Seriously DON'T buy the Airpods Max

[@chefsteve8381]

sounds like you need a wireless headphone tier list

[@martinshoosterman]

Yes, we need this.

[@sephondranzer]

Agreed!

[@cinemapigeon4898]

Shure Aonic 50 and MW65 should be on the list.

[@Armbrust210]

Would really be interesting

[@calebkim2275]

Yes plzz

[@abc123s100]

Hot damn, this was way more thorough than any of the other 'tech reviewers' out there. Of course, this is an audiophile channel, so makes sense, but the amount of different headphones: wired, wireless, and ANC used to compare with the Airpod Max really gave a good reference point on how they compare in the market. Solid video 👌

[@Austintatious_One]

Most reviews for the these bad actually.. And having tried them.. I can confirm that this reviewer is either being paid or just comes his pants for apple 🍏 😂 👉.. The sound on them is terrible! They are not even the best compared to ANC headphones as he claims! The Xm4s shit on them from a hight and the Drop Pandas 🐼 decimate! Them if you don't care for ANC (though they do an excellent! Job passively).. Lesson to be learned, don't trust reviewers that review from there bedroom's.. Apple shill 👉

[@shzammpatapon9865]

@@Austintatious_One wow, you really hate apple product huh? what a sad life, you must be missing out

[@Austintatious_One]

@@shzammpatapon9865 Well i am a technician.. So i am qualified to say that i know better.. Pay double for less if you want 😉 👉

[@shzammpatapon9865]

@@Austintatious_One no you're not even a technician. people here do not even trust you have hear both of them. the industry already agreed that airpods max has the best anc.

[@abc123s100]

@@Austintatious_One I mean, it's not like this video sold me on any headphones. I daily a THX 789 with HD6XX and 1990s, it's not like I'm expecting to be blown away by the sound of the Airpod Max. I'm just appreciating the amount of effort that went into this video from DMS, including way more comparisons, even with more consumer products. I've personally never heard the Max's nor the XM4's, and from their reviews, I probably never will. For a self-proclaimed technician, you really seem to disregard the technological advantage that Apple put into these headphones, namely their high quality DSP. In a similar vein, the Pandas put R&D into the amplifier and similarly priced wired have more effort put into the drivers and housing. I agree that it likely doesn't compare well to similarly price wired, or a more audio focused bluetooth like the Pandas, but that's not the target audience for these. Like, I don't think they're worth the asking price, but it's Apple, so they priced it that way because they know their target audience. They're a business, so they just have their priorities, even though they do a bunch of bullshit on the side. But ultimately, sound is subjective. Even though Beats' build and sound to the audiophile community are considered absolutely trash, some people genuinely enjoy them and that's fine. If someone enjoys a product, that's fine. Just take their word with the understanding of what their preferred sound signature is and interpret it to what you see fit. If someone takes the words of a single reviewer, then honestly, that's on them. There's just no way for a single reviewer to cover every single idiosyncrasy of a product in a review period. And there's also just some characteristics some reviewers notice better than others, so it's just a matter of find which ones align with what you're looking for. I couldn't give a shit if you did reviews in a bathroom sink, as long as it's a fair review. Also, you seemed more biased than any reviewer I've seen coming from that tone. Not really sure who you're expecting to win over with a comment like that. Grammar is also a dumpster fire and you used way too many emotes, my guy.

[@ulqi]

Conclusion : You just sold me the K361.

[@Drinkyoghurt]

I tried it but it doesn't even come close to the DT770 or DT990 in terms of sound. K245 are also nice portable headphones compared to the K361 but they're open back. Similar price, but metal build instead of plastic.

[@Wishwader]

Why can't all the audiophiles of planet Earth just get together and decide definitively which headphones are the best. Talk about a confusing topic!

[@ulqi]

@@Drinkyoghurt I think I'll just get a bluetooth adapter for one of my IEMs lol

[@Platonic_fish]

@@Wishwader bc sound is subjective and depending on what you like, you might want different sound signatures.

[@oxaile4021]

@@Wishwader I think most audiophiles will agree it's the HE-1

[@Marc-iv8pk]

This man is totally right. I spend hours like a mad man playing my AirPods max and my K361 back to back listening to some of my favorite tracks. The AirPods max have a fuller, deeper, more immersive sound, but the music details in the K361 just beat the maxes and make them sound meh. Maxes feel like a bass boost headphone vs a well rounded sound with the K361. Everyone has a different ear, but this video is super spot on. Hard to explain, you just need to hear it for yourself. But by all means I love the maxes for different reasons.

[@kc-rl2yz]

Tech channels usually give out bad advice. This is one of the only channels I trust for honest and thoughtful reviews. Now I gotta find those k361’s

[@adams5389]

It’s almost like kissing ass is how they think apple will send them free shit to review

[@jaysanchez4407]

@@adams5389 a majority of the reviews have said it's not really worth it 💀 especially when compared to others so idk how that is kissing ass

[@thecompanioncube4211]

Tech reviewers are VERY bad source of review for audio products. A huge bump in ATH M50x sales was because Mkbhd hyped them up so much, but M50x's are so basic and there are so many better options for audio than M50x. Even AT's own M40x which are cheaper sound better than M50x. But hey, tech reviewer preached so it must be good amirite?

[@clickbaitpro]

@@thecompanioncube4211 Agree with you, he almost sold me M50x but I did research it further and finally bought DT990 because of its soundstage and sound seperation, they're sharp but I turned those spikes down with equalizer apo. With sonarworks reference 4 trial, they really sounded awesome.

[@attentioncestpaslegal7847]

What are you talking about. This guy treats the main feature (noise cancellation) as just a gadget when reviewing the product. The AirPods Max are not for audiophiles, they are noise cancelling headphones. So it's ridiculous to compare it to non noise cancelling headphones.

[@jblev736]

Thank you for comparing the comfort and ear cup size to the QC 35 II. For my head that is the most comfortable headphones I have worn and I always like that comparison for that reason. I can wear them for hours and hours and feel completely fine. I am still hoping bose "gets the message" and release a QC 35 III since so many people seem to find the QC series fit more comfortable than the 700

[@kozmo7]

What usually hurts for you when wearing headphones? My dumb ears stick out so I’m constantly having pain after awhile using most over ears. Haven’t tried the QC35 II’s tho. Curious if you are similar to me and what other headphones you’ve tested.

[@slurpalurple]

Having owned the majority of the headphones mentioned in this video, the QC35’s are the most comfortable headphone I have ever owned, bar-none. I agree that the NC700 has a shallow ear cup problem, and that alone is the only reason the new QC45 exists.

[@ericfallabel9201]

This is the first actual meaningful review of these things!

[@Gokhanaj]

Confirmation bias. This is the first and only AirPods Max review that is negative. Probably you’re a Apple hating troll, so you think everything else is meaningless, only the one that confirms your bias is actually meaningful. The reality is, DMS is pandering. Even though he says these are the BEST ANC headphones in terms of noise canceling and sound, which are the most important things, he paints the review in a negative tone, so that he can pander to haters. Dishonest and disappointing...

[@ericfallabel9201]

@@Gokhanaj Your level of emotion is hilarious. This is the first review that doesn't just say "they sound great! Better than XM4s", which isn't terribly useful

[@Geoffrey.McDonald]

@@Gokhanaj it's the only review by somebody deeply embedded in the high end audio world. A review by somebody who cares more about the music and the experience than the fact that Apple made it.

[@TuTran-kr2yk]

@@Gokhanaj so DMS is `Dishonest` because he tells the truth and in detail :o

[@theumbrellaman2954]

@@Gokhanaj DMS explained how the driver sounded in massive detail, and compared it to a variety of different headphones. He gave a thorough dive into these headphones in a manner in which I haven't seen another reviewer do before. Many other reviewers simply compared them to the XM4's and called it a day which is not at all helpful. All that matters is the build, the feature set, and a deep explanation of the sound. Which is something DMS clearly did in this review.

[@jacksonredstone9530]

I AM SO GLAD that you made a few comparisons to wired headphones. I haven't seen any other reviewers do that. A+ analysis on the treble/bass descriptions and comparisons to wired headphones, which are just as valid of an option for a consumer looking to upgrade cheap earbuds.

[@aebi96]

How would you rank the K361-BT, the K371-BT and the Panda's? which would you say is the best in terms of sound quality? and which would you say are the best bluetooth headphones? (only sound quality regardless of comfort build etc.) Great Video btw.

[@DMS3TV]

K361-BT is the best tonally, K371-BT is that but for people who want more bass. Panda wins on detail but is more focused on mid-frequencies. Depends on tuning preferences. Thanks!

[@denislemieux7294]

Grado GW100 please… love open back and they’re probably a lot lighter. Please review

[@fabiokelm]

Gave the K361BT to a friend as a birthday gift, it is one of her favorites since them. I tested them and they are really comfortable and sound very nice. A solid recommendation!

[@jeffliang1718]

comfortably wise, how's compare to Bose

[@dyrik]

No one: DMS: actually knows what he’s talking about Me: *starts researching the k361 again*

[@HiFiInsider]

on the pads, if it's installed upside down, the L and R would be upside down as well so it's easy to identify and resolve.

[@MacTX]

the lesson with Apple, ALWAYS wait for the 2nd generation. one of those things that gets reinforced with every new product they come up with.

[@jessicahyde8461]

the lesson we learn from this video, don't buy any apple product. It's shit.

[@aw1lt]

@@jessicahyde8461 tell me which apple products youve ever owned

[@axcenomega]

Bro subtract 200 and you’ll see the current deals you get for the apple airpods max headphones still top of the line transparency even today

[@momogris6159]

By far, the best and the most honest video about the AirPods Max. Getting myself AirPods Pro.

[@entoine87]

well airpod max sounds way way better

[@MrMuhda]

It's a good thing that Apple entered the headphones market, so that hopefully Sony, Bose and other manufacturers step up their game. I do like the swappable ear cubs and height adjustment. Hopefully other brands will implement something similar. The head rest is a shame though. Conclusion: Hopefully other brands or manufacturers will implement or make their version of the great new futures that Airpods Max introduced and came with.

[@edwardandeli]

Now that Apple has introduced $549 headphones and has proven that many people will buy it at that price, most likely, Sony and Bose will feel comfortable raising their next headphones prices to that too. Or close to that.

[@kcguitar9307]

@@edwardandeli ye people just stupidly copy apple for no damn reason

[@edwardandeli]

@@kcguitar9307 Haha, no, not for no reason. For business purposes, profit, capitalism--all that jazz. It's kind of funny, because usually more competition means cheaper prices for the consumer, except in this situation, it's the opposite. When Apple raised their flagship iPhone price to $1k, other companies copied. I think the same for the headphones game.

[@kcguitar9307]

@@edwardandeli ya its for their profit ofcuz..what i dont like tho is that they will tease Apple for that

[@difflam74]

@@edwardandeli Didn’t Samsung set the 1K price first ? Apple then copied Samsung selling old tech for new price eh

[@mastroitek]

In the last 4 days I used to check 10 times a day your uploads waiting for this video!!! Amazing work like always. Could you do a video or write a comment about how do those compare to the Panda? You mentioned them in the video but I was just hoping for a more detailed/specific comparison about audio quality between the two. Thumbs up if you guys want this comparison too!!

[@Brynbo]

How much better (if at all) are the Pandas and is the price difference worth it over the K361?

[@DMS3TV]

Panda has more detail and a way better amp/dac internally but K361-BT is better tuned tonally. I prefer the K361-BT in most cases personally, but the panda always surprises me.

[@Brynbo]

Thank you for the time and effort you put into replying to comments :) (Not to mention the videos themselves which are consistently thorough and enjoyable as it is).

[@gordonfreeman4491]

Thanks. You are one of the few reviewers who also has a technical knowledge that I trust and can relate to (read: understand). Keep up the good work. Btw... you should rename the video to: AKG 361 BT recomendation ;)

[@buckbuckgoose92]

“Audiophiles” are trolls. Try the headphones for yourself

[@gordonfreeman4491]

@@buckbuckgoose92 Well are you an audiophile? Bc you certainly are a troll ;)

[@clickbaitpro]

@@buckbuckgoose92 "trolls"?? Sounds like you

[@buckbuckgoose92]

@@clickbaitpro I definitely am 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@buckbuckgoose92]

No but really you should probably try the headphones yourself instead of listening to others. With an open mind also. Something that is apparently hard for people. Making a headphone sound good and have great noise canceling is difficult. Of course they will sound better without implementing anc

[@Dr3wA]

Thank you DMS! The review we all needed. Not that i was ever considering buying this product, but i was curious if this product was overhyped

[@JanBabiuchHall]

It for me. 2.5 years ago, before they came out, I spent a month researching wireless ANC headphones. Ended up getting the B&W PX7s. They were very good. But despite the carbon-carbon composite headband and aluminum earcups, the build quality turned out to be crap. The wire connecting the two earcups shorted out from flexing when I put them on my head. The same thing happened to the replacement pair. So I purchased the Sony XM4s, Bose 700s, and APMs and A-B tested them for 2 weeks. The Maxs won hands down. Build quality is miles above, plus they're repairable. The sound is significantly better than the Sony (though those get better after you rein in the bass in the EQ and scan your ears so they can actually have some stereo imaging). Slightly better than the Bose too. And ANC performance (used to take public transport daily before rona so this is crucial) easily trumps Bose and trades blows with Sony. At my desk I still have wired headphones and studio monitors, but I find myself using the Maxs most of the time because they're convenient and they sound very good. Oh and I guess the bugs you mentioned got fixed because I haven't had any problems in the 4 months I've been using them daily.

[@eskamobob8662]

Is the K361BT better than the panda? I didn't see the panda mentioned in the video so I got currious. Maybe I just missed it but I never sawa review of the 361 for you

[@kchuen]

So these sound better than the H95? I listened to them both and found the H95 to be better, but I’m a noob. How do they compare for your ears?

[@Cal94]

Trust your ears mate. Reviews are great and all, and these guys have better DACs and amps than most of us are ever gonna spend, for testing wired stuff, but sound at the end of the day is still subjective. Your ideal sound signature may not match any one reviewer's, your own hands-on experience is no less valid than anyone else's, and the privilege to have tried both, is a rare one. Or at least, it is to this Ontarian who's been locked down since november

[@soccertkd06]

I have both and prefer the H95’s sound signature. The Max have too much of a U sound and the sub bass on the h95 is better. You can also customize the H95’s sound more than the Max.

[@EraYaN]

I'd like to see a 6 month follow up with a couple of firmware and iOS updates essentially.

[@ResolveReviews]

Sweater game is on point.

[@warpathh]

I don’t understand why people need ANC headphones. When I use IEMs I can’t hear anything around me while music is playing, even at a low volume. I recently tested an audio book while on a plane and I couldn’t hear anything behind the speaker’s voice.

[@Kwaqkism]

While IEMs are great for blocking out noise, they're just not comfortable for some people, especially for long hours. I know I'd much rather have over-ears if I'll be wearing them for a long stretch of time

[@Cal94]

see if i'm on a plane, it's usually flying from Toronto to Singapore. that's maybe 21 hrs aloft depending on (and not counting) layovers. I sleep best with silence, and I've never had a pair of IEMs with passive isolation that rivals ANC. while Sony WF-1000XM3s worked decent, let me get comfier in an economy class seat, and actually sound nicer than WH-1000XM3s (imho), They're harder to get a good seal with vs literally any other IEM or over-ear and the only time i can wear WFs for hours on end, is if I'm also on a bike, in which case, i have music to distract me and things that hurt more than my ears. SE-215s and ZS10 pros i can wear for longer without discomfort, but again, they don't isolate like WH-1000xm3s or any other quality ANC over-ear.

[@petertaylor9371]

I have the CCA C10 IEMs and the QC35’s. While the C10 is a fantastic budget IEM, the Bose are infinitely more comfortable. They’re also wireless and pair to two of my devices and I can use them for calls. So, yea. That’s my 2 cents.

[@bgamervideo2714]

Soo if i want crappy noise canceling headphones i should buy the boose qc and if i want good sound i should buy real headphones, damn who would have thought

[@Anderson-yn4or]

The Bose are real comfortable and the bass isn’t inflated like the XM4s and I’d say it’s rather decent

[@hal9xxx321]

Or you could just get a damn iem... forreal though with the right tips they'll isolate the world better than any active noise cancelling headphones hands down.

[@leoalex2001]

or the Anker life Q30.. nc is okay but sound is actually very decent. Look up the video by olufs gadget.. not sure how it compares to others than the mx4 tho

[@EraYaN]

@@hal9xxx321 But then you have a pair of IEMs which not everyone wants or can tolerate for long periods.

[@Forwhomthebelltolls24]

QC35 are very comfortable non offensive sounding headphones you can wear all day. PXC 550 II are comfortable with a much more refined sound quality. But the ANC is not that great, however block the usual low rumbles of airplane engines. XM4 is the most obnoxious sounding thing ever made with fantastic ANC ( but even your podcasts will sound different)

[@aihkas]

I’ve seen a ton of reviews of the Max recently, this was my best hands down.

[@TarekMidani]

Second 👍

[@acmeanimebhabie7623]

I personally had never heard of this guy before and I'm glad youtube recommended me this video cuz I really enjoyed it.

[@dillkommen]

After watching MKBHD's video I immediately recommended DMS in the comments. His content is so severely underrated.

[@acmeanimebhabie7623]

I really enjoyed listening to a more technical review of the airpods max. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to sub to you in hopes I get more content like that.

[@estebanvalle715]

Me too!!

[@osamaahad618]

You gained a sub by the quality of your video and meaning. Great work bro

[@oakshadow6924]

Awesome review !!! Even though I'm part of the general consumers' group I find this type of reviews the real deal! I found the comparisons with other ANC and BT headphones to be especially valuable; both from a price pov and from a sound quality pov.

[@Konsul135]

The flaws of wireless active noise cancelling headphones made me buy a pari of Custom InEars and I have not looked back since. The isolation from noise is amazing, thanks to them being custom made, I can wear them for hours without any pressure building up anywhere and since they are InEars I do not have any trouble with carrying them around :D

[@cjhards]

Short batt life, my only gripe with this.

[@entoine87]

wow, I don't know if they were improvement made since your review who could explain how much I disagree with it, but I own hd650, ollo s4x, dt990 (very good dac and neve headphone preamp), airpods pro, and I got recently the airpods Max, and for me they blew all of them. The bass are very focused and "true", and overall the sound restitution and details is phenomenal. What I found is these airpods reveals how good some mixes are and how awfull some are. The spatial audio with apple tv is phenomenal, again it is dependant of how well produced and mixed is the sound at first, but when the production is good the sound with airpods is just mindblowing.. your review made me wait to buy them when I saw it months ago .. I am glad I finaly buyed them anyway.

[@BunnyslippersEUC]

I want you to review the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay h95: with a B&O tuning and with a B&O price. And I want you to review the Ergo 2 helmetphones.

[@Idkkk-mannn]

At 14:44 you don't understand how happy I am that you pointed out that the mobius does this already lol. Haven't seen anyone else even mention the headphones. Great Video, good in depth analysis. 10/ 10

[@sidshady7413]

"Apple has good customer support" Me : *laughs in unrepairable airpods*

[@DMS3TV]

F

[@the0000alex0000]

last time i checked apple will replace it for you if it's faulty. being unrepairable doesn't make its customer support bad

[@7654321220]

Like a board swap for a loosen backlight cable lol

[@Necropheliac]

@@the0000alex0000 intentionally making it unrepairable so that you have to go to an Apple store or wait a minimum of 3 weeks to send your device by courier. I love my apple products but stop being the corporate defense force for this Trillion dollar corporation. Apple is a trend setter in the industry and not designing their products to be repairable is a cynical, anti-consumer trend. Anti-consumer practices are the epitome of bad customer service.

[@muffinb5446]

@@Necropheliac there are for sure problems with apples "right to repair" stance but someones there are clear benefits for making changes that might make the product not repairable.

[@tommih597]

In terms of spatial audio I don’t think they dialed it back enough or adjusted it from the AirPods Pro where it would make sense to add more “reverb” or space to the sound to give a bigger sense of space for small earbuds with a narrower sound stage.

[@무트왈라]

Love the title.

[@jpfeif29]

10/10 would title again

[@TheBeeOBee]

Where is the k631 in the description? You kept mentioning those numbers, and I don't see them.

[@mhf0gamer]

been waiting for dms to review these. finally someone who actually describes the listening experience rather than just saying "wow omg they're so fckin amazing best ever apple number 1!!!"

[@doctorshinki8848]

Lmao yeah finally

[@NovaRay]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ep7Gh3-NZ8-ff6M This guy compare these with the big ol' Sennys HD600. What depresses me more was his testing rig, they are really trying so hard to join the Apple bandwagon

[@dariussala6377]

@@NovaRay If tested correctly, the HD600 will smoke these toys every day of the week.

[@andrewanderson3746]

Is it safe to say the K361 BT are your overall favorite wireless headphone? Trying to buy someone a pair of wireless headphones for Christmas.

[@anthonyberryman3443]

Great video mate, Blimey what a contrast, Hi Fi insider says it’s the best closed back headphone in the world he has every heard and thinks it worth every penny and should really cost more. He says people who are reviewing this are missing its biggest asset is the Dac in the headphone and how it changes and represents the music as the artist intended, can you comment on that side of the headphone?

[@MrB10N1CLE]

'changes and represents the music as the artist intended' literally impossible claim unless they have consulted with every single producer both dead and alive on how each track is meant to sound.

[@fireflame608]

HIFI Insider also loves how ALL the Beats headphones sound.... Generally found him to fall for the marketing a lot.

[@DMS3TV]

The DAC isn't anything special. It's limited to 320kb/s (mp3 quality). The DSP is cool by contrast but "as the artist intended" is a huge stretch. If we're talking wired headphones, there's significantly better closed-backs from the $99 K361 to the Focal Elegia, to many of the ZMF products. That said, everyone has a right to their opinion.

[@anthonyberryman3443]

Yes, he does see to be a Apple fan boy, he even has Nicki Minaj pink version, how sad is that! Plus his comments about the Artists music is just ridiculous! Also his comments about the settings in the Sony WM1Z are bizarre, those settings give the user a option. I have the Sony XM3 and when I use LDAC via Bluetooth with my Sony WM1Z it sounds great and I have no problem with my Bluetooth connection so don’t no what he is on, plus it sounds much better than my IPhone using AAC codec from Apple that’s for sure. Even Bluetooth from my Sony WM1Z to my Chord Hugo 2 sounds fantastic so not sure what he is on about. Although my £500 Noble K10 from Drop don’t have ANC and Bluetooth once I press play on any of my devices I can’t hear anything and if I want to hear anyone speak to me I just press pause but more importantly every time I listen to music it’s puts a smile on my face and I am listening to fantastic sounding music for the same price as them Apple Headphones. I would recommend people purchase a second hand Campfire Audio Cascade , Dan Clark Aeon 2 or the Focal Elegia with £300 off at present or a second hand Campfire Andromeda if they want to hear want music can really sound like.

[@frieddayfriday]

got my k361bt for $100. didn't researched about it, needed a bt headphones asap for my trip to japan and this is the cheapest that's in stock so i bought it. went home tried it and was blown away! a hundred bucks wireless headphones i wasnt expecting it to sound this good.

[@Just_Pele]

Conclusion: Puppy!

[@pernybergsund885]

What are the best sounding headphones if you don't have an amp?

[@pjmt29]

Good thorough review. Did anyone else notice the dog appearing from nowhere on the bed LoL

[@thetndixie]

My granddog!

[@hansphandest]

Is the K361 BT, really that much better? Oluv's gadgets seemed really disappointed in them compared to the non BT version

[@marksafe5463]

Looking forward to K361BT video!

[@ryanchenoweth5673]

Fantastic mate. Do they hiss like the XM4’s do? 🤔

[@dominiksx]

Good video, as always. Would love to hear more about other wireless headphones you like (drop panda), compared to each other. Another tier list like someone suggested maybe in the future? Cheers :)

[@thetechgenie7374]

Another great review. You shockingly found same issues I found and reason I returned them. Just the pressure alone on listening sessions wasn’t comfortable. I just stuck with the xm4’s which can use without even noticing wearing them. Then again use to Sony’s as used Sony’s monitors wired sets for years definitely not as good as wired set costing similar but comfortable can also lay back with them and EQ them to correct some of deficiencies, so gets job done as far as ANC Bluetooth sets, but definitely won’t consider them as reference by any means nor do I consider any of the Bluetooth headphones, not there yet unfortunately. The Sony’s keep the EQ settings in the DSP in the headphones itself and even when using wired mode, plus only have to adjust volume on source. The Apple AirPods Max on both. The Sony’s you definitely have to EQ the mids pretty high and turn down the clear bass. The Apples AirPods Max are good at details but still not reference nor are the Sony’s. The spatial audio is a gimmick at best. For $550 not even close to worth it even as a luxury product just to many flaws as the two volume control in wired mode, no wire included at price point and only as a option, no excitement in music, poor clamping, no dedicated power off button, or even in app, aluminum casing causing more condensation, clicking issues when walking, worst case design with zero protection pretty much and having to use case to put in power save mode. At best they sure have been price at $350 at launch and even then think they are overpriced and more around $250 range.

[@garygriffiths7353]

Damn wish I hadn’t ordered one. It arrives at some point next week. I might sell it and get some AirPod pros and a dark voice amp for my hd650

[@TheArpage]

You can cancel the order and demand a refund.

[@SBruv]

Hi. Great review, and good to hear something a obviously MUCH better informed than the standard tech site reviews at last. However, I'm a little confused by your 'they're only better than other ANC headphones' conclusion. Do they not sound different when ANC is off? If so, are they better? And how about wired with ANC off? Better again, or not? I just find it hard to believe Apple have inevitably 'broken' the sound of their cans in order to accommodate ANC (as all manufacturers presumably have to), then left it broken when ANC is turned off. With ANC off, they're effectively not ANC headphones any more, right, but wireless headphones without ANC, which you say the AMP's can't compete with? Or am I misunderstanding? Also, down in this thread, you state the the DAC always converts to 320 MP4. Does that included the wired connection? Ie, if I connect them wired and play a 24-bit WAV through them, that WAV will be compressed? If so, that would indeed be a pretty big fail, given Apple's prominence in the pro audio arena, and the potential for Logic users to look at these for music production (rightly or wrongly!). Very interested in your thoughts.

[@ianorigbo7617]

Brilliant honest review. Glad we are seeing more and honest reviews these days.

[@MrBeard-et1yi]

What kind of watch are you wearing? Great, informative video btw

[@houssamalucad753]

Perfect review. Made me realise that a normal airpods pro with a decent wired (or bluetooth) headphone is better for me.

[@dholy4038]

DUDE, you hit the comfort section right on the head. I have been feeling that temple pressure you are talking about from my AirPods Max and I have been trying to convince myself that it's just me. I honestly feel like I can't wear them for over 2 hours, I get a relief when I take them off. My Bose QC35II never gave me this pressure fatigue feeling.

[@RayCabrera1]

Great breakdown of the max, I really appreciate your detail and the comparisons you made with many other headphones. Taking your advice I treated myself to the Sennheiser HD 6XX and simply love them and also own the Sony XM4's. The price for both of them is still under $550.

[@panzer3279]

How the XM4 feel compared to the HD 6xx? I have the HD 6xx and was considering buying an ANC headphone.

[@RayCabrera1]

@@panzer3279 it sounds good after you EQ it. It is very bassy out of the box, but the great feature of the XM4 is the it includes a pretty decent EQ system, so you can change the sound of your unit to your liking. It also works best on an an android phone which you are able to use the LDAC Codec which can stream Bluetooth signals up to 990 kbps. This let's you take advantage of being able to stream HIFI music from apps like Tidal or Amazon HD and get the best sound out of it. If using an IPhone your limited to AAC codec which is 256 kbp a much lower streaming bit rate. Though not as good Sony does compensate for this in there app but usind a function called AAC Extreme to better the sound quality. Though you will never get the sound quality of the HD 6xx, for a bluetooth device you get really good sound you can adjust to you liking. Most reviews don't give you all this information, they review out of box without making the adjustments to make it sound even better, that what Sony offers thats no one else does. As for ANC, pretty much the best

[@RayCabrera1]

@@panzer3279 lol... Misread the first time, they are pretty comfortable

[@panzer3279]

@@RayCabrera1 Thanks! I might just get the XM4, save $250, and buy a better amp for the 6xx.

[@RayCabrera1]

@@panzer3279 I use the IFI ZEN CAN Amp with ZEN DAC stack. It works well for me.

[@jeremykalamian9653]

Hello man, can i please have an answer, i bought the airpodsmax i think they sound okay but i really consider switching over to the Drop panda’s is it worth it? i’m just aksing in terms of audio quality i don’t care about the features! Thx for the reply 😎

[@pappsa8]

and i guess panda wins by far as sound quality after that?!

[@HaydenAndrewScott]

So, if you want noise cancellation, they’re the best?

[@edmundgil6008]

Panda over the Max, & the Panda the best BT headphone.... period?

[@spa2damax]

Only it doesn't have ANC. But apart from that it's superior in every way

[@ideoidiom]

Ananda BT is prob better

[@suhaib1249]

@@ideoidiom its for a very limited use case and I don't know what it is. Open back headphones can't be for commute and why would you want to do Ananda BT in your living room. Don't get me wrong, I have Anandas and they are one of my favourites and I am in love with that large sound but if I need something when I am out and about Ananda BT is not the answer. I considered Pandas too but lack of ANC is a deal breaker for me when I am travelling. If I want a BT headphone I am compromising sound and that's a deal we all make when we go that route, and after weighing all the options APM are the best deal for me. Can't stand boomy Sony's or characterless Bose.

[@exol511]

@@ideoidiom imo Ananda BT is pointless (especially since it has no wired input). Better to go Wired ananda plus a BTR5 or UP4 if you want a wireless openback for home use.

[@TheSilverSurfer205]

Thanks for the video. Can all of the sound issues you expressed be fixed through software updates? Also, if/when Apple does push out a software update(s) please do a follow up(s).

[@hummingbird71]

Nice review! The Airpods Max sounds like a first gen product to me, but if they ever come up with a second gen or a cheaper "sports" version, maybe it'll gain more traction. Question tho, if you compare those headphones with EQ enabled and set to what you think their best setting should be, like toning down the bloated bass of the XM4, would your tier list change in any way?

[@Legato-2057]

How do the k361-BT compare to the Drop Panda (besides price?)

[@MingofangYT]

Brilliant detailed review, thanks again DMS!

[@TKDdans]

Thanks for the in depth descriptions of the sound quality and the rest. I also did feel a pressure on my temples and the weight felt questionably comfortable for a couple hours. But then I listened to them for hours at a time over a couple nights. I don’t know if the headphones loosened up, or if I simply psychologically got used to them, but now I genuinely don’t perceive that temple pressure anymore. The pressure seems much more even and comfortable after using them enough. I remember my 650’s felt unwanted clamping pressure until I worked the headrest a bit too. I even gave the APM to my wife to try and she didn’t notice any discomfort. Maybe it gets more comfortable, or it’s more comfortable for some heads? I also don’t like the accessibility compression on most or many tracks. I did find it interesting to hear softer noises on classical recordings though. Even if there was lost qualities in ways, I found the slight setting very enjoyable with how I could gain the ability to hear sounds I couldn’t before, or to hear the performance in a brighter way. Thank you for the in depth review! I actually have a Panda on the way so I can compare :)

[@bgamervideo2714]

Why do a pair of headphones make me mad? I think somethings wrong with me

[@htetnaing9597]

Most people arent as humble as you

[@bgamervideo2714]

@@htetnaing9597 what did i say? Are you being sarcastic?

[@leonkastilyo7463]

@@bgamervideo2714 I think he's giving you props, since you blame yourself for getting mad for a pair of headphones unlike many, who blame apple for selling them.

[@ianorigbo7617]

Because you just woke, knowing these companies package crap and market it to us.

[@htetnaing9597]

@@leonkastilyo7463 exactly

[@bagadoink]

Great video, very detailed. So out of all the wireless headphones (non-NC) you've had experience with, what would you say is the best value overall, with the emphasis on sound?

[@KojiCO-ConvinceM]

Kph30i and a es100 I know this wasn’t the exact answer you were looking for, but trust me 😄

[@DMS3TV]

if we're talking wireless and non-anc. K361-BT is the best value. K371-BT if you like more bass.

[@sindhunilpal5945]

Father of all audio reviewers these days! 🔥🔥🔥

[@theejpp]

How do you think the Panda compares to this in terms of sound isolation at the same volume levels despite the Panda not being active?

[@shawnyhu]

Great review! Glad to hear that it does not sound good enough to be priced 500$

[@jzuniga633]

I don’t think that apple priced these solely on sound quality.

[@BevelishCreations]

I don’t think you watched the whole review lol

[@netzbandit]

Can you tell something about hiss? Most BT headphones have a clearly audible hiss. The K-371BT and the Powerbeats Pro are the only ones I listened to, that were „quiet“.

[@SKY11211213]

Good that I knew these were too good to be true. The lightning port already showed it. 560s, 58x, Sony MDR M1ST, CD900st, DT770 and many more are more well rounded and cheaper. I guess NDH20 are better than too even when I dislike the fast decay of bass and lack of treble most of the time. I am like M1st + BTR5 and short cable, attach it to the headphone and boom, good bluetooth headphone

[@starkk19]

Again, you wouldn't buy these for sound quality. I have yet to see ANC headphones that could compete with 150 dollar audiophile headphones. It's just futile to even expect these to sound as good as that just because of the price tag.

[@MikeMPharmaCyclist]

The lightning cable on a $550 headphone is criminal.

[@yval8957]

Dude, how long are your flights??? Do you travel from New York to Sidney all the time?

[@DMS3TV]

3-8 hours generally.

[@anmu9038]

“It’s like getting in the sports car and being allowed to do only 25mph” Lmao that kinda is Apple thing to do.

[@improved33]

Have they fixed things you mentioned here?

[@Necropheliac]

Queue the loud rabble of AirPod Max owners who take it personally when you criticize their new headphones. They’re lurking in all of these reviews.

[@aka890908089]

Just curious, have you ever tried the beoplay H6 and if yes, what were your thoughts on it? It's an old Bang and Olufsen wired headphone that they do not sell anymore, just wanted to see if you've ever played around with it. Thanks!

[@CasualDHK]

Talking about airplane travel in 2020 😜

[@MP-gk4ky]

How would you rate the AirPods Max with the b&w px7’s as far as sound quality goes.

[@xen-morph]

It is surprising that your review differs from other audiophiles, overal consensus is that these are good sounding and comfortable headphones, and the ANC is on parr or better the current best ANC headphones. The fact that you have problems with handoff, while others show no problems, with even fast switching between devices in seconds, is weird.

[@gizzy2403]

Maybe hes jus being a little more honest than th others or has higher standards

[@Ophenix12]

When you have multiple devices that you use (Mac, iPad, iPhone) handoff is hit and miss for me too. 95% of the time it works and then it'll get stuck on one device or register the correct device but not pass the audio. It's a software bug that'll be fixed eventually. It's probably that not everyone got that bug, but it's also something that Apple will fixe in a future update. I had less issues before I connected my Mac, I assume it's because Big Sir is still new and some kinks remain. Either way I wouldn't put too much emphasis on a software bug with a company like Apple (or Sony or Bose) since they do take the time to fix those.

[@DMS3TV]

Maybe some of the other guys aren't using them as much? Not sure. I've been trying to use them as my daily driver (10+ hours a day between work and home) for about a week. That said, I'm glad I don't have to use them anymore.

[@gizzy2403]

@Piyath I thought he made it very clear & concise what they excelled @ & what they didnt. Personally, they'd b building snowmen in hell before I'd spend that much $$ on a pair of headphones that didn't meet audiophile standards! As he stated, u could hav an audiophile headphone & amp for less than th Apple phones, or u could hav a pair that cost less than half of them that did almost everything better than th Apple. For that amount of cash, u cant help but expect audiophile fit, finish & function. I'm actually shocked it's not more comfortable, b/c to compete w/Sony& Bose in th mainstream you'd better hav comfort & advanced functions to b seamless & perfect! Sounds like Apple shit th bed

[@wsmcke]

@Piyath I buy headphones for sound, not to be vain in how I look with them.

[@gabrielhites2705]

I remember seeing you in that LTT video, also this review is so detailed. You are definitely getting my subscribe.

[@user-vi3tb3bw5t]

I just don't see who Apple is trying to cater to with this headphone. You could buy a 6XX with an atom or spark and a topping dac, or get a drop panda and still have $150 leftover, these certainly are NOT appealing to any audiophile. It also doesn't appeal to average consumers at that price, this looks like its for the Apple enthusiast exclusively.

[@muffinb5446]

Apple users are the average consumer. Did you miss that the iPhone ist the best selling phone?

[@user-vi3tb3bw5t]

@@muffinb5446 Ok buddy, you really think your average iphone owner is gonna drop 600 dollars on a pair of bluetooth headphones? There's a big difference between people with iphones and apple enthusiasts, who own everything apple. Also, your logic is flawed, the iphone might be the best selling phone, but there are far more android and other phone types out there when added as a whole is much larger than the iphone, but nice try being a smartass.

[@armondo4446]

Mostly for Apple fans that are so deep in the whole Apple ecosystem and could take full advantage of the features this thing has. And Apple was scalping their customers for a long time, those who have money won't even consider other options and will go straight for these

[@suhaib1249]

Why would you consider 6XX for commute or Pandas in a plane without ANC? It is all about use case and this snobbery is frustrating when you start comparing audiophile gear with a wireless headphones. Surely, you know better. Personally, I hate my claustrophobic 6xx but love my Anandas but both of these live in my living room and yes that''s where I have been all this year but hopefully things will get better next year and I will be commuting again and then I think something like this would shine. And yes, mine are on pre-order and I think I know a thing or two about AQ, it is about how you are going to use a certain pair otherwise it is chalk and cheese.

[@user-vi3tb3bw5t]

​@@suhaib1249 You obviously dont understand the point I am trying to figure out the target audience, It's not audiophiles, hence the reference to the 6xx and the pandas, but you are obviously too interested in starting an internet flame debate to understand that. It has nothing to do with snobbery, I think its a fair comparison when Apple drops a 600 dollar price tag. DMS literally compares it in this video saying you could buy a 6XX and a Darkvoice tube amp for the price of the airpods max. It's not average consumers, your average iphone owner gets it on a carrier lease and they aren't about to dish out 600 bucks for a pair of bluetooth headphones. This is for apple enthusiasts who think everything apple makes is superior and would happily drop 600 for what is an average bluetooth headphone with good build quality. Maybe tone down the douchebaggery a bit and read more thoroughly and stop looking for a fight and you would feel better about being locked in all day hmm?

[@AndRootPro]

Hey I have a rec for skin redness as a man with sensitive skin, they make skin tint with spf protection that helps reduce red “hot spots” in your complexion. I’ve started using it daily after resisting recommendations from my wife and now I can’t go back, the reduction of skin irritation and discoloration has just been so mind blowing

[@macdee6040]

Careful, Apple fans boy might get offended and say that Apple is the leading audiophile headphone currently out.... hahaha

[@mariacheebandidos7183]

seems there are more people talking about "apple fanboys" than there are apple fanboys.

[@rjtastic]

so if we just talk about sound quality regardless of the nature of the headphone, do you think it sounds better than the hifiman HE400i 2020?

[@VonZekk]

Sony and Bose need to step up

[@frieddayfriday]

why? xm4 still better. $270 vs $550 hello?!!! it's not like the max is heaps better overall.

[@mrfrosty3]

The Apple product is substantially heavier thanks to the aluminum earpieces, why are they milled billet aluminum? To give a faux impression of quality. They will also scratch and deform from the many knocks and rough handling headphones receive but Apple apparently didn't consider so that may be how that ridiculous case came about. They are now very conspicuous items that are underwhelming as headphones and very overpriced and may earn them a high douchebag factor.

[@theoortcloud742]

Are the N700NC supposed to sound better? Wasn’t sure because of what you said about the market of noise canceling headphones.

[@albertxion513]

Airpods Max, AKA just get an Audeze Mobius.

[@darthmandude]

If you have a proper setup (dac/amp or player)... Sure. The Max is an all in one system, so all you need is a phone. Both are not comparable.

[@ritzk79]

yeah i want to see you carrying an audeze, amp and dac and a computer commuting to work. “but it sounds nicer! apple sheeps are missing out”

[@albertxion513]

@@ritzk79 You should look up the Audeze Mobius

[@albertxion513]

@@darthmandude Mobius

[@ritzk79]

@@albertxion513 i did. point still stands.

[@Rime0ne]

What would you say is the best sounding over the ear BT headphones? Noise cancelling not required.

[@muffinb5446]

I think you should watch the iphonedo video. It’s weird that you had so much software problems and there should be no reason why these are worse than the AirPods Pro in some instances.

[@DMS3TV]

Airpods were also buggy on launch. So is the M1. It's to be expected in a 1st gen apple product.

[@BladeRunnerJP11]

That tube amp looks fancy which one is it

[@Ali_Shafai]

@DMS I appreciate your insights and the depth in which you covered each aspoect. I have to say that at the 17:40 mark, you essentially hit on what most people experience with headphones in general. I remember when the Utopia came out, most everyone said that it is the BEST headphone ever! Now, while it is still well regarded, it is no longer the God headphone. I got the APM and really am enjoying them. I personally feel tired of chasing the endless audiophile pursuit of the BEST sound. God knows thousands of dollars from my pocket have been put towards that. 😅 I just put the APM on, and just listen and just enjoy. And, I think that is what they are aiming to do, provide an enjoyable experience and provide continuty for a person that is vested in the Apple ecosystem. Also, though highly subjective the APM have a design aesthetic where IMO cannot be compared to the others that it is being compared to. For some, including me, the industrial design, feel and the intangibles are important parts of the overall listening experience. They are not aiming to be super detailed or analytical, though compared to some headphones I have heard in the 2-3K range, they do some things better, even as a BT headphone. For example, I was at a show and listened to Audeze LCD-4 plugged into the Chord DAVE and it was just incredible for lot of music that I sampled. Then, I switched to a different genre and it shockingly sounded mediocre. So, that made me realize that ultimately the source needs to be great and that makes the most impact. That said, Apple product are part of an experience and not simply, is the computer or phone customizable, underpowered, or locked down, does it sound like X or Y, is it over-priced, etc. Thanks for a great video!

[@SteveHuffer]

Great review; would be interested to see a follow up as there have been a few firmware updates since this was made. Having owned both the APM and the AKG, I have to say that, for what this type of headset is designed, the APMs suited me quite a bit more. I f I was lying on my bed and analysing the output, then perhaps the AKGs would be superior to audiophiles, but for wearing out and about, or even doing gardening, housework, etc, the APMs sound more energetic, dynamic and fun. Add to that the extra features (ANC, to me, adds quite a bit more drama to music when used in public and actually does help to concentrate me on the sound) and it's a slam-dunk. If I was going to listen to music more analytically at home, I would use a pair of my wired headphones. I also still own the Deva Pro 2, but struggle to find a use for them as a BT headset, beyond pootling round the house and garden doing quiet jobs. I also miss some of the decent bass from the Maxs when I wear these, albeit you can EQ some back in. I find myself bopping around quite embarrassingly with the APM, which I didn't do with the AKGs or the Devas. It's definitely not audiophile, but I think they arrived at the right kind of sound signature for what they are. With regard to imaging, soundstage and spatial, the imaging has improved over the updates, the soundstage is still quite 'in your head', except for when I use them with my Apple TV with positional awareness (in which case it's excellent). I don't like spatial audio for music (and actually prefer decent stereo for movies and TV), but they are now almost at a par with the APP2 for this, despite not having the most up-to-date chip inside. I avoided getting these for years and tried seven or eight of the competitors, which is quite typical with Apple stuff for me. Picked up a 2nd hand pair last year and they just wormed their way in. Got rid of the rest (except for my Bose 700s, which are IPX rated and I live in the UK).

[@tommyferraz3872]

For me, the most shocking thing is not the differences between this review and others audiophiles/experts, it's the difference with his own first impressions. I don't judge it, I'm only confused.

[@MatteoCeccarini]

He explains it from 17:30

[@DMS3TV]

A lot can change from day 1. Trying a product is one thing. Trying to live with it is a whole different experience. Generally when I get something in to review, I try to use it as my daily driver until the review if filmed.

[@tommyferraz3872]

@@DMS3TV you made me think "do I really need ANC?" and "convinced" me to test wireless non-ANC. Any reason why you didn't add the Drop THX Panda to your recommendations list? I've watched your review on the Panda's and noticed you mentioned them in the APM review. Thanks!

[@ccozzarelli]

Hello !! I saw the Beyerdynamic Lagoon on your list. How does those sound ? What do you think of the ANC? Much better or worst than QC35? I have the DT770 and love the sound. Thanks !

[@KojiCO-ConvinceM]

Let me address some of these points you’ve made. The target audience the max is pointed at The general consumer that is, Will value looks feel and status above sound. I feel in regards to comfort it’s wrong to state that these are uncomfortable even if that person has tried 1000 headphones due to the head shape. I had half an hour with these, The build quality I found was very good, Comfort was rather exceptional though my time was limited, I think I will still put the QC 35 above all headphones for comfort to date. But these are selling way more than just sound to someone who is in the Apple ecosystem, through software they will gain features and refinement as time goes on, I found there sound to be best of noise cancelling headphones to, but mediocre at best. I was hoping for these to come out of the gate swing in, I think in features and build quality they do this, but that’s about it. It’s not for people like us unless we are on a long flight. The noise cancellation transparency mode and switching from Apple device to another Apple device is exceptional. But I think if you are watching this video it’s not for you Hence why I did not buy them to review for a longer period, it’s not necessary and it doesn’t have a place in my life.

[@Nearest_Neighbor]

Do you feel something changed sound and ux wise with firmware updates?

[@sherlan1886]

The most detailed review I’ve heard about these headphones.

[@Brunnen_Gee]

Speaking of sibilance and peaky highs, did you change something with your recording in this video? Your S's and T's aren't murdering my ears in this one like they do in all your others.