Apple AirPods Max Review

Sound performance

For this review, I mostly used my iPhone as a source. Apple ecosystem makes it hard to connect a high-end DAP or any other source.

Most files were streamed from Spotify / Amazon Music HD and, obviously, Apple Music.

Overall signature

Long story short, the AirPods Max is exceptionally good for a Bluetooth headphone.

If I considered the pro, prosumer’s good, this one feels like audiophile-grade and made me reconsider how important digital processing could impact my listening experience. It creates the “breakthrough” audio experience shown in Apple’s advertisement, thanks to computational audio.

There is no distortion, never, even if you crank up the volume to the max. ADSR is excellent and, compared to popular Bluetooth headphones from Sony, Bose, or even Sehnneiser, the AirPods offers a much better sound experience. 

There is a clear emphasis on the lower end of the spectrum, but bass never overwhelms the rest of the spectrum. The driver moves a lot of air, and you constantly feel the pressure on your eardrum, but that’s never harmful either. 

Spaciousness is astounding and the AirPods Max never ceased to amaze me on this aspect. Apple’s H1 constantly compensate outside noises and no other headphone was able to give me a soundstage this wide, in a complex situation like subways or train station.

The AirPods Max blends true analog sound, with high-end technology and you’d be surprised by how clean it sounds. I tried heavy-paced electro with saturated chords, to see how deep those drivers could reach, and always found the low-note I aimed for.

Whatever the genre, the Max always seemed in control, keeping the voices clear and poised at any time. Dynamic range is excellent, with a rich presentation and superb layering and, honestly, it’s almost shocking how hard it was to put Apple’s headphone past its boundaries. Yet, there are boundaries. 

First, the AirPods Max sounds best if you use Apple Music. I can’t explain why, but head-to-head, Apple’s streaming platform gives a much better experience with the AirPods than any other source I tried. Obviously, there’s a gimmick behind it, where the brand unlocked various settings, if and only if you stay inside Apple’s garden.

Next, the headphone only supports Apple’s AAC. This means that if you were to use it with anything but an iPhone/iPad/MacBook, you won’t unlock the headphone’s full potential. I tried my FiiO M15, which supports AAC, LDAC, and aptX-HD, and immediately felt a difference, for the worse.

But, as soon as you get back on your iPhone, the AirPods immediately comes back to life. Apple’s witchcraft at his finest.

Tonality

Highs: digital prowess. The AirPods Max highs are impressive with great decay and zero distortion. Add super wide dynamic range, AdaptativeEQ and you end up with a render nothing short of amazing for a Bluetooth headphone, or any headphone.

Good test-track: Speaking of the end – Lapsley

Mids: transparent. Mids are well-balanced and voices sound clear in any configuration. Be it jazz, pop, or even heavy metal, the AirPods Max offers performances on-par with its bigger siblings. Layering is top-notch and I prefer the Max sound signature to the Pro.

Good test-track: San-Francisco Street – Sun Rai

Lows: small driver, big oomph. Even compared to planar headphones, the Max managed to impress me and if you’re a bass-lover, this headphone will be one of the best choices available at the moment. The bass can reach the lowest of the low while keeping the other frequencies untouched. I tried it with a movie and this may be one of the best headphone experiences I have had up to this day. Even more, if you can try spatial audio!

Good test-track: Long life – Alto Palo

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