Airpods pro 2 ANC turns off when there are loud noises. Is this supposed to happen?

[hjalte]

I just bought a set of airpods pro 2.

The ANC is definitely better than on my older gen. 1, but whenever there is a loud noise, the ANC turns off or down. Not as much as if on transparency mode. Maybe half.

Then it takes maybe 30-60 seconds and they go back to normal. If I turn off ANC and turn it back on, they also work great again... until the next loud noise.

I am thinking it might have something to do with them trying to "warn" me, if an ambulance drives past or something, but for me, it ruins their usefulness, since I am using them to block out noise.

It's not because of adaptive mode or the detect speech thing. They are both turned off.

I am really disappointed with my purchase. I thought they would work as my airpods pro 1, just a little better.

Is there anything I can do? Are my set faulty or is this just the way they work?

 

[iGeek2019]

Is Loud Sound Reduction also toggled off too?

 

[Mackilroy]

Something is faulty, mine don’t work that way.

 

[Howard2k]

Is it Conversation Awareness?

 

[hjalte]

Is it Conversation Awareness?

I sounds like how I think conversation awareness should work. But conversation awareness is not turned on.
If I start speaking, nothing happens.

I forgot to mention in my original post, that I have access to two pairs of airpods, and I experience the same on both.

 

[hjalte]

Is Loud Sound Reduction also toggled off too?

It wasn't, but nothing different when I turned it off.

I forgot to mention in my original post, that I have access to two pairs of airpods, and I experience the same on both.

 

[Mackilroy]

I sounds like how I think conversation awareness should work. But conversation awareness is not turned on.
If I start speaking, nothing happens.

I forgot to mention in my original post, that I have access to two pairs of airpods, and I experience the same on both.

Bizarre. I've had two different pairs of APP2s (I gifted one to a family member), and this didn't happen on either of them. If it's occurring on them both for you, it seems likely there's a setting somewhere that you've missed.

 

[Ralfi]

Sounds like the opposite of what’s happening with my generation 1 AirPods Pro. When loud, high-pitched sound occurs, noise cancellation remains on, or, if transparency mode is on, NC is temporarily turned on to either one or both buds.

 

[hjalte]

Bizarre. I've had two different pairs of APP2s (I gifted one to a family member), and this didn't happen on either of them. If it's occurring on them both for you, it seems likely there's a setting somewhere that you've missed.

Which settings could those be?

The only settings that are on are:
- Register ear
- Case Sound
- Optimized charge
- Find

My language is not english, but you can probably figure out which settings i mean.

 

[Mackilroy]

Given what’s happening it seems like there’s a setting that shouldn’t be on but somehow is. Have you tried resetting everything to default? Have you looked into the Accessibility settings to see if there’s anything interfering there? What you’re experiencing absolutely isn’t normal, so either there’s a setting somewhere that’s switched on, or you’ve somehow managed to get two sets of AirPods that both don’t work normally, which is statistically unlikely.

 

[hjalte]

Given what’s happening it seems like there’s a setting that shouldn’t be on but somehow is. Have you tried resetting everything to default? Have you looked into the Accessibility settings to see if there’s anything interfering there? What you’re experiencing absolutely isn’t normal, so either there’s a setting somewhere that’s switched on, or you’ve somehow managed to get two sets of AirPods that both don’t work normally, which is statistically unlikely.

I already tried resetting, but will try again later today.
Another thing I noticed, is that when connected to my windows PC and when playing music, the ANC acts the same way, by turning the ANC effectiveness down.

I will do some more testing and if nothing changes, I will try to take them back.

About the settings, I haven't edited anything in accessibility. All is default.

 

[Mackilroy]

Bizarre. I assume you bought them from an authorized reseller and not somewhere shady? Are there any stores nearby that would let you try a pair in advance?

For some recent experience of my own, while out walking yesterday a train passed by and blew its horn several times. Each time noise canceling worked as expected - it diminished the intensity. It never went off or worked less effectively. That’s the behavior you should be seeing.

 

[hjalte]

Thanks. I own the app1 and whole the ANC is better in the new ones, app1s ANC is stable.

The place I bought is a real store, so hopefully there shouldn't be any issues getting them replaced.

 

[Miniś]

@hjalte, I have the same issue. I’m currently on a train, and I’ve noticed that during regular travel, the noise is nicely muted. However, as I approach the next station, when the ambient sound changes to a higher pitch — I’m not sure if I’m describing it correctly, but it’s definitely louder — I suddenly start hearing my surroundings more clearly. Even my own voice becomes more distinct.

 

[seggy]

@hjalte, I have the same issue. I’m currently on a train, and I’ve noticed that during regular travel, the noise is nicely muted. However, as I approach the next station, when the ambient sound changes to a higher pitch — I’m not sure if I’m describing it correctly, but it’s definitely louder — I suddenly start hearing my surroundings more clearly. Even my own voice becomes more distinct.

That's generally a matter of relative perception, allied to the fact tht APP ANC isn't *that* effective in the first place in the overall scheme of ANC.

With so many similar discussions I do have to wonder whether it's my audio knowledge that's giving me an edge (kinda doubt), or whether most people just can't connect the dots about how they themselves behave.

 

[rasg]

I just bought a set of airpods pro 2.

The ANC is definitely better than on my older gen. 1, but whenever there is a loud noise, the ANC turns off or down. Not as much as if on transparency mode. Maybe half.

Then it takes maybe 30-60 seconds and they go back to normal. If I turn off ANC and turn it back on, they also work great again... until the next loud noise.

I am thinking it might have something to do with them trying to "warn" me, if an ambulance drives past or something, but for me, it ruins their usefulness, since I am using them to block out noise.

It's not because of adaptive mode or the detect speech thing. They are both turned off.

I am really disappointed with my purchase. I thought they would work as my airpods pro 1, just a little better.

Is there anything I can do? Are my set faulty or is this just the way they work?

I use Adaptive Mode most of the time and I do wear my Airpods as hearing aids.

Two things I find with Loud noise and Conversation Awareness and Conversation boost. If I am listening to music and just start talking the music I am listening gradually fades away and when I stop talking it gradually fades back up to full volume. Is this what you are describing? It takes around five or six seconds for the fading up or down process.

My first thought were Loud Sound Reduction too but when, for example, I am chopping peanuts in a grinder the noise cancelling happens instantly.