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Elektrofone

macrumors 65816
Jul 5, 2010
1,156
552
Can anyone confirm if the replacement AirPods that were manufactured after October solves the issue with ANC sound leakage and the Ear Fit test not working?
 

TheAppleFairy

Suspended
Mar 28, 2013
2,588
2,223
The Clinton Archipelago unfortunately
Can anyone confirm if the replacement AirPods that were manufactured after October solves the issue with ANC sound leakage and the Ear Fit test not working?
I just had my right one replaced and it fixed the crackling noise, but I still have a sound leakage. I really think that's related to some firmware update. I miss how great ANC worked when I first got them.
 

Elektrofone

macrumors 65816
Jul 5, 2010
1,156
552
My experience (after five pairs) has been they last anywhere from two weeks to three months before failing.

What issues are you experiencing? I'm just curious if it's worth trying to get mine replaced because of diminished ANC, I can't tell if it's a seal issue with the tips or the AirPods themselves.
 

japanime

macrumors 68030
Feb 27, 2006
2,916
4,846
Japan
What issues are you experiencing? I'm just curious if it's worth trying to get mine replaced because of diminished ANC, I can't tell if it's a seal issue with the tips or the AirPods themselves.
All of mine except for the current pair had developed a static-like crackle (or "rattle," as many describe it).
 

Totalkaputt

macrumors newbie
Feb 26, 2020
12
6
Germany
My headphones (bought in December 2019) had all sorts of problems: rattling, humming, whistling, hissing, crackling, ANC didn't work ... until I tried the trick with Blu Tack (well, it wasn't blue tack it was "UHU patafix PROPower" - a similar product).
All problems solved.
 

xraydoc

Contributor
Oct 9, 2005
11,023
5,485
192.168.1.1
Just ordered a replacement set. My Airpods Pro started to fail back in September but I just now got around to calling Apple. Replacements on the way (both left and right). Hopefully the new ones don't develop the static/ANC issue the original set did.
 

Average Pro

macrumors 6502
Jul 16, 2013
473
194
Cali
Does anyone have an issue where, one of the AirPods Pro needs pushing in e.g. after working a bit loose from running etc. but, when you push one of them in it stops music playing or cuts off a phone call ? Happens when pushing the white part at the top, no contact with the stem or force touch.

Anyone else heard of this or having this issue ?

The left pod continually falls out. I can't figure out why. When I received the replacements, I removed the plastic cup from the old pair and installed on the new. No matter what I do, it is extremely difficult to keep the left pod in my ear. Frustrated.
 

appleino

macrumors member
Dec 3, 2017
94
69
My headphones (bought in December 2019) had all sorts of problems: rattling, humming, whistling, hissing, crackling, ANC didn't work ... until I tried the trick with Blu Tack (well, it wasn't blue tack it was "UHU patafix PROPower" - a similar product).
All problems solved.
I had tried to clean the vents using a similar product myself but unfortunately, it did not solve the problem for me. The new ones just arrived and work flawlessly, even though based on other users' experience I expect them to fail as well sooner or later. With a bit of luck, we'll receive Airpods Pro v2 as replacements for our failing Airpods Pro once they are released in April. I definitely wouldn't mind getting a completely new product, going through these regular exchanges (and all the issues when the Airpods start falling part) has been a real PITA...
 
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AppleZombie

macrumors 6502a
Oct 27, 2012
698
749
SoCal
I get a rattle on the left. I contacted Apple two times and they said I needed to send them in and I would be charged for service. I had to tell them my phone calls sucked for them to authorize an exchange. Hopefully this new pair works.
 

BigZ12

macrumors member
Oct 7, 2020
57
24
Please confirm for me.
I'm going to a retailer today, buying the APP again.
5th character should be at least a "J", to be certain they are of the updated batch?
Maybe try to get at least a "L" or "M" (November build?)
 

BigZ12

macrumors member
Oct 7, 2020
57
24
Please confirm for me.
I'm going to a retailer today, buying the APP again.
5th character should be at least a "J", to be certain they are of the updated batch?
Maybe try to get at least a "L" or "M" (November build?)
I was at the retailer, but the 4th and 5th character said D9. It was also printed on the back with 08/2020.
So... not everyone is marked with the code from this page: https://en.tab-tv.com/?p=20811
(I'm in Norway)
 

MayaTlab

macrumors 6502
Dec 12, 2007
320
302
I believe that the new hardware revision’s last four digits for the serial number are 0C6L (case / box), 0C6J (Right), OC6K (Left). My replacements were labelled like this. Is it the case for everyone else who got a pair with recessed vents ?
 
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BaddAdvice

macrumors 6502a
Jul 9, 2016
508
609
I believe that the new hardware revision’s last four digits for the serial number are 0C6L (case / box), 0C6J (Right), OC6K (Left). My replacements were labelled like this. Is it the case for everyone else who got a pair with recessed vents ?
That’s what my second replacements have for their last 4. TBH, I haven’t even listed to them much at all since getting the APMs!
 
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appleino

macrumors member
Dec 3, 2017
94
69
Same last 4 digits on my second replacements (0C6J (Right), OC6K (Left)), so they might indeed all be from the same batch.
 

MayaTlab

macrumors 6502
Dec 12, 2007
320
302
Usually the last four digits are a hardware identifier. All APPs up to October had the same ones and I believe that all of the revised ones have the above digits.
Do yours feature a recessed grill on the pressure vent like discussed in this thread ?
 

Broken Hope

macrumors 68000
Jan 15, 2015
1,823
1,880
I received a replacement left AirPod pro this week, DK serial, recessed grill, working great so far.
 

MayaTlab

macrumors 6502
Dec 12, 2007
320
302
Good to know. So these digits seem to be a more reliable way to quickly check whether the APP are the new or old hardware version, even before opening the box.
 

MayaTlab

macrumors 6502
Dec 12, 2007
320
302
So last December Apple replaced my two JHQ3 and JHQ4 APPs for ANC issues (not the first time). I received the newer 0C6J and 0C6K versions (recessed mesh). Unfortunately one started to develop unrelated problems and both were replaced.
Except that Apple seemed to have still quite a few of the previous version in stock as they sent me JHQ3 and JHQ4 replacements.
This is at best utterly irrationally cretinous : Apple is loosing money sending me the older version for no good reason at all as with my anatomy the skin on my concha makes contact with the mesh and the skin's natural oil and wax clogs it up over time. These will have to be eventually replaced at some point.
Just note that the following rant only applies to people experiencing ANC performance issue while neither experiencing a loss of bass response, crackling or ear tip test failures - which is the phenomenon that a clogged up inward facing mesh seems to produce.
This is a class action in waiting : all of the JHQ3 and JHQ4 buds will invariably develop an ANC failure for people whose skin makes contact with the inward-facing mesh simply because the natural oil and wax will fill this mesh (just put a piece of tape over the mesh on one of your buds to witness how ANC fails in that case). The only reason Apple mentions that only "some" APPs are affected is that people's anatomy differs and not everyone's concha is shaped in a way that the skin touches the mesh.
For the life of me I can't understand why in the several years of development it took to engineer the APPs no one at Apple put a marker in the sand and refused to budge until the incredibly idiotic design decision to locate and design that critical acoustic vent in a place where it could make contact with some users' skin was reconsidered. This should be obvious to anyone with half a brain. And it's not that hard to imagine alternative solutions to mitigate this problem (duh ! recessing the vent ! Next step - revision 3 ? APP 2 ? - : at the very least avoid any sharp edge near the recessed vent to avoid the edge gathering oil/wax).
At the very least Apple should immediately put in place an internal process that prevents users with a history of ANC failures to ever receive again the JHQ3 and JHQ4 versions regardless of why the buds have to be replaced.
The 0C6J and 0C6K versions are still susceptible I believe to ANC failure unless more extensive changes were made to the internal design, but the recessed mesh should lower the probabilities that your skin makes contact with the mesh and clogs it up.
Since Apple's being deceitful and not owning up to their engineering mistakes, and irrational by not setting up an internal process to avoid sending the older version to people whose anatomy invariably results in ANC problems, I'm being deceitful too : I accelerated the clogging up process by deliberately rubbing the mesh against the skin of my ear after a sweaty workout. Took me less than a minute of light rubbing to clog the mesh beyond any potential for cleaning and low and behold, voilà the ANC failed. And these will get replaced.
In the words of a famous departing president "I know words, I have the best words, but there's no better word than stoopid."
Let's hope the APP2 won't suffer from this problem.
 

sneeks

macrumors 65816
Oct 21, 2007
1,017
390
Glasgow, UK
I was at the retailer, but the 4th and 5th character said D9. It was also printed on the back with 08/2020.
So... not everyone is marked with the code from this page: https://en.tab-tv.com/?p=20811
(I'm in Norway)
I bought some in the U.K. this week and they are also D9 from 08/2020, serial number ends LKKT. I was contemplating sending them back and trying to source a set from October 2020 onwards but I think I’ll keep hold of them. If I experience any issues it looks likely Apple will replace them for the updated version, I’ll buy AppleCare+ to give me 2 years of cover with accidental damage included.
 
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madeirabhoy

macrumors 68000
Oct 26, 2012
1,673
622
I can’t find my receipt and I am getting the rattling plus the weird noise when noise cancelling is on. Is it like taking a Mac back where your serial number tells them everything or do I need to find the receipt ?
 
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