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Scarpad

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jan 13, 2005
2,152
655
Ma
I picked up a pair from the Verizon sale but I’m sending them back . First off using any of the special modes , mouse cancelling or transparency yields and audible squeal or whine, not there in the off modes. The buds themselves I did not like the fit with the various tips, and the sound quality was middling

in a way I liked the originals better. Very disappointed
 
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Ralfi

macrumors 601
Dec 22, 2016
4,373
3,101
Australia
yields and audible squeal or whine, not there in the off modes
This is not normal. May have been unlucky with a faulty pair.

The buds themselves I did not like the fit with the various tips
Fair enough, so long as you give your ears a couple of weeks to adjust - it can be like breaking in a new pair of shoes.

and the sound quality was middling
Fair enough. Keep in mind though, if the fit isn’t good, then the sound won’t be. & if they were in fact a faulty pair, then your listening experience may have been compromised by multiple factors.

Ideally, you want to test out each Tip size extensively over the trial period of 14 days, with a non-faulty pair of course.
 
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PutTheFBackIn

macrumors member
May 10, 2016
98
843
I’m not sold on them either. But it’s for different reasons than you.

I’m fine with the sound quality. What kills them for me is the inability to change the volume without using the phone itself or asking Siri. Music is too fluid to stay on one volume level all the time. I have to change it a lot and having no gesture support gets old fast.

But even more than that... I’ve finally come to the realization that I cannot tolerate earbuds that jam into the ear. It’s way too invasive and uncomfortable. This is where I think Bose wins out. Their Stay-Hear tips are a Godsend. Unfortunately, they dropped the ball with their first true wireless buds. They have a lot to do to win the confidence back of a large part of their fanbase.
 
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MrInquestador

macrumors regular
Nov 14, 2015
229
52
I picked up a pair from the Verizon sale but I’m sending them back . First off using any of the special modes , mouse cancelling or transparency yields and audible squeal or whine, not there in the off modes. The buds themselves I did not like the fit with the various tips, and the sound quality was middling

in a way I liked the originals better. Very disappointed
Oh Sir, they are night and day different. The Airpods Pro being inexplicably far superior in so many ways.
 
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Duncan68

macrumors 6502a
Sep 22, 2018
508
381
I’m not sold on them either. But it’s for different reasons than you.

I’m fine with the sound quality. What kills them for me is the inability to change the volume without using the phone itself or asking Siri. Music is too fluid to stay on one volume level all the time. I have to change it a lot and having no gesture support gets old fast.

Yes, it's another damn gadget to buy, but if you have an Apple Watch, you can use the crown to adjust volume.
 

zhenya

macrumors 604
Jan 6, 2005
6,931
3,681
Whine is not normal. Mine are silent when music is off.

Sound quality is dependent on a good seal. When that occurs, sound quality is excellent - far better than middling. They easily stand their own compared to many of my much more expensive stand-alone headphones.
 

Maurier

macrumors regular
Jun 8, 2010
151
57
I just got a pair of airpods pro and when playing music on youtube music , if I skip forward by double pressing the stem it starts playing music on Apple music lol?
 

Ralfi

macrumors 601
Dec 22, 2016
4,373
3,101
Australia
I just got a pair of airpods pro and when playing music on youtube music , if I skip forward by double pressing the stem it starts playing music on Apple music lol?
They’re not refined when it comes to YouTube. For eg. since I can remember, I can’t pause a YouTube video & then unpause it straight away...I always need to wait a minute or so before it let’s me unpause it.
 

PutTheFBackIn

macrumors member
May 10, 2016
98
843
Yes, it's another damn gadget to buy, but if you have an Apple Watch, you can use the crown to adjust volume.

Well that’s good to know. I haven’t pulled the trigger on an Apple Watch yet. But if/when I do, I’m still going to avoid the Airpods because of the discomfort of having buds inside my ear.
 

lpolarityl

macrumors 6502a
Dec 1, 2009
520
327
Ohio
Just recently bought a pair of the Pro's and think they are very good. No issues to report here. My only complaint is that I wish they were $199 instead of $249, but I got them for $230 thanks to price matching Amazon. They are definitely miles better than the base AirPods (IMO).
 

nrvna76

macrumors 65816
Aug 4, 2010
1,243
1,268
Definitely enjoy mine way better than the originals. My wife doesn’t like the feeling of the noise cancelling and they fall out of her ears often. Such a personal device will have different results..
 
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akdj

macrumors 65816
Mar 10, 2008
1,190
89
62.88°N/-151.28°W
I’m not sold on them either. But it’s for different reasons than you.

I’m fine with the sound quality. What kills them for me is the inability to change the volume without using the phone itself or asking Siri. Music is too fluid to stay on one volume level all the time. I have to change it a lot and having no gesture support gets old fast.

But even more than that... I’ve finally come to the realization that I cannot tolerate earbuds that jam into the ear. It’s way too invasive and uncomfortable. This is where I think Bose wins out. Their Stay-Hear tips are a Godsend. Unfortunately, they dropped the ball with their first true wireless buds. They have a lot to do to win the confidence back of a large part of their fanbase.

I had issue with this too until the AirPods lol. Just too convenient. I’m on series 1.5 (second gen no charging case), considering the Pros
From the reviews I’ve been reading a couple the comments in this thread don’t sound right.
I understand if you’re unable to find a quality seal but if that’s the case you weren’t able to use the 1 or 2nd gen AirPods either, right?
I’ve listened to a friends and was floored by the sound quality difference, didn’t experience any thumbs or ringing during passive or active cancellation. Nor any of the other issues I’ve read.
I’m waiting to see what a couple other brands have in mind and whether Apple will allow that H1 (sp? S1? Don’t remember, Bluetooth on steroids;)) to be licensed and/or used by other companies like B&W, Sony, Grado or the Sennheisers or the world.
If so, w/AP2’s near immediate hookup and reconnect to other devices or disconnect for priority devices (vehicles etc) - would be a game changer. I also AM still very happy with my battery life. Honestly though, I don’t think there’s a comparison between the two sound quality wise. The Pro earns its nickname for a reason and they demolish the SQ of rounds 1 & 2.
 

Ralfi

macrumors 601
Dec 22, 2016
4,373
3,101
Australia
I understand if you’re unable to find a quality seal but if that’s the case you weren’t able to use the 1 or 2nd gen AirPods either, right?
Not necessarily. They’re a completely different design, so if 1/2 AirPods didn’t fit, it doesn’t mean these won’t. Most people who couldn’t get the 1/2 to fit are happy with the Pro fit.

I’ve listened to a friends and was floored by the sound quality difference, didn’t experience any thumbs or ringing during passive or active cancellation. Nor any of the other issues I’ve read.
You’re lucky to’ve been able to demo them before buying. The fit’s the most important thing. Seems they were made for you. ?

to be licensed and/or used by other companies like B&W, Sony, Grado or the Sennheisers or the world.
The H1 chip is an Apple exclusive. It’s got as much chance as being open-sourced as their A13 chip....ie. none. Other companies need to catch up with their own chips.
 

Rocko99991

macrumors 68000
Jul 25, 2017
1,574
2,193
I returned the Pro. No bass and sound wasn't good. Liked the ANC but much prefer the Airpod 2 sound.
 

jterp7

macrumors 65816
Oct 26, 2011
1,292
161
the bass is much improved over the airpod1/2 but yes the current PBP will absolutely destroy it on bass if thats what youre looking for
 
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Ralfi

macrumors 601
Dec 22, 2016
4,373
3,101
Australia
I returned the Pro. No bass and sound wasn't good. Liked the ANC but much prefer the Airpod 2 sound.
? Did you give them a fair test, with all tip sizes? General consensus is that they’ve improved audio over gen 1/2.

Maybe they didn’t fit as well as the earlier AirPods, which could be why they lacked bass etc.
 

jterp7

macrumors 65816
Oct 26, 2011
1,292
161
? Did you give them a fair test, with all tip sizes? General consensus is that they’ve improved audio over gen 1/2.

Maybe they didn’t fit as well as the earlier AirPods, which could be why they lacked bass etc.

Yea like the pbp, these require a good seal to get proper bass. For the pbp i had to use the large tips to get that seal, while with the app the medium passes the test for me
 
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Rocko99991

macrumors 68000
Jul 25, 2017
1,574
2,193
? Did you give them a fair test, with all tip sizes? General consensus is that they’ve improved audio over gen 1/2.

Maybe they didn’t fit as well as the earlier AirPods, which could be why they lacked bass etc.
Yes I did. Tight seal. Some of the range-mid to highs-is improved to the 1/2, but the bottom end was not there.
 

Ralfi

macrumors 601
Dec 22, 2016
4,373
3,101
Australia
Yes I did. Tight seal. Some of the range-mid to highs-is improved to the 1/2, but the bottom end was not there.
I’m curious - is there a specific track you can recommend to test this? I can have a go at comparing them since I have both the v1 AirPods & Pros here.
 
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