AirPods Pro 2 to Gain Hearing Protection, Testing, and Aid Features

[rxp]

The speech and tone tests are done in a sound proof room. Finding such a location in a home environment is impossible.

ISO 8253-3 has a background noise limit of 18db at key frequencies and higher elsewhere. In my home, in London, I easily get to 40db and frequently less. I live near a main road.

The beauty of the airpods is that ANC can be used. That 40db becomes silent. As long as self noise from the active circuit isn't above 18db it'll pass the iso standard for speech testing.

 

[raythompsontn]

As long as self noise from the active circuit isn't above 18db it'll pass the iso standard for speech testing.

Put your fingers in your ears. You will still hear sound from the environment. That is why bone conduction works. A sound proof room is used to minimize exterior noise. Noise canceling only masks noise, it does not eliminate noise like a sound proof room.

One other question on the Apple hearing aid function. My ears were tested individually. Each ear has its own frequency profile. Will the Apple test allow each ear to be tested individually? Will the left and right AirPods each have a unique profile?

Don’t get me wrong. I like what Apple is doing and think it is great. It may will be just the thing for some many people. I wear devices and I am excited about the feature, if Apple applies the frequency curve to listening to music, and the actual test works.

 

[SBlue1]

Is somehow Apple preventing you from using your "old Sony headphones". I don't think so, you can still perform hearing tests, the headphone accomodation (which is the feature that uses the results of the hearing test) has always been exclusive for AirPods and Beats, so I don't know what you are talking about.

You can still use your headphones with iPhone just as before.

No, I could use my old headphones with headphone accommodation via the Mimi Music app. No fancy H2 chip needed. Now it only works with EarPods Pro and Max.

 

[SBlue1]

A true hearing test involves more than just tones. There are words spoken that the listener says back. This part of the test determines how well an individual understands speech. Speech is more important than simple tones. The Apple future capability may include this test. The Mimi app with simple tones is a start, but is not complete. The speech and tone tests are done in a sound proof room. Finding such a location in a home environment is impossible.

Once the tests are done, a very specific profile is generated. My devices adjust the sound in multiple points on the spectrum. How many frequency locations will Apple provide?

Those that comment about hearing aids, without ever having used such devices are guessing. My hearing aids can stream from multiple devices, including Apple devices. I can take phone calls. There is noise suppression. The battery lasts 18 hours with a 4 hour recharge. The custom fitted ear molds stay in easily and are so comfortable I forget I am wearing hearing aids. They can be expensive.

For many people that cannot afford custom hearing aids, and OTC devices are marginal, the Apple solution is a really good start and may be a real boost for many. Even though I wear hearing aids, I am excited for the arrival of the new capability of the AirPods.

If Apple provides equalization of music to match the hearing profile, that would be awesome.

The Mimi music app used to do this, until Apple baked this funktion into the hearing accommodations. So yes the music app boosts your missing frequencies so you can hear like before. I’ve been using it for 5 years at least, and it’s like glasses for your ears.

 

[Parowdy]

Well it used to be a free for all feature (Mimi hearing test and Mimi music app) that I have been using with my Sony headphones and the iPhone 7. Then Apple seemed to have bought the rights and made Mimi pull their music app. Now it works with AirPods Pro and Max only. Not my old Sony headphones, not the newest Beats headphones, nothing but the AirPods Pro and Max. So yeah Apple is using this feature to block old perfectly fine hardware and sell expensive new hardware. What a shame.

this should be more talked about

 

[Parowdy]

they show them during a brand new keynote where they have always announced new hardware.
I had several friends text me that they are ordering the new AirPods Pros and they already have them, so I had to show them enough info that they decided to cancel the orders, that was just 5 people that I know. So try to imagine the general public who just see's an ad and believes it is newer than their current devices. Apple is known for yearly updates on products so it isn't out of the ordinary for many people to think these are new.
I doubt "we all" applies to "we all".

They communicated clearly during the keynote that this is a software update. On their website they say it's an update. If the people don't know what product they have and how to read a couple of lines, I don't see how that's on Apple.
Now, I don't know which ads you're referring to, maybe there are some posts by other people that are confusing folks, but that on them again. This kind of behaviour and decision making sounds very impulsive to me and not to dunk on your people, but that's not Apples fault.

 

[i3laze]

I have a sinking feeling this will only apply to the Pro 2 with USB-C and not work on the original Lightning version of the AirPods Pro 2. Hope I'm wrong about that.

Don’t worry, you’re wrong.
Pro 2 are exact same with difference in the case only.

Nowadays USB-C case upgrade is actually being sold separately.

I have both Lighting and USB-C sets and they’ve been both updated to mentioned firmware:

Latest firmware versions​

• AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C): 7A294
• AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe Charging Case (Lightning): 7A294

About firmware updates for AirPods - Apple Support

Learn about changes and features included in the firmware updates for your AirPods.

support.apple.com

 

[FlyingToasterStrudel]

Don’t worry, you’re wrong.
Pro 2 are exact same with difference in the case only.

That is not actually correct, strictly speaking.

Upon the release of the version of the APP 2nd gen with the USB-C case, Apple announced that the headphones have two hardware features that distinguish them from the APP 2nd gen with Lightning case (though they would continue to be sold as “2nd gen”):

- lossless audio capability (only when used in conjunction with the Vision Pro headset);
- a slightly improved dust resistance rating

This indicates slightly different hardware.

Nonetheless, since these features are pretty minor, I am confident that the newly-announced iOS 18 features will come to both variants of the APP 2nd gen. So @jigzaw you need not worry about this.

 

[jigzaw]

Yeah I've stopped being concerned about it. I glanced around at the fine print on the announcements for this and saw nothing that raised alarms of this only working on the USB AP2. Thanks!

 

[extrachrispy]

If they bring these features to a new-gen Beats Fit Pro, it will be a "Here, take my money!" moment: one pair for me and one for my wife.

 

[marvin_h]

If they bring these features to a new-gen Beats Fit Pro, it will be a "Here, take my money!" moment: one pair for me and one for my wife.

Well they are the same price right now (Beats Fit Pro and AirPods Pro 2) so if you want those features, you can get them for a nice price. (This pricing probably ends later today when the Amazon sale ends.)