Apple AirPods Firmware

[Thejameslavis]

Yep three pairs lol all bad right lol and two pairs one mine and the other my wife’s and we both notice within 24 hours of the second firmware being pushed. Rtings has already stated something is different on anc and re-testing which are crazy high end audiophiles way better testing for such a lousy $275 device. Also, Reddit and Apple Discussion Board is over 2000 now and has a mass fix the firmware or return them attitude. Also, Apple care peeps are getting sent new pairs too and guess what all broken too lol...So you weren’t an early adopter or have rough hearing which our guess is what Apple is praying on. If you hear someone talking beside you normally or snap your finger moderately with no music then yours are broken too lmao.
Apple is yet to respond other than someone last week stated they said please wait for next patch. People who bought after mid November or who truly didn’t test in store during launch have 0 clue.

if anc was reduced by 30% i’ll double check the firmware notes. also anything substantial hits news pages fast. there has been zilch on this. they don’t fit for you. that’s the issue but hey feel free to show me a real report on this from unbox therapy or anyone related.

you really think they dropped anc by 30? bud not a chance. again with so many appro sets out there, if it was legit, it would be wildfire. it’s you.
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also, day one purchase, second pair sold at store so i’ve been in them far longer and far more often than you

 

[Senfinger]

if anc was reduced by 30% i’ll double check the firmware notes. also anything substantial hits news pages fast. there has been zilch on this. they don’t fit for you. that’s the issue but hey feel free to show me a real report on this from unbox therapy or anyone related.

you really think they dropped anc by 30? bud not a chance. again with so many appro sets out there, if it was legit, it would be wildfire. it’s you.

***There aren’t firmware notes on APPs,*** LOL
My apology as this has massive traction on more "technical forums as stated previously". This was posted just for awareness and for more technical and frustrated users. There are over 2000 people who are on the Apple Discussion saying fix it... still didn’t test and also they were flawless for all of us until the Nov. update.

 

[oldcelt]

Does the case lid have to be open or closed for updates to happen?

 

[Minarets]

I too have had zero problems since launch. Had them since launch and use them for flying and calls daily. Loving mine.

 

[Thejameslavis]

2000 is a micro percentage. acceptable QA percentage.

 

[gwhizkids]

I too have had zero problems since launch. Had them since launch and use them for flying and calls daily. Loving mine.

I think if you look at a lot of stuff online and in this thread, the issue probably is one of fit of the ear tips. Federico Viticci at MacStories has published how he used some memory foam tips inserted inside the APP tips to improve the seal and comfort, which is resulted in a much better sound situation for him.

 

[Thejameslavis]

I too have had zero problems since launch. Had them since launch and use them for flying and calls daily. Loving mine.

this. forums most often collect users with issues. exact same experience.
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I think if you look at a lot of stuff online and in this thread, the issue probably is one of fit of the ear tips. Federico Viticci at MacStories has published how he used some memory foam tips inserted inside the APP tips to improve the seal and comfort, which is resulted in a much better sound situation for him.

again this. the fit is the key to ANC. this doesn’t mean the fit test but your assessment of how well they fit. i run burpees daily and they don’t even move. even full sweat they don’t even budge. that’s why my anc is solid

 

[Jutah]

No news about rtings re-checking on ANC, right?

 

[Bazooka-joe]

Yep all three pairs are/went bad right? lol and two pairs one mine and the other my wife’s and we both notice within 24 hours of the second firmware being pushed on ANC Degradation. Rtings has already stated something is different on ANC and re-testing which are crazy high end audiophiles way better testing for such a lousy $275 device. Also, Reddit and Apple Discussion Board is over 2000 now and has a mass fix the firmware or return them attitude. Also, Apple Care+ peeps are getting sent new pairs too and guess what all broken too per postings lol...So you weren’t an early adopter or have rough hearing which is the forums opinion/guess and that's probably what Apple is praying on. If you hear someone talking beside you normally or snap your finger moderately with no music then yours are broken too srs.
Apple is yet to respond other than someone last week stated they said please wait for next patch. People who bought after mid November or who truly didn’t test in store during launch have 0 clue on how aggressive the ANC was.

If it is firmware and not hardware and I have to admit that I am torn between the two at the moment, then hopefully we will see another firmware upgrade before the end of the month and then we shall know for certain. Apple are normally pretty quick to issue patches. I really hope that it is firmware that’s the issue. With so many posts across Reddit and Apple’s own forums and Macrumors I’m really surprised that the independent Apple sites such as 9to5Mac, Appleinsider and Macrumors hasn’t picked up on this issue

 

[mrwilly25]

That impossible, as you would have noticed unless your not very picky or hearing issues etc. If you put them in with no music playing you couldn’t hear people taking around you or snapping a finger in the store at launch with original firmware.
Now it’s around 30sh percent less and crazy noticeable. There is also almost 0 difference between anc and transparency which prior was drastic.
This is the third pair and the second update ruined it and the third didn’t fix it and pulled by Apple and was stated in their Euro Tech Note.

It’s definitely an issue and not hardware related.

I’m on 2C54 and they work perfectly. There is big noticeable difference when going between anc and transparency. Was just on a flight recently, there was a crying baby nearby, turned on anc, everything went quiet.

 

[Jutah]

I’m on 2C54 and they work perfectly. There is big noticeable difference when going between anc and transparency. Was just on a flight recently, there was a crying baby nearby, turned on anc, everything went quiet.

... while you’re listening music or you had the crying baby cut out just with ANC on and music off?

 

[Lyn2012]

I’m also on 2C54 and still hearing a big difference between ANC and Transparency. I’ve had these APP since mid November.

 

[mrwilly25]

... while you’re listening music or you had the crying baby cut out just with ANC on and music off?

No crying baby with just anc on and music off

 

[Senfinger]

Rtings hasn't updated...

However, just posted...

​

AirPods Pro firmware 2B588 reduce the noise cancelling capability Just got back from support, he told me that apple acknowledges about this issue and that they are working on a update that will be released soon.

So if you think yours have been "perfect" prepare to be blown away lmao = )

 

[supergt]

I have had these since day 1 as I got a pair on October 30. They are great. Sound quality is good and above average to my non audiophile ears. The pairing is flawless and almost instantaneous even when you switch between Apple devices.

All that said I have been disappointed by the noise cancellation. It was fantastic until the mid November firmware update. The noise cancellation is still good. It’s just not as good as the release firmware. Some people won’t notice a problem because either they didn’t experience the ANC of the release firmware or it’s still good enough to meet their needs. These are the people who say it’s working perfectly and that’s fine, good for them. I prefer what I initially paid for and am disappointed in a forced update reducing functionality of the product that I could not control.

 

[augustya]

is there no way that you can stop your Airpods Pro from not updating the firmware ?

 

[Jutah]

Rtings hasn't updated...

However, just posted...

​

AirPods Pro firmware 2B588 reduce the noise cancelling capability Just got back from support, he told me that apple acknowledges about this issue and that they are working on a update that will be released soon.

So if you think yours have been "perfect" prepare to be blown away lmao = )

I’ve Changed my mind about the goodness of my unit and my perception of ANC.

On the first instance I was convinced that mine were because of some comment I read: people that literally hadn’t few if any difference with ANC turned on and off.

Then i started reading feedback who owned the first release (I had that just for 2-3 days so I can’t remember the effectiveness of noise canceling) and I started to change my mind.

Yesterday I got a new unit from amazon. 1.0.0 and 2B588 while mine is 2C54. No difference at all in ANC.

I can clearly hear snapping fingers or a person talking to me with normal voice.

One more thing: I would not give too much weight to what the genius tell at the store. In many case they just say the most convenient thing, just to push away the problem.

I went to the biggest store in my country on Thursday and I hear a guy assisted for ANC problem. The genius (2) have NO IDEA of what he was talking about. So the first answer to “solve the problem” many times is: yes, we know, just wait for the incoming update.

 

[supergt]

is there no way that you can stop your Airpods Pro from not updating the firmware ?

You would have to disconnect Bluetooth on the device linked to the AirPods when charging. It’s not realistic and a pain in the ass. And as Apple does not release notes on the firmware version you have no idea what is changing. This should be a bigger story. All the reviews tested the initial ANC and they have changed the product after the fact and out of the return window.

 

[Ralfi]

I got my AirPods about 6 weeks after release, & I only recall one firmware update since then, so I’m not sure I even used them with the initial firmware, or it may’ve been for the first few hours - Probably not long enough to tell if there’s any difference...

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

That impossible, as you would have noticed unless your not very picky or hearing issues etc. If you put them in with no music playing you couldn’t hear people taking around you or snapping a finger in the store at launch with original firmware.
Now it’s around 30sh percent less and crazy noticeable. There is also almost 0 difference between anc and transparency which prior was drastic.
This is the third pair and the second update ruined it and the third didn’t fix it and pulled by Apple and was stated in their Euro Tech Note.

It’s definitely an issue and not hardware related.

Mine are working flawlessly thru all updates, including 2C54. Transparency is like no earbuds in my ears. Off is physical isolation and much quieter. ANC is so quiet it's like being in a vacuum. Works same as when I got them Nov 16th.

 

[Senfinger]

Mine are working flawlessly thru all updates, including 2C54. Transparency is like no earbuds in my ears. Off is physical isolation and much quieter. ANC is so quiet it's like being in a vacuum. Works same as when I got them Nov 16th.

Yep like I said, Apple is trying to fix a few hot issues (Android Loudness, People getting Sick/Nausea/Headaches & Public Setting/Busy Street and getting Hurt) and it knowingly dumbed down the ANC in the process... 2C54 was so bad it was pulled fairly quickly. Article below... Anyone who thinks ANC is awesome or has worked perfect since they purchased be prepared to be blown away, as you have no clue how awesome it was... almost dangerous = )

Apple Euro Note:
Apple has apparently withdrawn AirPods firmware 2C54 released before Christmas . The update was to replace the previous versions 2A364 (AirPods 2) and 2B588 (AirPods Pro), but according to user reports, it caused additional problems, especially for the AirPods Pro.

Apparently the performance of the noise reduction of the AirPods Pro in connection with the update to firmware version 2C54 was sometimes significantly reduced. Users report that the activation of the function has only a minimal impact and that there is hardly any difference to hearing without noise reduction.

With AirPods 2, however, Android users in particular complain about problems. Here the overall volume of the earphones has been significantly reduced. The error also occurred with the previous firmware version, so far the hope of a fix with the software version 2C54 has been disappointed.

The AirPods software 2C54 released in December currently seems to be completely deleted from the Apple servers. On request, Apple Support now names 2A364 or 2B588 as the current version.

You can check which firmware is installed on your AirPods on the iPhone in Settings -> General -> Info. The AirPods must be connected to the iPhone for this.

 

[Ralfi]

Apparently the performance of the noise reduction of the AirPods Pro in connection with the update to firmware version 2C54 was sometimes significantly reduced.

Key word bolded. Some impact.

 

[Jutah]

Yep like I said, Apple is trying to fix a few hot issues (Android Loudness, People getting Sick/Nausea/Headaches & Public Setting/Busy Street and getting Hurt) and it knowingly dumbed down the ANC in the process... 2C54 was so bad it was pulled fairly quickly. Article below... Anyone who thinks ANC is awesome or has worked perfect since they purchased be prepared to be blown away, as you have no clue how awesome it was... almost dangerous = )

The truth is that nothing is clear about this issue. Why some people like the user above didn't have any reduction at all in ANC? it doesn't make sense.

Moreover: i own both a unit with 2b588 and a unit with 2c54. No changes at all in the ANC. The real difference is that 2B588 is way more bugged than 2c54 in terms of connection / switching mode etc.

Apple Euro Note:
Apple has apparently withdrawn AirPods firmware 2C54 released before Christmas . The update was to replace the previous versions 2A364 (AirPods 2) and 2B588 (AirPods Pro), but according to user reports, it caused additional problems, especially for the AirPods Pro.

This is just a minor blog assumption, doesn't mean anything.

 

[Frankfurt]

At least on mine I can no longer check the firmware version. Where the AirPods info used to be there is only the iPhone EID now. Even a repairing did not fix that.

Nevermind, a phone reboot solved the issue.

 

[Senfinger]

Yes, first off the article was translated from German to English-

Secondly, 2C54 was pulled super fast because it was causing more issues than 2b58. Connections/Red Exclamations etc.

Thirdly, 2b58 fixed enough at the expense of ANC... and was worth them trying to figure out in the meantime while people assume this is as good as ANC gets. Which is working for some of y’all lol

*As stated on original firmware you could put them in your ear without music etc. or even without joining them to your phone as they default to ANC mode and you could not hear a person talking beside you or hear the snap of your own finger. Now it’s absolutely hilarious- don’t get me wrong they still are working great and better than anything out there- Including their Monster Beats Solo Pro using the same tech- however, now they are very similar- as the APP smoked them in ANC with the Orig. firmware.

One more thing that I believe proves they lowered ANC was a stricter sound test implemented in the 2b588, if you go out and research people who were updating in November were complaining about ANC Degradation and when they were re-testing they were magically failing on one ear or both... when everything was green for them in original firmware. I believe this was part of the plan.

“This is 100% per the user above-
Moreover: I own both a unit with 2b588 and a unit with 2c54. No changes at all in the ANC. The real difference is that 2B588 is way more bugged than 2c54 in terms of connection / switching mode etc.”