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

[syklee26]

Just for a sec I thought about switching from my B&O H95 to APM. Forget it. I will stick with my B&O

 

[Unami]

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

if they get called out by scientific measurements and the them following media attention, they are more likely to change it back.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Hey Apple here's an idea: How about no more automatic hidden firmware updates? How about Airpods firmware updates be treated through an App or in Settings just like the Apple Watch is?

 

[coffeecatt]

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!!!😠

I mean, I'd be all for this if they gave me a free pair of the new model when they broke my old one.

 

[Andronicus]

The Sony XM4 is the leader in ANC.

They’re definitely up there. I would say just slightly under Bose, but not by much. I give the QC45’s the slight edge in ANC and comfort and XM4’s the edge in sound quality.

 

[antiprotest]

Not so Max anymore.

 

[Ceecephous]

Right in time, guys, time to replace em. Thanks Tim Cook!

 

[t0rqx]

What a coincidence all this degrading happening. I bet the Airpods Max 2 is imminent with better ANC (which restores original levels ANC as the Airpods Max 1).

Good marketing strategies.

Forced Upgrades. ANC-Gate. Almost all devices have had their gates implemented near imminent releases. Upcoming: AR-gate.

 

[Apple$]

New model incoming?

 

[jonnysods]

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)

It may be anecdotal but I feel the same way about mine. I had to check my phone to make sure it wasn't in transparency mode. I've been less impressed the past month or so.

 

[anthogag]

I have blue AirPods Max with 4E71. To me it seems like when I put on the Max it takes a few seconds for noise cancellation to do its job. The max is real-time, baby.

 

[Seanm87]

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.

You can hear a lot more detail in the music, even if you're not in a particularly noisy environment.

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

Second gen. AirPods Max press release in 3, 2, 1… 🚀. “Up to 2 times better ANC!” - Tim Cook

 

[StG]

I can’t say that I’m mad about this. When I first got these, ANC was kind of uncomfortable. I can’t say if I just got used to it or the firmware was updated, but it still works great and feels less like my head is in a vice.

 

[evertjr]

The APP2 is nearly unusable because the audio drifting and spatial audio issues, we are still waiting for a fix and they are sure taking their time.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

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.

[COMMENT REMOVED BY ME]

 

[DMG35]

Theory: Apple lowers the AirPods Max active noise cancelling so that when the upcoming AirPods Max 2 come out they can say that they are 20% more effective at Noise cancellation.

I believe that is what is occurring here.

 

[CyberDavis]

I really like my AirPod Max headphones, I’ve had Bose Quiet Comfort and Bower’s & Wilkins headphones and the Max are my favourites.
The sound quality is superb, and even with the latest updates I find the active noise cancellation to be excellent.
I use mine at home, on the train, on the underground and when flying and am very pleased with them.
Not cheap to be sure, but I feel the quality of construction and sound quality made it worthwhile.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

I really like my AirPod Max headphones, I’ve had Bose Quiet Comfort and Bower’s & Wilkins headphones and the Max are my favourites.
The sound quality is superb, and even with the latest updates I find the active noise cancellation to be excellent.
I use mine at home, on the train, on the underground and when flying and am very pleased with them.
Not cheap to be sure, but I feel the quality of construction and sound quality made it worthwhile.

This.

In my personal experience, noise cancellation actually has improved recently. My AirPods Max now filter talking people much better than previously. For me, this is the most important feature, not so much what this rather theoretical audio test was about.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

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.

With so many things being IoT enabled these days, we really need better laws for how the removal or reduction of a feature is handled.

Today it's Apple. Yesterday it was Tesla. There needs to be clear cut laws ensuring that a product I buy isn't going to be made worse after the return period is up.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Ignorance can be funny sometimes, until you go back to being serious...

Well that's interesting, if you read the other replies to my question, no two answers are quite the same and one totally contradicts the others so I guess a lot of people don't fully understand the benefits of ANR.

I wholly admit I'm ignorant about ANR - I literally opened by explaining I've never tried it.

Also, what's the point of being so impolite? Does it make you feel good?

 

[Minato1990]

This that work from home ******** affecting quality again.
FIX IT APPLE

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

if they get called out by scientific measurements and the them following media attention, they are more likely to change it back.

They won’t. Nobody is going to put pressure on them

 

[alpi123]

And people really believe Apple doesn't practice planned obsolescence, lol.

 

[gluckett]

The APP2 is nearly unusable because the audio drifting and spatial audio issues, we are still waiting for a fix and they are sure taking their time.

Surely there has to be new firmware released soon. Didn't they have at least two versions in beta that required iOS/iPadOS 16.1?