Updated AirPods Max Regains Wired Listening & Lossless Audio
Apple's AirPods Max quietly lost some skills in its latest refresh, but a software update is set to solve that.
Thanks to a software update coming in April, owners of the new USB-C-equipped Apple AirPods Max will be able to listen in wired mode, enjoy 24-bit/48kHz lossless audio transmission, and low-latency playback.
September 2024 saw Apple update its AirPods Max wireless over-ears by replacing the Lightning connector with a USB-C charging port alongside an array of new colour finishes. Beyond that, there was little else to shout about. However, upgraders soon discovered that the ability to plug the 'phones into a device for wired listening disappeared with the Lightning port.
Rejoice! Apple is fixing this, albeit six months later, with no further cost to owners of the latest AirPods Max cans. The free firmware update will enable the bundled USB-C to USB-C cable to be used to listen to audio from your USB-C iPhone or MacBook.
That said, not one to pass up an opportunity to upsell, Apple is also now selling a USB-C-to-3.5mm audio cable for £39/ $39/ AU$65, which broadens the horizons for connecting the new AirPods Max with various sources for 'lossless' wired listening.
A spokesperson for Apple told StereoNET:
With this update, AirPods Max will unlock 24-bit/48kHz lossless audio, preserving the integrity of original recordings and allowing listeners to experience music the way the artist created it in the studio.
With access to 24-bit/48kHz playback, Apple Music subscribers will get more from their monthly payment as their AirPods Max will now have full access 100-million 'Lossless' (24-bit/48kHz ALAC) streams - something Bluetooth AAC cannot do yet. There is, however, a slight caveat in that the AirPods Max will still be unable to playback Apple Music's 'Hi-Res Lossless' streams, which the company defines as above 24-bit/48kHz, up to 192kHz.
There is also good news for gamers and video fans, as the firmware update includes ultra-low latency for the AirPods Max. Apple says the ultra-low latency audio update "significantly lowers lag time" when gaming, live streaming and creating music, leading the company to add that its AirPods Max "will become the only headphones that enable musicians to both create and mix in Personalised Spatial Audio with head-tracking" when using USB-C and Logic Pro for Mac software.
The AirPods Max update will be released in April alongside the firmware updates for iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4.
Visit Apple for more information
Gallery
Jay Garrett
StereoNET’s resident rock star, bass player, and gadget junkie. Jay heads up StereoNET as Editor for the United Kingdom and Europe regions. His passion for gadgets and Hi-Fi is second only to being a touring musician.
Posted in: Headphones
JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION
Want to share your opinion or get advice from other enthusiasts? Then head into the Message
Forums where thousands of other enthusiasts are communicating on a daily basis.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP
Trending
1Audio-Technica’s Hotaru Levitates Analog Listening to New Heights
2Noise-Free Networking with SilentPower OMNI LAN
3Stratton Shrinks the Form Not the Fidelity with Element 6 and 8
4Careful What Music You W(ai)sh For As Deezer Sounds Alarm
5Kaleidescape Joins 8K Association, Eyes the Future of Home Cinema
applause awards
Each time StereoNET reviews a product, it is considered for an Applause Award. Winning one marks it out as a design of great quality and distinction – a special product in its class, on the grounds of either performance, value for money, or usually both.
Applause Awards are personally issued by StereoNET’s global Editor-in-Chief, David Price – who has over three decades of experience reviewing hi-fi products at the highest level – after consulting with our senior editorial team. They are not automatically given with all reviews, nor can manufacturers purchase them.
The StereoNET editorial team includes some of the world’s most experienced and respected hi-fi journalists with a vast wealth of knowledge. Some have edited popular English language hi-fi magazines, and others have been senior contributors to famous audio journals stretching back to the late 1970s. And we also employ professional IT and home theatre specialists who work at the cutting edge of today’s technology.
We believe that no other online hi-fi and home cinema resource offers such expert knowledge, so when StereoNET gives an Applause Award, it is a trustworthy hallmark of quality. Receiving such an award is the prerequisite to becoming eligible for our annual Product of the Year awards, awarded only to the finest designs in their respective categories. Buyers of hi-fi, home cinema, and headphones can be sure that a StereoNET Applause Award winner is worthy of your most serious attention.