Review: Airpods Max with USB-C and Audio Lossless

Intro

Apple recently launched new features for USB-C Airpods Max, which includes audio lossless via USB-C, Ultra-low audio latency, as well as the ability to use AirPods Max with USB-C audio cables to 3.5mm for cable playback. This also means that when Bluetooth is turned on, you will have access to all the features that you do with a Bluetooth connection but with a cable connection. I think I will share my experiences for anyone who has the potential to think of increasing the USB-C Airpods Max or who is curious.

My experience with USB-C Airpods Max

I have had a pair of original AirPods Max since 2021. They are the best Anc (Active Noise Canceling) headphones I have ever used. I have it for less than 4 years. Lightning Airpods Max I just stopped working. My plan is to buy a new pair of Lightning Airpods Max, because I have heard at the time that the USB-C Airpods Max does not support the screening of the cable, and that is something I use all the time.

As if Apple read my mind, they announced the screening of cables for USB-C Airpods Max. I myself can find out if I listen to audio lossless, so I am very happy to see that the USB-C Airpods Max now supports Audio Lossless with a USB-C cable to USB-C. Since then I got a pair of USB-C Airpods Max, and I think I will share my experience with Audio Lossless and Ultra-low audio with USB-C to USB-C and USB-C audio cable to 3.5mm.

Note about Audio USB-C Cable to 3.5mm

Although latency is low, this cable does not turn back the actual lossless audio content. Apple on their Lossless and Apple audio pages under the “Frequently Asked Questions” said the following:

Lightning audio cable to 3.5 mm and USB-C audio cable up to 3.5 mm is designed to allow AirPods Max to be connected to analog sources. Airpods Max can be connected to devices that play lossless and hi-resless recording with extraordinary audio quality. However, given the analog-to-digital conversion in the cable, the playback will not be fully lossless.

If you want complete audio lossless, you will need a USB-C cable to a USB-C that comes with your AirPods Max.

USB-C to the USB-C/USB-A cable to USB-C

With a USB-C/USB-A cable to USB-C, you can get the actual lossless audio from AirPods Max. For features such as spatial audio, headphone accommodation, etc., to work, you will need to turn on Bluetooth. Your Apple device must be on iOS 18.4, iPados 18.4, or MacOS Sequoia 15.4 and newer.

If you don’t have an Apple device with the OS version listed above, you can still use AirPods Max as a USB audio device to use audio lossless. You will not get features such as spatial audio accommodation and headphones.

Use airpods max with cable connections to non-apple devices

You can use a USB-C/USB-A cable for your non-apple device (Android, Windows, etc.) for audio lossless. You can also use a USB-C audio cable to 3.5mm to connect to other audio sources (aircraft infotainment system, iPod, CD player, etc.), but the quality will not be fully lossless as explained above. This will work if your AirPods Max is in the latest version (7E101 and newer).

DIFFERENCE OF SOUND: How big is the difference?

Originally from people who like all audio things (or known as “audio files”), I can say that I see quality differences. Not too big so everyone watched him, but was there.

If I describe the difference, I will say that there is a more dynamic range between parts of a good mixture. This is the most correct when listening to classical music. If you are curious, the playlist that I use to test Audio Lossless is an Apple music playlist from my favorite classic work, which contains classic works like William Tell Overture and others.

Differences in quality can be considered in other types of music as well. For me, the calm parts of the mixture sound a little calmer, and the harder part sounds a little louder. This difference is a little, and if you don’t pay attention, you might not realize it. In fact, when I first got AirPods Max, they were not in the required version. I was connected to the USB-C cable to USB-C, and I could swear I heard the difference in sound. After I realized that the headphone still uses Bluetooth, I update and pay attention to the actual difference.

In general, should I increase?

If you think about AirPods Max and haven’t gotten a pair, I personally will buy a USB-C version. If you are not a hard-core audio file and only want a pair of excellent active noise dampening headphones with features such as spatial audio, and the ability to use headphones with cable sources with 3.5mm audio jack, Airpods Max with lightning is a very good choice. Bluetooth Audio on USB-C Airpods Max sounds identical with lightning airpods max. Because the USB-C cable up to 3.5mm technically does not lossless like an audio lightning to 3.5mm cable, it is no different from what you have. Lightning Airpods Max can usually be found cheaper in Amazon and other shops.

If audio quality is a big reason you want AirPods Max, I will recommend USB-C Airpods Max for audio lossless, and spatial audio.

Increase from Lightning AirPods Max to USB-C Airpods Max

As explained above, if you are an ordinary user, or even people who like spatial audio but will not get additional benefits from USB-C connections, USB-C Airpods Max will most likely be heard the same for you. Unless you need a USB-C connection, still with lightning airpods max might be your best bet.

If you can find out the difference between audio lossless and lossy and enjoy listening to spatial audio content and want low latency audio such as audio lightning to 3.5mm cable, it might be worthy if you can buy it. Non-Lossless cable content and with Bluetooth sound exactly the same as lightning airpods max.

Conclusion

In general, I have a good experience with USB-C Airpods Max. They are a pair of good headphones, and audio lossless really helps them shine. If you are an ordinary user and might not pay attention or care about the difference, Lightning Airpods Max is your best bet if you see AirPods Max. They can be found cheaper than Amazon. I do not believe that Apple directly sells AirPods Max with Lightning, but you can still buy it at a cheaper price.