Apple AirPods Max 2 Review

Our Apple AirPods Max 2 Headphones Experience

If we could write a love poem to Apple, it would probably wax poetic about the amazing soundstage, with its expansive and immersive sound. We'd likely drone on about the mind-blowing noise cancellation, which isolates us in a bubble of whatever we're listening to. We'd even thank it for providing some of the clearest calls in chaotic environments we've ever had. But… we'd end it by saying we just couldn't move forward in the relationship. We are sorry, it's not us, it's them.

These headphones are even heavier than the prior Apple AirPods Max, and those beasts were already too heavy. The design is largely the same with square ear muffs and a springing mesh headband that felt pretty good when we first put them on, but they hung like weights on our head, and discomfort quickly set in. These headphones are almost 100 grams heavier than the next-heaviest option, and we felt every single gram. We could only wear them for about 4 hours, and this was pushing it with some listening sessions coming in closer to an hour.

The price is also crazy high. While we don't score based on price, it is hard to feel confident recommending headphones this expensive when cheaper models offer similar performance and cost significantly less. In a day when budget is everything and finding ways to save is a huge win, we can't find a compelling reason to pay this much for headphones we couldn't wear for more than 4 hours.

We preferred using these with Apple devices, where we get the most benefit, but Apple doesn't offer an app for any devices. Not a deal-breaker for us, but again, given the price, we kind of hoped for more customization capabilities. Even with iPhones, which are designed to play well, there isn't much you can do to change the performance or features to suit your taste. This could be bothersome to those looking for a specific vibe.

Sound Quality

The sound quality for the Max 2 is almost second to none. With some of the highest sound quality scores we've ever had, it is easy to see why audiophiles and casual listeners alike enjoy these headphones.

The soundstage for the Max2 is so clean, with precise layer separation, that it is tight and crisp. The instruments have pinpoint locations, with space and depth between them, creating a sense of space and an exploratory atmosphere.

The bass is slightly more emphasized than in the first version, with more power while maintaining a natural sound profile. It sounds more refined and controlled than other high-end brands; it might not be enough for serious bass heads, but it's good for most.

The mid-range is appealing with vibrant yet natural sounds. Even when listening to dense tracks, the lead instruments shone. The background instruments maintain their individual timbre and texture while blending seamlessly. We didn't observe any vocal recession here. The treble sounds bright, smooth, and beautifully balanced with the mids and bass. There is a sense of airy spaciousness while staying realistic. We didn't experience any fatigue, even with intense violins or synths. They aren't as sparkly as some others, but it is better than the prior generation and very enjoyable.

Overall, the Max 2 tracked our preferred house curve pretty well, coinciding with our hands-on experiences.

Comfort and Fit

Once again, Apple gives us a stupidly heavy headset, and it feels like it. The extra heavy weight, we barely made it over 4 hours of listening time.

While they feel pretty good when we first put them on, the design, over time, struggles. The padding on the ear cups is good and made of fabric rather than pleather, plastic, or leather. The fabric absorbs sweat, so the hotter they get, the wetter they get, and once wet, they take time to dry. While this means they don't slide around when wet, it can be annoying to don wet cups.

The fabric on the headband feels somewhat denser in the generation, and it is springy, but the weight of the cups still causes pressure on the top of our head. The weight is significant enough that it caused neck pain for us. We also oddly experienced jaw pain when wearing them for a long time. We could wear them with glasses, but it depended on the style and thickness of the arms.

Noise Cancellation

The Max 2 offers some of the best noise cancellation we've seen. Compared to the competition, there aren't many that can come close to what the Max 2 offers.

The active noise cancellation (ANC) is very powerful, with only a minimum amount of noise bleeding in. Some of the results depend on what we were listening to, such as hearing more when listening to podcasts than to music.

While it did a good job blocking the treadmill drone, we could still hear the occasional scuff of the shoes when we faltered. It blocks 33.2 decibels on average, doing its best work in the treble and mid ranges, though it blocks more bass than most competitors, so it's nothing to sneeze at.

Ease of Use

The Max 2 experience largely depends on whether you pair them with an Apple device or something else. Within the iOS ecosystem, everything is relatively seamless and works without an app.

Controls

The cans have two buttons, one of which is a spinable dial. The small dial adjusts volume and can be pushed for play, pause, skip, rewind, etc. The buttons work well and are pretty straightforward once you memorize them.

Customization

There is some customization you can do with iOS, but nothing for Android or other devices. It is also important to note that they can not be turned off and only “sleep” when in the case. It is a low-power state that will continue to drain the battery. It seems like a misstep, especially given how short the battery life is.

Battery

The AirPods Max 2 is only 20 hours, making it one of the shortest in the group. Depending on how you plan to use your headphones, it won't be enough without frequent charging during downtime.

If they do die, they don't have passive playback, so you can't keep listening with them plugged in, which can leave you with nothing if you don't stay on top of charging.

Call Quality

Making calls with the Max 2 is top-tier. Only a couple of competitors performed better or made clearer calls.