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AirPods Pro (1st gen) Noise Cancellation is not working as it used to.

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sparky672

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Original poster
Dec 17, 2004
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I've had my first gen AirPods Pro for almost two years so I am pretty familiar with how they've been working and how they normally sound. However, I use them somewhat sproratically.

About a week or so ago, while using them for a call or listening to a podcast, I noticed they didn't sound normal. I was still hearing all kinds of background sounds coming through despite Noise Cancellation. It was so unusual that I had to go into my settings to verify that "Noise Cancellation" was still enabled; and it was...


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When I used to enable Noise Cancellation, it made the world sound like it was completely blotted out. I'd say something like 90% of sound was blocked. Even the noise of my window air conditioner was almost fully blocked out.

Now today, Noise Cancellation simply sounds like the world is a little muffled. I can clearly hear my dog's nails when he walks on the hardwood floors as one example - maybe more so since other sounds are muffled. When outside, I can hear wind noise, running water, and cars approaching from way down the road. These sounds used to be completely blocked.

I cannot blame the latest firmware update, since I only updated to 6A300 today and I noticed this issue about a week or so ago while on 5E135. It's possible this started a way more than a week ago, but I don't use them often enough to pinpoint exactly.

Is anyone else experiencing anything like this?
 
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coffeeplease

macrumors 6502
Sep 28, 2019
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Lots of people have mentioned this for the first generation AirPods Pro. Read somewhere that the microphones get clogged or deteriorate over time and that's why the noise cancelling starts degrading.
 
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sparky672

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Original poster
Dec 17, 2004
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coffeeplease said:
Lots of people have mentioned this for the first generation AirPods Pro. Read somewhere that the microphones get clogged or deteriorate over time and that's why the noise cancelling starts degrading.
Click to expand...

That makes sense in general. However, for my experience, it's like it was sudden.

Is there a solution? Can the mics be cleaned out?
 
GBstoic

GBstoic

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Nov 6, 2016
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sparky672 said:
That makes sense in general. However, for my experience, it's like it was sudden.

Is there a solution? Can the mics be cleaned out?
Click to expand...
Cleaning may not be the answer. Apple replaced both of my AirPods last week (static problems) but even with the latest firmware (6A300) noise cancellation is not as good as used to be.
 
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coffeeplease

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Sep 28, 2019
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sparky672

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Original poster
Dec 17, 2004
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coffeeplease said:
I may be misremembering, but I've read some people got them replaced even when manufactured after the October 2020. Maybe someone else can confirm.
Click to expand...

I'm on an Apple support chat now. We will find out shortly.

EDIT: No dice. Mf'd 8/7/2021. I may stop into an Apple Store and try again.
 
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Donka

Donka

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May 3, 2011
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I have the exact same issue with my gen 1 APP.
I noticed this today after updating to IOS17. Was fine yesterday prior to the update. It's like there is some kind of 'adaptive' element to the noise cancellation now even though I'm only on gen 1 as the effectiveness seems to fluctuate a little but it's definitely noticeably weaker. I also don't get that sense of pressure change when I enable noise cancellation. A very negative impact on my listening experience when out and about now. Absolutely nothing to do with a need to clean them, this was an overnight change for me once switching to IOS17 - not sure when the AirPods firmware got updated but it is on the latest today.
 
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sparky672

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Dec 17, 2004
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Donka said:
this was an overnight change for me once switching to IOS17
Click to expand...

The AirPods are not locked into the iOS. Can you try them on an older iOS device to verify and compare? What about if/when you connect them to the Apple TV?
 
Donka

Donka

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sparky672 said:
The AirPods are not locked into the iOS. Can you try them on an older iOS device to verify and compare? What about if/when you connect them to the Apple TV?
Click to expand...
I suspect that also triggered the fw update for the AirPods. I don't have another IOS device or TV to try but I'll test with one of my Macs in the morning.
 
BriceApp

BriceApp

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Jun 11, 2018
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Winston-Salem, NC
Here’s what I generally do if my gen 1 Pro start sounding like they are not blocking noise as well.

1. I will make sure they are inserted properly. I will run an ear fit test. If one or both fail, then I know they are dirty.
2. I will use some blue tack and press against the screens a few times and then wipe the AirPod off.
3. Repeat #1. Repeat #2 if still not passing test.

This seems to continue to work on the revised set (post 10/2020) I received as replacement for my original pair. The original pair I had no matter how much I cleaned them they would not pass the ear fit test, and they were pre 10/2020.
 
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sparky672

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Original poster
Dec 17, 2004
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Donka said:
I suspect that also triggered the fw update for the AirPods.
Click to expand...

That is not the case. According to Apple site, the latest APP gen 1 firmware is 6A300, which is the same as before iOS 17. I'm not saying Apple can't update them, but in this case, no firmware updates coincide with iOS 17.

Like I was trying to say, the APP have their own firmware and can connect to various devices that have nothing to do with iOS 17. So if they sound different on a Mac or Apple TV, blaming iOS 17 for how it works makes sense. Otherwise, if they sound exactly the same no matter what they are connected to, then it has nothing to do with iOS 17.
 
Donka

Donka

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May 3, 2011
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So tested again this morning. Out walking, the noise cancellation is definitely not as effective although I did notice the pressure change when I activated noise cancellation. There are certainly more obvious sounds getting through whereas before cars going by were really muffled, I'm now hearing more tyre noise etc.
Tested with my Mac and seeing a drop in performance too so attributing this to the new fw. I suspect the AirPods updated around the same time as I did my iPhone to IOS17 - quite possible if in range and charging.
 
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sparky672

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Dec 17, 2004
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Donka said:
I suspect the AirPods updated around the same time as I did my iPhone to IOS17 - quite possible if in range and charging.
Click to expand...

Probably true. FWIW, I first noticed my issue on the last FW (5E135) and when they updated to 6A300, I noticed no difference.
 
Donka

Donka

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sparky672 said:
Probably true. FWIW, I first noticed my issue on the last FW (5E135) and when they updated to 6A300, I noticed no difference.
Click to expand...
Really not sure. It was literally overnight and the behaviour of the noise cancellation is definitely different for me. Very noticeable when out for a walk today. Very windy and I could hear all the leaves the trees rustling very clearly and even lawn mower was relatively noticeable - this would have been a faint drone previously.
 
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sparky672

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Original poster
Dec 17, 2004
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Donka said:
Very windy and I could hear all the leaves the trees rustling very clearly and even lawn mower was relatively noticeable - this would have been a faint drone previously.
Click to expand...

I agree with that description of how it's working now.
 
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smoking monkey

smoking monkey

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Mar 5, 2008
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sparky672 said:
Probably true. FWIW, I first noticed my issue on the last FW (5E135) and when they updated to 6A300, I noticed no difference.
Click to expand...
6A300
Which AirPods are you using? Pro1, Pro2 USB C, AP3?

I have the new USB C APP2 and it's supposed to be 6A301 but it's 6A300.

EDIT: I'm wrong. it is 6A300 for the APP2 USB C.
 
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sparky672

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Original poster
Dec 17, 2004
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GigabitEthernet said:
Get some blue tack, stick into the microphone vent. Remove it. Repeat 10-20 times on each AirPod.

It is a design flaw but that will fix it.
Click to expand...

If only that simple. Under very high magnification, I saw a few dust specs and the Blue Tack was indeed very effective at cleaning. I did all three vents on both pods more than 10-20 times each. They look brand new and spotless.

Unfortunately, this had zero effect on performance and it's like there's no noise cancellation at all... when I toggle noise cancellation I hear very little change.
 
Donka

Donka

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May 3, 2011
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sparky672 said:
If only that simple. Under very high magnification, I saw a few dust specs and the Blue Tack was indeed very effective at cleaning. I did all three vents on both pods more than 10-20 times each. They look brand new and spotless.

Unfortunately, this had zero effect on performance and it's like there's no noise cancellation at all... when I toggle noise cancellation I hear very little change.
Click to expand...
There has definitely been a change in performance. I also performed a clean, just to rule it out and there was no difference. As I say, it was literally an overnight change for me. Not sure if others have somehow not had a change or never noticed it but I'm quite sensitive to audio changes and it is clear as day in my APP.
 
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