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Macine Toc

macrumors newbie
Apr 27, 2020
17
2
Thanks for the tip. Used UHU Patafix on both and they're now easily passing the test. Better bass & ANC.

There's is now a new APP available (without noise cancellation).
Does it mean that Apple recognizes the mesh grill issue of our APP ?

Would it be possible to get a refund from Apple (class action) ?
I do not feel like spending more time cleaning my APP, than really using them.
Very disappointing product.
 

zhenya

macrumors 604
Jan 6, 2005
6,931
3,681
Thanks for the tip. Used UHU Patafix on both and they're now easily passing the test. Better bass & ANC.

There's is now a new APP available (without noise cancellation).
Does it mean that Apple recognizes the mesh grill issue of our APP ?

Would it be possible to get a refund from Apple (class action) ?
I do not feel like spending more time cleaning my APP, than really using them.
Very disappointing product.

I don't think the rumors of the new AirPod design says anything other than that Apple is looking to expand a very profitable product line.

I also think your comments are a bit overblown. I clean the grilles of my APP about once per week - takes about 15 seconds compared to the ~40 hours per week they are worn...

It's also worth noting that there is zero - yes zero - objective test data indicating there is anything wrong with the current APP - either firmware or hardware. We know that cleaning the grilles allows them to more easily pass a software test - but we don't know for sure what actual difference this makes. Everything we have is subjective and thus highly tilted towards user bias.
 

morphist

macrumors newbie
Apr 29, 2020
8
3
Based on the recommendations to clean the microphones with blueback, I did a comparison of the software versions 2C54 and 2B588, both in uncleaned and cleaned states, and found that while the software version doesn't matter, clogged microphones do a lot. I believe that I was able to confirm many of the suspicions and conclusions mentioned here.

Post in the firmware thread: #905
Post on reddit:
 

Duncan68

macrumors 6502a
Sep 22, 2018
508
381
I tried cleaning the grills with blu tak, made absolutely no difference. Of course, I'm probably lousy at it and was doing it wrong. I haven't seen anyone actually spell out HOW you clean the grills with the stuff. There has to be a technique to it that's being kept top secret.
 

morphist

macrumors newbie
Apr 29, 2020
8
3
I tried cleaning the grills with blu tak, made absolutely no difference. Of course, I'm probably lousy at it and was doing it wrong. I haven't seen anyone actually spell out HOW you clean the grills with the stuff. There has to be a technique to it that's being kept top secret.

I cleaned mine with double sided sticky tape. The one I used is thick and made of a soft material. The basic principle is you press the sticky substance you are using directly onto the microphone grilles (the black spots that touch your ear) and then pull it off, hoping that it takes the dirt with it and doesn’t leave any residue. I first tried pressing it on very lightly, once I felt confident it would come off clean I used more pressure and repeatedly stuck the tape on and removed it. I could actually watch as parts of the grille became clean. It took about one or two minutes for each pod, and I used only a tiny piece of tape. I assume that it works similarly using blue tack.

Maybe your microphones aren’t clogged? What issues are you experiencing?
 

Duncan68

macrumors 6502a
Sep 22, 2018
508
381
I cleaned mine with double sided sticky tape. The one I used is thick and made of a soft material. The basic principle is you press the sticky substance you are using directly onto the microphone grilles (the black spots that touch your ear) and then pull it off, hoping that it takes the dirt with it and doesn’t leave any residue. I first tried pressing it on very lightly, once I felt confident it would come off clean I used more pressure and repeatedly stuck the tape on and removed it. I could actually watch as parts of the grille became clean. It took about one or two minutes for each pod, and I used only a tiny piece of tape. I assume that it works similarly using blue tack.

Maybe your microphones aren’t clogged? What issues are you experiencing?

Neither earphone passes the fit test, the sound quality isn't as good as when new.
 

IRF

macrumors member
Jan 6, 2020
34
13
Bostik bluetac helped clean mine nearly as good as new, BUT, it’s a pain in the arse! If y’all want them really clean or they start to fail in sound and ANC quality you need to painstakingly jam this stuff in the grills and pull off again, timing is also important or they will stick inside some of the stuff too. Definitely not what an product of this price should make you do at all! Definitely a flawed product and i really don’t get how this is not picked up from Media and reviews etc. I wonder how many are totally unaware of this clearly existing issues and keep use em totally dumped. Well played apple, bravo!
 

GigabitEthernet

macrumors 65816
Jun 21, 2013
1,195
896
United Kingdom
Bluetac on and off the microphone grilles about 10 times is the surefire way to get the ear-fit test passing again. But it's clearly a design flaw that the microphones get blocked so easily.
 

Duncan68

macrumors 6502a
Sep 22, 2018
508
381
Bluetac on and off the microphone grilles about 10 times is the surefire way to get the ear-fit test passing again. But it's clearly a design flaw that the microphones get blocked so easily.

You gave me the encouragement to try again. However, I needed to do it 10 times about 4 separate times before it passed the fit test. I would do it ten times, fail then try again 3 more times. It passes now (thanks!) but this is bloody ridiculous for a $250 set of earphones.

With the rattle problem that many people are now getting (and which I already got in my left earphone and had replaced), this has to be one of the most problematic products that Apple has ever released. And all the Apple-centric tech bloggers, You Tubers and sites are so scared of getting on Apple's bad side that they are resolutely ignoring the issues. They are failing their audience because they are coward$.
 

zhenya

macrumors 604
Jan 6, 2005
6,931
3,681
I’m not fooling around with bluetac and tape crap. Returned.

I definitely hear you. That said, let me counteract the turn towards hyperbole this thread has been taking.

I wear my Airpods about 40 hours/week. I spend maybe 30 seconds a week cleaning the grilles with blu-tack. I keep a bit at my desk and do it while aimlessly browsing the Internet during a break. That’s it.

There simply is no other true wireless headphone available that has the combination of features and ease of use as these do. Anything else I might switch to would have significant downsides in BOTH features and ease of use. I guarantee you I’d spend far more than 30 seconds a week fighting some other, more significant irritation with any other possible replacement.

FWIW, I sit at a desk connected to 5 figures of headphone gear, and I still choose to work with my APP’s the vast majority of the time...
 

BalutFX

macrumors member
Sep 11, 2013
71
43
Snohomish, WA
Before and after the update to 2D15...
[automerge]1588710285[/automerge]
 

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vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
982
1,349
Before and after the update to 2D15...
[automerge]1588710285[/automerge]

There is no firmware update that will make the Ear Tip Fit Test pass once it has started failing. It's caused either by dirty vent grilles, or failing components. But it's usually dirty grilles 95% of the time.

EDIT:Slight correction to this...Apple could always release a firmware that just tells the fit test to pass no matter what...but that's not really fair lol
 

sft109

macrumors member
Nov 27, 2009
56
18
So does the new firmware improve bass response when the fit test fails? That’s all I want. Agree it won’t change the physics of the vents blocking which is bad design but at least they can make it so the sound doesn’t change when it fails. Will check it out myself once mine update too.
 

vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
982
1,349
So does the new firmware improve bass response when the fit test fails? That’s all I want. Agree it won’t change the physics of the vents blocking which is bad design but at least they can make it so the sound doesn’t change when it fails. Will check it out myself once mine update too.

Some of the sound change is also due to the vent blocking. Mine sound noticeably bassier after a good cleaning with BluTak. Clean enough to get fit test to pass, and you'll also notice better sound again.
 

sft109

macrumors member
Nov 27, 2009
56
18
Oh yes I noticed that too. I have blue tack I ordered and use just for this purpose. Gave up after replacing them 3 times. I just assumed it was software that was changing the sound based on the active eq and not the vents being physically blocked but maybe you’re right. If so that’s even worse.
 

kissmo

Cancelled
Jun 29, 2011
1,062
1,055
Budapest, Hungary
I have the same issue and it bother me terribly.
The ear fit test used to work for me with all the sizes on both ears.

All of a sudden, the left earbud fails the test unless I keep it pressed with my finger...
I cleaned nicely all the grills, I even tapped them a bit as someone suggested and still nothing.
No clue why this happens and I am g etting quite upset now, considering the price I paid for it.
 

vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
982
1,349
I have the same issue and it bother me terribly.
The ear fit test used to work for me with all the sizes on both ears.

All of a sudden, the left earbud fails the test unless I keep it pressed with my finger...
I cleaned nicely all the grills, I even tapped them a bit as someone suggested and still nothing.
No clue why this happens and I am g etting quite upset now, considering the price I paid for it.

How did you clean the grilles? Basically, nothing will really work reliably except a VERY thorough cleaning with BluTak (and its just the inner grille that touches your ear that needs deep cleaning). Tapping will not work.
 

jbryant705

macrumors regular
Jan 18, 2011
113
88
I meant to write here a couple months ago what I’ve found fixed the issue. It sounds gross, but I went to my doctor and found out I had really bad earwax buildup. He flushed it out and I have had an issue with the fit test in probably 2 months since. I have still cleaned them every 2-3 weeks with blu-tak, but that should be done anyways.

I still agree Apple should’ve accounted for wax being an issue, but you should probably also keep your ears clean, so… ?
 

kissmo

Cancelled
Jun 29, 2011
1,062
1,055
Budapest, Hungary
How did you clean the grilles? Basically, nothing will really work reliably except a VERY thorough cleaning with BluTak (and its just the inner grille that touches your ear that needs deep cleaning). Tapping will not work.
I have some non alcohol based cleaning solution.
I placed on a q-tip and cleaned like that, even though the grill looked as new.
I will try after the update yesterday to unpair and reset them.
Someone mentioned it worked for him...
 
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