you have a solid pair of earbuds as a secondary-for example, AirPods Pro-then you’re pretty much covered for all your likely needs.
See if you can find them Open-Box for under $400. I hit mine for $450 open-box just a few months after release.
I was almost going to buy them as they were on sale for 399 US Dollars
But this video changed my mind and i rather bought BOSE QC-45 Instead.
The QC45 are quite nice, and I’m prepping a video on them now. Not a bad choice! They definitely get my recommendation for an excellent pair of headphones.
That said, I kinda prefer the QC35ii: the QC45’s improvements weren’t really all that substantial, and you can probably find the QC35ii for about $179-$199, lower if you’re willing to do refurb. (Bose has their official store on eBay, and I saw the QC35ii for $159 recently. I also saw the NC700 for $199… and got them “to test” *shifty eyes*. I’ll be making videos on these as fast as I can get them out… which isn’t very fast, sorry!) At full price-$299 for the QC35ii, $329 for the QC45-the QC45 is better.
Sound wise, I like the sound on the Bose better. It’s a great, even sound with a slight bass boost. Comfort-wise (except on planes), I prefer the APMs (and the QC35ii’s are actually slightly more Comfortable for me than the QC45). And the features the APMs provide are fantastic, if you’rean Apple user. (Multi-point connect works way better on the APMs than the Bose.)
If you can still snag the APMs for $399, I’d consider doing so just to test it and return the ones you like least. I’d also consider eBay refurbs (directly from Bose only), if you’re OK with that.
Still, if you’re not insane like I am (I’m owning it!), the QC45’s are a fantastic choice, and easily get my recommendation. Enjoy them!
Excellent review - unfortunately it seems like you’ve just happened to have a bad experience, as I have bad 0 issues traveling with them.
It’s definitely a personal thing. But I tried them multiple times, on multiple trips, and my experience was consistent. For travel, I’ll probably stick to either the Know Calm or the Bose QC45, which I just got (but haven’t yet reviewed here).
Still, if you like them, I don’t blame you: they’re fantastic headphones.
I have the AirPods Max which I got for Christmas they are incredible if you can get back to me on this
They’re great headphones. I just don’t like them for travel. Lately, however, I’ve been favoring the Bose QC45 a LOT more. But the APMs are still a fantastic choice. Enjoy them! Thank you for watching!
I absolutely hate the extra time going over to the Apple TV. Too many steps. Even though the headphone icon pops up and says “press to connect”, i press the crown and nothing. Have to go to settings, then this, then that. Even more of a hassle if you are using your phone or ipad as your Apple TV remote. I have gotten that popping sound a few times, and i have had these for less than a month.
Funny you mention this. I've started either experiencing (or simply noticing) more connection issues lately when switching between phone, computer, and Apple TV. Sorry to hear you've been having a bad time with these. Can you return them and exchange them or something else?
@@NorbReviews probably. They were a gift. He did purchase Apple Care with it.
Helo Were I can’t buy the wire
Apple.com sells it directly.
@@NorbReviews thank you so much 😘😘
what hard shell case is that
This is the one in the video: amzn.to/3JXSfHE - unfortunately, it’s no longer available.
This is one I recently received from a company called Wiwu and have been using. It’s a bit more compact-which I like for travel-although it’s missing the netting: amzn.to/3XPFOU5amzn.to/3XPFOU5
@@NorbReviews tysm
One thing no one seems to talk about is the amount of heat they produce. Within minutes I start to sweat around my ears. I only used them indoors at home.
Wow! I haven’t experienced that at all: my ears stay pretty cool for a long time with these. Interesting to note!
@@NorbReviews I really like the sound canceling and was very exited to get them but after 2 days I had to return them. My girlfriend try them too and she had the same result. Maybe I got a defective item.
Reveiw was good but I would 100% degree about travel lol that case sucks but it doesn’t take up space in your bag lol this definitely a nitpicking Reveiw but it was good lol
Thank you! And yeah, I definitely nitpicked, but I always tell people that, if I'm getting to the point where I'm nitpicky, that's a VERY good sign: it means the fundamentals are right. The fact is that the APMs are excellent and I don't generally hesitate recommending them (unless the person has sensitive sinuses, because they DO have higher clamping force than others and people with sensitive sinuses are likely to be impacted).
As for the case was probably the worst design decision here, but something an aftermarket case can easily fix. I can also make an argument for the squarish earcups being a bad choice vs making them more oval or even tear-drop shaped, but that's far more speculative and highly prone to opinion.
All the best!
I picked up a pair of these while traveling and flew home from JFK with them (almost a 5 hour flight). They were a Godsend! I wear glasses and never have experienced headphones as comfortable as these when wearing them for a long period of time. The transparency mode is also great. I easily consider them apart of my travel essentials.
Very glad you’re liking them! As someone who wears glasses, I adore the APMs.
For me, I think the issue was sinus pressure. The APMs are heavy and have a high clamping force, but they hide it REALLY well. That is, unless you have very sensitive sinuses. When the air pressure changes, BOY, DO I FEEL IT!
Yea too expansive. I had Sony WH1000XM3 probably will upgrade to XM4.. this headphones sound great the bass is great like in the Dolby Atmos theater.. the noise cancelling maybe isn't too good but when I playing a music everything is gone I cant hear anything..
I will stay with Sony headphones the price is cheaper, sound is great, got 3.5jack in the box, battery life is great and this headphones can be turn off, and it is lighter than apple airpods max. Even my XM3 is lighter but when i lying down my neck is sore I don't know how it feels if I using airpods max
I’m always a fan of keeping what you have if you like it. The XM3 is an excellent headset, even if it’s a little older.
Do not like the fit at all. Momentum 4 has much better sound too
I definitely can understand about the fit. As for the sound, I agree that it's generally a better value for the dollar, particularly for music. (For movies, I think I prefer the APMs, but this may end up being a video topic in the near future.)
No, no, no! As of February 16, 2022, spatial audio does NOT work on macOS Monterey 12.2.1 for the M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro for Apple Music which is the primary way most Apple users will want to use it. Yes, it will work for some lesser used sources such as CZcams.
I never listen to music on airplanes my ears suffer enough up there 😂
If anything, the noise canceling alone makes getting a pair of comfortable noise canceling headphones worth it in an airplane. Consider getting something like a Sony WH-CH710N or even SoundCore Life Q30’s.
@@NorbReviews I have really sensitive ears so it always hurts when I use headphones on a plane
Those pops are definitely a software driver issue
Good call. I’ll contact Apple about this as a just-in-case.
Not gonna pay 500 or more for headphones when there are SOOO many other great choices out there for half or more than half the price of these that sound better, better ANC just was curious about the title of the video
They re way toO expensive, I decided to get the Sony head Phones instead
Excellent choice! Enjoy them! And thanks for watching.
Unfortunately most of these issues your taking about - where directly related to your glasses. I fly with them every week - for Bluetooth you can’t beat them
I wish that were the case, but it wouldn’t explain why other headphones - the Bang & Olufsen H9, the Know Calm, the Sony XM4 - don’t have this issue, glasses on or not.
The APMs have a high clamping force. That’s why they have the hinged design. If you’ve seen some of my other comments, you’ll note I’ve mentioned my sinuses as a possible culprit.
Please remember, reviews are inherently personal and subjective. This was my experience.
Do your conclusion is that no one should buy these headphones?
Not at all! I think these are fantastic! (Unless you don’t use Apple products, then yes, avoid these.) But at US$550, I think they’re a bit expensive, even for what you get. (I’ve seen a lot of places that sell them for $450, and I think that’s a decent starting price for these, but if you can find them open box for cheaper, you should absolutely consider that. In fact, that’s how I got mine, open box.) But if I only had ONE pair of headphones, these wouldn’t be it. (Actually, they’d probably be the AirPods Pro, since I can’t think of one scenario - save for swimming - which they’re not pretty well suited for.)
Ultimately, my biggest issue with these was comfort while on planes, which I don’t spend a ton of time on. (I did for a while there, which is how I got to test so many headphones in planes.) At home, I use these ALL THE TIME, and they’re ultimately my favorite. The mix of features, build quality, decent sound, and comfort (when on the ground) is a winning combination.
Remember, at the end of the video, I still say that these are some of the highest rated headphones I’ve reviewed. That’s for good reason!
I love stevejobs I love apple 🍎
A PS5 console costs 500. Apple headphones are an insane rip off and only really cost 100 to make the 400 is for the apple name.
Rubbish