3E751 sounds the best I've heard. ANC still meh but whatever

[BigPotatoLobbyist]

Bought another pair of APP after mine broke, had previously intended to wait till the second-gen but need them for conference calls and some lectures/podcasts.

With 2D27 out of the box, it was pleasant having earbuds this compact, discrete again, but otherwise just meh as expected - but I swear with 3E751 the soundstage and vocals sound much better and seem to actually realize some of it's admittedly limited potential due to the small driver.

Treble also seems to be smoothed out, not so harsh with whatever shelf they had previously that drove me nuts (made raising the volume even 70% annoying) Anyone else notice this wrt soundstaging, more crisp/clean vocals on ANC mode? It really may well be placebo. But we know Cupertino f*cks with these things every goddamn update, so....

 

[jabbr]

Yeah, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the sound quality of the latest firmware. Vocals sound more present and soundstage noticeably wider!

 

[Telesmurfen]

I can confirm that this is my experience too. I can’t remember my AirPods Pro being this “musical” before - and I’ve been using APPs since launch date (so I’ve been fortunate to have experienced the very first firmware, which is still the best in terms of noise cancellation). It’s now a joy to listen to all kinds of music on my APPs - especially vocal music and music with several instruments and a wide soundstage. If they could just improve the noise cancellation a bit, and fix the microphone issue when making calls outside, it would be just about perfect. I can live with the reduced NC, but not being able to make phone calls with them outside, is frustrating beyond words.

 

[BigPotatoLobbyist]

I can confirm that this is my experience too. I can’t remember my AirPods Pro being this “musical” before - and I’ve been using APPs since launch date (so I’ve been fortunate to have experienced the very first firmware, which is still the best in terms of noise cancellation). It’s now a joy to listen to all kinds of music on my APPs - especially vocal music and music with several instruments and a wide soundstage. If they could just improve the noise cancellation a bit, and fix the microphone issue when making calls outside, it would be just about perfect. I can live with the reduced NC, but not being able to make phone calls with them outside, is frustrating beyond words.

Likewise RE: since launch (roughly). It's only more recently that I've been searching for alternatives and annoyed, probably last 6 months, not for novelty at all - but really I do hope the next models have bigger drivers. It's just not enough, competing models lack other features but the driver disparity is salient IMO

That said the noise cancellation - and I'm positive it wasn't a psychological effect of the contrast due to transparency as I had mine set to "normal/ANC" not "transparency/ANC" - for the first few weeks in 2019 was just unbelievable. I still wonder if it's a patent issue, liability issue wrt unknown health dangers etc

 

[BrianBaughn]

The firmware affecting the sound characteristics would worry me. They could just as easily make it sound worse with an update. Good that it's better now, though.

 

[guinnessduck]

I always feel a bit jealous reading threads like this as I have no ear for any of it. I. mean seriously they pretty much always sound the same to me after any firmware update. I did notice the ANC seemed weaker an update ago... but overall I just can't tell any difference. I mean I absolutely believe that people can, my hearing range, especially when it comes to all things musical, just kind of sucks. Though I suppose on the plus side it means I'm generally never that disappointed by how various headphones and speakers sound!

 

[BigPotatoLobbyist]

The firmware affecting the sound characteristics would worry me. They could just as easily make it sound worse with an update. Good that it's better now, though.

And they did, unfortunately. The main reason they get away with this is a lack of serious competition. That's changing some, though, because TWS instruments are not like smartwatches/tablets - both of which have become the "Apple Watch" industry and "iPad" yada yada. The cost of buds is lower, there is by now far less benefit to ecosystem integration for them, etc etc. It's one of the few areas I'm optimistic on competition for Apple (which I always more than welcome - I've no "loyalty" to an insignia though enjoy the company on this forium)

 

[Htsi]

I do not know If it the max that have spoiled me with the ANC, but the update has reduced it to my ears on the pros

 

[Htsi]

And they did, unfortunately. The main reason they get away with this is a lack of serious competition. That's changing some, though, because TWS instruments are not like smartwatches/tablets - both of which have become the "Apple Watch" industry and "iPad" yada yada. The cost of buds is lower, there is by now far less benefit to ecosystem integration for them, etc etc. It's one of the few areas I'm optimistic on competition for Apple (which I always more than welcome - I've no "loyalty" to an insignia though enjoy the company on this forium)

people with cash & want for convenience will always pay for the ecosystem. Plenty of products sound better, but the hassle of using them is too much For me. Eg momentum true wireless & APP.

 

[huanbrother]

Agreed.
Music Listening Experience ++
ANC ~~.