Apple AirPods Max, The Best Sounding Yet Unavailable Wireless Headphones

Apple brought back their ‘one more thing’ surprise this year with the introduction of a premium wireless over the ear headphone called AirPods Max. It was speculated for years from leaked sources that Apple was working on a more premium over the ear headphone that would rival or outclass their current Beats headphone offerings. Speaking of Beats headphones, Apple already has over the ear headphones in stock with the Studio3 and Beats Pro at $350 and $400 respectively. These new cans however are a different animal entirely.

First things first is the sound quality, which is sublime. I have heard and owned dozens of headphones, in terms of sound quality they are appropriately priced at $549. Most of my favorite audiophile headphones are from Hifiman and Audeze. These headphone manufacturers use Planar Magnetic type of drivers and an open back style of headphone to reach a sound that is simply incredible. The AirPods Max do not reach this sort of ear nirvana, but they are the closest I have heard from a wireless headset.

If I had to compare the new AirPods Max to another headphone, then I would say that they sound as competent as a Beyerdynamic DT770. What Apple manages to do however is get rid of the cord and headphone amplifier needed to increase the gain structure. These new cans get loud without distortion. It was the kind of loud that was nostalgic from wearing my first pair of Jerry Harvey in-ear monitors.

The build quality is also outstanding. Apple’s affinity for aluminum really shines here as the cans themselves are made from recycled aluminum and come in a space gray, silver, sky blue, green and pink color option. These colors coincide with the new iPad Air’s color scheme which also sports an aluminum shell. The two cans are connected by a stainless steel sliding bar which changes the size of the headphone to accommodate many head shapes. There are only two buttons on the AirPods Max, the digital crown and the active noise cancellation button. There is no on/off button or switch. This may seem odd on paper, but in real world use I don’t miss it.