AirPods Max Active Noise Cancelation Confirmed to Be Less Effective After Latest Firmware Update

[MacRumors]

Apple's $550 over-ear AirPods Max headphones are less effective at blocking out outside noise when using Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) following their latest firmware update, according to results from a detailed audio test.

A recent update to testing by RTings.com reveals that the AirPods Max ANC "blocks out a bit less noise between the mid-bass to high-bass range" after the 4E71 firmware update, which was released in May. "When it comes to the mid and treble ranges, this firmware update has slightly changed the level of isolation, but it's a relatively minor difference," RTings.com said following its test.

The decrease in ANC effectiveness was highlighted in an article by The Verge last month following months of discussion and complaints from AirPods Max users on Reddit and other discussion forums.

It's unclear why Apple adjusted the ANC performance in the latest update or if it plans to restore ANC effectiveness in a future update. Apple occasionally updates the firmware on AirPods Max and other AirPods models to deploy new features, fix bugs, and tweak performance.

Apple has been providing developers with beta versions of AirPods firmware since WWDC earlier this year, with the most recent beta version having been released earlier this month, but there's no word on whether there are any changes to ANC performance in the update.

Article Link: AirPods Max Active Noise Cancelation Confirmed to Be Less Effective After Latest Firmware Update

 

[dantracht]

Sigh. That makes me want to run out and pay through the nose for these overpriced headphones that are already what, 2 years old almost? I’ll be over here enjoying my APP2 in the meantime.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Got mine a month or so ago, noticed a decreased ANC after a couple weeks.
Guess they came on the earlier firmware.
Shame really

 

[Paddle1]

Haven't they done something like this before?

 

[WilliApple]

Are there ipsw files for AirPods
(Yeah ik, its a joke)
My Pro's noise cancellation is a lot worse ever since the Pro 2's came out...

 

[WestonHarvey1]

I've never tried Active Noise Cancellation. What's so great about it? As I understand it, it can only cancel out continuous background noises like air conditioners and the drone of airplane engines and such. Do those sounds really bother people that much?

I'm bothered by people talking, honking horns, things like that. And as I understand it, ANC will help me hear those things *better* because they're removing other noise that might serve to drown those other sounds out.

 

[saudor]

Heard that one before with other headphones like Bose/Sony.

 

[Thomas Weber]

Sounds exactly like what Bose did to my Quiet Comfort II

 

[MacCurry]

The Sony XM4 is the leader in ANC.

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

Yikes. This is not good. Let’s hope that they leave the APP2’s active noise cancellation effectiveness like the way it is right now. It’s pretty solid imo.

 

[contacos]

I also feel like my AirPod Pro don’t block out S anymore. I just walked by the main station and I could hear people talk, the cars and wind and had to make sure I had noise cancellation activated (which it was)

 

[MacFan23]

I can't say I've noticed myself on the Max but hopefully this is resolved?

On the AirPods Pro however, like those in the referenced reddit thread, I always felt like it was just an issue with my pair, the noise cancelling is non existent.

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

I've never tried Active Noise Cancellation. What's so great about it? As I understand it, it can only cancel out continuous background noises like air conditioners and the drone of airplane engines and such. Do those sounds really bother people that much?

I'm bothered by people talking, honking horns, things like that. And as I understand it, ANC will help me hear those things *better* because they're removing other noise that might serve to drown those other sounds out.

No. You have two options, transparency mode or noise cancellation. Noise cancelation cancels every noise out there, you can’t even hear people talk. Now if you want to hear your music but not be completely isolated then you have transparency mode. What people are complaining is the headphones don’t work as good in noise cancelation mode, sound is leaking in.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Yep it is, I hope they can revert that ASAP

 

[bbplayer5]

The Sony XM4 is the leader in ANC.

No way. I can actually hear the noise cancelation and it makes me dizzy. Those headphones suck for me.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I wouldn't be surprised that there will be an updated firmware that restores the original ANC.

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

I can't say I noticed myself but hopefully this is resolved?

On the AirPods Pro however, like those in the referenced reddit thread, I always felt like it was just an issue with my pair, the noise cancelling is non existent.

They won’t. They were great but they changed it so unless they recognize their mistake, this is the way it is intended to be

 

[Unami]

well, here‘s another way to make the next generation look better in comparison…

 

[mgz]

I've never tried Active Noise Cancellation. What's so great about it? As I understand it, it can only cancel out continuous background noises like air conditioners and the drone of airplane engines and such. Do those sounds really bother people that much?

I'm bothered by people talking, honking horns, things like that. And as I understand it, ANC will help me hear those things *better* because they're removing other noise that might serve to drown those other sounds out.

Nope that’s not how it works. It lessens all external noise, not just continuous noises.

I think you’re thinking of the brand new AirPods Pro 2 feature of Adaptive Transparency. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210643

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

I wouldn't be surprised that there will be an updated firmware that restores the original ANC.

On the contrary. Apple did the same with the first AirPods Pro. The noise cancelation was great but then they pushed an update like this one and now it’s subpar and they never fixed it.

 

[coffeecatt]

I feel like my perception of the noise canceling on my AirPods Pro is that it got worse over time, but between mechanical issues (mics getting partially clogged, etc.), and my brain just getting used to having them on, I was never really sure. Interesting to see how non-anecdotal evidence now appears to back it up.

This definitely seems like something that could lead to a class action lawsuit if Apple doesn't explain and justify why they did this, and offer some way for users to resolve it (i.e. a setting to restore previous behaviour).

 

[Wolfmore]

Come on! it's a no big deal. A new Model is coming out soon AirPods Max 2. They had to decrease the effectiveness of the Noise Cancellation so the battery will last longer and for a better USER Experience. Just like what they did to the 1yr or older iPhones when they throttled them. 😆 Seriously BAD APPLE!!!😠

 

[Veinticinco]

Firmware "update" renders significant feature of a product less effective?

I'd laugh if it wasn't so incompetent.

Illustrates one of an increasingly long list of things rotting at the core of Apple these days.

 

[stlblufan]

I feel like my perception of the noise canceling on my AirPods Pro is that it got worse over time, but between mechanical issues (mics getting partially clogged, etc.), and my brain just getting used to having them on, I was never really sure. Interesting to see how non-anecdotal evidence now appears to back it up.

This definitely seems like something that could lead to a class action lawsuit if Apple doesn't explain and justify why they did this, and offer some way for users to resolve it (i.e. a setting to restore previous behaviour).

I completely agree with this sentiment. Imagine buying a car because it gets 500 miles per charge (or 40MPG, or whatever) and then an update comes along that reduces its range by 25%. How do we not have an option to turn off updates? This is ridiculous.

 

[Unami]

I've never tried Active Noise Cancellation. What's so great about it? As I understand it, it can only cancel out continuous background noises like air conditioners and the drone of airplane engines and such. Do those sounds really bother people that much?

I'm bothered by people talking, honking horns, things like that. And as I understand it, ANC will help me hear those things *better* because they're removing other noise that might serve to drown those other sounds out.

I only know it from my APP1, which are not supposed to be the best in this, but in cities, for example it‘s the constant background noise that gets drowned out. e.g. you can then listen to a podcast at lower levels than without it. certain frequencies (lows) get reduced more - this also applies to voices or music, so it gets quieter over all. but you‘re right, constant sounds obviously get reduced more, so you might be able to hear a conversation in the subway that you didn‘t hear before. usually, I guess, you will be using them to listen to something, so that‘s not a problem - but i‘ve also already worn mine on the street, just playing the inverted noise.