The AirPods Max have only recently enriched the extensive headphone market. Many already complained about the high price of Apple’s noise-cancelling headphones when they were launched. But now there seems to be a tangible problem that rightfully causes displeasure among buyers considering an MSRP of almost 600 Euros. Thus, under certain circumstances, not only the advertised ear detection, but also the essential noise suppression is said to strike from time to time.
Demand high – unit numbers low
It is not uncommon for Apple to be accused of “artificial scarcity”. Here, products are intentionally produced in low quantities to make them more exclusive and attractive. But in view of the Corona crisis, no company can currently be accused of producing limited quantities on purpose. Apple probably also has to accept limited production work for its new premium AirPods Max headphones. Although many would like to call a pair of the luxurious and above all expensive over-ears their own, the company cannot keep up with the production. However, this is not the only problem that the noise-canceling headphones are causing the California-based company. On top of that, more and more users are complaining about serious problems with the AirPods Max. Among other things, owners of the headphones report a strong buildup of condensation in the headphones. But beyond that, elementary features of the premium headphones also seem to be causing trouble.
Wrong choice of material?
But how can it happen that condensation forms? One cause could be the material that Apple has chosen. Thus, the company relies on high-quality and, above all, lightweight aluminum for the shell of the ear cups. This is supposed to create a quality feature. After all, the competition usually relies on cheap plastic here. But even though plastic may be cheaper than aluminum, it also offers advantages. For example, it is not as susceptible to the consequences of fluctuating temperatures. Especially in winter, headphones are exposed to these.
On aluminum, temperature differences can lead to increased condensation. This could be the cause of the problem described by many users. However, the users who were confronted with the problem described that they were exclusively indoors. The condensation is said to have formed after a few hours of wearing. It is possible that the problem will increase when temperatures fluctuate. However, more details are not yet known.
Faulty ear detection and problems with ANC
.
But it did not remain with the condensation of the said users. In addition, the practical ear detection had failed, which we already know from the smaller AirPods. This detects whether the user is currently wearing the headphones on his head or not. As soon as you put the over-ears down, the current playback pauses. When you put them back on, the AirPods Max resume playback. If this feature does not work properly, a huge added value of the expensive headphones is lost. Even worse are the problems with active noise cancellation that have become known. For example, MacRumors has reported that for some users, one side of the headphones offers Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). However, the other continues to work normally without suppressing outside noise. Those affected by such a problem would certainly instinctively resort to the classic restart of the device. However, this is not possible with the AirPods Max. Apple has not given the premium headphones an on/off switch.
Reset is unavoidable with faulty ANC
Since the headphones do not offer a corresponding switch, you can not avoid a factory reset. Although this should solve the problem for many users, but for such an expensive pair of headphones it is inconvenient and annoying. After all, you have to reconnect all devices that were connected to the headphones after the reset. If you imagine how many Bluetooth devices the average user has by now, this can definitely turn into stress.
Apple’s premium over-ears were unveiled without much tampering on December 8, 2020. Only a blog post put the company to announce its new addition. Already at the presentation, the press voices were unanimous. The price is very high considering the MSRP of competitors like the WH-1000XM4 from Sony. The Japanese launch their flagship for just under 200 Euros less and with more features. They also include a practical and especially shock-resistant carrying case with the headphones. The situation is different for Apple. You only get a kind of cover for the ear cups. This should not offer any serious protection.
.
Apple also lags behind the competition from Sony and Bose when it comes to battery life. The AirPods Max are supposed to offer a maximum of 22 hours of listening pleasure. After that, you have to recharge them again. The reason for this might be the questionable decision not to put an on/off button on the device. Thus, they are permanently in standby mode.
For the time being, supply bottlenecks
Sure, there’s a lot to gripe about the Apple AirPods Max. But the over-ears can also shine. For example, many users are absolutely positively surprised by the sound. The acquisition of the headphone brand “Beats” from the well-known rapper Dr. Dre is probably noticeable here. The experts seem to have conjured a balanced sound in hi-fi quality. Nevertheless, the problems with condensation, ANC and a faulty ear detection are very annoying. This should not really happen with such an expensive product. However, those who still decide to buy the headphones are currently still looking down the tube. After all, the US company obviously has serious delivery problems. The headphones, which celebrated their market launch on December 15, annoyed many pre-orderers with a long waiting period. Apple has not yet been able to solve this problem. Some customers report that they still have to wait eight weeks or longer for their AirPods Max. Apple has to admit defeat to the competition here as well. It should not be a problem to provide a sufficient number of units for the market launch. However, as we said at the beginning, the Corona crisis can also play an important role here. Whether and how Apple solves its problems with the AirPods Max remains exciting. We will keep you up to date.
