When the AirPods Max arrived in late 2020, there wasn’t a lot spatial audio content material for Apple’s high-end headphones. What’s extra, there wasn’t any help in any respect for lossless audio. The corporate hadn’t added Dolby Atmos and lossless tunes to Apple Music but, however even when these arrived, Apple nonetheless hadn’t solved my largest drawback with the $549 headphones. With iOS 18.4 and a firmware replace for the AirPods Max with USB-C, Apple has lastly put the ending touches on its solely headphones with lossless audio.
Let’s again up a couple of months. Final September, Apple gave the AirPods Max its solely vital replace for the reason that unique launch: it swapped the Lightning jack for a USB-C port. The headphones are nonetheless operating on the growing old H1 chip when the remainder of the present AirPods lineup has moved on to the newer and extra succesful H2. I wasn’t upset that the corporate didn’t take the chance to replace the AirPods Max design, however the failure to improve that chip was a head scratcher.
Now that lossless audio is right here on the frivolously refreshed AirPods Max, the headphones really feel extra full. However that took over 4 years to lastly occur, and in case you purchased the 2020 mannequin you gained’t be capable of use this newly added functionality. You’ll want the USB-C model of the AirPods Max that arrived final yr and both iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 or macOS Sequoia 15.4 to unlock lossless and ultra-low latency audio.
The best way to get lossless audio on AirPods Max with USB-C
When you’ve up to date one among your Apple gadgets to iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 or macOS Sequoia 15.4, join your AirPods Max to it by way of Bluetooth. You’ll then need to plug the headphones into an influence outlet or USB-C port with the included cable. If you happen to hold the 2 devices in shut proximity for about half-hour, the AirPods Max firmware replace ought to obtain. To test, hop into the AirPods Max settings and scroll all the way down to the About part. Right here, you’ll need to see model 7E101 to substantiate you’ve received the products.
You’ll need to hold that cable useful. Lossless audio on the AirPods Max is barely obtainable for wired use. You’ll nonetheless want to ascertain a Bluetooth connection for the entire sensible options like hands-free Siri. Apple additionally sells a brand new $39 USB-C-to-3.5mm wire if you wish to go that route, however both manner, you’ll want a cable because of the limitations of high-res audio over Bluetooth.
Why isn’t lossless audio obtainable on the unique AirPods Max?
If you happen to purchased Apple’s $549 headphones in 2020, I can perceive your frustration that you just aren’t aware of this replace. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t assume Apple made this choice simply to drive gross sales. There are {hardware} limitations with the Lightning port that hinders lossless audio, particularly a knowledge throughput constraint on the earlier model. Apple made some adjustments to the DAC (digital-to-analog converter) contained in the AirPods Max to make lossless occur, which wasn’t attainable on the older mannequin both.
Does lossless audio make a distinction?
I’ve heard some folks say they’ll’t inform the distinction between regular songs and lossless tunes. I’d argue it relies on what you’re listening to. If it’s a latest pop tune from Dua Lipa or Sabrina Carpenter, you’re higher off with the Dolby Atmos combine and sure gained’t decide up any extra element for high-resolution streaming. For bass heavy, chaotic genres like steel, I discover a greater stability to the combination. Vocals on Spiritbox’s Tsunami Sea rise above the booming drums and thrashing guitar, and the bass is a bit more subdued. Identical for Underoath’s The Place After This One, the place all of the devices appear to have extra separation from the vocals. And general, the bombastic tracks on this album really feel greater and extra immersive.
Lossless audio on the AirPods Max significantly elevates acoustic genres like bluegrass and people, along with different mellow types like jazz. I would as nicely have been contained in the acoustic guitar on Julien Baker & TORRES’ “Sugar within the Tank” as I felt like I might hear each percussive element on each string. I can’t think about the sound would’ve been significantly better on Jason Isbell’s Foxes within the Snow if I used to be really within the room at Electrical Woman Studios in the course of the recording. That 1940 Martin 0-17, the one instrument on the album, is so pure and true. Soar to Miles Davis’ Delivery of the Blue the place the horns, piano, bass and drums all appear slightly livelier and slightly extra energetic, with Davis’ trumpet belting out its verse-like cadence all through.
Do you need to use Apple Music?
First, let’s speak about what’s obtainable on Apple Music. Since June 2021, the service has supplied lossless audio to subscribers at no extra price. This begins at CD high quality, which is 16 bit at 44.1 kHz, and goes as much as 24 bit at 48 kHz. That latter price is the utmost that AirPods Max can now help by way of the USB-C connection, and Apple says there at the moment are 100 million songs obtainable on its service in lossless high quality. There’s additionally a set of Hello-Decision Lossless content material on Apple Music, which works as much as 24 bit at 192 kHz. You’ll want additional gear like a USB DAC so as to hear at that stage, although.
You aren’t restricted to simply Apple Music. Wherever you may stream lossless audio as much as 24 bit at 48 kHz you are able to do so with these headphones. There are different providers that provide this (like Tidal), or you may play regionally saved recordsdata. The one requirement is a USB-C cable; your supply isn't restricted to Apple.
Wrap-up
It’s all the time good when an organization immediately addresses one among your complaints. It’s not nice when it takes over 4 years to take action. Now that lossless audio is right here for the AirPods Max, I can now not argue that the headphones really feel incomplete, which is a giant enchancment from the place they have been at launch.
I hold going backwards and forwards over whether or not or not this replace is sufficient, although. It’s the primary time Apple has expanded the capabilities of the AirPods Max in over 4 years, and it might solely accomplish that for the minimally up to date 2024 model. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has a strong observe document with Apple product scoops, reported in November that the corporate had “no actual plan to meaningfully replace AirPods Max.” He stated the headphones don’t promote nicely sufficient to justify a lot R&D, however they’re not a sufficiently big failure to be completely shelved.
With that in thoughts, this replace, which provides ultra-low latency for avid gamers along with lossless audio, is definitely lots greater than it ordinarily could be. However to proceed to demand $549 for what’s basically 2020 {hardware}, Apple must trot out a majority of these updates frequently. Whereas you will discover these headphones on sale for as little as $449, that's nonetheless a steep funding. Even then, the AirPods Max could be powerful to advocate to anybody apart from iPhone and Mac die-hards with deep pockets.
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