AirPods Max: Luxury Sound at a Luxury Price Point

Apple products never fail to create hype in the marketplace. Since the release of AirPods Max, people have been talking about them. And as with all Apple products for their ridiculously high prices, the number one question people tend to ask is, are AirPods Max worth it?

Whether AirPods Max is worth it or not depends on the user. If you are an Apple enthusiast and an audiophile, you’ll find the sound quality, design, material, and build quality worth your money. But if you’re not in the Apple ecosystem, the price might be too much for you since you can buy other high-quality headphones of the same or better quality at a reasonable price.

However, AirPods Max has some excellent features to offer as well. The luxurious design and build quality are the main reasons behind the high price.

But, it has some drawbacks too. So, in this article, I’ll give you an overall review of the Airpods Max, along with its pros and cons, so that you can decide for yourself whether it is worth it for you or not.

AirPods Max: A Dive Into An Amazing Experience

The AirPods Max is Apple’s first-ever attempt at over-the-ear audiophile headphones. These are wireless headphones with ultra-high fidelity, which means they sound amazing and are perfectly calibrated.

However, given the high price of headphones, it’s no surprise that people are interested in learning more about them, from hours of battery life to how well they handle background noise and provide high-fidelity audio.

So, without any further ado, let’s dive into the detailed review of AirPods Max:

Build Quality & Design

Apples AirPods Max is one of the most well-made and solid high-end headphones I have ever seen. Again, although it lacks folding hinges, you can rotate them 90° to rest flat.

Besides, it’s impossible to deny that the AirPods Max looks stunning. Apple grabbed people’s attention with the AirPods Max’s gorgeous design using their Space Gray and stainless steel headband to set the bar high.

It has a soft knit mesh headband attached to the steel for maximum comfort on a longer wear time. Also, the aluminum cups make it extremely flexible, soft, comfortable, and breathable.

Although it is attractive and long-lasting, it increases the weight on your head. This implies that you can get fatigued and uncomfortable if you move about a lot or use the AirPods Max for an extended period.

Another key point to emphasize is that it’s not waterproof nor water-resistant. So, using it in the rain or while exercising might not be a good idea.

Sound Quality

The AirPods Max has superb sound quality and an active noise cancellation technology that aids in shutting out external noise.

Custom-built drivers generate ultra-low distorting sounds all over the audible frequency range, delivering rich bass, exact mids, sharp and clear highs, and maximum loudness.

It also has ten audio cores that produce computational audio. Moreover, the driver is a double neodymium ring motor, similar to those found in top-notch speakers.

Features like spatial audio and adaptive EQ are made possible due to this.

Not only that, but it also has a magnetic motor, which helps to keep the entire harmonic distortion to a bare minimum. That’s how the AirPods Max produces the most perfect and accurate sound.

Microphone Quality

The microphone quality of the Airpods Max is also pretty good if you compare it to other wireless headphones. It has triple microphones for voice collection, two of which also serve as noise-cancellation microphones.

However, you might find the microphone quality to be poor due to your device. Your voice might lack clarity, and you might hear a slight echo if you use a device that is not perfectly compatible with the headphones.

It would be best to use a high-end Android or iOS device to get the best results.

Excellent Features

AirPods Max has some fantastic features too. Automatic device swapping, active noise cancellation, automatic play and pause, digital crown button, LED light, smart case, etc., are some of the best features of AirPods Max.

Let’s discuss some of the top features in detail:

Adaptive EQ

The AirPods Max offers an adaptive EQ function that optimizes audio quality by tailoring the music being played to the user’s preferences.

The AirPods Max’s inward-facing microphones detect what you’re listening to and alter the audio frequencies for a deep, steady sound.

Spatial Audio

The Apple AirPods Max also gives you an immersive audio experience with a sound quality like a movie theater, thanks to the spatial audio.

It uses directional sound filters and perfectly tuned frequencies to position sound nearly everywhere, creating a fantastic music experience.

Active Noise Cancellation

It has an active noise cancellation feature too. In conjunction with Apple’s proprietary software, the microphone enables the AirPods Max to identify and minimize the background external sounds and fine-tune the music.

Transparency Mode

Even with ANC switched on, the AirPods Max includes a transparency option that lets you hear outside sounds.

By detecting the audio signals and modifying this in real-time, adaptive EQ adjusts the audio to fit properly, sealing the ear pads.

Digital Crown

The AirPods Max features a digital crown, just like an Apple Watch. You can rotate the digital crown to manage various functions, such as volume, skipping music, receiving calls, etc.

This makes activating Siri as simple as using rotational pressure motions.

Battery Life

The battery life of the AirPods Max is outstanding, lasting approximately 20 hours. Even if you keep the noise cancellation feature on or turn up the volume to 50%, it will provide you with long runtime.

So, whether you are listening to music, watching something, or conversing on your mobile, you won’t have to worry about the battery frequently.

Apple has also included a smart mode that places AirPods in an ultra-low power state for charging reasons, preserving the battery life.

However, there is no way to turn off the headphone, and the ultra-low-power mode will only activate when it is within a magnetic smart case.

Pros & Cons of AirPods Max

Although the AirPods Max is a premium-level headset, it is not without flaws. The following table shows some of its pros and cons:

Pros

• Excellent Design and Build Quality
• Sound quality is top-notch
• The active noise cancellation feature is incredible
• The apps that support spatial audio provide an extremely immersive experience
• It comes in five different colors
• Long-lasting battery life
• It has replaceable well-padded ear cups

Cons

• Very heavy and high clamping force
• It cannot be folded down
• It doesn’t have an on/off option
• The microphones don’t work well with every device
• It is not water-resistant
• The smart case doesn’t offer protection
• Very expensive

Should You Buy The AirPods Max?

You should look to buy the AirPods Max if you are an Apple fan and don’t mind spending a huge amount on a pair of noise-canceling headphones. If you already use Apple technology, buying the AirPods Max won’t be a bad idea since they have excellent sound and build quality.

However, in my opinion, I don’t think you should buy this expensive pair of headphones if you are not really into the Apple ecosystem.

Also, if you are tight on a budget, you have much cheaper options, such as AirPods Pro, Sony XM4, Jabra Elite 85hs, etc. You won’t miss out on much, to be honest.

The AirPods Max is a one-way trip to listening luxury if you have the cash to pay. If you are looking for something luxurious that goes perfectly with all your Apple gadgets, buy one without hesitation.

You will love the design, the sound quality, and almost everything about the headphone. The microphone quality will also be fantastic if you use it with an Apple device.

Now, are the AirPods Max overpriced? Of course, they are. Just like any other Apple product. But, as a whole, if you have other Apple products to accompany your headphones and want the full-blown Apple ecosystem experience, they are well worth it.

Conclusion

So, are AirPods Max worth it? Putting aside the expensive price, the AirPods Max are unquestionably excellent headphones. Do they justify their price?

This depends on what you are looking for; they fill a gap between top-end headphones and the top-end “consumer brands.” Are there cheaper options in the market? Of course, there are.

But, you don’t buy an Apple product just for the functionality. You buy it simply because it’s an Apple product.