Apple Unveils ‘Over Ear’ AirPods Max
Apple has unveiled AirPods Max, wireless headphones in what is says brings the magic of AirPods to an over-ear design with high-fidelity sound.
AirPods Max combine a custom acoustic Apple-designed H1 chip in each ear cup including adaptive EQ, active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and spatial audio
Apple says headphones uses computational audio to deliver the highest quality listening experience possible. Utilising each of the chips’ 10 audio cores — capable of 9 billion operations per second
The wireless headphones has a breathable knit mesh canopy with a stainless steel headband frame to distribute weight and reduce on-head pressure.
The Digital Crown, inspired by Apple Watch, offers volume control and the ability to play or pause audio, skip tracks, answer or end phone calls, and activate Siri.
Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing says the headphones offer the features of its popular AirPods earbuds in an over-ear design.
With AirPods Max, we are bringing that magical AirPods experience to a stunning over-ear design with high-fidelity audio. The custom acoustic design, combined with powerful H1 chips, and advanced software enable AirPods Max to use computational audio to wirelessly deliver the ultimate personal listening experience.”
Apple outlined some features of the AirPods Max
- Adaptive EQ: AirPods Max use Adaptive EQ to adjust the sound to the fit and seal of the ear cushions by measuring the sound signal delivered to a user and adjusting the low and mid-frequencies in real time — bringing rich audio that captures every detail.
- Active Noise Cancellation: AirPods Max deliver immersive sound through Active Noise Cancellation so users can focus on what they are listening to. Each ear cup features three outward-facing microphones to detect environmental noise, while one microphone inside the ear cup monitors the sound reaching the listener’s ear. Using computational audio, noise cancellation continuously adapts to the headphone fit and movement in real time.
- Transparency Mode: With AirPods Max, users can switch to Transparency mode to simultaneously listen to music while hearing the environment around them — ensuring everything, including a user’s own voice, sounds natural while audio plays perfectly. Switching between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode can be done with a single press using the noise control button.
- Spatial Audio: AirPods Max use spatial audio with dynamic head tracking to place sounds virtually anywhere in a space — delivering an immersive, theatre-like experience for content recorded in 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos. Using the gyroscope and accelerometer in AirPods Max and iPhone or iPad, spatial audio tracks the motion of a user’s head as well as the device, compares the motion data, then remaps the sound field so it stays anchored to the device, even as the user’s head moves.
AirPods Max come in five colours, including space grey, silver, sky blue, green, and pink.
The headphones are now available to order in the US at $549 (R8,250), with shipping to start on 15 December.
Information on local availability, launch dates, and pricing are not yet available.
