AirPods Max get the full iFixit teardown

20 January 2021
Found to be surprisingly serviceable with a high level of craftsmanship even on the inside.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • Jxq
  • 22 Jan 2021

hmm, 20 Jan 2021This 3.5mm jack to hold only the cups is bad design. In ti... moreIt's not a 3.5mm jack...

    • H
    • HusseinR
    • PA4
    • 22 Jan 2021

    Sony Headphones are just Top Tier in this category. pay half the price for double the performance.

      Anonymous, 21 Jan 2021Sure that is the oldest marketing trick in the world. Laun... moreagreed, then a month later announce you've a bigger stock this time and watch them fly off the shelves

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • gq3
        • 21 Jan 2021

        Shady69, 20 Jan 2021keep telling yourself, they sold out pretty much on day 1Sure that is the oldest marketing trick in the world.
        Launch limited number of units and then claim they sold out

          hmm, 20 Jan 2021This 3.5mm jack to hold only the cups is bad design. In ti... moreactually a high quality 3.5mm unbalanced port will last for years as long it's not abuse, just like 6.3mm unbalanced, in fact high resolution players now have 4.4mm balanced, the main thing, if it's cheap component, durability will be limited, if it's high quality 3.5mm port, it will last for years, even decades especially high end ones which use gold plating parts to prevent corrosion

            • h
            • hmm
            • m2J
            • 20 Jan 2021

            This 3.5mm jack to hold only the cups is bad design.
            In time that 3.5mm will lose signal and probably wont hold the cup too

              ThunderCrackR, 20 Jan 2021"Apple headphones exhibited superior craftsmanship in ... moreHence, the “almost”

                "Apple headphones exhibited superior craftsmanship in a way that almost justifies their $550 price."

                I simply love taking my headphones apart and starring at their beautifully crafted insides. I do this daily.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • U@R
                  • 20 Jan 2021

                  As they say apple is a life style company.550$ for a headphone.Rofl.

                    [deleted post]keep telling yourself, they sold out pretty much on day 1

                      imparanoic, 20 Jan 2021the target market isn't for audiophiles or anyone who ... moreHD 660s are great sounding cans with wider sound stage. I plan to buy the more legendary Massdrop 6xx (HD 650) for myself, though. Already own the HD 598 (wow!) and DT 770 Pros.

                        Anonymous, 20 Jan 2021Yes, but open-backs let in too much ambient sound. I'm... moreThat's true. Open-backs are not suitable for private listening sessions. Closed cans are better fit for that purpose.

                          Wave hand in the air then spout 6/10.
                          iFixit rating is BS!

                          How many components on those boards can be replaced by 3rd party professionals?
                          Can boards be swapped between headphones?
                          Where can you buy parts to replace broken or bent frame/earcups?

                            I don't really care about how its internal makes the other like toys. I only care about sound quality and comfort, but knowing Apple, it won't have justifiable sound if you're looking at the price.

                              Kangal, 20 Jan 2021The Sony XM4's may look like "toys" from the... morealso wh-1000xm4 support LDAC which is highest bitrate audio 900kbps and would sound better than bluetooth 5.0 at 600kbps, even the wh-1000xm3 which also support aptx-hd and is around US$330 on amazon will sound better than airpod max, but the difference is that the target market of airpod don't care about sound quality as much and image and preceived status is more important

                                The Sony XM4's may look like "toys" from the inside, but from the outside they look great, feel great, sound great, and Just Work™.

                                So I couldn't care less how they look on the inside, as long as its durable and up to task.

                                PS:
                                Late last year Sony was selling the Sony 5ii phone for ~USD $900 (including Tax), and they also came bundled free with the XM4 headset (valued at $350). Subjectively I think that bundle is superior to Apple's "roughly equivalent" offering in the iPhone 12 Pro and the AirPod Max. Yet the price difference is ($900 vs $1,100+$550) a whopping USD $700 !!!

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • fJ5
                                  • 20 Jan 2021

                                  ethereal, 20 Jan 2021I think open-back design is more suited if you are serious ... moreYes, but open-backs let in too much ambient sound. I'm not sure if current ANC systems can cope.

                                    Shady69, 20 Jan 2021only kinda worth the price tag if you're deep into the... moreI actually found a number of studio-grade headphones that cost less than the AirPods Max.

                                      the target market isn't for audiophiles or anyone who wants the best price vs sound quality ratio, it's more likely for bang and olufsen h9 or even H95, which suggest more for fashionastas or lifestyle market where image is main priority.

                                      if the the listener is only interested in sound quality, then sennheiser hd660s or sony mdr-z7m2 which are both wired and require an amplifer or at least balanced output to drive them due to high impedence

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • 7kj
                                        • 20 Jan 2021

                                        I don't like Apple Airpods Max very much but I am impressed by the repaibility

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