With strong noise cancellation and an equally impressive transparency mode, AirPods Max offer the complete package in a comfortable build, TheStreet’s Jacob Krol writes calling them “the perfect headphones for traveling.”
I’m about 36,000 feet in the air on a plane, and I have a window seat. There’s an engine outside my window that I’ll be hearing for about five hours, and I’m sitting pretty peacefully… I’ve already spent a ton of time with these on the ground, and while they’re pricey, they’re some of the best headphones available. But after two flights with the AirPods Max, they’re a traveler’s dream if you have an iPhone.
Part of the reason for the $549.99 MSRP are the materials Apple opted for. AirPods Max has a mostly aluminum and stainless steel build, and in the parts that touch or face your head, there is plenty of cushioning… And even on a pressurized plane, the AirPods Max are ridiculously cozy around the ear. I didn’t feel much pressure around my ears on my skull, even after multiple hours. With other headphones, I generally need to remove them to give my ears some breathing space and to reduce pressure around my head.
AirPods Max are expensive, but for that price, you’re getting an experience that’s deeply integrated with the Apple ecosystem, can silence out even a noisy airplane, and are comfortable enough not to cause discomfort while you’re at 36,000 feet… The good news is that they’re almost always discounted. Yes, you can buy them for $549, but Amazon has them for $479, and we’ve recently seen them drop to as low as $450.
MacDailyNews Note: You can currently get AirPods Max for $479 via Amazon, saving $70, or 13%.
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I wear my AirPod Max every day as I walk my dog 3+ miles/day. The last update camer another sound quality improvement
always travel with mine
Apple has the perfect product.
expensive
trendy
easily lost
has built in life limit (sealed battery)
requires charging, driving other overpriced white accessories sales
doesn’t have to perform well because Apple addicts won’t try any other brands
molded plastic is easy to spin as being new and exciting simply by introducing new future colors
intentionally designed not to work with any other companies gear, if Apple chooses to implement the software lock-in
Brilliant!
SSD – You really should read the article — or at least look at the pictures — before posting a generic anti-Apple screed. This is a piece about Apple’s over-the-ear headphones, not the regular white AirPods. Sure, they’re expensive, but pretty sure these cans are not made of white plastic or easily lost. But nice try!
And what design do you recommend?
BTW I’m an Apple (product) fanatic and love my Beats Pro. The plastic is lightweight, sound and fit are great, and it would be absolutely STUPID to try and have replaceable batteries.
Also, when at home, I prefer my beyerdynamic 990s or Hifiman planer over the ear cans but will almost certainly buy a set of these eventually.
I like my APMs and I think the sound quality and noise cancelling is better than any model of Bose or Sony ANC headphones that I’ve ever owned. However, I’ve owned three different pairs since they were released and every single one of them has suffered hardware failures due to excessive condensation (despite only ever using them indoors in a relatively low-humidity environment). They’ve been the most problematic Apple product I’ve ever owned in a lifetime of Apple gear (since my first Apple II in 1978). It is my home that Apple will update these and address this issue in the next iteration.
Didn’t feel much pressure on my head on a “pressurized” airplane. Well, duh. The pressure in a pressurized airplane at altitude is less than on the ground but more than outside the plane at that altitude. The pressurization keeps the pressure inside the aircraft at about 8,000 feet altitude equivalent or less so you have enough oxygen and can breathe ok.
I use my AirPod Max every day while walking my dog for 3+ miles. Another enhancement in sound quality was made in the most recent release.