AirPods Max (2nd Gen)

"The AirPods Max 2 sound so much more refined now. The treble is smooth while still remaining clear and airy, revealing so much nuance and detail in the music."

While many praise the refined treble, improved instrument separation, and balanced sound, some find the tuning problematic, particularly with vocals, and note only marginal differences from the first generation.

"Comfort is the same as the 1st gen since the design hasn’t changed. I’ve always found the AirPods Max to be decent to good in terms of comfort."

Comfort is a mixed bag; many find them comfortable due to the headband and earcups, but a significant number report issues with weight, clamping force, and the headband sagging over time, mirroring the first generation's problems.

"Same weight and battery life 👎"

Battery life is not a frequently discussed topic, and when mentioned, it's noted as unchanged from the previous generation, which is seen as a disappointment by some.

"The problems with APM1 carry over to AMP2 - the sagging mesh headband will remain a problem after a few months to a year of wear."

While the headphones themselves are described as looking and feeling great, the continued use of the same headband design that sags and the inadequate 'bra' case are significant drawbacks.

"I’m excited to finally not have to switch between cables all the time, but that’s no big deal."

The addition of USB-C for lossless audio is appreciated, but the lack of significant new features and the continued absence of features like a power button or multipoint connectivity are noted as drawbacks.

"The AirPods Max 2 sound excellent. They benefit from new high dynamic range amplifiers this time around, marking the one hardware change besides the H2 chip."

The sound quality is described as excellent, detailed, balanced, and refined, with subtle improvements over the first generation, though some find it slightly bass-heavy or sterile.

"The headphones weigh 13.6 ounces, the same as the first generation. The Bose and Sony models are noticeably lighter at 9.3 and 8.9 ounces, respectively. This matters most when you wear them for an extended period."

While the materials and design are premium, the significant weight is a recurring complaint, leading to discomfort during extended use or movement, despite the effective weight distribution.

"At 20 hours, it’s not terrible, but it is lagging behind the competition now. Sony and Bose offer 30 hours with their current flagships, while Sennheiser HDB 630 doubles that at 60 hours (with ANC on)."

The 20-hour battery life is considered average at best and significantly lags behind competitors, exacerbated by the inability to manually turn the headphones off.

"The AirPods Max 2 look and feel as premium as they did in 2020. The anodised aluminium earcups, the stainless steel headband and memory foam earcups all exude a high level of luxury."

The build quality is universally praised as exceptional, luxurious, and premium, using high-quality materials that set them apart from competitors.

"Callers said they could hear almost nothing in the background, even when I was in the noisy streets of New York with some wind kicking up now and then."

Call quality is generally considered good, with improvements noted due to the H2 chip and Voice Isolation, though some reviewers mention occasional unevenness in voice tone.

"New to AirPods Max 2 are all the latest features found in regular AirPods that have the H2 chip: Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, loud sound reduction, and Live Translation."

The addition of the H2 chip brings useful features like Conversation Awareness and Live Translation, and connectivity within the Apple ecosystem is seamless, though Android users are limited.

"All content—music, videos, phone calls, etc.—sounds incredible on these cans."

Users frequently describe the sound quality as outstanding, marvelous, and incredible, with some noting vibrant soundstages and clear instrument separation.

"The weigh sucks. Majority of people won't find them comfortable after a couple hours."

While some users find them comfortable, even more mention the weight as a significant drawback, leading to discomfort during extended use.

"I will now upgrade to the Sony XM6, because it has the specifications I wanted in a new headphone and has 10 more hours of battery life"

Battery life is frequently cited as a downside, with users noting it's significantly less than competitors and a point of disappointment.

"They look like a product people in the 50s would think look futuristic."

The build quality is generally praised as premium, though some specific design elements like the mesh and uneven extensions draw criticism.

"The mic quality on the AirPods Max 2 is so much better, wow!"

The microphone quality is noted as improved in the 2nd generation, though some audio professionals find it overly processed.

"I don't think I've ever heard Marques hate something as much as he does the case."

While ecosystem integration is a plus, users are disappointed by the lack of significant new features, the continued absence of a power button, and the unchanged, impractical case.