AirPods Pro worth it?
- Thread starter marcg868
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AdamNC
macrumors 6502a
I just got mine yesterday after years of using cheap 10-15 dollar headphones. WOW. I was missing a lot of amazing sounds and clarity. Like the the song A Million Dreams from Greatest Showman soundtrack.... you can hear the child who sings in the start breath in between lyrics. I would say adding that kind of detail and such makes them worth it.
I had the original AirPods and really liked them - aside from them constantly feeling like they would fall out of my ears. I got the AirPod Pros because they had the tips that went into my ears, not just sat there. And the sound - even comparing to the original AirPods is much better. And the "noise cancellation" is a bonus. (I put Noice Cancellation in quotes because while it does work for me as far as making outside noises much lower/muffled, they are still there. But it could easily be the way the tips fit in my ears.) Never had the Sennheiser ones, but also had Bose and Jaybirds (sorry don't remember the model numbers) and the AirPods are much more comfortable, don't feel like they are falling out of my ears and sound just as good as those to me.
Runs For Fun
macrumors 65816
Totally worth it. I love mine.
jmgregory1
macrumors 68040
Had my AirPods Pro for just over a year, was having intermittent issues with them and went to Apple to have them checked just last week. Walked out with a brand new pair, replaced due to a manufacturing issue my pair fell under.
You could say I like them - I wear them throughout the day for work calls, and 6 days a week I wear them during my cardio workouts, so they’re getting a LOT of use. I’ve only flown with them once over the past year, and they were great for the short flight I took. Prior to getting them, I had been using a pair of over the ears Plantronics noise canceling headphones (for travel primarily) and although they offer better sound performance and long 24 hour battery life, they overheat my ears, especially on long 12+ hour flights.
The other thing that is great about the Pro’s is that they have the pressure equalization, so even though they’re in-ear buds, they feel like open ear headphones.
You could say I like them - I wear them throughout the day for work calls, and 6 days a week I wear them during my cardio workouts, so they’re getting a LOT of use. I’ve only flown with them once over the past year, and they were great for the short flight I took. Prior to getting them, I had been using a pair of over the ears Plantronics noise canceling headphones (for travel primarily) and although they offer better sound performance and long 24 hour battery life, they overheat my ears, especially on long 12+ hour flights.
The other thing that is great about the Pro’s is that they have the pressure equalization, so even though they’re in-ear buds, they feel like open ear headphones.
Bea220
macrumors 6502a
I love your username!
I was fortunate enough to gain a free pair through my husband‘s company. I LOVE them. I was using Beats by Dre prior to these. Prior to my beats I tried the original AirPods. Loved both. I love the AirPod Pro’s sound quality/spacial audio even more now.
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Saladin12
macrumors 65816
Just a heads up they're available for £195 from John Lewis in the U.K. Makes the price ever so slightly easier to swallow!
turbineseaplane
Contributor
At this point in the lifecycle, I'd say they are "worth it" if you can get them for $180-200 (max)
Obviously even lower would be even better
Obviously even lower would be even better
turbineseaplane
Contributor
This must be subjective, because in all of my time with a couple pairs of APP now, I would never - ever - describe the feeling of wearing them as "like open ear headphones".
Not even close.
There are some affordances which are a nice effort, but the feeling is nothing like open ear headphones. (at least it sure wasn't for me).
jmgregory1
macrumors 68040
Ok, I agree that it’s not exactly like open ear headphones, but for my particular case, where I’ve always had ear pressure issues (requiring tubes to be inserted in my eardrums twice in my life), I couldn’t wear any kind of in-ear buds prior to the APP’s. Where brands would tout the fact that their buds provided a great seal to the outside because it helps minimize some noise intrusion, those types of headphones were instant discomfort for me.
But the APP’s on the other hand, which I’m wearing right now and have been most of the day today, are just barely noticed and not at all because they’re producing positive pressure on my eardrums. I normally use them in transparency mode, with the effect being that they really don’t feel like they’re there. In noise cancelation mode, it’s more noticable that I have them, but for all the right reasons - like not having to listen to my wife on her conference call in the office next door (right now).
turbineseaplane
Contributor
@jmgregory1 Thanks for following up.
I think the real reason the APP's don't impress me more on the "open feeling" part is just that I'm so acclimated to the AP 1/2 design, which honestly I've many many many times literally forgotten I had them in (almost like forgetting glasses are on your face).
The AP 1/2 just disappear in a way I've not experienced with anything else involving my ear.
For an in-ear type of design, the APP are an admirable effort with great accommodations (like transparency mode), to your points.
I think the real reason the APP's don't impress me more on the "open feeling" part is just that I'm so acclimated to the AP 1/2 design, which honestly I've many many many times literally forgotten I had them in (almost like forgetting glasses are on your face).
The AP 1/2 just disappear in a way I've not experienced with anything else involving my ear.
For an in-ear type of design, the APP are an admirable effort with great accommodations (like transparency mode), to your points.
Chompineer
Suspended
You may wish to look into some foam tips, like Comply or Dekoni.
I have the Dekoni ones, definitely worth the money.
jmgregory1
macrumors 68040
Yeah, I agree with your assessment of the original AirPods being so unobtrusive compared to the APP’s. For my outer ear shape, the AirPods just weren’t great at staying in place when I’d move my head fast, or bend over to pull something out of the filing cabinet, to the point where I’d get mad and want to throw them across the room.
The other thing that effectively forced me to need noise cancelation has been having my wife work from home the past year in our second office. I’m the loud talker between us, but just to be able to have the APP’s cut out her conference call background chatter, or the dog’s barking, while I’m on calls has been fantastic.
DoubleFlyaway
macrumors 68000
For me, APP beat out regular APs for a few reasons— 1. Stay in my ears better (though honestly, my right ear shape is still apparently problematic for any ear buds— PBPs or APMs are the only real solution); 2. Much better battery life— this makes a huge difference when you are constantly on work calls; 3. I really like both the transparency mode and the noise cancellation. I would never buy regular APs again.
Shanghaichica
macrumors G5
They are worth every penny. I jumped on the AirPods when they first came out. I got the second generation AirPods too. I was hesitant to get the pros but I bit the bullet about 3 months after they launched and I got the pros. ANC is amazing and they are so comfortable.
TopherMan12
macrumors 6502a
I've been using them for a week and I agree they are very good. Great sounds and excellent ANC. I've heard Sony has better ANC in their flagship buds, but those things look massive. These are the perfect size. I really like that they shortened the stem. They stay in place better than the AirPods although the added silicone part probably has more to do with that.
If I have a complaint then it is that it seems to have a hard time connecting to my Apple Watch at times. Not sure what's going on there.
Shanghaichica
macrumors G5
I was hesitant to get the pros because Ive not got on well with buds with silicone tips in the past, they always fall out of my ears and feel uncomfortable. Also the standard AirPods fitted me quite well so I was sceptical of the pros being better. I was very wrong. the pros are very comfortable and fit me better than the standard AirPods.