Apple AirPods Max - Space Gray

After reading several reviews and seeing that some people have had mixed reviews I finally decided to take the plunge and invest in the AirPod Pros and I’m so glad that I did.I have to admit I’m deep into the Apple ecosystem so the connectivity and quality of the product was very important to me and definitely didn’t disappoint.Connection to my iPhone and iPad was seemless as is switching them.The headphones are extremely well made and so comfortable to wear. I’ve worn these for several hours and have actually forgotten that I was wearing an over the head pair of headphones.The quality of sound is next level and the noise cancellation is literally perfect.Overall I know they are pricey, but honestly it’s worth the price to have a premium experience.

TL/DR: Superb build quality, astonishingly good audio quality and best in class ANC add up to be the very best noise cancelling headphones you can buy, as long as you intend to use them with Apple hardware. Users of Android phones or windows desktops are probably better served by other options.Longer review:The first impression when these come out of the box is the sheer excellence of the build quality. The aluminium ear cups, stainless steel head band and soft memory foam ear pads all add up to a build quality that looks, feels and is light years ahead of any other offering at this or even much higher price points. By comparison competing headphones that are made of plastic, however well made, feel nastily cheap by comparison. Apple always focus on build quality and aesthetics and here they have outdone themselves.Comfort is surprisingly excellent. These headphones feel and are weighty but never feel heavy even after lengthy listening sessions. The fabric & memory foam ear pads combine with the mesh on the head band to make them surprisingly comfortable despite their relative weight. Again full marks in this department.The active noise cancelling is very impressive. When switched on the outside world really does simply disappear. Best of all, the sound signature is in no way affected by turning on ANC. No distortion, no hiss, no background noise at all. Again very impressive. Similarly transparency mode is handled equally well - turn it on and the effect is that of the headphones seeming to disappear. External sound is clear but so is whatever music you have playing. The engineers at Apple did a superb job with the transparency mode.Being headphones the £1M question is of course how do they sound? The answer is very good indeed. The sound signature is close to the Harman curve so the Airpods Max have a natural and neutral sound. Detail and separation are excellent. The sound stage is good though admittedly not as wide as other headphones I've tried. Bass is punchy but detailed and doesn't sound muddy in the slightest. Treble is tight and highs are handled again with detail. Be aware though that because the sound reproduction is excellent these headphones will severely punish low quality or poorly done recordings.In terms of ease of use, I don't think I've ever had a pair of bluetooth headphones that are as easy to use. Pairing with Apple devices is effortless (I use with an iPhone 12 pro max and a 2019 iPad pro) and switching between Apple devices is seamless and "just works." Android or WIndows users will however be missing out on a number of features and are probably best served by other options.One final point - the case that these headphones come with is a horrible joke. Given how carefully designed and engineered the headphones are the case is head scratchingly awful. It feels nice and is made of decent material but it does a very poor job of covering the headphones. I would imagine that everyone who buys Airpods Max will instantly also buy a proper third party hard case to go with them. No idea what Apple were thinking there but the included case is quite literally nearly pointless as an actual case.All in all, are the Airpods Max worth the (relative to the competition) very expensive price? Value is obviously a subjective thing but in terms of build quality, ease of use, convenience and most importantly audio quality these far exceed all of the competition. For me personally they're definitely worth the price and I genuinely find it hard to put them down. 9.5/10 for the Airpods Max, 2/10 at most for the pointless included "case."

One word describes these amazing headphones by Apple. - Brilliant.Expensive but they are worth it in my opinion. Noise cancellation is just perfect, the immediate connection when taken out of the case, and the comfort when wearing them.

The Apple AirPods Max offer a premium audio experience in a stylish and sleek design. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, some users have found them to be less comfortable compared to other headphones in their price range. The weight and clamping force may cause discomfort during extended use.Additionally, while the sound quality is impressive, it may not match the level of the AirPods Pro 2. Audiophiles or individuals seeking the highest level of audio fidelity may find the AirPods Max to be slightly lacking in comparison.Furthermore, the noise-cancelling feature on the AirPods Max does a good job in reducing external noise, but it may not excel in keeping the sound from leaking out. This could be a concern for those in shared or quiet environments where sound leakage is not desired. My wife could hear music even at low volume, other Top end headphones I use do NOT have the some issue.Despite these drawbacks, the AirPods Max still offer a premium and convenient wireless listening experience, with seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem. The build quality is solid, and the adaptive EQ and spatial audio features enhance the overall audio experience. The battery life is commendable as well, allowing for extended listening sessions without frequent recharging.Ultimately, if you value sleek design and seamless integration with Apple devices, along with above-average sound quality and acceptable noise-cancelling capabilities, the AirPods Max could be a suitable choice. However, if comfort and superior noise cancellation are your top priorities, considering other options might be worth exploring.The headphones ARE extremely solidly built as you'd expect from apple. Just wish they were slightly more comfortable as my ears were getting sore after just a couple of hours.MY ONE annoyance and it's a biggie. YOU CANNOT switch the blasted things off.