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Apple AirPods Firmware

E

Elektrofone

macrumors 65816
Jul 5, 2010
1,157
554
gwhizkids said:
You are basing all of your claims that the ANC is not as good as it was on release day on what you *read * about the early days?

That’s called hearsay. And there’s a reason courts don’t usually allow it as evidence in a trial: it’s unreliable.
Click to expand...

Also someone who's had the Airpods Pro since day one I can tell you that ANC is definitely worse now than it was when I first purchased them. For a while I was getting issues sealing no matter which size ear tip I used, I could hear low rumbling and the ear tip fit test was say to adjust or try another tip every time.

Then, I installed memory foam underneath the ear tips and that has drastically improved the fit, but at the same time I can hear only a minor difference between the "Off" setting and "Noise Cancellation" setting.

All of this is to say that I believe that there is an issue with the ear tips for some people that makes getting a good seal difficult, as well as an issue with the firmware that has degraded the ANC since the original firmware.
 
Phuz01

Phuz01

macrumors 6502
Oct 25, 2006
376
471
New York, NY
It's now been 8 weeks since Apple released firmware 2C54 and broke active noise cancellation on my AirPods Pros. Two support calls and one visit to the Apple Store later, I've been told there's nothing they can do and to wait for a firmware update. I'm not holding my breath.

What happened to Apple quality control and customer service?
 
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gwhizkids

gwhizkids

macrumors G5
Jun 21, 2013
13,312
21,491
stringerhye said:
Also someone who's had the Airpods Pro since day one I can tell you that ANC is definitely worse now than it was when I first purchased them. For a while I was getting issues sealing no matter which size ear tip I used, I could hear low rumbling and the ear tip fit test was say to adjust or try another tip every time.

Then, I installed memory foam underneath the ear tips and that has drastically improved the fit, but at the same time I can hear only a minor difference between the "Off" setting and "Noise Cancellation" setting.

All of this is to say that I believe that there is an issue with the ear tips for some people that makes getting a good seal difficult, as well as an issue with the firmware that has degraded the ANC since the original firmware.
Click to expand...
My issue isn't with someone who has actually experienced the problem. I don't doubt it exists. My problem is with people who come in here, ranting and raving about a problem they just read about (in the case of the person I was replying to). If you haven't experienced the issue first hand, you don't get to complain. Its as simple as that.
 
S

SAIRUS

macrumors 6502a
Aug 21, 2008
835
531
As someone that traveled the day after my APP arrived, and traveled subsequently every couple of months, the noise cancellation is different. Oh and I also have a 2nd pair of APP with a different firmware, and compared the difference.

This is bad...it shows poor communication from Apple and shows mismanagement of the product at a software level of management.
 
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I

IRF

macrumors member
Jan 6, 2020
34
13
Officially yes, but i guess its a cheap way of getting them replaced with new models...
 
dogg

dogg

macrumors 6502
Jul 9, 2008
369
212
Scotland
For the people that have managed to get a warranty replacement did it include the case or just the L&R AirPods? Thanks in advance.
 
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SAIRUS

macrumors 6502a
Aug 21, 2008
835
531
I was able to get just the L&R AirPods replaced, but wasn't offered the case because they were not in stock. So I got "Hey lets try this out, and if you continue to have problems, we can get the case"

I also got over the phone (before I made my trip to a store), "hey can we reset the firmware on your AirPods and lets see if that helps"

Aka this is a bad situation where employees are reading out of a manual, and have no idea what's going on.

Has anyone actually reached out to Tim or Craig and seen a response?
 
dogg

dogg

macrumors 6502
Jul 9, 2008
369
212
Scotland
SAIRUS said:
I was able to get just the L&R AirPods replaced, but wasn't offered the case because they were not in stock. So I got "Hey lets try this out, and if you continue to have problems, we can get the case"

I also got over the phone (before I made my trip to a store), "hey can we reset the firmware on your AirPods and lets see if that helps"

Aka this is a bad situation where employees are reading out of a manual, and have no idea what's going on.

Has anyone actually reached out to Tim or Craig and seen a response?
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I was just asking as I managed to get just the AirPods only. But it was for other issues they probably didn’t think I needed the case swapped going by their pre prepared Q&A script they work from ???
 
B

BalutFX

macrumors member
Sep 11, 2013
71
43
Snohomish, WA
SAIRUS said:
As someone that traveled the day after my APP arrived, and traveled subsequently every couple of months, the noise cancellation is different. Oh and I also have a 2nd pair of APP with a different firmware, and compared the difference.

This is bad...it shows poor communication from Apple and shows mismanagement of the product at a software level of management.
Click to expand...

I also travel quite a bit and agree that ANC with the original firmware was WAY better than with the updated firmware. I got a pair of replacement AirPods after the pulled firmware broke the fit test. Unfortunately, they came with the latest firmware that drastically reduced the ANC performance. Nothing changed with the hardware, so seems to me that Apple could just issue a new firmware with the original ANC performance, and most users would be satisfied. Of course no one knows why this hasn't happened already, because Apple is not saying ANYTHING.
 
dogg

dogg

macrumors 6502
Jul 9, 2008
369
212
Scotland
Think we can all say the way this has been handled is farcical at best. I don’t like the forced firmware update with zero information or notes for us consumers to make or own informed decision on whether we wish to apply the update or not. But I am positive that this has already been stated on this 22 page thread ?
 
C

chillip

macrumors 68040
Mar 16, 2013
3,248
2,853
For the record my pros seem fine with the latest firmware for ANC. And no way would Apple have a replacement program. A firmware update will come but who knows when but I also don’t have any issues.
 
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S

SAIRUS

macrumors 6502a
Aug 21, 2008
835
531
Scientifically speaking, sound is perceptive, so one would need to take the bias out of the person and automate the testing. Noise proof room, same mics etc. Even then unforeseen variables could exist. Also Apple isn't paying me to diagnose their issues, so I'll do that for my employer.

(yes that means even my statement on ANC is subject to some bias).

That said speaking logically, if we are seeing different results from same hardware specifications, from same software, and we were testing in the exact same environment, one could theorize that the hardware is the issue.

That said, there are 2 firmwares out there for supposedly 1 device configuration, now introducing a variation, meaning there is now a new state to manage. The question is, why would someone of sound mind do this, as this means more time will be needed to take into factor the variance, which means more money spent (as time is money). This is concerning.
 
Bazooka-joe

Bazooka-joe

macrumors 603
Mar 12, 2012
5,347
3,743
Swindon, England
I have to say that with my latest pair, the more i use them, the more i find the noise cancelling more than adequate. Its not as good as when we had 2B584 but once i put the second pod in my ears, i can really feel the seal kick in. Yes i can still hear people and background noise around me but once i start to play music, everything is drowned out.
 
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Y

Yaroon

macrumors newbie
Jan 24, 2020
5
7
I am amazed that after all this time, and all the complains and remarks, feedback,etc, Apple hasnt launched a new FW until now... or at least a statement of any sort... Its unlike Apples usual way of dealing with issues...
 
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Bazooka-joe

Bazooka-joe

macrumors 603
Mar 12, 2012
5,347
3,743
Swindon, England
Yaroon said:
I am amazed that after all this time, and all the complains and remarks, feedback,etc, Apple hasnt launched a new FW until now... or at least a statement of any sort... Its unlike Apples usual way of dealing with issues...
Click to expand...
As there has been no update since December, I am not so sure that Apple see this as an issue now. As you say, they are normally very quick at addressing known issues. Just look at the number of updates for iOS13. We had virtually one a week for a short period but for AirPods, we have had nothing. So perhaps Apple see 2B588 as middle ground. Reduced ANC in return for a more comfortable wear for some users that complained of issues with AirPods being too uncomfortable.
 
Duncan68

Duncan68

macrumors 6502a
Sep 22, 2018
508
381
Bazooka-joe said:
As there has been no update since December, I am not so sure that Apple see this as an issue now. As you say, they are normally very quick at addressing known issues. Just look at the number of updates for iOS13. We had virtually one a week for a short period but for AirPods, we have had nothing. So perhaps Apple see 2B588 as middle ground. Reduced ANC in return for a more comfortable wear for some users that complained of issues with AirPods being too uncomfortable.
Click to expand...

They could offer the best solution by having a slider to adjust the strength of the NC, but that would be very un-Apple-like.
 
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Y

Yaroon

macrumors newbie
Jan 24, 2020
5
7
Duncan68 said:
They could offer the best solution by having a slider to adjust the strength of the NC, but that would be very un-Apple-like.
Click to expand...

I would laugh my butt off if itll be available through a jealbreak someday - a tad wishful thinking but still..

This slider should have been there... it is nonsense that it isnt. The hardware is already there! Cant find any reason why it shouldnt be implemented.
 
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Ralfi

Ralfi

macrumors 601
Dec 22, 2016
4,373
3,101
Australia
Many people who bought the APP are new to NC, so it’s understandable Apple didn’t introduce a NC Slider.

Also, many wouldn’t find it useful anyway. For those of us who aren’t having NC issues, the simple on/off option works very well.
 
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