When AirPods Max came out in late 2020, everyone seemed to hate the Smart Case that Apple created for the high-end headphones. And it seems they still do to this day, as we await a third iteration of the cans.
Third-party solutions flooded in, including the type of thing used in today’s featured MacBook Pro setup as multipurpose storage — a nifty charging stand. The headphones rest vertically in the stand, taking on power and looking good doing it — and they remain ready to grab at any time.
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Try the cool and stylish way to store and charge AirPods Max
Apple's AirPods Max are among the best-sounding consumer headphones you can buy. They offer pro-level active noise cancellation and advanced features like Adaptive EQ and Personalized Spatial Audio. Treat your ears!
- Superb sound
- Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation
- Long battery life (and now USB-C)
- Much-hated Smart Case
- On the heavy side
Redditor Scared_Tap374 showcased their M1 MacBook Pro dual-display setup in a post they titled “Current setup.” They run an M1 MacBook Pro and a gaming PC (under the desk), with a KVM switch for easy swapping between computers. The machines drive a pair of 4K displays and other peripherals, including a mechanical keyboard. The Alienware display in landscape orientation is mainly for PC gaming, as it sports a speedy 180Hz refresh rate. The LG monitor on the left in portrait orientation hooks up with the MacBook via an OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock.
For audio, Scared looks to have a pair of bookshelf speakers, but they’re obscured behind the monitors. They’ve also got AirPods Pro 2 on a charger on the right and AirPods Max to the right of the displays on a cool charging stand. No sign of the headphones’ hated case, though a Smart Case (or a third-party alternative) could be hiding for use on trips.
AirPods Max charging stand
This compact portable magnetic stand is made for Apple's AirPods Max over-ear wireless headphones. Includes sleep mode and a USB-charging port for another device.
- Works as stand and charger
- Compact and space-saving
- Charges additional device
- None to speak of
I sometimes see Apple’s Smart Case for AirPods Max in setups, but rarely. It came with the original cans and remained through the minimal 2024 update. More often, the headphones sit on a typical headphones stand. And sometimes they stand on a charger designed to hold them vertically. Today’s setup follows that lead, placing a color-matched silver Rounkin AirPods Max Charging Stand for their silver headphones.
Rounkin didn’t invent this style of charging stand, of course. The Max Stand stood out as a much earlier entrant, for example, dating back to 2021.
The Rounkin stand features:
- Designed for AirPods Max, you can easily store the headphones on this stand with one hand, with no adjustment.
- Placing the headset on the magnetic desk headset holder turns on charging mode, indicated on the display and blue charging indicator light.
- Headphone holder stand is compact and portable, taking up little space.
- Made of high-quality metal and silicone, soft, lightweight and durable to avoid scratching the headphones’ surfaces. Nonslip design increases stability.
And if you like the wallpaper showing on the displays, you can get it from Basic Apple Guy.
Shop these items now:
Audio:
Computers and dock:
- 14-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro
- OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock
- Gaming PC (under desk)
Displays, KVM switch and light bar:
- 27-inch Alienware AW2725QF 4K gaming monitor (in landscape orientation)
- 27-inch LG 4K monitor (in portrait orientation)
- 2-monitor KVM switch
- Quntis Computer Monitor Lamp
Input devices:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected] (iPhone pics usually work fine). Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
