iPad Pro Speakers 2020 vs. 2021?

[Artsketch]

At 20-30% volume the 2020 is definitely louder and better.

 

[Digitalguy]

I think I now understand why people think they sound different, because many don't test them (side by side) at max volume, so it is possible that the volume slider has been mapped differently to the sound levels...
Personally I only care about max volume, because that's what I use most of the time, as I want to be able to hear when I do my sport in my home gym or when I am in the kitchen doing stuff or when I am shaving etc. If I listen at night or if there is someone that could be bothered I just use airpods, hardly ever listen at half volume...

 

[Nejra]

So I made a quick comparison video for those who are interested, my phone mic probably isn’t the most ideal for recording, but you can still hear the difference in bass and clarity.

Left 2020, right 2021

 

[Digitalguy]

So I made a quick comparison video for those who are interested, my phone mic probably isn’t the most ideal for recording, but you can still hear the difference in bass and clarity.

Left 2020, right 2021

to me it seems mainly that the volume slider is not mapped the same way to the sound levels in each device… (the difference changes at different volume levels)
And, at least as far as I am concerned, the main difference I am interested in is max volume, which was not in the video
PS listened on my 2018 11in pro

 

[Nejra]

I think it’s a bit more than just the mapping, but that could certainly be part of it.
At max they sound basically the same with the 2021 sounding a bit fuller/warmer, so I didn’t bother to compare.

 

[Digitalguy]

I think it’s a bit more than just the mapping, but that could certainly be part of it.
At max they sound basically the same with the 2021 sounding a bit fuller/warmer, so I didn’t bother to compare.

Yeah, which explains why in Max Tech video they sound basically the same. Anyway interesting comparison for those that use speakers at lower volumes

 

[Artsketch]

So I made a quick comparison video for those who are interested, my phone mic probably isn’t the most ideal for recording, but you can still hear the difference in bass and clarity.

Left 2020, right 2021

Thank you very much for this comparison! Maybe at max volume the speakers are equal but nobody usual is listening at max volume. They degraded the audio quality at lower and normal volume.

 

[Digitalguy]

Thank you very much for this comparison! Maybe at max volume the speakers are equal but nobody usual is listening at max volume. They degraded the audio quality at lower and normal volume.

Nobody knows how loud most people listen to... but if nobody listened at full volume I don't know why some people attach important to, for instance pro vs air speakers. I don't buy the argument of better quality sound without the increased volume... I am convinced that a lot of people use them at full volume, at least sometimes... Personally, I actually wish the pro had higher volume, and I notice this when I switch from my Tabs S7+ which is louder and fuller...

 

[Wags]

Timmy Boy must need the cash, heard his doing it hard lately, had to cut cost somewhere I guess.

Yes. Apple designs their devices to the cents for maximum profit. Unfortunately, seems they choose B or C over A to save cents instead of better quality. I have not heard the new IPP. Apple has done something different just based on the speaker holes and comments.