AirPods 4 ANC - sickness/ dizziness

[TAwoniyi]

Hi all. I'm one of those people who just can't deal with the AirPod Pro ear tips, but really want that ANC!

I last had some Sony XM3 headphones but returned due to the ANC making me feel dizzy/sick.

So the new AirPod 4's with ANC has me interested as they don't have the ear tips. But I don't want the sickness the Sony's gave me.

The question is! Do you think the AirPod 4 ANC will still cause sickness without the seal? I thought it was the pressure from the ANC that caused it, and assume these won't have the pressure without the seal. Or is it the frequencies used to cancel the sound that cause the issues?

Any info appreciated! Would love to be able to continue hearing music/podcasts when a car drives by. But likewise don't want to buy the 4's and feel sick when using the ANC. Thanks all!

 

[slippery-pete]

Hi all. I'm one of those people who just can't deal with the AirPod Pro ear tips, but really want that ANC!

I last had some Sony XM3 headphones but returned due to the ANC making me feel dizzy/sick.

So the new AirPod 4's with ANC has me interested as they don't have the ear tips. But I don't want the sickness the Sony's gave me.

The question is! Do you think the AirPod 4 ANC will still cause sickness without the seal? I thought it was the pressure from the ANC that caused it, and assume these won't have the pressure without the seal. Or is it the frequencies used to cancel the sound that cause the issues?

Any info appreciated! Would love to be able to continue hearing music/podcasts when a car drives by. But likewise don't want to buy the 4's and feel sick when using the ANC. Thanks all!

Unfortunately nobody has the answer. Maybe take some Tums/Pepto Bismol and try them out?

 

[Mackilroy]

It's the active noise canceling, lots of people experience some nausea when they try it. How long did you have your XM3s? I know some people who still occasionally get sick from them, but only briefly. I briefly did when I first got my AirPods, but it went away after a day or so.

 

[GeeDuhb]

Hi all. I'm one of those people who just can't deal with the AirPod Pro ear tips, but really want that ANC!

I last had some Sony XM3 headphones but returned due to the ANC making me feel dizzy/sick.

So the new AirPod 4's with ANC has me interested as they don't have the ear tips. But I don't want the sickness the Sony's gave me.

The question is! Do you think the AirPod 4 ANC will still cause sickness without the seal? I thought it was the pressure from the ANC that caused it, and assume these won't have the pressure without the seal. Or is it the frequencies used to cancel the sound that cause the issues?

Any info appreciated! Would love to be able to continue hearing music/podcasts when a car drives by. But likewise don't want to buy the 4's and feel sick when using the ANC. Thanks all!

Rest assured you are definitely not the only one in the exact same situation. I actually came here looking for this exact answer.

I have had the original AirPods Pro’s since shortly after launch, but the noise cancellation has always made me nauseous/given me a headache as well, so I have only ever used them in “off” and transparency modes. I have an on-ear headset at work that has ANC and I have no problem with it, so I have been hoping that the open back/lack of tips in the new AirPods 4’s might be useable for me.

I will keep my eye on this thread to see if anyone reports in who has had similar experiences, but I will probably grab a pair to try out myself at some point in the next few weeks, so I will let you know if no one else ever does.

 

[city_17]

That nausea effect is definitely annoying, I had it with my Sony XM5s too, but it has reduced now, somehow it seems you can get used to it a little (probably varies a lot for everyone)?

Going from the reviews so far, I'd expect the Airpods 4 to have quite a strong effect, several reviewers have noted this. Could be due to them having to go even harder on the anti-wave sound because they lack a seal.

Best bet is to just try them out and return if you don't like it.

 

[turbo79]

A few more data points for you. I used to get the nausea effect with Bose QC2s, but strangely not with QC35s. I also don't get the nausea effect with Airpod Pro 1s. I'll update you on the Airpod 4s when I receive them.

 

[TAwoniyi]

Unfortunately nobody has the answer. Maybe take some Tums/Pepto Bismol and try them out?

Haha that's one option! Imma need a lot to get me through all the hours of listening though!

It's the active noise canceling, lots of people experience some nausea when they try it. How long did you have your XM3s? I know some people who still occasionally get sick from them, but only briefly. I briefly did when I first got my AirPods, but it went away after a day or so.

Interesting! I gave them about a week, but mostly listened when walking. I'm annoyingly sensitive to motion sickness so maybe the movement + pressure played a part. Like you say it may just take some time for the brain to adjust to the change in pressure and movement

Rest assured you are definitely not the only one in the exact same situation. I actually came here looking for this exact answer.

I have had the original AirPods Pro’s since shortly after launch, but the noise cancellation has always made me nauseous/given me a headache as well, so I have only ever used them in “off” and transparency modes. I have an on-ear headset at work that has ANC and I have no problem with it, so I have been hoping that the open back/lack of tips in the new AirPods 4’s might be useable for me.

I will keep my eye on this thread to see if anyone reports in who has had similar experiences, but I will probably grab a pair to try out myself at some point in the next few weeks, so I will let you know if no one else ever does.

Thank you for replying! Good to know others and wondering the same thing. I had assumed the on-ear XM3's would be worse due to bigger drivers and the clamping pressure, but that doesn't stack up with your experience.

Be great to hear how you get on if you do pick up a pair, I'll report back also if I do the same. From what I'm seeing there's no hard rules here - on-ear, in-ear, manufacturer or generation of product.

That nausea effect is definitely annoying, I had it with my Sony XM5s too, but it has reduced now, somehow it seems you can get used to it a little (probably varies a lot for everyone)?

Going from the reviews so far, I'd expect the Airpods 4 to have quite a strong effect, several reviewers have noted this. Could be due to them having to go even harder on the anti-wave sound because they lack a seal.

Best bet is to just try them out and return if you don't like it.

Thanks for sharing your experience too! Think I'm trying to understand and learn how the ANC works, to understand what causes the issue - is it the clamp pressure from over/on-ear, the pressure caused from in-ear etc. And therefore would a non-sealed AirPods 4 ANC not cause the sickness. But like you say - if Apple are overcompensating the lack of seal with more intense cancelling, I definitely agree they could be worse than all other options if its the frequencies being pumped into your ears that cause the issue.

A few more data points for you. I used to get the nausea effect with Bose QC2s, but strangely not with QC35s. I also don't get the nausea effect with Airpod Pro 1s. I'll update you on the Airpod 4s when I receive them.

Interesting! Sounds like it's quite unique to individuals, and what may cause sickness for one won't do for another.

Be great to see how you get on with the 4's - please do report back! Cheers

 

[DR3MCLAREN]

Its amazing how unique it really is for people. I'm the opposite of you I guess. For me I suffer from a bit of anxiety, not enough to medicate, but enough that it can be annoying in certain situations. I have found that when I'm feeling anxious it helps to throw in my Airpod Pro 2's and turn on the noise cancel and it starts to calm me right away. So while you find they make you feel sick, they make me feel calmer. The human body is weird isn't it.

 

[batman75]

When I first got noise cancelling headphones years ago I felt that a bit too. Now I dont notice it at all.

 

[Stotka]

I had this concern too. Aipods pro would give me extreme pressure and I cant wear in ears due to them falling out just by smiling. I was exited too for the airpods4 anc cause they are open. I have just got them and on first try standing and sitting I didnt feel the same pressure. Removing them now after about 30-40m of listening I do feel a bit weird but that might be all the external noise coming back to my brain. Will need to test them out more. The sound quality is awesome!
Coming from airpods 3 and 1 before them.

 

[TAwoniyi]

Its amazing how unique it really is for people. I'm the opposite of you I guess. For me I suffer from a bit of anxiety, not enough to medicate, but enough that it can be annoying in certain situations. I have found that when I'm feeling anxious it helps to throw in my Airpod Pro 2's and turn on the noise cancel and it starts to calm me right away. So while you find they make you feel sick, they make me feel calmer. The human body is weird isn't it.

Thanks for sharing dude. I feel that - which makes the ANC so appealing, just not so much the nausea haha

P.s- GO MCLAREN!!!

When I first got noise cancelling headphones years ago I felt that a bit too. Now I dont notice it at all.

This is my hope!

I had this concern too. Aipods pro would give me extreme pressure and I cant wear in ears due to them falling out just by smiling. I was exited too for the airpods4 anc cause they are open. I have just got them and on first try standing and sitting I didnt feel the same pressure. Removing them now after about 30-40m of listening I do feel a bit weird but that might be all the external noise coming back to my brain. Will need to test them out more. The sound quality is awesome!
Coming from airpods 3 and 1 before them.

Thanks for the update and mini-review! On the one hand I'm tempted by the pros for the full ANC (but just not the silicone tips, even though I sleep with earplugs every night!). Great to see they sound good - I'm also coming from the AirPods 3 (which to me sound worse than previous gens) but also means there's more to gain from the 4's even if I end up having to turn ANC off.

Please let us know if the weird feeling persists - but hope not and hope you continue to enjoy

 

[TAwoniyi]

I got the AirPods 4 ANC version with no intention of using the ANC. I just wanted the wireless charging case. I have AirPods Pro 2 for ANC and have a different use case for the non-Pros.

I'm disliking the AirPods 4 so far. I tried the noise cancelation and found it surprisingly strong. The air pressure sensation that some people have issues with, feels even stronger than on the Pro 2 (which didn't bother me). I assume there's a lot of ANC to overcome the lack of seal.

My issue, is that even when with ANC off (Off, not Transparency) they still give a sensation of ANC being on. That mild nausea air pressure sensation. It's an odd artificial feeling similar to Transparency mode.

Maybe it's a bug, maybe I'm crazy, maybe the ANC never turns off 100%.

Copied from another thread re sickness - yikes!

 

[Simon89]

Just buy them from Apple, if you can't get on with them then just return

 

[turbo79]

I just picked mine up this morning. I tried out the noise cancelling in the store, and I'd say it cuts the ambient volume by about 50% when no music is playing. The ANC appears to be a "nice to have" but not comparable to sound isolation from an Airpod Pro 1 or 2. With ANC on, I can still hear the clack-clack of my dog's paws on the floor, the clicking of my mouse and also the keys on my keyboard as I type. Using a Nespresso machine, there is a second where the Airpods seem to "learn" the sound and then it's quietened down by about 75%. I don't feel any pressure or nausea feelings from having the ANC on.

Fit wise, they feel similar to the Airpod 3, which also fit me well. I can move around and shake my head and they don't fall out.

 

[Simon89]

For me so far I’m finding them a looser fit than the 3s which gave me ear ache after 30mins or so

 

[thadoggfather]

I just picked mine up this morning. I tried out the noise cancelling in the store, and I'd say it cuts the ambient volume by about 50% when no music is playing. The ANC appears to be a "nice to have" but not comparable to sound isolation from an Airpod Pro 1 or 2. With ANC on, I can still hear the clack-clack of my dog's paws on the floor, the clicking of my mouse and also the keys on my keyboard as I type. Using a Nespresso machine, there is a second where the Airpods seem to "learn" the sound and then it's quietened down by about 75%. I don't feel any pressure or nausea feelings from having the ANC on.

Fit wise, they feel similar to the Airpod 3, which also fit me well. I can move around and shake my head and they don't fall out.

Fit wise they feel similar but do they feel better ? Or about the same?

 

[turbo79]

Fit wise they feel similar but do they feel better ? Or about the same?

I can't compare like for like, as I gave my Airpods 3 to a family member over a year ago. I remember the Airpods 3 being comfortable, and I find the Airpods 4 comfortable too. So comparable. @Simon89 mentioned above he feels they are a little looser, which could be the case, they definitely don't feel tight in any way.

I'm loving the transparency mode -- it's the perfect office setting. I can still hear everything happening around me without feeling like I'm sitting in a bucket.

 

[city_17]

Just received them and first impressions:

- Noise cancelling nowhere near my XM5s. These Airpods 4 tone down the noise to a very acceptable level, which is nice, but never completely suppress them. Playing children across the street sound pretty much the same with or without noise cancelling.
- Noise cancelling makes me dizzy. Funnily enough when I first tried them on I thought noise cancelling was off (because I could still hear things outside), but I felt I was getting dizzy. So I checked and turned out noise cancelling was on by default. Will have to try a few days to see if this effect goes away.
- Comfort seems great, not very noticeable in my ears. But can't really judge until using for a few hours. Also most open earbuds fit fine in my ears.
- Don't have AP 1, 2 or 3, only Earpods, but bass is very much noticeable compared to those (Earpods have basically 0 base)

 

[TAwoniyi]

Just received them and first impressions:

- Noise cancelling nowhere near my XM5s. These Airpods 4 tone down the noise to a very acceptable level, which is nice, but never completely suppress them. Playing children across the street sound pretty much the same with or without noise cancelling.
- Noise cancelling makes me dizzy. Funnily enough when I first tried them on I thought noise cancelling was off (because I could still hear things outside), but I felt I was getting dizzy. So I checked and turned out noise cancelling was on by default. Will have to try a few days to see if this effect goes away.
- Comfort seems great, not very noticeable in my ears. But can't really judge until using for a few hours. Also most open earbuds fit fine in my ears.
- Don't have AP 1, 2 or 3, only Earpods, but bass is very much noticeable compared to those (Earpods have basically 0 base)

Thanks dude! Really appreciate you sharing your experience. It seems it's the ANC itself rather than ANC + the pressure caused by a seal causing the dizziness, which is what I'd feared for me.

Hope the effect goes away and you get to enjoy them and use the ANC to its limiting effect soon. Cheers

 

[Lakailb87]

Just got mine!

Never been able to use ANC headphones in the past but due to these same issues but always wanted to.

I have APP2 but can't use ANC on them.

First impressions of Airpods4. Tiny! The case feels so much smaller than Airpods3. Sounds seems to be much better.

The ANC works well, its very nice not feeling the seal from the APP2, pressure feels like less. ANC also feels less in a good way because of the non seal, you can still hear some surroundings but its the perfect amount, quiets things down instead of the much more intense APP2.

Haven't tried long enough to see if they make me dizzy but comfort wise so much better.

 

[TAwoniyi]

Just got mine!

Never been able to use ANC headphones in the past but due to these same issues but always wanted to.

I have APP2 but can't use ANC on them.

First impressions of Airpods4. Tiny! The case feels so much smaller than Airpods3. Sounds seems to be much better.

The ANC works well, its very nice not feeling the seal from the APP2, pressure feels like less. ANC also feels less in a good way because of the non seal, you can still hear some surroundings but its the perfect amount, quiets things down instead of the much more intense APP2.

Haven't tried long enough to see if they make me dizzy but comfort wise so much better.

Great news thanks for the update! Glad you like them and they’re not causing any immediate issues.

Ended up ordering some myself this morning. They’re coming tomorrow so I’ll update if I have any dizziness!

 

[Simon89]

I think I’m going to be returning mine, still cause an ache after 30mins or so of use

 

[batman75]

Got mine. Used them for over an hour today. No issues for me. I did notice the ANC at the beginning but after 10 minutes I couldn't tell I was wearing headphones.

 

[Zwhaler]

No hardcore dizziness here but I did notice a slight discomfort when the stand-up fan turned on in a small bedroom. The difference in pressure was noticeable and slightly uncomfortable but that isn't unique to the Airpods 4 ANC.

 

[Benz63amg]

I think I’m going to be returning mine, still cause an ache after 30mins or so of use

So buying the version without ANC is what you’d suggest?