Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Elektrofone

macrumors 65816
Jul 5, 2010
1,033
482
Talked to a specialist and after replacing them three times I’ve pretty much given up on trying again. Hoping a software update comes to fix it
 

MJ0778

macrumors member
Jul 19, 2018
62
11
Bremen, Germany
Yesterday, I changed my tips from large to medium (which never passed the test for the last couple of weeks). I reseted the APP and try the test again and both sides passed. Not for once, every time in every position or angle. Also after a walk the test was good. So, I'm happy but much more confused!
 

Jutah

macrumors 6502a
Mar 30, 2012
923
388
One other thing regarding the internal mic. This is from The Verge:



The part in bold is true. If I listen to a track with a lot of range (bass, high, mids) and switch from Noise Cancellation Mode to "OFF", I can clearly hear the difference in sound quality. Which, again, wouldn't happen if the internal mic weren't working.

no differences at all if I listen the same track switching from the modes in a super quiet environment
 

vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
948
1,311
no differences at all if I listen the same track switching from the modes in a super quiet environment
Make sure you’re switching it from noise cancellation mode to OFF and not to transparency mode. Some tracks will make it more obvious than others. And you still need a very good ear seal, too.
 

BarrettF77

macrumors 6502a
May 24, 2015
814
1,104
My other launch day pair is now starting to fail the test I noticed. Will be getting rid of these as well. Also the right ear bud.
 

0194839

Cancelled
Dec 16, 2019
135
468
I have mine a few weeks and no issues. i believe this to be a fit question in the end. Not all ears are equal and some won’t work with the APP.

Mine worked worked perfectly for the first 3 weeks. I used them on a daily basis for an 8 hours duration. Then suddenly the APP seal test got negative results. ANC also dropped significantly in strength. So what happened? Did my ears suddenly change shape? I find that very hard to believe...
 

LostAggie

macrumors 6502a
Aug 15, 2011
510
162
Dudes, I've got the impression that you only bought them to do hourly fit tests...
WTF

Mine each time was a noticeable drop in either ANC or bass. Just annoying... I didn’t run the test after the initial one until an issue came up.
 

Elektrofone

macrumors 65816
Jul 5, 2010
1,033
482
I just did a thorough cleaning with rubbing alcohol as well as blue tack in the grills and that has seemed to restore noise cancelling functionality. We’ll see how long it lasts. But that combined with memory foam comply tips it has made the noise cancelling fantastic.
 

Otflyer

macrumors 65816
Nov 14, 2017
1,474
999
SF Bay Area
I just did a thorough cleaning with rubbing alcohol as well as blue tack in the grills and that has seemed to restore noise cancelling functionality. We’ll see how long it lasts. But that combined with memory foam comply tips it has made the noise cancelling fantastic.
You found Comply tips made for APP’s or did you modify some?
 

0x1337

macrumors newbie
Dec 22, 2019
4
2
Well long time mystery is solved for me after stringerhye's cleaning suggestions. I had the similar symptoms like everybody else that had reported after couple of days of usage there were significant problems with anc, sound quality and eartip fit test issues. Had been waiting for the next firmware update which seemed to land recenty (2C54) but was quite disappointed to realize it did not help at all. Turns out the problem was between the keyboard and the chair.

tl;dr: Simply cleaning the grills with something sticky and removing tiny dirt particules in there fixed all of the issues mentioned.

Did not need to use rubbing alcohol or anything. Could not find any blu-tack or similar sticky putty nearby. So restored some of the sticky glue from an envelope at hand and used it.

I suspect the dirt fills in the grills from my fingers while handling the airpods pro will be careful not pushing them on top of the grills going forward.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jutah and 0194839

Jutah

macrumors 6502a
Mar 30, 2012
923
388
Well long time mystery is solved for me after stringerhye's cleaning suggestions. I had the similar symptoms like everybody else that had reported after couple of days of usage there were significant problems with anc, sound quality and eartip fit test issues. Had been waiting for the next firmware update which seemed to land recenty (2C54) but was quite disappointed to realize it did not help at all. Turns out the problem was between the keyboard and the chair.

tl;dr: Simply cleaning the grills with something sticky and removing tiny dirt particules in there fixed all of the issues mentioned.

Did not need to use rubbing alcohol or anything. Could not find any blu-tack or similar sticky putty nearby. So restored some of the sticky glue from an envelope at hand and used it.

I suspect the dirt fills in the grills from my fingers while handling the airpods pro will be careful not pushing them on top of the grills going forward.

when you talk about the grills are you referring to the buds’ grills?
 

0x1337

macrumors newbie
Dec 22, 2019
4
2
Yes buds’ vent grills outside there is two vent grills on each bud. Cleaned all 4 with putty
 

0194839

Cancelled
Dec 16, 2019
135
468
Well long time mystery is solved for me after stringerhye's cleaning suggestions. I had the similar symptoms like everybody else that had reported after couple of days of usage there were significant problems with anc, sound quality and eartip fit test issues. Had been waiting for the next firmware update which seemed to land recenty (2C54) but was quite disappointed to realize it did not help at all. Turns out the problem was between the keyboard and the chair.

tl;dr: Simply cleaning the grills with something sticky and removing tiny dirt particules in there fixed all of the issues mentioned.

Did not need to use rubbing alcohol or anything. Could not find any blu-tack or similar sticky putty nearby. So restored some of the sticky glue from an envelope at hand and used it.

I suspect the dirt fills in the grills from my fingers while handling the airpods pro will be careful not pushing them on top of the grills going forward.

That’s great! If this turnes out to be the solution for the lack of ANC and negative seal test I will definitely rebuy the APP. I truly miss them.
 
Last edited:

Jutah

macrumors 6502a
Mar 30, 2012
923
388
Don’t think blue tack is the best way to clean the grill. I have they idea that kind of tape push more than pull.
Yes buds’ vent grills outside there is two vent grills on each bud. Cleaned all 4 with putty

Can you post a pic of the putty? Can’t understand or find a good translation sorry :)

Don’t think blue tack is the best way to clean the grill. I have they idea that kind of tape push more than pull.
 

vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
948
1,311
Well long time mystery is solved for me after stringerhye's cleaning suggestions. I had the similar symptoms like everybody else that had reported after couple of days of usage there were significant problems with anc, sound quality and eartip fit test issues. Had been waiting for the next firmware update which seemed to land recenty (2C54) but was quite disappointed to realize it did not help at all. Turns out the problem was between the keyboard and the chair.

tl;dr: Simply cleaning the grills with something sticky and removing tiny dirt particules in there fixed all of the issues mentioned.

Did not need to use rubbing alcohol or anything. Could not find any blu-tack or similar sticky putty nearby. So restored some of the sticky glue from an envelope at hand and used it.

I suspect the dirt fills in the grills from my fingers while handling the airpods pro will be careful not pushing them on top of the grills going forward.

Cleaning the outer grills can fix ANC quality and overall sound quality. But that’s not what made your fit test work again if it’s indeed working again...that’s just an unrelated coincidence.
 

Otflyer

macrumors 65816
Nov 14, 2017
1,474
999
SF Bay Area
Cleaning the outer grills can fix ANC quality and overall sound quality. But that’s not what made your fit test work again if it’s indeed working again...that’s just an unrelated coincidence.
I agree. Mine passed the fit test at the Apple store but, three days later and continuing to this day(4 weeks) the left passes and the right fails very time. Can’t believe the grill got dirty in three days.
 

Elektrofone

macrumors 65816
Jul 5, 2010
1,033
482
Cleaning the outer grills can fix ANC quality and overall sound quality. But that’s not what made your fit test work again if it’s indeed working again...that’s just an unrelated coincidence.
We don’t have a way to prove that. I also took some blue tack to the tips as well as the speaker grill of the airpods. All I’m saying is they’re working like new again.
 

vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
948
1,311
We don’t have a way to prove that. I also took some blue tack to the tips as well as the speaker grill of the airpods. All I’m saying is they’re working like new again.

Well we kinda do, because there’s documentation that says that the fit test only uses the inward facing mic (which is right inside the black grill where the eartips attach). So cleaning the outer ones isn’t going to change that ?
 

Elektrofone

macrumors 65816
Jul 5, 2010
1,033
482
Well we kinda do, because there’s documentation that says that the fit test only uses the inward facing mic (which is right inside the black grill where the eartips attach). So cleaning the outer ones isn’t going to change that ?

I also cleaned the inner one. As well as the ear tips grills. I believe it is either an issue with dirt/dust/oils interfering with the internal microphone of the Airpods or causing an issue with the ear tips themselves not making a proper seal.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.