I attempted my AirPods Max headphones’ new lossless audio capability: Does it actually work?

The Apple AirPods Max not too long ago received help for lossless audio, which is a giant deal should you care about high-fidelity sound. However are you able to truly hear the distinction?

The brief reply: Sure, you completely can.

In fact, should you’re not an audio nerd like me, it might not be value going by means of all the difficulty required to arrange lossless audio on the AirPods Max headphones, which already sound nice with out it.

That is the brief reply. For the lengthy reply, let’s go ears-on.

The AirPods Max headphones get an vital replace

The AirPods Max are a little bit of an odd product. They’re the most costly, and by far the best-sounding, headphones that Apple sells, and but they really feel a bit uncared for. Apple launched them in 2020, and solely up to date them in 2024 with only one, pretty minor distinction: a USB-C port as an alternative of Apple’s proprietary Lightning port.

And even though Apple has supported lossless and high-resolution lossless audio for years, the AirPods Max didn’t help this codec in any manner, form, or type.

Even worse, the brand new USB-C model of the AirPods Max had a key downgrade in comparison with their predecessor — they have been wi-fi solely. You could not get sound to them through the USB-C cable, which was solely for charging. Each of those points are solved with the most recent firmware replace for the AirPods Max (model: 7E101), together with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4.

Now, your AirPods Max can obtain audio through a USB-C cable, with help for 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio. Nevertheless, there are particular caveats right here (extra on that later).

Yeah, they appear higher with out the cable.
Credit score: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

With this firmware replace, the AirPods Max additionally acquired help for low-latency audio, which is vital for avid gamers and music creators.

Learn how to allow lossless audio on the AirPods Max

If in case you have the most recent firmware put in on the AirPods Max, and in case your sound supply — an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook — can be updated, then now you can take heed to lossless audio. It’s also possible to use third-party software program as your music participant of selection and nonetheless go lossless, however I am going to give attention to Apple Music right here for simplicity’s sake.

There are limitations, although. Lossless doesn’t work wirelessly. It’s essential to join the AirPods Max to a sound supply through a USB-C cable. On a Mac, should you click on on the sound icon within the menu bar, the outline will say that your AirPods Max are related through USB Audio.

If this does not say “USB Audio,” you then’re not listening to lossless sound high quality.
Credit score: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Additionally, the AirPods Max solely help lossless as much as 24-bit, 48 kHz high quality. Apple Music can go as much as 24-bit, 192 kHz high quality, however will probably be wasted on the AirPods Max. (Until you are an expert who wants reference-class sound, that is most likely not a problem.)

Mashable Gentle Pace

To verify I am getting precise lossless audio, I turned off Bluetooth on my MacBook Professional. I enabled “Lossless Audio” in Apple Music settings and set it to “Lossless” for each Streaming and Obtain. I turned Dolby Atmos off. On the AirPods Max, I did not use Transparency or Noise Discount as these can have an effect on sound high quality.

Lastly, it is value mentioning that I had some bother getting the AirPods Max to work through USB-C. After plenty of tinkering with my MacBook Professional, iPad Air, and iPhone 16e, I’ve realized that each one of them ran the most recent beta software program from Apple, and that that could be the wrongdoer (although the beta software program got here out after the required firmware replace). After I switched to an older MacBook Professional that had macOS Sequoia 15.4 put in, the AirPods Max lastly began receiving audio over the USB-C cable. Most individuals do not run beta software program, so this should not be a giant concern.

What’s lossless audio anyway?

Mashable already has a complete information to lossless audio and hi-res audio. Merely put, lossless audio has no knowledge compression, and due to this fact no knowledge loss, in distinction to lossy audio (together with MP3 and AAC codecs), which compresses some knowledge to save lots of on bandwidth or file measurement.

Lossless audio, by definition, sounds more true to the unique recording than lossy audio. However whether or not you can hear the distinction is one other matter, and it is dependent upon your ears, the kind of music you take heed to, the standard of the recording, and the {hardware} you utilize (on this case, the AirPods Max).

As for high-res audio, there are differing opinions on this, particularly within the hi-fi group. Nevertheless it’s secure to say that it is very arduous to listen to the advantages until you are listening on very costly, high-end audio {hardware}. The AirPods Max aren’t that.

The place does LDAC match into this? LDAC stands for Lossless Digital Audio Codec, and it is a Sony audio codec for high-resolution audio. Regardless of the title, it is not a real “lossless” codec, and the audio is compressed to a point. Apple AirPods Max do not help LDAC, and that hasn’t modified with the most recent replace.

Do the AirPods Max sound higher with lossless audio?

The AirPods Max have already got a really nice, balanced sound. They are not overly bassy, which is nice, and if I needed to discover a weak point throughout the frequency vary, I might maybe use a bit of extra readability and loudness within the midrange. Audiophiles will name this a “V” formed sound: bass and treble are barely pronounced, whereas midrange tones are barely recessed, which works for rock and digital music, however it could actually go away intimate, acoustic performances a bit missing.

The AirPods Max are already pretty heavy, and the cable’s further pull does not assist.
Credit score: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

These headphones are bodily massive, with a lot of house round your ears, which helps create an airiness that closed over-the-ear headphones not often possess. This airiness helps create a fairly huge sound stage, which is particularly vital when listening to reside performances. In reality, this can be the perfect characteristic of Apple’s over-the-ear headphones: Sure, they’re massive in your head, however they honestly convey a way of house. I’ve in contrast them instantly towards B&W’s PX (additionally related by wire), and after Apple’s headphones, the B&Ws sound cramped.

There’s additionally plenty of element right here. Throughout Ryan Adams’ reside efficiency at Carnegie Corridor, you may hear particular person viewers members stirring of their seats. You may hear the chairs creaking in Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto’s wonderful 1964 reside rendering of the “Girl from Ipanema.” To be honest, you will hear those self same particulars, and even perhaps clearer, on the B&W PX, however Apple’s headphones are a detailed second.

author wearing Apple AirPods Max headphones

In the future, lossless, wi-fi audio shall be a factor. Nevertheless it hasn’t occurred but.
Credit score: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

So the AirPods Max are fairly good. However are you able to hear the distinction between lossless and Apple’s lossy, AAC compression? The reply, to me, is sure. Wirelessly, when the sign switches to lossy, every thing nonetheless sounds crisp, however that sense of openness is gone, particularly on reside recordings. Snarky Pet’s Lingus simply feels loads much less ethereal, with devices seemingly being cramped right into a slender, vertical plan proper in entrance of you. Switching again to lossless, and the advanced interaction between the devices is less complicated to digest as every particular person instrument has more room to breathe.

It isn’t an enormous distinction, however it’s there. And arguably, the airiness that these headphones present is their finest trait, and it is a disgrace to lose it.

A number of issues to think about

The AirPods Max are a wireless-first product. A few of their comfort options require Bluetooth, and one thing is misplaced when it’s important to use a cable. For example, the USB-C cable that Apple provides with the AirPods Max is barely lengthy sufficient for comfortable listening.

The AirPods Max: Nonetheless related after 5 years.
Credit score: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

With this current replace, the AirPods Max enter a wholly new class of headphones. Wi-fi-only headphones that do not help high-resolution, high-fidelity audio are a distinct segment. Wired headphones that help lossless are a far bigger area of interest with a really completely different set of rivals, with costs starting from a pair hundred bucks to 1000’s of {dollars} (for the extremely high-end fashions). The AirPods Max can now meaningfully compete with each forms of merchandise.

Do you have to purchase the AirPods Max?

The AirPods Max are, primarily, 5 years outdated, however we by no means actually knew what they have been able to. The newly-added capability to breed lossless audio lets them shine, and sure, these headphones are actually good, maybe surprisingly so.

Whether or not lossless adjustments something for you is one other query. I am fairly positive you will not hear the distinction listening with noise cancellation on, within the subway, on a crowded road, or on a airplane. The nuanced sound enhancements will solely shine by means of if you’re targeted and listening in a quiet place. If that is one thing that you simply do usually, the AirPods Max will reward you.

What you most likely should not do is purchase the AirPods Max purely for wired, lossless listening. There are better-sounding, wired headphones on the market for much less cash (the AirPods Max price $549). Apple’s headphones are an excellent all-rounder, and the flexibility to breed lossless audio is simply the icing on the cake.