AirPods Max 1 year on | Long-term review | Mark Ellis Reviews

[@MarkEllisReviews]

I'm really interested in this one... are you tempted by the AirPods Max now that prices are slowly dropping? If not... why not?

[@armen7932]

Nah. Wouldn’t have a big use for them. I prefer my Air Pod Pro’s which are mostly for the gym and yard work. If I did studio work I’d get a pair.

[@stephenmcneill72]

New subscriber here, really enjoy your content. I am very tempted and tried a pair on today in John Lewis, they are so comfy, my word the transparency mode is kinda frightening too and ANC is incredible. Thanks for the updated review.

[@IdrisB]

@@bryans8656 I have the airpods pro but I went with the Sony XM4. Cheaper than the Maxs and sound really well! Love your videos.

[@dexterie]

Yep. Not for Xmas, but for my bday (next month). Been debating for months now… guess I’ll just go for it

[@MarkEllisReviews]

@@stephenmcneill72 Thanks, Stephen. If you go for them, you'll love them.

[@vincent67239]

I have a $3.5K electrostatic headphone audiophile setup, but I find that I spend most of my time listening to my AirPods Max. As Mark said, the convenience in using these headphones is great. I can walk around the house without having to take them off or worry about snagging a cable that costs hundreds to replace. And the noise cancelling and transparency mode are absolutely phenomenal.

[@heartdyedpurple]

Ugh I hate how right you are. My budget is not nearly as big, but my $700 setup is not used as often as my $160 Solo Pros for the same reason. Convenience is king

[@brhodes0]

Cheers bro, good info!

[@meest3r]

Haha got an Abyss Diana.. and listen to Airpods pro daily

[@heartdyedpurple]

@@meest3r I have DT1990. Question for you, does the Diana sound leagues above $XXX headphones, or do diminishing returns apply?

[@meest3r]

@@heartdyedpurple hi if you have a pairing amp it sounds delicious. However everyone has a differtent taste. My father for example loves Audezes, I prefer my Diana’s above those ones. If you truly love sound you will take time to compare a lot of headphones. I have started with “cheaper” $XXX headphones like dt770; but also lot of Sennheisers inc the 800S and 820. Also middle priced; like hifiman or Some. For me the Abyss are the best because of Design and sound. I cant give an answer if they league out. Because human earings are different to each other. But if you can manage to listen to an Abyss 1266 I can tell you these sounds like superb homespeakers in ear

[@crum111]

Absolutely love my pair nearly a year in. I wear them an average of 6 hours a day and they’ve been a joy since day one. Took them on one flight this past summer, exceptional noise cancelling and comfort. The sound is fabulous. I don’t even care that the case is dumb, I use it everyday and it’s not an issue. I’ve seen a couple pairs in the wild and a few people through windows working with them on. Got the dinky cable and use them to practice playing bass guitar. They’re fantastic for content consumption and calls. Honestly, for me, 10/10 would buy again in a heart beat. Loved my Bose QC 35II’s but they are not on the same level as these puppies.

[@tkusterb]

Best Buy stores in the US have them for $479 but that's still not low enough to make me pull the trigger. Like you, I sill love my Sony XM4's and see no reason to go to AirPods Max at this time. Love your reviews by the way. Something soothing and engaging about your voice/accent...

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Yes, that's still a big chunk of cash. And thank you for the kind words!

[@BoomerLoveforGenZ]

I got mine 2 months ago on Amazon for $429. New. Watch for price drops!

[@jaricklosey4607]

I got mine from Best Buy open box for $440. Still pricey but low enough to pull the trigger. I like them a lot more than the other headphones I’ve used or had…Bose qc35 and qc45, Sony xm4, sennheiser momentum 3, b&w px7. Just much more convenient and newer drawbacks.

[@r.lew7424]

I have both the Sony XM4 and APM. Quite honestly I like the APM marginal but the XM4s are by far the better value. The integration with the Apple ecosystem tilts the scale for me. I also feel they have a slightly better sound overall (but missing an eq function). I got my APM for $350. Honestly, I feel any amount over $300 makes these overpriced and I'd recommend the XM4's all day otherwise. The difference is you'll still need to spend more money on the APMs to make them daily drivers (case, ear cup covers, etc.). And I agree, these aren't travel friendly. They are awesome on flights just too bulky (XM4s seem easier to travel with also - they fold and less worry about drops and scratches). I prefer to use my airpod pros for travel. If you're buying new headphones today, buy the XM4s.

[@alginyes]

The quality and sound destroy Sonya xm4 plastic headphones. But hey, if you like wearing plastic headphones over your head, do you.

[@nurglerider781]

I struggled on whether to buy them because of the price but finally I decided based on reviews that they would be worth it. I wasn't wrong. No they aren't perfect, of course not. But I do feel they were worth it. They are, hands down, the best headphones I've ever had by a huge margin. I do not regret the purchase at all. In fact my wife used them once and immediately ordered her own pair 🤣 The one thing that I think most reviewers don't seem to give enough credit on is the build quality. Many reviewers, yourself included, like to point out cheaper headhones that sound "just as good", usually Sony's product. But I look at those headphones and they are all plastic and I know they will not last like the Max' will.

[@HansLandaNaranja]

They are plastic because of the weight. And the thing that's keeping me from buying a pair atm is the fact that I'm afraid they look heavy.

[@jheads5371]

@@HansLandaNaranja they are comfortable but they are heavy. They're nice to wear and quite seemless if you plan on wearing them for a couple hours at a time. Still they do have bulk t them that's for sure

[@jessicareyes7255]

May I know how the headband is faring? It is easily removable, but Apple doesn’t sell that part. So the thing about “lasting”,…I’m not sure.

[@mejlgaardbliddal]

I bought mine at roughly 30% off in the same colours as yours because I feared killing the batteries on my AirPod Pros from extensiv Use after realising how much I used them watching movies in surround on my AppleTV. I now use the Max instead and really like the soundscape when watching movies and the peace of mind the bigger batteries gives with regards to the longevity of the batteries.

[@shawng4886]

Funny story… I bought a pair of Max yesterday, got them home, initially noticed crazy clear audio quality but wasn’t happy about the bass… I returned them to Best Buy today and exchanged for the XM4’s based on reviews. I went back into the parking lot and sat in my car for a good hour listening to various tracks and tweaking settings in the app. I did this because as soon as I put on the XM4’s I was astoundingly disappointed and surprised they got such good reviews. The audio quality was definitely lacking and the bass was JUST above what the Max had. So I sat there, tweaking, finally manually putting everything on max on the XM4’s and that’s when they sounded best to me. But… I wasn’t convinced they were better than the Max because I remembered how CLEAR the Max were… So I went back into Best Buy and literally stood at the Max display for probably an hour checking out BOTH products and testing and listening. I put both headphones at 80% volume so everything came in nicely sound wise. What I found in that time was that at higher volume, the XM4’s have distortion issues whereas the Max do NOT. The Max are CRYSTAL clear even at 90% volume! The XM4’s became muddy at that volume. And at 80% the bass on the Max was very natural and very clean. A REALLY enjoyable listening experience! I must’ve used both headphones 5-10 times testing them out and I also found the Max were much more comfortable on my big ears. The Sony’s put pressure on them. The Max were also nice and chill to the touch every time I put on. Very pleasant! They also had a great balance to them which added to the comfort. And lastly, seeing the display of the XM4’s, those things were WORN to hell. So durability became a question, too! I ended up walking out with my original Max headphones that I exchanged and even got them at $445 instead of the original $479(price match of Amazon) because they were now an “open box” item lol… I’m happy with what I got and I KNOW they’re one of the best on the market and are better than the XM4’s after testing. They’re expensive but clearly built to last and the audio quality is phenomenal! It seriously sounds like you’re in the studio with some tracks!

[@tonyhawk123]

What youve described is fairly consistent with many reviews out there. Clear sound on the Max and a bit mushy (in terms of instrument separation) on the XM4. Still both good though.

[@simianinc]

The biggest issue for me isn't price - it's portability. They don't have a proper case and don't fold up. For those at home, there are any number of audiophile headphones that beat it for sound and price.

[@isauc3alot]

Portability or storage?

[@mrsseasea]

I did take the plunge…..same color. I love them. Ya, expensive but I won’t buy another pair for years.

[@Naessey]

These are incredible…no doubt. However, hard to justify In Australia when priced over $700 when you can locate 2nd hand AirPod Pros for $250. I’ve used both and love the MAX. They are incredible. However, after a tough couple of years in our economy, pressures on salary increases and decreased job security, think I’ll put difference into my savings. I think this is a story of amazing earphones being in the right place at the wrong time.

[@troyspring9143]

Nice review Mark. I bought a pair back in March and I love them - and I actually travel with them quite a bit. I've taken probably 12-15 trips on a plane since then and the noise canceling is simply amazing. And to your point, I have only seen one other pair being used by a passenger on all those trips. I love being able to quickly turn on transparency mode to hear announcements etc. I too bought a nice case (that also puts them in a low power mode) but it's bulky so I find that I am using the Apple diaper case takes up less room and it actually does a nice job - and my headphones look brand new. I have a travel cable/charge organizer case with a variety of chargers/cables so while lightening is annoying I always have one with me. Love them - expensive but hope they last. I had two original HomePods that have recently died less than 3 years in - which is very annoying since they too were expensive.

[@shanghaichica]

I got some for £433 from Amazon and I think that’s a fair price I do love the clarity of the sound and the build quality is excellent. They are very comfortable as well.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Nice one!

[@yashancientbeast]

man you have an exceptionally good voice. the ones they have in luxury ads.

[@yourmnukbb]

Was blown away by these when I tried them.at the Apple store when in NY at the end of November. Luckily Amazon had the silver down to £399 a couple of weeks ago so snapped them up!

[@breezy4_]

Got a pair about 3 weeks ago, and I love them! Great review, as always!

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Great to hear!

[@shonithraj5383]

I purchased mine for 270€ in a deal and I have to say that they are amazing. The price at which I got them was the only reason I bought them. At the retail price they are still overpriced. Audio quality on these is amazing and the comfort and feel that they produce is unmatched. Have to say that I’m a very happy customer

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Great price!

[@shonithraj5383]

@@MarkEllisReviews I just had to buy it, it was too good of a deal to miss out on

[@svdosbbalcnwa7533]

Where did u buy for that price

[@shonithraj5383]

@@svdosbbalcnwa7533 I got it from a T-Mobile employee.

[@jdraven0890]

Tried them on in an Apple Store - a very crowded, noisy Apple Store. The ANC cut it to nearly nothing, far better IMHO than the MX4s did in a less-crowded Best Buy. The aluminum ear cups have such a wonderful feel without being heavy once they're on. Difficult to say they have the best sound since you can't A/B test them in the store - but they sound as good as any closed-back headphone I've ever used. But the price! And I will never buy an iPhone. So I picked up some Jabra 85H on Clearance for $150 - which cannot be beat at the price point by anything else.

[@darkmanflex84]

Got these day 1. Battery life is incredible 20+ hours easily. I fly with them and always sit by the wing, the ANC blocks out the majority of what’s going on around me. I game with them on my ps5 cause the sound is so balanced crisp and immersive in games. Spatial audio with these is an experience in itself. I prefer my headphones take the same charger my phone takes so wanting a type-c charger makes 0 sense for me. I could care less about the case its not going on my head and it serves it purpose. Lacking an on/off switch is troublesome for everyone except those that have and kept the AirPods max or just a conversation piece to bring up what they don’t have. All in all great headphones, great quality FOR ME worth is subjective. Only real caveat is for some head shapes they may be too tight and if there too tight that’s a no buy.

[@narcesioteixeira8492]

How do use them on PS4? Thank you in advance

[@darkmanflex84]

@@narcesioteixeira8492 3 ways. Using a USB Bluetooth audio receiver adapter it plugs into the PlayStations USB, using a aux Bluetooth audio receiver transmitter from Best buy for $13 in-store that's a little dongle that plugs into the controller or lastly buying the $20 audio cable from the Apple store and plugging them into the PlayStation controller.

[@andycuyler6675]

got mine from amazon brand new £399 they are fantastic !

[@mohitgadre4290]

I got the AirPods max by paying monthly installments through apple so my wallet didn’t take a huge hit initially (still paid almost $600 usd including tax in the end). Price per month is worth it to me personally. Ive seen Amazon offering AirPods max for good prices as well. The build is premium from the ear cups to the digital crown. The music/video watching experience immersive. Noise cancellation is world class, transparency mode actually really good and useful, and the seamless switching between apple devices is nice. Headphones are heavy and are honestly not as comfortable as my previous bose noise cancelling headphones. Wished there was a way to turn off the headphones completely though and you will likely be spending another $30-$40 for a decent case. Also I only use them in very temperature controlled environments because I unfortunately sweat a lot and do not want to risk them getting damaged.

[@bsheaves]

One of the best headphones for non-audiophiles. For phone calls I prefer IEM’s with an in line DAC, and for critical listening I’ve got slew of different sets of cans with a desk amplifier.

[@gangpotion]

anyone who enjoys audio can be an audiophile

[@lanaglad5307]

Personally I’m interested in them because they are the most comfortable headphones I have tried and the only pair to cover my ears completely without digging into and of course the noise canceling is amazing even without music playing! I’ll be hunting for a deal for sure though or wait around Black Friday to see if any deals will come up

[@VladVexler]

Thank you for this Mark. I finally succumbed and your superb reviews helped. I love and hate them. Hate for music listening - I’m from the classical music world. But love for everything else. So given my use case, they are brilliant. My noise cancelling history has been all Bose QCs since 2006. Keep up the brilliant work!

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Thank you! And enjoy!

[@Dave_Outside]

Hate for music listening? So exactly what headphones do you think are better for music? I sold my $900 Focal headphones in favor of these. Personally I think that sounds awesome for music. And I have never had any kind of moisture inside the ear cups. Maybe if you are wearing them for six hours lol

[@kaleidojess]

What’s so cool about this is when you press the button on the left, you can hear your surroundings but in perfect detail. It’s beautiful. If I can find headphones that do this as good as apple I’ll get those.

[@Tognar]

I've had mine for about a year... love them. Best ear phones I've owned. The cloth ear cups are so good... no fake leather to get all sweaty and sticky or fall apart (Bose). And the noise cancelling is really next level. I recently stood in full wind on a high speed ferry listening to music and there was NO wind noise! My Bose QCs would have been struggling and unlistenable. And then Transparency is super good as well... I can talk to flight attendants without pausing my music or shows. Conference calls/Zoom is much easier when you can hear yourself or someone popping in your office. No creepers! And the patina that develops on the Aluminum is kinda cool... reminds me of the original iPhone 2.5.

[@6806goats1]

These are great in a forced carpool setting where you don't have the option to drive your own car to get to work. I can feel the beats in the car door panels but my AirPods Max removes at least 90% of the sound. AirPod Pro's did a decent job as did the Bose QC35's but the Max is the best overall. Found mine discounted online, after wearing them the last 3 weeks they are worth the high cost.

[@kaister65]

Enjoy your commetary..that British sense of humor.. .love it ,you made me chuckle

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@coleroyce]

Bought a pair 4 months ago and I love them. I also got a leather case with magnets inside so you don’t have to use the apple one, love it too. It’s from a company called Waterfield

[@robertgarvansnyder4665]

Just bought a pair for $370, going to give them a spin. I’m so done with the fiddly Bluetooth connection and annoying voice announcements with the Sony 1000xm4.

[@432wheels]

Thanks for the update. Still saving up to buy a pair 😂 Glad to see you have the best breed of dog in the world

[@MarkEllisReviews]

🐶

[@PointWithin]

The included case is actually pretty useful. It allows the AirPods Max to stand up and be ready to be accessed. That’s why the case is shaped like it is. Very useful to me

[@darrene.mathews5566]

Howdy, Mark--as we say down in MN. I have had my Air Pods Max about half a year, and I love them. They work great and are super comfortable.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Glad you're enjoying them, Darren

[@darrene.mathews5566]

@@MarkEllisReviews Oh, aye. Very much so.

[@Timjacks01]

I purchased the Sony’s after your reviews. Very happy with them. Can’t ask for more.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Love to hear that, Tim!

[@jercle]

I love my pair, I've used them almost daily since day 1. The transparency mode is so damn good, and I love the sound quality.

[@angelo101_Mike]

I have the Sony x5 but if goes off and on when am on call. Do you know why and how to stop that?

[@fredsaintclair5817]

I have a year with them as well! I travel a lot and I don't have a problem with them! They are not scratch! I cannot be more happy! The battery life is just wow! I am so happy that I bought them when they came out! 😊

[@TexanInParis06]

Unlike you, I DO travel with my AirPods Max. They’re absolutely fabulous on airplanes. And I bought the exact same case that you did. Yes, it’s a bit bulky in that case, but it does slip into the paper filing area of my computer bag (who uses paper files anymore?), so it’s not inconvenient to take with me. One minor annoyance - when I leave them in my hotel room and go out touring, I get notifications on my Apple Watch that I’ve left them behind. Easy to fix on my iPhone to allow them to stay in my hotel room. I can imagine this feature will be VERY handy if I ever leave them on an airplane! I did wait for the price to drop on Amazon, so I didn’t pay full retail for these magnificent headphones.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Thanks for sharing, John!

[@loklok1616]

Thanks Mark, long term review could really let me understands more. Lots of review out there rule out Apple simply due to the high cost. I eventually bought Apple as I am interested in the seamless switch between Apple devices and the retailer in HK is selling around USD432. After a few days use, I would say I am quite satisfied with the MAX.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Glad they're working out for you :)

[@FJA---]

What I like the most is that the sound is so balanced. Not too much bass, midrange or treble.

[@PatricioBenavente]

Apple solved the power issue long time ago (with a firmware update). They will automatic enter into low power mode after some minutes of not using them.

[@Davidsworldtravels]

Are you saying the case isn’t necessary then? That’s a huge upgrade

[@PatricioBenavente]

@@Davidsworldtravels yes

[@OhSoTiredMan]

Thank goodness, now people don’t have to see the bra case.

[@martinkay67]

Regarding the case I did some research on Apple's support case. It turns out that you usually don't need the smart case if you work with the Airpods max frequently. Here is why: Take off the Airpods Max and keep them untouched for five minutes and they turn into a sleep mode. Take off the Airpods Max and put them into the smart case, they turn into sleep mode instantly. We are talking about five minutes they are not sleeping if you just put them on a stand. So no sweat. Furthermore, if you don't use the Airpods Max within the next 18 hours then they will get into a deep sleep mode while in the smart case. If you just put them on a headphone stand after 18 hours they are still in the normal sleep mode. Without the smart case they turn into deep sleep after 72 hours remaining untouched. But to be honest: How big is the chance you wouldn't use them within 18 hours? If you do, there's absolutely no need for the smart case. I bought my pair fresh last week since the price dropped and decided to forget the smart case and place them on a stand, when not using them. Anyway, thanks for the review, Mark!

[@MarkEllisReviews]

That really helps, Martin - thanks! But I'll be completely honest... the need for that explanation versus a good, old-fashioned power button says it all ;)

[@WhosJohn]

I originally got the Sony XM5's but they don't work with glasses. I swapped for Airpods Max and they work perfectly. If you wear glasses, I highly recommend.

[@tonyhawk123]

The APM are certainly a little more roomy than the XM4.

[@decaf77]

I have the XM-3s and although I own everything Apple I’m glad I’ve waited to get these headphones. Keep up the great work!

[@MarkEllisReviews]

They're such good headphones, Nick - glad you're happy. And thanks for the kind words.

[@Sechari]

I love how unknown they are for completely selfish reasons - I use them to (among other things) walk the dog early in the morning and late at night at our park, and no one around here recognizes them as expensive headphones, so I don’t feel like I’m pairing a target on my head by wearing them. I wouldn’t have bought them for cash but got them with credit card miles after a bunch of trips got canceled due to Covid - I didn’t think I’d love them as much as I do, one of my most used purchases of 21!

[@Fermerswife]

Recently treated myself to the Sony mx4 (no idea what the proper code is) based on your recommendation and I love them! Can’t ever see myself paying any more than that for headphones though. Love your “normal person” reviews. Merry Christmas!

[@St.scotto]

Just ordered mine in space grey!!!! Can’t wait!!!! To try them on!!! After giving away my AirPod pros ! I knew I deserved something better! Something I really wanted! Let’s go!

[@phuonglm86]

It took 1 year to give the best feeling about the Airpod Max. So fantastic !!

[@Scott__C]

Nice long term review. Too many times I run into "audiophiles" who only want to brag about what they spent on things or to exude an air of superiority about spending that amount of money. I worked in professional theatre as an audio engineer and no one I knew (pro sound designers, engineers, musicians etc.) had any of the trendy audiophile equipment. Guys I know who design and compose for television use Sony MDR-7506 headphones.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Cheers! Trust me, I’ve seen it all in the comments 😉

[@DemetriPanici]

Wait these have been out for 1 year? that was quick

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Time flies, right?!

[@NDakota79]

I don't care about the price. I'm using mine every day and they're fantastic in every way.

[@datasleek7950]

I own Imac M1, and the cable that comes with it to charge Mouse, Keyboard also works with AirPod Max. So i’m not sure what Mac you’re using, maybe old one. When Apple release a new product they think ahead and not backwards. All new Macs have USB c and it works with AirPod Max.

[@pavan20100611]

Found another amazing KZbin channel. Thanks KZbin algorithm. As you say Mark- Your reviews are really for “normal people” like me. Great Content. Will pod through your videos to see if you have any iPad Pro review. Subscribed mate. Keep them coming.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Wow, thanks! Means a lot :)

[@TheAxisArthemis]

Airpods Max is worth it if you want a really good ANC Headphone for Music and also for Watching videos. Watching video in Spatial audio is so immersive it feels like the sound comes from the screen instead from the cups. The experience totally blows the XM4 away, I've tested both on video.

[@vasile4186]

Xm3 fo'eva baby. And I think the 3.5 jack is still king. King Jack. 👍

[@0darksoul0]

So I’ve been using mine for I believe almost a year now, I’m an almost 20 year old woman that absolutely loves music. Initially I wanted these because they were one of the best on the market at the time. I have a list of pros and cons with them that I’ve found over the time I’ve had them and I wanted to share mainly to see if anyone else had them too. Now I’m going to say this now as it’s not an issue for me as I mainly don’t really use headphone cases unless necessary, I don’t use it. I’m the type of person to just wear them around my neck for ease of use and I can also hang them around my backpack straps nicely and safely, granted with these headphones that’s not the most comfortable option but it works fine. Now yes, these do have some incredible sounds for these headphones which is the main point in me getting them. I also LOVE the transparency mode as it’s almost like I’m not wearing any headphones at all. But my main issue which is absolutely killing me currently is the CONNECTION issues, I also had the same issues with my AirPod Pro’s and never really heard anyone talking about it. Pretty much every time I go to use these it takes about 30 minutes to get them to actually connect to my devices (i mainly use my iPad Pro with these but it happens with my iPhone as well) it’s getting to the point where I just can’t be bothered with them anymore, the constant dropping in and out then Bluetooth settings saying they’re connected when they’re actually not is what is really bothering me. They’re also quite heavy and fall off my head a lot when moving around frequently. For the price paid and apple being one of the most popular “best” brands out there I would’ve expected the connection issues to not even be issues at all, and quite frankly the fact that I’ve had these types of connection issues with 2 different types of apple’s headphones I think says something about them. Apologies for the long comment but honestly if I had been told about the connection issues with these before I got them I just would’ve gone with something different altogether. As someone who can’t even go a day without headphones having the connection being an issue is really a deal breaker for me. Maybe find another brand that has little to no issues with Bluetooth if you’re looking for some headphones. But if you can get past the sound dropping out half way through watching or listening to your favourite forms of media then these are some all around pretty neat headphones (if you’re willing to pay the price for them)

[@BinkyTheToaster]

I've had a pair for almost as long as you, Mark, and I've had pretty much the same experience. I tossed the case the first week I had it.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

I can’t stop tossing it.

[@slonekettering25]

I finally got these $100 less than original price. Really enjoying them.

[@0420catfish]

My wife got me a pair for my birthday. I love them. I have not seen anyone wearing them in the wild.

[@composimple364]

Fresh video, again, soothing nighttime voice that puts me to sleep. I love u

[@Sacto1654]

But there is still one gigantic problem: they're still limited by the H1 wireless chip. Hopefully, we'll see a "refreshed" version with the H2 wireless chip that can pass lossless audio through a UWB wireless connection.

[@Pythonzzz]

Unfortunately the H2 chip hasn’t turned out to do lossless :(

[@LuckyJack99]

Another great vid. Simply amazing head phones. Waited to get them and am amazed by the noise canceling combined with solid quality especially for Apple ecosystem users plus super solid build quality.

[@ACallander22]

❤️ Chemical Brothers - Great review... I was considering them but I'll wait for Gen 2.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

🤖🤖

[@terry.8309]

Since they came out i’ve seen one person wearing them, i have just bought B&W PX7 and they are very good. I couldn’t justify £550 for them i used a friends to try them to heavy i foundAnd the stupid case is crap for £550 a proper hard case isn’t to much to ask

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Nice choice with the B&Ws!

[@RichieLanderos]

Tried them when they first released and returned them a week later. Waited for a revised version and after almost 3 years. I just bought a pair of Bose Q45's and they sound amazing and cancel out almost the same amount of noise.

[@Neurofunkworldwide]

Just found you through your Medium and I think I've found one of my new favorite KZbin channels. It's a shame that that's all Medium is good for these days, but hey.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Love this, Joe - thank you and welcome onboard!

[@ModMINI]

USD 295 on eBay since it had a couple scratches on the aluminum ... they really do sound good and the various features and Apple ecosystem convenience is unbeatable. I would not pay 549 but for 295 I'm pretty satisfied. Apple need to catch up with the third party and provide a global custom EQ solution instead of one that just works for Music app and doesn't allow manual adjusting the band sliders...

[@Jeren6924]

This review is on point. The build quality of the Airpods Max beats competitors. I've been using the Sony WH-1000XM3's for about 2 years now and loving every minute wearing 'm. I see no reason to 'upgrade' yet.

[@Y1forprez]

I bought a refurbished pair. And these are the best headphones I’ve ever had.

[@MoeWB]

You’re awesome mate, when i was watching the video I thought that you have over 1m subscribers. You’re explication is just perfect. Btw I am still thinking about buying the airpods max. I am a person who listens to music 2hours per-day and who watch series every night, I really feel that i want them, but they’re expensive so I don’t know what should I do

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Thank you for the unbelievably kind words - that means an awful lot! As for the AirPods Max, if you’ve got the money and like the look of them, you will not be disappointed - trust me 😊

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Thank you for the unbelievably kind words - that means an awful lot! As for the AirPods Max, if you’ve got the money and like the look of them, you will not be disappointed - trust me 😊

[@papa.mike01]

Mark, I love your chair! What brand and model is your chair. Nice review too.

[@apparently2]

I think you treated the case with proper respect. Well played, sir.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Agreed. I really should have thought about which direction to throw it in, though...

[@apparently2]

​@@MarkEllisReviews Nah, no need to second-guess yourself. And there's something to be said for spontaneity. Keep doing what you're doing -- you're one of my favorite KZbinrs.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

@@apparently2 Haha, thanks, Andy. That's incredibly kind!

[@dn4166]

Great video! I just got AirPod max. I want the best audio quality you can get. Should I stick with my AirPod max? What other headphones surpass these in sound quality?

[@tonyhawk123]

At the prices Airpod Max is at now, nothing can touch them. £330 if you know where to look.

[@bbyglo300]

I just recently got a pair and haven’t had an excuse to use them yet. Looking forward to a long trip to really test them out

[@crazyidiot5309]

They have saved my sanity. I live in a high noise environment on the weekends as it’s a weekend destination. I lay down, put them on, and push that little NC on button and the busy world completely disappears. They should really offer a prescription for these for some people. I know that sounds weird but I’ve been so enamored by them I use them like people use AirPods Pro. I don’t care at all; think what you like because they have NC and transparency like nothing else on the market PERIOD.

[@stevewright1539]

Still loving them but firmly entrenched in the Apple Ecosystem so their value is much greater to me than someone who just wants them for music. If they supported lossless audio they would be perfect.

[@JayJay-sk3iu]

The condensation is a real issue. I have had 2 AirPods Max that have ultimately failed after about 1-1.5 yrs of normal use (I.e., just at home at desk, not at the gym exercising). Connection issues start to happen, forcing you to constantly pair the AirPods to your devices. Ultimately, it stops connecting. It’s unclear if the condensation is the cause, but moisture cannot be a good thing. Also, it’s likely that the temperature difference caused by the use of aluminum on the earcups causes the condensation, making it unlikely other headphones that use plastic have the same issue. Otherwise, these are excellent headphones. Love ‘em!

[@andrewhargreaves1095]

There is an awesome case on Amazon that is barely larger than the airpods max and puts them into low power mode. $28 USD. It's the case that apple should have provided. Great for putting into a backpack and for traveling. I've purchased so many pairs of headphones in my life and I really think the APM are a reasonable price. They're so good you don't need to buy any other pairs. And if you use them daily it's a no brainer.

[@tonyhawk123]

Do you have a name or link for those please? How well has the case held up?

[@markpacker1693]

One of the best things I’ve ever purchased, try Cosmic Gate “Virtigo” full blast , you’ll be blown away

[@cassiecat7038]

Had them since they first came out love them use them every day! Also have the Sonys which i don’t use only as a spare. But i’m deep in the Apple ecosystem 😅so they are perfect

[@DigiDriftZone]

Just won a pair for £330 on eBay with a case in pristine condition and 8 months warranty, can’t wait for them to arrive! At that price, that’s how much I paid for my qc35 when I got them!

[@DigiDriftZone]

Initial impressions: wow! They are not in the same universe as my Bose 700: no more plastic creaking, no more ear cooking, no more pressure on the top my head, no more hearing my foot steps when I walk with them, every other song I get serious goosebumps, the sound quality is not even close, ANC is not even close on a loud metro (jubilee line here in London) - the AirPods I can’t hear anything, on the Bose it can still be pretty noisy. Considering they now retail at £370, at that price it’s a no brainer for me.

[@Diegocurt73]

I LOVE THE CASE!! Minimalist style and absolutely love it. 😂😂 I had the Momentum 3’s and their case are huge. So are the hard cases for the AirPod Maxs. Love it love it love it!!😂😂😂

[@andrecabrera254]

returned my xm4s after buyingt the and got the airpods max. Best decision i made

[@adopstap]

Useful review. Won't buy them until the price drops. Good advise.

[@ChrisJG1988]

I’ve had my AirPods Max for about 6 months now, paid £424 for them, which is still expensive but it is what it is, I actually got the exact same case as yours just in black, it’s a good case, and a much better solution than apples one, I don’t hate apples case as much as some people do, I do agree that it is a poor case with little plus points.

[@ethanjaimes6252]

Do you now if you can use the AirPods Max WIRED for Microsoft Teams calls on a PC (Windows 10)⁉️ Trying to decide on which headphones to get and this will be the deciding factor as I am in online meetings for hours each day.

[@stephenwest673]

Your review sold the Airpods Max to me…that and the review by Which magazine who raved about them. I got the Blue pair, recently purchased a £25 case with the magnets in to allow them to go into sleep mode, keep the hand bag in case I decide to sell but to be honest…they sound sensational so can’t really see that happening 😀

[@JuanJohn013]

I love them. I had them since release date.

[@thekushface]

I got these brand new opened boxes for 330 + Tax 370 ish (From eBay trusted sellers) and they sound amazing! Just the weight is barely an issue.

[@emaeder18]

780CAD+tx = 897CAD here in Canada. Way to much, the exchange rate is nuts

[@GOLFADDICT65]

i got them on the TSC site....749 but you can pay for them over 12 months at 0%.....makes it less painful...lol

[@jessehoeper2674]

I know others have said but you should do a voiceover for like a nature documentary that would be relaxing

[@impendio]

I got a pair when they reached my country and honestly I first regretted it instantly, the claiming strength was too strong and especially uncomfortable with glasses, but after a while I got used to it and they eventually stretched a bit. The sound is amazing but the reason I got them was for the noise canceling and for that I’ve stuck with them. They are honestly not worth the trade offs at their price tag but they are the best thing money can buy for someone deep down Apple hell like me. No wireless charging, no Lightning, no real analog use even with the $35 3.5mm cable with the built in dac, like, they don’t really work with both dolby sound and lossless, not even with Apple Music, it kinda still don’t make sense to me…

[@entoine87]

well if the ADC was not in the cable, it would be in the headphone anyway… you can’t have direct analog with a headphone which quality is due to processing and calibration using mics… obiously you can’t do digital processing in analog domain ..

[@entoine87]

and they work very well with dolby atmos

[@Tec811]

Amazing and thorough review. I liked your points for consideration

[@maarten1012TTT]

I think the choice for them using the lightning connecter has to do with the idea that when it fits it works. Like all higher powered devices use ucb-c(macbooks, ipads, etc) and all the lower powered devices use lightning(airpods, iphone, keyboard, etc)

[@cheesychester9647]

Had them and returned them. My XM4s are just fine. Looking forward to the redesign APM2s whatever year those come out

[@AliASHTV]

What streaming service do you use? Apple Music or Spotify? I have been told that there’s a giant difference between the sound quality when listening with these headphones.

[@IRUN10S]

What brand and model is the chair you seat on in this video? It looks sleek and very comfy.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

IKEA Markus :)

[@arletteflores2655]

Hey Mark, I would love your opinion here as I see you are also an apple user and have tested several over ear headphones. Reason for me to look for over ear headphones is: I love listening to music, but cannot use in ear headphones for long period. I believe I will be mainly using the headphones at the office (Windows 10 plus iPhone). The questions that I have are: 1. How do you differentiate the airpods pro to the max? I didn’t notice big difference when I tested them at the store. 2. Im considering the XM5 (can buy them at almost 300€), would you believe its a good mix between airpods pro and the XM5? I have everything from Apple incredibly, I’m not convinced on buying the AirPods Max due to the price (still 529€) and I do not notice big difference (improvement) to the pro. Any thoughts here? Thanks a lot in advance!

[@corneliussmith5875]

I just didn’t have a need for apple specific headphones. I bought my Sonys xm 4 when they first came out and they are still holding up amazing. The deal breaker for me was the less battery life, heavy feeling on my head, and the case 🥲. Price isn’t even the issue I just felt like I was losing something I missed from my Sonys. It was just the better duel pairing, more consistent ANC, type c port, and foldable. I just feel like apples AirPods and AirPod pros buds are just a better product. The max is a bigger shell for the arguably the same experience but has quirks that make them not as convenient to use.

[@SMHUNCHO]

Spot on mate! You nailed it Cheers

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Thanks!

[@bronxhd4862]

I njoyed your review and lije that you mentioned you have an eclectic interest of music. So do i. Everything does not need to have a powerful base to be enjoyable. Tx

[@Radhaugo108]

I bought the Max's around Black Friday and compared them to the XM4's. I have 45 days to return them so I am taking full advantage but I haven't yet found a reason to keep them over the XM4's with a 200$ price difference. I thought pairing them with Apple TV 4K to use Dolby Atmos or Spatial Audio with movies that support it would make them worth it but so far I find myself turing that feature off as it sounds worse than the standard non Atmos Stereo Mix. Have you liked the Apple TV experience with the Max's over the XM4's?