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AirPod Pro Ear Tip Fit test not working...Not the only one
- Thread starter gelie
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Yes as has been suggested in this thread, it may be down to hardware issues.
I said in another post that Apple rushed the Pro’s to market in time for Xmas hence the build quality, firmware concerns, lack of sufficient user testing and design is suspect. The same manner as they released iOS 13 too soon but had to do so because of the September release for the new iPhones.
It’s all a bit of a mess to be honest. I think that Apple are aware of the hardware issues, hence their engineers proactively calling customers for feedback and requesting that they examine customers hardware.
Apple may be concerned that over the January period they may have to cope with a large number of returns from dissatisfied customers that received Pros for Christmas and could start to experience the same issues that some of us on these forums have been experiencing. No doubt they will do some quiet hardware tweaks and further firmware updates in the background over the coming months.
Do you have any evidence of what you wrote, that’s not a forum post or hearsay? Otherwise, that’s a great deal of speculation.
Well as my previous posts have reported, I sent back my fifth set of Pros due to noise cancelling, seal test and microphone issues. I also posted that I had call from an Apple Engineer on the 12th December asking about my airpods (5th set at the time). He spent 30 minutes asking me questions about the noise cancelling, transparency, seal test, firmware number, type of iPhone model number, iOS number etc. He then said that Apple were talking to several customers that had returned AirPods with the same problems. He then asked if he could call me back the next day. I agreed and he called me back on the 13th to ask a few more questions. He then said that i would retrieve a call from AppleCare support in Ireland. Three days later later, a lady from AppleCare who's title was Senior Specialist called me and asked if i would send my Pros to them in Cork for inspection. She said that they were asking a number of customers to do the same.
This was my 5th set that were working perfectly at the time and still within the return period. She asked for them to be sent via UPS and provided Apples account number to me for UPS so there would be no postage charge to myself.
I have an email to evidence this. So its fair to say that Apple do seem to be aware of the problems and are investigating.
I said I would send them back after xmas but two days later my 5th set of AirPods failed with the usual problems so i called Apple and they said to send them back immediately for a refund. I then emailed the lady at AppleCare on the 27th Dec and told her that i had sent them back to Apple for a refund. I sent her exerts from the users on this site experiencing the same problems. I haven't heard back yet.
Agree.
It’s unthinkable Apple has released a premium product that was not ready for the mainstream.
When they know a product is not ready for the market they don’t release it: see what happened with the multi-charging wireless base. Announced but never released.
And we (included me) always fall in the same old error: think that what we read in the forumS is the universal rule.
Dozen/hundreds of bad feedback are really important among the millions of units sold?
If something went wrong with the hardware we should expect a recall campaign or a special warranty extension (see: MacBook Pro/air Butterfly Keyboard).
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To understand the issues you are mentioning:
The seal test showed upafter some days?
The ANC is lower or really weak?
The Microphone problem is related to the audio quality during calls?
Have you made try your APP to someone else? I think that APP are simply not suitable for all the different ear canals, in terms of tips size and ear/oil production that may obstruct the mics.
how did you deal with the return period and 5th replacement sets?
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Yep thats right. The seal test starts failing after 5 or 6 days. Cleaning the silicon tips shows no improvements. Noise cancelling becomes virtually non-existant to the point where the difference between transparency and NC is hardly noticeable. Making phone calls becomes virtually unauditable to receivers. Even talking to Apple Support I had to switch to my phone because they couldn't hear me via the AirPods. The 5th set also produced a high pitched whine, that sounded like microphone feedback and that was very painful to the right ear.
You are right that the pros are not right for everyone but how can they work fine for a few days and then start failing. Some people on this site have reported that sucking on the vents addresses the NC problem for a few days.
When I returned my 4th set, i ask Apple support about the number of returns as i felt a little embarrassed and they said that it was ok to return the airpods as many times as i liked, if there was a genuine issue and there was no damage due to misuse.
When the 5th set failed, I called customer support and they said to return for a refund and to place a fresh order and they had no concerns about constant returns.
The fact that i had a call from an Apple engineer nearly three weeks ago with a load of questions around the NC does suggest that they are aware of a problem somewhere if they are talking to several customers about the same thing. It may be a few bad batches that left the factory. I am just speculating but to have 5th sets fail on me each within a week is concerning.
really appreciate your contribute ?
The issue you described are a real pain, making the APP completely unusable.
The fact that all the unit starts in right manner and then they fail is a real clue.
I’m glad Apple is investigating, it a big demonstration of caring. The question is; if it’s not a matter of faulty batches, what they can do?
I’ve tried different units, because I was convinced of a bad audio quality but I were wrong. After many test I discover that the calling audio of APP is ok, not crystal clear but perfectly audible from the other person.
The one I have is a sort of keeper but I’m still concerned because of the cost: i have 20 days left to return, in case of.
Anyway, if I understand correctly your case is now closed with a refund. Will the engineers/c.care get back to you with an official answer? That will be very useful for us all.
Yes the fact that Apple proactively called me and other customers does show that they have a concern for the customer experience and they have been tremendously supportive. I am sure that the feedback on here is right and that rather than a design fault, there may be a few rogue batches floating around which would always be the case when products are manufactured in their millions.
I have just ordered another set and I am waiting for a call back from Apple support in Ireland as they did say that they wanted to keep in touch with myself and others. Will keep this forum posted.
I have just ordered another set and I am waiting for a call back from Apple support in Ireland as they did say that they wanted to keep in touch with myself and others. Will keep this forum posted.
29th January so will be fresh from the factory with the latest firmware...whatever that will be at the time
Well my launch day AirPods were no longer showing a positive fit test on any size no matter how I fit them, despite no problems earlier. I did the "suck on your AirPod" thing suggested here... it required several attempts and it wasn't easy but both are now "fixed". I'm not sure if it has made a difference in bass or ANC, I think overall the AirPods seem to have less ANC with the latest firmware than I remember them having but perhaps it is in my head... the "fix" did little other than making sure my test worked again from what I can tell.
I'm not sure there is a real fix for the current design of the AirPods Pro... it clearly a HARDWARE issue and I'm not sure what is not working to make the test fail and what suction is doing to fix it that then impacts sound quality or noise cancelation. I've seen the suggestion its the inward facing microphone but I sense little difference.
I have a feeling this is only get to get fixed when the AirPods Pro 2 come out in 24 months. Overall I remain satisfied with the AirPods Pro since the ANC is still way, way, way better than the noise let in by the first/second gen AirPods and they fit so much better for me. Bass is "ok" and sound is "good"... I still think the Powerbeats Pro have significantly more bass and to me sound better in a QUIET room, but any outside noise and overall I prefer the AirPods Pro because they sound better having limited the intrusion of outside noise. Transparency mode is also awesome.
I'm not sure there is a real fix for the current design of the AirPods Pro... it clearly a HARDWARE issue and I'm not sure what is not working to make the test fail and what suction is doing to fix it that then impacts sound quality or noise cancelation. I've seen the suggestion its the inward facing microphone but I sense little difference.
I have a feeling this is only get to get fixed when the AirPods Pro 2 come out in 24 months. Overall I remain satisfied with the AirPods Pro since the ANC is still way, way, way better than the noise let in by the first/second gen AirPods and they fit so much better for me. Bass is "ok" and sound is "good"... I still think the Powerbeats Pro have significantly more bass and to me sound better in a QUIET room, but any outside noise and overall I prefer the AirPods Pro because they sound better having limited the intrusion of outside noise. Transparency mode is also awesome.
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Well there are interesting comments on Reddit about stock shortages that seem to be related to quality control issues. It must be a very large batch if orders all over the world are affected. From what this guy is saying, his order and his dad's scheduled for the 23rd December has slipped by five weeks. He says that Apple admit its due to quality control issues.
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Wow, that’s really puzzling ?if it’s true, I’m really hesitant about keepin mine or return by deadline (Jan, 20) and purchase new one.
I also have airpod pros that fail the ear seal test after a few weeks of use. I have to admit I was very skeptical when people suggested to suck on the filter screen of the defective earbud. However, as dumb as it sounds, it worked for me.
I can’t believe Apple released a product that is clearly not ready for prime time. Hopefully, they will step up to the plate and correct the problem.
I can’t believe Apple released a product that is clearly not ready for prime time. Hopefully, they will step up to the plate and correct the problem.
If this is a quality issue then it can’t be said they weren’t ready for prime time. My launch day APP’s work flawlessly which to me says the design is sound. Im sure tens of thousands of other work as well.
Yes, but quite a few people have reported the same problem in this forum. As for the thousands of other people with seemingly working product; I wonder how many of them performed the ear seal test when their Airpod Pros were new, chose the best size tip for their ear size, and then never ran the test again? I'll bet that is the majority and that those folks may never know the product fails the test after a few weeks.
It may also be due to the amount of oils naturally present on the skin in the ears and around. It may also be because of some ears shapes. And so one would have to have more oil AND a ear shape that cause the vent to touch the skin more that others and so the vent gets clogged more easily this way. If it’s an oil thing, maybe there is a way to clean the vent with something that breaks down oils... but the you would have to make it so it’s absorbed outside, and not inside.
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My airpods have an oily finish after wearing them, not only on the tip, but the whole body has an oily layer on it after usage. I clean it but it may cause this because the vent’s grill is facing inward and touches the ear skin
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Also, note that the test in itself is not a problem at all, it’s just a symptom of the problem which impacts sound quality and reduction of in ear pressure as well as the quality of both active modes (anc and transparency)
I say it because I’ve read many people implying we are just looking to find useless bugs in the product, and that’s not the case, at least for me as I hear a sound difference before it even starts to fail. And I can guarantee I know the problematic side without even looking at the fit test
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My airpods have an oily finish after wearing them, not only on the tip, but the whole body has an oily layer on it after usage. I clean it but it may cause this because the vent’s grill is facing inward and touches the ear skin
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Also, note that the test in itself is not a problem at all, it’s just a symptom of the problem which impacts sound quality and reduction of in ear pressure as well as the quality of both active modes (anc and transparency)
I say it because I’ve read many people implying we are just looking to find useless bugs in the product, and that’s not the case, at least for me as I hear a sound difference before it even starts to fail. And I can guarantee I know the problematic side without even looking at the fit test
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QC issues IMO as Bazooka-Joe posted. You’ll notice over the past 10-14 days the shipment from order is staying at 30 days. Order Dec 29 deliver Jan 29, order Dec 30; deliver Jan 30 etc.....
IMO, this indicates a production stoppage.
I also had problems with the fit test. It failed at every tip size. I usually used L but after trying and trying i changed to M again. If I put the APP in my ears (with a lot of pressure) and the silicon is cold, the test failed. But after a few minutes and pushing again they passed. For me, the seal is very good and it don't hurts. But after a long time of wearing and after sport, I clean them with a kind of alcohol. This is the way, my fit test works. Sometime it needs a bit more pressure or position change...
And, jep,... i also did the sucking thing.... but for me nothing changed. The sound is the same and the bass is enough for me.
My biggest concern is the effect of an unperfected seal e.g. during sport or walking. I had several times big difference of the battery status of the APP left and right. It might be an explanation if the ACC isn't work perfect the inner microphone try to compensate the inner and outer noises to find the perfect equaliser setup which needs more power.
And, jep,... i also did the sucking thing.... but for me nothing changed. The sound is the same and the bass is enough for me.
My biggest concern is the effect of an unperfected seal e.g. during sport or walking. I had several times big difference of the battery status of the APP left and right. It might be an explanation if the ACC isn't work perfect the inner microphone try to compensate the inner and outer noises to find the perfect equaliser setup which needs more power.