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The Benks Grand Professional Headphone Stand for AirPods Max is a welcome improve over the unique. Nonetheless, it introduces complexity the place there was none earlier than — whereas additionally ignoring an apparent drawback.
The unique Benks AirPods Max headphone stand appears to be like almost similar to the Grand Professional, however there’s a massive distinction. The Grand professional has a wi-fi charging pad within the base of the headphone stand.
This easy-to-assemble stand is without doubt one of the solely headphone stands we have seen made for the AirPods Max with a {custom} cover. The design feels Apple-like, and the supplies look implausible. Nonetheless, the addition of wi-fi charging complicates issues.
Benks Grand Professional Headphone Stand design
Externally, there’s not a lot distinction between the earlier mannequin and the brand new wi-fi charging Grand Professional. The bottom is barely thicker to accommodate the wi-fi charging pad and USB-C port, however that is it.
The bottom is two-tone white and silver or black and grey, relying on the colour chosen. A delicate rubber materials coats the bottom, and a small LED could be seen when one thing is actively being charged.
The stem is chrome steel and screws in by way of a hex nut. The u-shaped arc holds the AirPods Max and is custom-built to help the mesh cover.
Total, the design is modern and minimal. The stand shows the AirPods Max elegantly and allows easy removing.
Utilizing the Benks Grand Professional Headphone Stand
Whereas the stand could look nice, it is not wonderful in use. The unique stand was merely a stand for holding AirPods Max aloft, however the Grand Professional provides a wi-fi charging pad that is not properly thought out.
As an AirPods Max stand, the Grand Professional is great. Not a lot must be stated on this regard, as it’s a easy desk fixture that blends in with Apple’s design philosophy.
The place the Grand Professional Stand falls aside is the wi-fi charging pad. Whereas Benks did a fantastic job incorporating a wi-fi charging pad within the base with minimal modifications, it appears the corporate missed just a few key facets.
Primarily, it’s a normal Qi charging pad with most 15W output. It is not MagSafe, so an iPhone will solely settle for 7.5 Qi charging from it. Nonetheless, some Android telephones will have the ability to take full benefit of the 15W charging.
The charging pad additionally would not account for digital camera bumps. Whereas a raised disk like a MagSafe puck might need solved this, as an alternative, Benks caught with a superbly flat floor.
This makes inserting an iPhone on the charging pad tough. Customers may count on the iPhone to put flat when charging, however it’s going to lay crooked on its digital camera bump with no case.
This concern would not appear to have an effect on charging. Nonetheless, we would have most popular to see a design modification to deal with this.
Additionally, sliding the iPhone beneath a pair of AirPods Max to get it on the charging pad is cumbersome. The AirPods Max cling too low. Benks ought to have made the stem longer or angled it otherwise to account for the brand new charging pad.
Lastly, an apparent design omission makes the Grand Professional really feel like a half-baked thought. For the reason that Grand Professional wants energy for the wi-fi charging pad, it looks as if an omission to not present energy to the AirPods Max.
In its present state, the Grand Professional Stand must be plugged into energy. Then, if the person needs to cost the AirPods Max, a second outlet will probably be required to cost the headphones. This may be labored round through the use of a two-port energy adapter, however we consider Benks may clear up this.
In a future mannequin, we hope to see Benks embrace a power-out USB-C port only for charging the AirPods Max. An alternative choice could be together with a purpose-built brief Lightning cable hard-wired to the bottom that may be tucked away when not in use. The second case would require licensing the Lightning cable, so at the very least a port could be acceptable.
Must you purchase the Benks Grand Professional Headphone Stand
The Grand Professional Stand is not a foul alternative if you need a devoted headphone stand in your AirPods Max. Nonetheless, determine if that added wi-fi charging pad is well worth the problem as a result of, for us, it is not.
The charging pad can be utilized for an AirPods case with wi-fi charging or another Qi-compatible system. So it’s a helpful resolution for including one more charging floor to a desktop.
As a minimum, AirPods Max homeowners ought to take into account both model of the Benks Grand headphone stand. Wi-fi charging or not, it’s a modern resolution for displaying AirPods Max.
Benks Grand Professional Headphone Stand Execs
- Fashionable stand for AirPods Max
- Design matches Apple’s product design philosophy
- Wi-fi charging is helpful, however…
Benks Grand Professional Headphone Stand Cons
- … The wi-fi charging pad is not properly thought out
- AirPods Max could possibly be displayed greater for higher entry to pad
- Wants the flexibility to supply energy to AirPods Max. Feels foolish to run two cables to the identical place.
Ranking: 3.5 out of 5
This stand may simply be a 5 out of 5 if Benks supplied a method to cost the AirPods Max from the stand. Nonetheless, it’s a nice stand, so we rating it a 3.5 out of 5 for a handsome but barely flawed product.
Whereas we did not assessment the unique Grand headphone stand by Benks, we would simply award it a 4 out of 5, so take into account that one too.
The place to purchase the Benks Grand Professional Headphone Stand
Get the Benks Grand Professional (the one with wi-fi charging) from Benks in black or white for $56.99. Amazon gives the stand to for $59.99.
Get the Benks Grand (the one with out wi-fi charging) from Benks in black or white for $37.99, or from Amazon for $49.99.
Overview