Matching the new AirPods Max firmware: Apple sells USB-C audio cable
With iOS 18.4 and a new firmware, the AirPods Max finally get USB audio. For analog connections, Apple sells a new cable.
Apple's new USB-C audio cable: latency-free analog too.
(Image: Apple)
A little surprise for all owners of AirPods Max with USB-C connection: Apple's expensive over-ears do support USB audio including Lossless, but only with iOS 18.4, macOS 15.4 and a firmware update, which is due to be released in April. Apple is also launching another product to match: a combination of A/D and D/A converters in the form of a new cable.
About the AirPods Max…
The cable is called “USB-C to 3.5 mm audio cable (1.2 m)” and will be delivered this week – at a price of 45 euros. It initially remained unclear whether the AirPods Max also support other – cheaper – USB audio cables; this will only become clear once the new firmware (and the iOS and macOS updates) have been rolled out. However, the probability is high.
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The new Apple cable comes with a USB-C connection on one end and a stereo jack plug (3.5 mm) on the other. In regular operation, both AirPods Max and Beats Studio Pro can be connected to analog sound sources (audio out), which then also arrive (almost) latency-free in the headphones. “Together with the AirPods Max, this cable enables extremely low latency, comparable to the device's built-in speakers. For an optimal experience when gaming or creating content,” writes Apple.
…and back from iPhone and iPad
But that's not the only function of the new Stripe. It also works bidirectionally. As an alternative, it can be used to connect devices with a USB-C port that can transmit audio to an analog audio-in port. This includes, for example, amplifiers, speaker systems or car entertainment systems with a jack socket. According to Apple, this works with iPhones and iPads with USB-C.
The new cable is reminiscent of a similar connector that Apple once offered for the old AirPods Max (as well as iPhones and iPads) with a lightning connection. Incidentally, the “Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm jack audio cable” is no longer sold by Apple itself, but is still available in stores. Meanwhile, Apple has also included a lightning to jack adapter with its iPhones, which is still being sold (starting from 6,30 €).
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