Apple's 'AirPods Studio' Headphones May Feature Head and Neck Detection and Equalizer Settings

Apple's upcoming high-end over-ear headphones (tentatively called AirPods Studio) could have a head and neck detection feature that's similar to the ear detection feature in the AirPods and AirPods Pro, according to a new report from 9to5Mac that cites people familiar with Apple's plans.

Over Ear ApplePhones Cropped
In the AirPods and AirPods Pro, ear detection is designed to stop a song when the AirPods or removed, pause a song when a single AirPod is removed, or play a song when the removed AirPod is put back in the ear.

AirPods Studio will have similar sensors that will detect whether the headphones are on the head or the neck, presumably playing or pausing content when the headphones are worn on the head. When on the neck, the sensor could keep the music paused.

Another sensor will detect left and right ears for routing the audio channels, which means there will be no right or wrong side for wearing the AirPods Studio. Pairing the AirPods Studio with a Mac or iOS device will unlock custom equalizer settings with low, medium, and high frequency adjustments available.

Prior rumors have suggested Apple's high-end over-ear headphones will feature Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode much like the current AirPods Pro, and an April report from Bloomberg indicated the headphones will have interchangeable ear pads and headband padding allowing for customization.

Apple may also sell the headphones in multiple materials, including a premium version with leather-like fabrics and a fitness-focused model with liter, more breathable materials.

A rumor from this weekend said that Apple could price the high-end over-ear headphones at $349, and that the name could be "AirPods Studio."

Related Roundup: AirPods Max
Tag: 9to5Mac
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Max (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

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Top Rated Comments

zhenya Avatar
71 months ago

I wonder if they'll get it right this time.
Apple is not and audiophile oriented company.
Remember the iPod HiFi speaker? Steve said that was all we needed....
Apple is not an “audiophile” company but they have an extensive, solid track record of getting the details around sound output extremely “right”. From the extremely low output impedance of their mobile devices headphone jacks to the amazing performance of the $10 lightning to 3.5mm adapter, to the performance of the Homepod or the Airpod pros today. As an audio enthusiast for decades, when Apple does audio, I listen.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44267547 Avatar
71 months ago
Article quote:

Another sensor will detect left and right ears for routing the audio channels, which means there will be no right or wrong side for wearing the AirPods Studio.“

That’s totally Apple-esque to Implement something like this. It’s the small features to the user experience that separates the competition.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
elbowrm Avatar
71 months ago
What if you don't have a neck??
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
djcerla Avatar
71 months ago

I wonder if they'll get it right this time.
Apple is not and audiophile oriented company.
Define “audiophile”. HomePod and the Macbook Pro have best-in-class sound.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PabloSRT8 Avatar
71 months ago
I wonder if they'll get it right this time.
Apple is not and audiophile oriented company.
Remember the iPod HiFi speaker? Steve said that was all we needed....
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ouimetnick Avatar
71 months ago

That name is really confusing. Anything called "Studio" you'd expect it to be audiophile quality. Anything with noice cancelling is not STUDIO.
Same with Pro. You'd expect a laptop with "Pro" in it's name not to need a top case replacement due to Jony Ive's butterfly keyboard, but yet here we are.

You might also expect a portable computer with "Pro" in it's name to gave discrete graphics, or a phone with "Pro" in it's name to have a 120Hz display.

Apple isn't the company it was under Steve Jobs. It isn't terrible under Tim Cook, but words don't mean anything anymore, it all marketing hype.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)