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Apple AirPods Firmware

I noticed the bass profile changed and NC had improved...I thought it was my imagination. I didn't even realize there was firmware update until just now.

- Transparency mode is more natural (although even before, it was fantastic)
- Bass is better, rest of the range feels unchanged to me
- NC is better for constant noise (fans), not sure about other noises as I haven't tested enough

I am using some memory foam ear tips (before and after firmware update) so that may impact my experience. I'm also using relatively new AirPods as I just had mine replaced. Nice work Apple.
 
tosbsas said:
How do you clean them without bluetac - Scotch tape? Masking tape?
Click to expand...
Those might be ok. The reason bluetac works is that it can ooze into the grill and grab "stuff". Typical adhesives will have limited penetrating power.
 
Relatively new to AirPods Pro. I was on B288 until today. For the last few days I have been using the small buds. Now on the D release when I run the eartip test the phone says Left is an amber fit. If I adjust Left it then says Right Is an amber fit etc etc. If I go to the medium buds I get green fits. ANC is excellent and music sounds fuller than I remember on any size bud before. Perfect. I hope Apple stop updating Airpods Pro firmware now and concentrate their efforts on new products.
 
GBstoic said:
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.
Click to expand...

Sorry, that’s wrong. There are more mics than the external one.
And the ANC on the AirPods does cancel body sounds. Clearly. Anyone used to in-ear phones can confirm that. Your own footsteps are an obvious example.
 
strikereg said:
Sorry, that’s wrong. There are more mics than the external one.
And the ANC on the AirPods does cancel body sounds. Clearly. Anyone used to in-ear phones can confirm that. Your own footsteps are an obvious example.
Click to expand...

If you say so! But for my own peace of mind please confirm which mic picks up my heartbeat? Also which mic picks up my clicky neck? If you are right I need to log a fault.
 
GBstoic said:
If you say so! But for my own peace of mind please confirm which mic picks up my heartbeat? Also which mic picks up my clicky neck? If you are right I need to log a fault.
Click to expand...

Can 100% confirm that APPs Block body sounds (quite effectively). Just switching off ANC (not to transparency) makes footsteps, heartbeat, etc. signficantly louder.

ANC of body sounds and low frequencies is limited when the inner microphones that touch your ear (the black ones) are gunked up with earwax, because it’s their job to pick up these internal sounds and low frequencies transmitted through your body. Try cleaning them with bluetack, sticky tape... worked for me.
 
GBstoic said:
If you say so! But for my own peace of mind please confirm which mic picks up my heartbeat? Also which mic picks up my clicky neck? If you are right I need to log a fault.
Click to expand...

Your ears pick those sounds from bone and tissue conduction.

The internal mics can do the same (FYI there’s one that sits on the concha and other inside the ear canal).
 
Apple says there is one internal mic. If that can pick up a heart beat and ANC it before I hear it then the APPs can time travel. The APPs are brilliant but I’m not convinced they can do that. Final comment from me on this topic.
 
sft109 said:
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.
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This is a big development for those who have been having ANC issues. More than a few condescending forum members had told us that we were just imagining things. The most egregious posts even claimed we were intentionally making it up.

Unfortunately, the support doc basically gives Apple an excuse not to issue replacements. They can simply say, "Ain't our fault, your AirPods are just dirty."

But at least we now we have proof that the issues with ANC are real. In Apple's own words. We weren't imagining anything.
 
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japanime said:
This is a big development for those who have been having ANC issues. More than a few condescending forum members had told us that we were just imagining things. The most egregious posts even claimed we were intentionally making it up.

Unfortunately, the support doc basically gives Apple an excuse not to issue replacements. They can simply say, "Ain't our fault, your AirPods are just dirty."

But at least we now we have proof that the issues with ANC are real. In Apple's own words. We weren't imagining anything.
Click to expand...
Most of the posts I’ve read only pointed out the obvious saying there’s no actual PROOF saying 2C54 didn’t ruin anything.
As for the other issues, there’s only suggestions to clean up the AirPods Pro with a Blutak or something and don’t remember seeing anyone telling “it’s just your imagination”. The same thing Apple said. Unless I missed something?!
 
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japanime said:
This is a big development for those who have been having ANC issues. More than a few condescending forum members had told us that we were just imagining things. The most egregious posts even claimed we were intentionally making it up.

Unfortunately, the support doc basically gives Apple an excuse not to issue replacements. They can simply say, "Ain't our fault, your AirPods are just dirty."

But at least we now we have proof that the issues with ANC are real. In Apple's own words. We weren't imagining anything.
Click to expand...

Honestly I have to clean mine daily with blue tack if I wear them for a few hours otherwise they immediately clog and I get reduced bass. So annoying. Happens more in one ear than the other but if let both go uncleaned for a while they both eventually fail tip test and lose all bass. Clean them and good as new. I love these things when they work well, they’re amazing. But I don’t want to clean them with Blu tack every few hours of use. That’s ridiculous. No other in ear I’ve ever had (and Ive had a lot) needs this level of attention. Maybe I have extra waxy/oily ears but so what, that should have been considered when designing them.

Ive replaced them so many times that it’s not worth it anymore. The same thing occurs no matter what. If I could return them for a refund I would. Hopefully the Gen 2’s fix this, I will sell mine immediately if so.
 
CoronaOnTap said:
Most of the posts I’ve read only pointed out the obvious saying there’s no actual PROOF saying 2C54 didn’t ruin anything.
As for the other issues, there’s only suggestions to clean up the AirPods Pro with a Blutak or something and don’t remember seeing anyone telling “it’s just your imagination”. The same thing Apple said. Unless I missed something?!
Click to expand...

If anything, Apple's support doc bolsters what several here have said: it’s not the firmware. Now one can argue as to whether the design is faulty or not, but that is not what the diehards in this thread have been claiming for nearly 3 months.
 
sft109 said:
Honestly I have to clean mine daily with blue tack if I wear them for a few hours otherwise they immediately clog and I get reduced bass. So annoying. Happens more in one ear than the other but if let both go uncleaned for a while they both eventually fail tip test and lose all bass. Clean them and good as new. I love these things when they work well, they’re amazing. But I don’t want to clean them with Blu tack every few hours of use. That’s ridiculous. No other in ear I’ve ever had (and Ive had a lot) needs this level of attention. Maybe I have extra waxy/oily ears but so what, that should have been considered when designing them.

Ive replaced them so many times that it’s not worth it anymore. The same thing occurs no matter what. If I could return them for a refund I would. Hopefully the Gen 2’s fix this, I will sell mine immediately if so.
Click to expand...
Do you get that much wax from your ears?
Every few hours?
 
The ear fit test is failing for me every single time and yes, I have tried all of the various troubleshooting steps and I am still having this issue! I didn't have this issue when the AirPods Pro was 1st released in Oct 2019 with the initial firmware version.

The troubleshooting steps I have tried:
  • clean it with a dry cotton swab on the top grill
  • reset the AirPods Pro
  • trying other sized ear tips
Thoughts?
 
vine-boating said:
Do you get that much wax from your ears?
Every few hours?
Click to expand...

Not wax no. I clean my ears daily with cotton swabs too. But I have oily skin so I think it’s that more than wax.
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anshuvorty said:
The ear fit test is failing for me every single time and yes, I have tried all of the various troubleshooting steps and I am still having this issue! I didn't have this issue when the AirPods Pro was 1st released in Oct 2019 with the initial firmware version.

The troubleshooting steps I have tried:
  • clean it with a dry cotton swab on the top grill
  • reset the AirPods Pro
  • trying other sized ear tips
Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Blu Tack. That’s what works for me and most people. Dry cotton swabs don’t do anything for the vents. Also don’t use alcohol on the vents.
 
I compared the APP with the new firmware to my wife’s Bose QC 35’s last night, and the APP’s were actually better at reducing things like TV noise and speech. That was something I was not expecting at all. The noise from the fans that I keep by my desk and my bed is also reduced further from 2C54. I can’t imagine how good the initial firmware must have been, because I’m very pleased with the firmware we have right now. I hate to hear that others are having far less positive experiences.
 
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I have had the AirPods 2, Powerbeats Pro, and AirPods Pro all since the day they released.

before with 2C54, I would rank them sound wise:
1. Powerbeats pro
2. AirPods Gen 2
3. AirPods Pro

With 2D15:
1. Powerbeats Pro/AirPods Pro
2. AirPods Gen 2

the APP are now producing decent sound and I don’t have to listen at almost full volume to hear bass.
 
RE: that internal microphone...You can tell, visually, that its vent gets clogged up. Whether it impacts things greatly is another thing.

But as a suggestion, here’s something you can use to unclog them - you know the sticky globs of ‘stuff’ that’s used to adhere a new credit card to paper when you receive a new card in the mail...I have no idea what it’s called, but I think that may work well to rip out the dust/wax build up.

I’m going to try it the next time I track some down.

(I just tried sticky tape & electrical tape, but it didn’t really work....maybe less than a quarter of the holes were cleared).
 
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GBstoic said:
Apple says there is one internal mic. If that can pick up a heart beat and ANC it before I hear it then the APPs can time travel. The APPs are brilliant but I’m not convinced they can do that. Final comment from me on this topic.
Click to expand...

It's not time travel and doesn't defy the principles of causation. But speakers and mics are minimum phase devices that react in real time. So yes it can do that

huanbrother said:
Yes, the feeling of noticeable inner pressure is gone, but at the cost of worse ANC.
Click to expand...

Yep - they have to be tamer at isolating bass and how that transitions to the non ANC range. The Bose 700's also does this. The Sony XM3's don't - and as a result have better bass ANC. I wish they'd give you a configurable ANC value like Bose do with the 700 range. So those that wasn't maximum and don't care about suck can. (https://www.soundstagesolo.com/index.php/features/178-eardrum-suck-the-mystery-solved)


sft109 said:
Honestly I have to clean mine daily with blue tack if I wear them for a few hours otherwise they immediately clog and I get reduced bass. So annoying. Happens more in one ear than the other but if let both go uncleaned for a while they both eventually fail tip test and lose all bass. Clean them and good as new. I love these things when they work well, they’re amazing. But I don’t want to clean them with Blu tack every few hours of use. That’s ridiculous. No other in ear I’ve ever had (and Ive had a lot) needs this level of attention. Maybe I have extra waxy/oily ears but so what, that should have been considered when designing them.

Ive replaced them so many times that it’s not worth it anymore. The same thing occurs no matter what. If I could return them for a refund I would. Hopefully the Gen 2’s fix this, I will sell mine immediately if so.
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat with oil produced by my skin. You might be cleaning your APP's but just make it a regular thing to clean your lobes. I find wet wipes work wonders. That way not so much gunk will make it into the grills and they'll need cleaning far less frequently
 
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I had 2C54, then replacements with 2B588, and now 2D15. I do feel the ANC is improved. My treadmill is SUPER LOUD and I finally can’t hear it again. I was able to hear it though 2C54 and 2B588. The only thing I hear is when I get too close to the side and it makes a loud squeal but that seems normal to me. I can’t hear my footsteps pounding which has been my test for each version. The music quality seems better but I’m not an expert audiophile. For what it’s worth I have never had a crackling issue with my APP.
 
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