This video is brought to you by NordVPN This is a first impressions overview of the
AirPods Max that I have been using over the last few weeks. I'll start with an upfront conclusion
and you can use the timestamps should you decide to jump around the video. In the end,
I'll tell you my concerns about this product and I'll share with you how I use them every day.
So, these headphones are no doubt a very controversial pair, mainly because of the
price but as the internet proved, that wasn't an issue for most people since the product was
sold out immediately as soon as it came out. Of course, I cannot recommend this product
for everyone not only because of the price tag, but because I believe it requires special care,
which I'll explain later. I don't regret purchasing the AirPods Max, because first off
they produce fantastic sound but most of all they fit the Apple ecosystem perfectly,
and respectively my lifestyle and workflow and those people like me, who are deep into Apple,
are the people that I would recommend it for. Seamless connection between all my devices,
sound quality to spoil you, jaw-dropping noise-cancellation, and for the first time for me,
an ergonomic not-want-to-squash-my-head fit. Of course, not everything is perfect,
especially for people with endless foreheads like me, but all that in a sec.
Hey guys, this is E, and if you are new to the channel, welcome. My name is Iskren, and most
people call me E, and let's start with design and comfort - a pain point for over ear headphones and
people with big heads like me. Although quite heavy the top band seems to be distributing the
load evenly. With me, more often then not over-ear headphones tend to squeeze my ears region,
creating terrible physical pressure, especially when we talk about longer wear situations
to the point of physical discomfort so unless I need to do a video edit or something that requires
precision audio experience, I resort to my speakers or the regular AirPods. The Max however
is different for a few reasons, one of which is very important for me. Although very heavy,
some 150 grams on top of other brands, the weight is very interestingly distributed and the usual
tension is not clamping my ears but rather the top sides of my head, resulting in a somewhat
evenly distributed experience. For the first in a long time, I can use the headphones for hours.
The telescopic adjustment of the headphones is like no other. Aside from stunning aesthetics,
micro-adjusting the headphones is an experience of its own and each time
is something that brings joy and reminds of the fact that these are in fact premium headphones.
The removable cups are fantastic and what I love most about them is that they breathable and very
forgiving at any temperature. I am so used to sweaty, leather-type of cushions that these mesh
ones are a joy to wear even over long periods. The button placement and the fact that both of the
buttons are on the top is finally something to be excited about. I am tired of touch-sensitive
cups and buttons placed on the bottom and here's why. First off, trying to use the thumb (the most
non-accurate and less-sensitive finger) is always difficult and when you have some 3-4 and even more
buttons mixed with touch-sensitive side cups is a recipe for disaster. With none of my other pair
of headphones I use any of those buttons, except for the on/off switch...which again
is another complaint...but more on that later. Second, having only two buttons on the top,
or to be precise, one button and one dial/button is extremely natural. Every time the hand reaches
up the fingers naturally rest on both locations, the DJ move, making every interaction simple. The
fact that there's no power button and automatic sleep modes is actually perfect. Remember,
if you buy those headphones, you buy them to use them...not rest them somewhere or sticking them in
a drawer...which means that you don't always have to think to turn them off. In most of the cases
of my Sony's, when I get interrupted, I take them off and forget to actually turn them off...guess
what? They remain on...until it's too late. With the AirPods Max...one less thing to worry about.
Third, about the buttons, I can finally rest my head deep into my pillow without having to worry
that I might trigger Siri or transparent mode or something else. Perfect placement if you ask me.
Pairing the AirPods Max is as simple as putting them on my ears and looking at my phone. That's
it. With BigSur, iOS14, and iPadOS 14 I don't have to think about which device I am using. They
are already connected and part of my ecosystem and I just enjoy them with whichever device I
am working on. Compared to the Sony XM2 that I have (and this is only because I am using this
older model and find no reason to upgrade it) it is a prehistoric experience to have to pair and
unpair them with each device I want to use them on...guess what - this is the number one reason
to leave them at home and use them only when I need to space out from the noise around the house.
While on the topic of spacing, Special Audio is often being regarded as a gimmick
and something to put on a shelf but to me, this is a next-level content experience and although
I have briefly tested it with the AirPods Pro just as it came out, the experience with the
AirPods Max is on another level. The first time I tried it, I listened to Barack Obama
and Oprah and there were some moments where the president was reading and quoting his own book.
I have to tell you that I was blown away. It felt so real as if that person was right next to me,
in front of me...where the phone was sitting (I've never experienced that before).
Turning my head and roaming around the room really makes everything so real and immersive. So yeah,
I plan to enjoy a lot more Special Audio and overall AirPods Max content on my devices which
leads me to the topic of VPN, because some of my favorite shows like Twin Peaks
on Netflix are region-specific and one way to enjoy them is to use NordVPN who are kind enough
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at least it wasn't until I installed NordVPN, which by the way takes less than 2 minutes to
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So, here's what I don't like about the AirPods Max and most of all, what concerns me over time.
As a start, although the embodied L and R symbols into the ear cups are fantastically made
and a minimal choice for many people, in certain situations when working in darker environments it
is difficult to figure out which is the left cup and which is the right. The fact that the ear cups
are identical (besides the button and the digital crown) it is difficult to make sure how to put
them on correctly. It is something to get used to, but definitely not something that can be easily
resolved with a quick glance before I put them on. Also, the mesh band is fantastic to touch and play
with it. It is very soft, for the most part, breathable and in no-doubt premium-looking. See,
all the reviews that I saw at first are from people who have one thing I don't - hair.
It is a bit different for people with no hair like me, because when one is bold, me - in that case -
sweat and tiny scalp lint tend to stick to the fine mesh making things a bit, well,
not so pleasant to know they are there...if you know what I mean.
Brushing them off or using some condensed air is definitely a fix
but it's nowhere as easy as wiping a regular headphones band with a cloth every once and while.
Color is very important for those headphones if you ask me. I haven't seen the other colors live,
but I know exactly what to expect and that is some unpleasant results over longer periods.
The top band and cushion materials not being leather are fantastic for ergonomics but
not for cleanliness. Depending on one's hygiene you can expect slow but guaranteed discoloring
and dirt accumulation, which for the cups is not that big of a deal, because they are replaceable,
but the top band is there to stay, and stain, and potentially tear...so perhaps getting the
dark color or use them with a hat if you are bold or don't wash your hair that often
might a good precaution. I have a suspicion that we can expect some
third-party protective assessors...but we'll see. The banging of the cups is another annoyance to
me. Every time I take them out of the beautiful case I can the aluminum cups hitting each other
which leads me to believe that over time those sides of the cups will scuff and start to chip.
I mentioned the case - ahh..that bra...I mean case. What can I say...I'll
say nothing for two reasons. First off, I don't intend to carry around the AirPods Max. They
are here to stay on my setup and be used around the studio. Second, eventually, I am planning on
getting some third-party cases and accessories, so be sure to subscribe to the channel for
when I release my accessory recommendations. So how I use my AirPods Max. I don't travel with
headphones that much these days. I used to do that in the past, but now the most I would carry is my
regular AirPods because they take little to no space. With that being said, the AirPods Max are
to be an integral part of the studio to use them for video editing, entertainment, and most of all
focusing. This brings me to the fact that I need to purchase the 3.5mm to lightning cable, which
I'll talk about more in a later video. So, I don't really need to worry about a case or have to think
that much to protect the headband because, for the most part, those babies will be on the hanger. I
am planning to do a blindfold headphone test where 5 to 10 people will have the opportunity to rate
some of the most popular headphones, including the AirPods Max and the all popular Sony's
which will be a great experiment based on which we can talk about the topic of audio quality.
If you don't want to miss that video, be sure to subscribe and click on the bell icon so
you are notified when that video comes out. As always, it's been an absolute pleasure,
This is E Over and out