‘bright and clear’ sound, comfortable design helps justify the $ 549 price tag

AirPods Max is officially launched This week and the first practical protection is now available and gives us a first look at the first premium over-the-ear headphones from the Apple brand. The sound quality seems good overall, they are ‘super comfortable’ with excellent and solid build quality, and the Digital Crown offers the physical control experience Apple users are known for.

We have a number of early reviews for the AirPods Max and overall mostly praise for the new headphones, but with a few questions and concerns about things like the odd case Apple has included here, the headphone’s weight, lack of accessories, and how it performs against the competition.

Here’s how Edge describe sound quality:

Sound-wise, I’ve been listening to the AirPods Max for a few hours now – bright and clear, with a wider and pleasant sound image than my Sony headphones, and no distortion at all, even at maximum volume. We’ll soon have a complete overview of this, including spatial sound tests and Apple’s claim to Atmos sound support, so stay tuned. But for now, rest assured that the AirPods Max sound more than enough to compete with other high-end headphones.

CNBC emphasize how comfortable they are, the finish, and the appreciation for the Digital Crown’s physical controls:

I wore my AirPods Max on Wednesday for a few hours and it felt really good. There is a breathable mesh strap at the top that feels light on my head and doesn’t sweat or get hot. I also like earplugs, which are broad and fit snugly around my ears rather than resting on them.

There are lots of high-quality finishes, like aluminum cups and steel frames, instead of the plastic components you can find in competitive headpieces. I also dug into the Digital Crown that Apple transferred from the Apple Watch. Feels sturdy and swivels easily to adjust the volume. Many high-end competitive headphones use touch controls for volume, which are not as accurate as the physical controls.

CNET says the noise cancellation on the AirPods Max isn’t on the top shelf and the microphone setup is impressive:

Also, the noise cancellation is probably the best I’ve experienced, and the noise cancellation of the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones and Bose 700 noise cancellation have been slightly improved (I haven’t compared them to the Bose QuietComfort Earplugs, which offer the best noise cancellation for true wireless earphones. ). They don’t silence the world around you, but I’m on the streets of New York, and they put a damper on the hard work – I can barely hear the traffic around me. Ultimately, they work pretty well as headsets for making calls and are really good at reducing wind noise. It’s also worth noting: when you’re in headphone mode, you can hear your voice on the headphones so you can adjust your voice and don’t end up screaming. It looks similar to AirPods Pro.

TechCrunch emphasize how sturdy and beautiful the AirPod Max is:

First, they are beautiful. The ear glasses are beautiful. The band is very tight. The net felt like tall furniture. The stem is crazy, with a precise pull mechanism that functions like a handmade car vacuum cleaner.

However, there is a downside …

There is a trade-off here that I think I should mention even in this initial review: These things are heavy. If you don’t like heavy headphones, don’t buy an AirPod Max. They are intense, and you definitely need to be listened to while basically sitting or leaning back (for example, if you are actively walking around the house and picking up children’s clothes and toys from the floor, to move your own forward weight). The watch measures 386 g – more than 100 g heavier than a few pulses in the ear. If you have really tall headphones you can expect this kind of weight, most people think I wouldn’t. More on this as I continue to use it and try customizations.

Nearly all of the early reviews mentioned how weird the AirPods Max case is, and it doesn’t offer much functionality. The Verge also notes that they have a funny smell, like a ‘funky riff on the smell of a new car’. But say they were told “it will disappear in time.”

And as we discussed earlier, Apple doesn’t include chargers or things like a 3.5mm post-lightning adapter / cable.

Another interesting point is the absence of an on / off button; AirPods Max automatically wake up and sleep (as MKBHD notes, they keep the battery empty until you put it in the Smart Case). What looks like an on / off switch to control noise canceling mode.

Check out the better coverage of MKBHD, UrAvgConsumer, iJustine, and others below:

Image top through UrAvgConsumer