Why would a firmware update affect the seal?
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Apple AirPods Firmware
- Thread starter whoisyourdaddy
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Why would a firmware update affect the seal?
NC still as good as it was under the prior "pulled" firmware (which was fine by me).
I think "Hey Siri" is more responsive - she seems to answer with less delay (& says "just a tick"/"one moment please" prior to completing her task less often). Anyone else find this?
I think "Hey Siri" is more responsive - she seems to answer with less delay (& says "just a tick"/"one moment please" prior to completing her task less often). Anyone else find this?
The ear tips aren't so fragile really. You can pop them off and clean them with alcohol or soapy water or whatever and it's not going to hurt anything.
I installed the new update and zero different, ANC is the same as before and sounds the same
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if anything the ANC seems worse
It really does sound like a downgrade to me. Trying to listen to a podcast while husband is watching TV. TV is same level as usual but I can’t focus on my podcast at all because all the voices are still poking through where before I didn’t hear them. Noooooo.. ? I originally didn’t even follow this firmware thing, didn’t know it existed in the early days, and I noticed the differences in my earphones then, so much I returned them. I would still definitely notice this even without this knowledge. Something has changed. I wish they attached notes. Tomorrow I will clean them and make sure it’s not just dirt and gunk and wear them a few hours. Thus concludes my “feels like” review.
Thoughts on the new 2D15 firmware using AirPods Pro after 3 hours using outside.
ANC on / Music off
- High pitched sounds, including bird chimes, people talking, can't be reduced and can be heard very clearly within a 2 meter radius.
ANC on/ Music on
- Slightly better music playback
- ANC slightly better at blocking the aforesaid sounds
- You still need more than 50% volume to notice the above two improvements
(Compared with 2C54 firmware)
- Still worse than the initial firmware at release.
Yes, the feeling of noticeable inner pressure is gone, but at the cost of worse ANC.
ANC on / Music off
- High pitched sounds, including bird chimes, people talking, can't be reduced and can be heard very clearly within a 2 meter radius.
ANC on/ Music on
- Slightly better music playback
- ANC slightly better at blocking the aforesaid sounds
- You still need more than 50% volume to notice the above two improvements
(Compared with 2C54 firmware)
- Still worse than the initial firmware at release.
Yes, the feeling of noticeable inner pressure is gone, but at the cost of worse ANC.
Because the seal test is still there and although our pods may be fine, having the phone tell you you’re AirPods aren’t working properly is messed up.
The ANC is very good. If anything, it’s improved.
Bass is still solid & clean.
Hey Siri’s better.
Good update.
........
I got curious, so did an Ear tip fit test...
The Ear Tip Fit test for me returned my first Orange “Adjust or try a different Ear Tip” (on prior firmwares, I’d get green on all 3 sizes).
& I then got 3 more Orange results. Then got a L:Orange, R:Green result.
The fit is very secure, so I didn’t believe the results.
For laughs, I shook my head very fast, thinking it’d loosen them more & the test would fail.
Next test...L-R:Green (they didn’t feel as if they’d loosened – proving my thoughts of them being a good fit).
Then a few more L:Orange/R:Green results, L-R:Green.
It’s flakey for sure...
Bass is still solid & clean.
Hey Siri’s better.
Good update.
........
I got curious, so did an Ear tip fit test...
The Ear Tip Fit test for me returned my first Orange “Adjust or try a different Ear Tip” (on prior firmwares, I’d get green on all 3 sizes).
& I then got 3 more Orange results. Then got a L:Orange, R:Green result.
The fit is very secure, so I didn’t believe the results.
For laughs, I shook my head very fast, thinking it’d loosen them more & the test would fail.
Next test...L-R:Green (they didn’t feel as if they’d loosened – proving my thoughts of them being a good fit).
Then a few more L:Orange/R:Green results, L-R:Green.
It’s flakey for sure...
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I bought a second pair after the first was updated to 2C54. So I have had both 2B588 and 2C54 for a couple of months now using the 2C54 when the 2B588 is out of battery. I can instantly tell the difference. Both were updated to 2D15 today.
Unfortunately 2D15 is as bad as 2C54 when it comes to ANC. The difference is that body internal sounds like creaking joints, footfalls when walking and heartbeats are not cancelled in the newer firmwares.
It's driving me crazy, I use ANC without music to be able concentrate. I like the out of body feeling it usually gives. At least my QuietComfort 20 are still working properly.
Both pairs of AirPods are useless to me now.
Unfortunately 2D15 is as bad as 2C54 when it comes to ANC. The difference is that body internal sounds like creaking joints, footfalls when walking and heartbeats are not cancelled in the newer firmwares.
It's driving me crazy, I use ANC without music to be able concentrate. I like the out of body feeling it usually gives. At least my QuietComfort 20 are still working properly.
Both pairs of AirPods are useless to me now.
I really take exception to all these claims that ANC is “ruined” under any of the firmware releases. At best, the differences are extremely small. In the past week I’ve had my original set on 2C54 replaced under warranty for the rattling issue with a set on 2B588 which were yesterday updated to 2D15. As I’ve mentioned here repeatedly, my Covid at-home office has me working next to a small space heater 8-10 hours/day which is a perfect test for white noise, surrounded by a large at-home family which is a perfect test for footfalls, voices etc. I’ve also been listening critically/reviewing headphones for 20+ years.
At most, there is an extremely small difference in NC between these. My immediate impression was that 2D15 is a small but noticeable improvement in NC over the previous two firmwares I’d used immediately previously. However any difference is tiny in comparison to achieving a good seal by a) choosing the right size tip and b) fitting it properly which involves a bit of a twist to seat the tip in the ear canal. Without a good seal, all bets are off.
I will again point out that there is ZERO actual data that backs up the subjective, hyperbolic claims that are being repeated here that NC has been “ruined”. I also have a set of over-ear Sony WH-1000xm3’s I have compared these with side by side, and the Airpods are really close to the Sony’s - which are among the best you can get at any price for NC. So yeah, decidedly NOT ruined.
At most, there is an extremely small difference in NC between these. My immediate impression was that 2D15 is a small but noticeable improvement in NC over the previous two firmwares I’d used immediately previously. However any difference is tiny in comparison to achieving a good seal by a) choosing the right size tip and b) fitting it properly which involves a bit of a twist to seat the tip in the ear canal. Without a good seal, all bets are off.
I will again point out that there is ZERO actual data that backs up the subjective, hyperbolic claims that are being repeated here that NC has been “ruined”. I also have a set of over-ear Sony WH-1000xm3’s I have compared these with side by side, and the Airpods are really close to the Sony’s - which are among the best you can get at any price for NC. So yeah, decidedly NOT ruined.
^but you have not compared between the original firmware and latter ones, either? At least you just list the ”bad” ones (I have not tried the latest one yet, mind).
I’ll give some benefit to the claims that cleaning the grilles is part of the solution, blu-tack method improved ANC noticeably on mine.
I’ll give some benefit to the claims that cleaning the grilles is part of the solution, blu-tack method improved ANC noticeably on mine.
& also to explain my working conditions - I’m a technician, surrounded by telecommunications gear, in rooms that have suites full of 2m high racks filled with equipment cooled by many fans running all day.
I’m just as impressed with this firmware as I was with the initial firmware I used (second overall) re: ANC.
The other great test is lawn mowing, which I’ll eventually get to & report any changes...
Posted just now on 9to5Mac https://9to5mac.com/2020/05/06/airpods-pro-issue-crackling/ I don't have the issues other have but this could help.
I also had the original firmware which of course has not been available for quite some time. My reason for not believing it has appreciably changed is that I also compared that firmware closely with the Sony’s and my impressions haven’t really changed much over time. Also, the only site that has published any kind of objective data (rtings) is on record saying they did not find any differences between the original firmware and 2b588.
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Apple has confirmed in this support doc https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211147 that clogged vents (which basically almost always also results in a failed tip test too) can reduce bass response and impact ANC performance. So the issue is real, it's just that I think the vast majority of people complaining about firmware killing ANC are actually having this issue instead and difference in performance in one firmware vs. another is likely just placebo. Cleaning the grills with blue tack does make a huge difference for me. The vents thing is real enough for Apple to acknowledge and post a support doc on it and unfortunately just poor design choice by them.
No ANC can silence the body’s internal sounds such as heartbeats and (in my case) a clicking neck. If the outer microphone can’t hear it then there is nothing for ANC to cancel. In fact the more internal sounds you can hear the better the isolation is working.
The EXTERNAL mic listens to the noise and generates an alternate signal to cancel it out. The noise has to be outside and consistent for it to be effective and above a certain dB range.
My impression after a day of use is that transparency mode is improved. Previously it sounded extra-amplified. Today it the outside world sounds closer to its actual volume in this mode.