Apple has announced its first over-ear, noise cancelling wireless headphones, Airpods Max, which will sell for $549. The headphones come in 5 different colours (space grey, silver, green, sky blue and pink), have active noise cancelling, Apple’s spacial audio technology and transparency mode. They also offer a listening time of 20 hours and a 2 hour charge time with the lightening cable. The headphones come with their very own case – which has a more unique and unusual design in comparison to cases by other brands and even the accompanying traditional looking Airpods Max – and a lightening to USB-C cable.
According to Apple, the newly released AirPods Max offers theatre-like sound quality and are ‘designed for an uncompromising fit that creates the optimal acoustic seal for many different head shapes — fully immersing you in every sound’. The ear cushions on the AirPods Max are made of memory foam, to enhance the seal of the headphones. They also feature ‘Adaptive EQ’ which Apple promises will deliver a “breakthrough listening experience”.
With its high price point, the Airpods Max are in league with players such as Sony and Bose which have long since dominated the listening landscape. However, with Apple’s tag on board, some audiophiles may be inclined to switch to the AirPods Max, even if it is only for the status symbol that Apple has come to be known for.