Oh, I totally understand the phenomenon of not noticing an issue or going looking for one after reading it on forums, but in this case its really pronounced and I've been using them nearly every day for running since launch. I do have a bit of a cold so maybe its that? I've always noticed it faintly when walking on certain surfaces which is fine, but the running noise is doing my head in!
Check the other thread with firmware issues. There’s at least two ongoing theories about what’s wrong with the ANC.
One is the firmware. The other is the very fine mesh on the APPs, it gets blocked easily, resulting in an amplified low frequency rumble/stomping. Bone conducting sounds come back with a vengeance. It gets worse than regular passive in-ears, I’ve had many.
By amplified I mean this: my car engine sounds louder with ANC on. The subwoofer register does. Especially the right side, which gets blocked faster (see below).
To me it seems like a design glitch. I’ve had 3 pairs of APPs and each one went worse after a week of use.
Cleaning the grills with clean Blu-Tack helps. For a day or few.
I keep my ears clean. But I sleep with my APPs on. More on the right ear. And so the right side APP gets worse quicker.
I just hope the new firmware would somehow make the mesh blocking less of a parameter in what the ANC does. Because the mesh design they can’t fix over the air.
If not, I’ll replace these once more on warranty and sell them off, maybe trying again next year.
I use my Bose NC700s as a benchmark. When new, APPs sound good enough to stand up against the Boses when driving. Also with new replacements, they do. But after a week, the engine rumble and road bumps become annoyingly loud and each time I’ve reverted to Boses for long commuting.
There will be people who don’t notice any difference. Try replacing them on warranty, the replacements are better. For a while. Compare them against good over-the-ear ANC when new, and then after a month. There will be a difference, unless you’re happy with a potato as a headphone.
Like said, I’ve replaced them twice, so by now I have plenty of before/after experience to make an observation. The support does acknowledge a firmware fix that’s upcoming, so they recommended I don’t do a third replacement, but wait instead. So I will. Hope it helps.