AirPods Max(er)
At this point, I am very much a sucker for Apple products. I'm aware of the controversy and strength of feelings that surrounds this subject. I've never been particularly interested in engaging in that type of discourse. Different strokes for different folks and all that.
I've been a very happy owner of the AirPods Pro for a while now. Unsurprisingly, they slot into my Apple ecosystem incredibly well. For me, they "just work" and not having to fiddle around with Bluetooth connections (they have this uncanny ability to seamlessly always switch to the device I am using even when I am multitasking with multiple devices) is a massive quality of life feature.
While I value sound quality, I'm not one to get bogged down in the science behind it all, largely due to the fact my hearing isn't great despite being in my early 30s (note to readers: invest in a set of good earplugs for attending shows). The AirPods Pro represented a damn good middle ground between sound quality, convenience and features. The bottom line is that they worked for my workflow and day-to-day life.
The AirPods Max on the other hand haven't always been a must buy for me. Don't get me wrong, I liked the idea of them and I've longed for a reason to go out and purchase a pair. My wife is often keen to point out I already own a pair of headphones. A fantastic pair at that - the Sony WH-1000XM5 (and before that the XM3). I can't really fault them for my needs, although they occasionally feel a little uncomfortable after heavy listening sessions. But they give me convenience of wireless for high quality music but also the option for wired if I want the true lossless experience.
So what gives? Why do I keep bringing up the product page for the AirPods Max and longingly hover over the purchase button?
Truth is, I am exceedingly fortunate that I have the means to own two relatively expensive pairs of headphones. That's not always been the case, but I feel it's important to recognise that privilege I now have. With that in mind, I felt like I could at least experiment with what works and what doesn't.
So I went ahead and bought the new version of the AirPods Max (these ones which come with USB-C charging rather than lightning). They offer the same quality of life and convenience features as the AirPods Pro which is far and away the biggest positive. They offer good sound quality (but the caveat being there is no wired option, so true lossless isn't achievable) for when I am out and about, but also when I am at home working and "perfect" sound quality isn't a priority.
Where I get to is that the AirPods Max act as one of many tools in my inventory for music listening. Unsurprisingly, I do an awful lot of music listening — while I work; while I run errands; while I sit on the sofa. My existing headphones aren't always the most convenient for all of the scenarios and circumstances I find myself in. The ability to have choice (albeit expensive choice) as to what headphones (or earphones) to use in any given scenario is a godsend. The XM5 headphones won't be retired of course. They will still have their place in my set up for when I want to sit down, wire up and get a true lossless experience. But the AirPods Max will certainly take up the mantle of being my daily driver. It remains to be seen how they will sit alongside my AirPods Pro. I suspect they will work best when I am running quick errands about town, and don't want to be lugging the larger AirPods Max around with me.
I may follow up in the new year to see how I am getting on with the AirPods Max. But for now, I'll be trying to explain to my wife why this purchase was absolutely necessary.