Apple is restoring wired playback to the AirPods Max after removing it with the USB-C version last year. In addition to allowing users to use a cable again, the company is rolling out software support for lossless audio as well, but it will only work over a wire.
The update is slated to arrive in April alongside macOS Sequoia 15.4 and iOS 18.4. It will allow users to plug in the expensive over-ear headphones and playback 24-bit, 48kHz audio. This should make listening to Apple Music and high-end movies a little clearer for audiophiles.
Most likely, this update will be useful to audio professionals. If you make music or score videos, it will be nice to have these headphones now since they’ll support top-end lossless audio and be able to play it back in surround sound. Apple says this update also reduces lag, so pros and gamers won’t have to worry about audio delay.
Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 use a proprietary wireless audio connection with the Vision Pro to get 24-bit, 48 kHz audio. Still, the AirPods Max can only provide the same audio over a wire. While using the AirPods Max with the Vision Pro doesn’t make sense, it would have been nice for Apple to provide more transparency on that high-end wireless protocol. If it makes its way into MacBooks or iPhones any time soon, it will be annoying that the AirPods Max seemingly can’t support it, and since the AirPods Max uses the Apple H1 chip, while the AirPods 4 and Pro 2 use the H2 chip, I suspect that’s why.
Either way, it’s not the end of the world, and the AirPods Max are better now, but it’s strange that Apple’s most expensive headphones launched without supporting all of the top-end features.
Apple sells AirPods Max for C$779 and a new USB-C to AUX cable for C$55. You will only need this cable to connect to older devices. You can use a USB-C to C cable with new products like a MacBook or iPhone. Staples also has the headphones on sale for C$649 if you want to get a pair ahead of the update.
Source: Apple
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