Apple AirPods Max: Premium Over-Ear Headphones
December 9, 2020Apple has introduced the AirPods Max. An over-ear headphones with a ‘retro-modern’ look to it. The larger than life earcups, unique head support and stainless steel frame, help keep the headphones anchored to the wearer’s ears. It also has an Apple Watch inspired crown that takes on several functions besides controlling the volume. Cupertino says that the ear cushions (memory foam) have been designed to offer comfort and create a decent seal over each ear.
AirPods Max feature a 40-mm Apple-designed dynamic driver and a custom dual neodymium ring magnet motor that over less than 1 percent harmonic distortion. It also has an Apple-designed H1 chip in each ear cup and advanced software. Its processor is capable of 9 billion operations per second to power Adaptive EQ, Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and spatial audio.
This is what Apple says about them:
Adaptive EQ: AirPods Max use Adaptive EQ to adjust the sound to the fit and seal of the ear cushions by measuring the sound signal delivered to a user and adjusting the low and mid-frequencies in real time — bringing rich audio that captures every detail.
Active Noise Cancellation: AirPods Max deliver immersive sound through Active Noise Cancellation so users can focus on what they are listening to. Each ear cup features three outward-facing microphones to detect environmental noise, while one microphone inside the ear cup monitors the sound reaching the listener’s ear. Using computational audio, noise cancellation continuously adapts to the headphone fit and movement in real time.
Transparency Mode: With AirPods Max, users can switch to Transparency mode to simultaneously listen to music while hearing the environment around them — ensuring everything, including a user’s own voice, sounds natural while audio plays perfectly. Switching between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode can be done with a single press using the noise control button.
Spatial Audio: AirPods Max use spatial audio with dynamic head tracking to place sounds virtually anywhere in a space — delivering an immersive, theater like experience for content recorded in 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos. Using the gyroscope and accelerometer in AirPods Max and iPhone or iPad, spatial audio tracks the motion of a user’s head as well as the device, compares the motion data, then remaps the sound field so it stays anchored to the device, even as the user’s head moves.
https://youtu.be/FXI_-OesT3A
Using optical and position sensors, the AirPods Max can detect when its being worn. It can use this data to play or pause music when one ear cup is lifted from the wearer’s ear. Apple says that it offers 20 hours of battery life with Active Noise Cancellation and spatial audio enabled. The headphones are packed in a smart carrying case and retail for $549.00 and can be purchased in black, blue, green, red and white.
