How much noise should Airpods Pro block?

[BD1]

I just got my new AirPods. I am sitting in front of the TV and testing noise cancellation. I have the TV volume at normal and no music playing on the AirPods. I am switching between NC, Off, and Transparency. When I switch on NC it lowers the volume somewhat but I can still hear all the conversation very clearly. Is this normal? I was expecting more noise to be blocked based on the reviews about sitting in coffee shops and not hearing nearby conversations, etc.

Firmware is updated.

Maybe I have a set that don't work correctly or the APP only have moderate NC?

 

[seeforyourself]

A decent amount. I can't hear my air conditioner running in the background or background noise at the gym (besides slight noise of people clanking their weights). I might do a long review of it with my watch next to me to read the Decibels to see how loud the background noise can be that I don't hear.

I can listen to music with half the volume on my phone at the gym, so I can imagine it being very healthy to my ears overtime. When I play with the noise cancelation on/off, it amazes me every time.

UNFORTUNATELY I might return them because I thought the sound was going to be better on top of the noise cancelation. The sounds sound the same to me -- I cant tell much of a difference. The AirPods Pro might sound slightly better because of the noise cancelation. If I never had AirPods to begin with or my current ones broke, I'd happily spend the $250 without guilt. Now that I see not much of a difference besides the noise cancelation, I think it was foolish of me to spend the $250 JUST for that. I am most likely returning them as I said.

If my current AirPods break or I lose them, I will definitely spend the extra $100 for the pro's.

 

[BD1]

Hmmm, I haven't listened much to music but this is discouraging to read.

Thanks for the feedback....if you don't have music playing can you still hear people talking? I don't expect 100% noise blockage but sitting in front of the TV they are probably knocking down the voices about 50% while I was expecting to hear just some muffled voices....instead I clearly hear all the conversation.

 

[seeforyourself]

Hmmm, I haven't listened much to music but this is discouraging to read.

Thanks for the feedback....if you don't have music playing can you still hear people talking? I don't expect 100% noise blockage but sitting in front of the TV they are probably knocking down the voices about 50% while I was expecting to hear just some muffled voices....instead I clearly hear all the conversation.

It is muffled similar to having noise canceling ear plugs. But its obviously not too muffled. I noticed a weird glitch to where when I switched through the settings, it didn't want to register the other settings with the noise cancelation.

Did you do the sealant test over settings to see if the ones that come with it fit right? Maybe you have bigger ear requiring the bigger rubber tips that are in the box?

 

[cdames00]

I think it’s more setting expectations of noise canceling.... ANC is always going to do a better job with fans, machinery noises and such... the background noises are Easier to cancel out since they’re a consistent noise.

 

[VSMacOne]

I would try the different tips. I tried the small and large but needed up sticking with the medium. However, I could definitely tell a difference in NC and fit.

 

[chabig]

When I switch on NC it lowers the volume somewhat but I can still hear all the conversation very clearly. Is this normal?

With noise cancelled out, it's easier to hear conversation. All noise cancelling headphones work that way. Conversation is not noise. So yes it's working normally. ANC blocks sounds that can be analyzed and cancelled, like air conditioning, fan noise, refrigerator noise, engine noise, road noise, airplane noise, etc. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_noise_control

 

[AustinIllini]

I would imagine these sound pretty good with music on so you can't hear much around you, but if you turn the music off, things like snaps and voices will bleed through a bit. This is based on my experience with other Apple ANC products.

 

[jkozlow3]

With noise cancelled out, it's easier to hear conversation. All noise cancelling headphones work that way. Conversation is not noise. So yes it's working normally. ANC blocks sounds that can be analyzed and cancelled, like air conditioning, fan noise, refrigerator noise, engine noise, road noise, airplane noise, etc. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_noise_control

Agree. Bose makes some of the best noise cancelling headphones available and they don't really cancel conversation - just more constant/consistent "noise". On a plane, I can still hear announcements with the Bose QC35 over-the-ear headphones for example (albeit, everything is "fainter" sounding - some of which has to do with the fact that they are an over-the-ear style).