Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Max With Lossless Audio Support

This new build was published in the original URLs that macOS and iOS were failing to access, so these updates are no longer gated based on OS version (macOS 15.4, iOS 18.4).

Quickest way to “force” an update check:

1. ⁠Make sure you’re not wearing them and they’re charging out of their case (no need for 2s/30s listening sessions)
2. ⁠Go to Bluetooth settings
3. ⁠Click Disconnect (on Mac), or the More info (i) button and scroll to the bottom & click Disconnect (on iPhone)
4. ⁠Click Connect (on Mac), or tap on their name (on iPhone) once disconnected.

It immediately triggers an update check.

Seems like the whole OS-specific update channel strategy backfired.

The term "Lossless Audio" just baffles me.... when neither the iPhone nor the headset has proper A/D D/A converters built in...

So, here’s my thought on Bluetooth vs USBC listening. 1st of I have ASD & ADHD and part of my particular flavour of neuro spicy comes with auditory processing disorder and mild synaesthesia, which lets me hear down to 2Hz (tested by audiologist) and “see” the music as a sort of cross between a lava lamp and iTunes visualiser but this doesn’t affect my vision at all because it doesn’t use my eyes so it’s not really seeing it per se. Anyhoo, ADHD ramble over and to the point… for my particular ears and brain,
Atmos tracks, usb sounds marginally better via USB than Bluetooth
AAC sound exactly the same on both
Lossless sounds fuller on USB, (and the magic brain pictures are clearer and bigger even if I can’t hear much difference because I’m male, getting older and top hearing range is down to just below 16KHz, used to be much higher when I was younger, remember spicy brain)
High res lossless, night and day difference, soundstage has room to breathe and is just bigger and fuller on usb. Was listening to take five and the sub base (which in this track was a greenish wiggly line blob) moved from behind my neck on Bluetooth to below my shoulder blades (told you, spicy brain pictures, it’s weird)

Admittedly the AirPods Max still don’t hold a candle to the performance I get on my Mac hooked up to a proper DAC and headphone amp with balanced output to either my HiFiMan HE4xx or Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO 250ohm, but for out and about, Gym, commute, listening in bed etc where I can’t lug all that gear, or be bothered with wired, I prefer my AirPods max and Pro2 to any other wireless headphones I’ve tried and I’m glad the Mrs gave me the Max last Xmas. Ok I’m going to take the last of today’s adhd meds and go to bed now

Can anyone recommend examples of good tracks to try on Apple Music they think emphasise the bluetooth / USB-C difference particularly well?

Dominique Fils-Aimé - Nameless
Dominique Fils-Aimé - Rise
Dead Can Dance - Rakim (Live) Remastered
Gidge - For Seoul Pt I
Superpoze - North
Childish Gambino- Terrified
Aurora - Runaway
Roque Baños - Asesinatos
Robyn - Honey

My own experience:
(And I know people will jump on this and say AAC at 256 is just the best ne plus ultra and nobody will ever go beyond that and AAC 256 is the best audio ever possible in the known universe for all time. If that’s what you think - good for you and enjoy!)
I am impressed - more than I expected to be. Then wired option only comes into it’s own when you go high resolution (not so much for CD quality where I had to actively listen to tell a difference). But in high res - the difference is profound - a much richer, detailed and fuller soundstage. It’s not even close. Most of my testing is with Qobuz, and with classical and jazz recordings.
For whatever reason, Qobuz sounds quite a bit better than AM - have no idea why, as the specs are the same. But this is my experience with all headphones and speakers.
In any case, although these are not as good as my Bathys or B&O 95 - they are very decent with this wired upgrade, and not bad for what it is, at AAC 256.

I tried it a little bit ago and just my initial impressions is that it didn’t sound ‘different’…it sounded fuller or richer? For example, I was listening to prime mover from Rush…in the break section, you can hear the echo of the vocals without issue. When I connected the cable to the headphones and iPhone, you definitely hear it even more pronounced. It wasn’t like new worlds opening up, but more like you don’t have to focus so hard to listen for the details, they are more pronounced you could say.

I’m used to having simple earbuds and the AirPods Max are probably the nicest headphones I’ve listened to aside from a pair of STAX electrostatic headphones…but those were an entirely different league. Literally felt like I was sitting next to Jimi Hendrix while he played live about 3 ft away.

The science behind speakers and earphones is quite amazing. I think the Max sound great but...far from high end speakers which can reproduce some really amazing sound when the source is well engineered and lossless or near lossless. If someone wants that "open stage" feeling, they should get some good open back earphones. It is quite a different experience than what most of us are used to with closed back headphones. I say this as someone who grew up with the middle higher line of Sennheiser offerings. Presently, I am listening to some speakers that use folded ribbon tweeters. They have a sound a bit different than the usual cone speakers. Headphones, like the STAX you mention are atypical to the design most of us expect from headphones. All great science and we get the benefit of it all.