ANC is worse in the new pro 3 and worse sound

[Velli]

Yeah it’s a downgrade in design as well just like the iPhone. It hurts the ears and is horrible, how does Apple keep making horrible choices for new products, pro 2 are perfect

On fit, I feel the exact opposite. Ears are different.

 

[Velli]

Side by side with the AirPods Pro 2 - the ANC is absolutely better with the Pro 3 in my evaluation and testing - as long as you've got a proper seal.

Using signal and noise generators, and measuring the dB SPL at the point I can hear something other than silence, at various frequencies, I'm finding the the AirPods Pro 3 are 6-10 dB better than the Pro 2 below 3 kHz and 6-8db or so better above that.

Some of that is down to the tips/fit I'm sure.

Perception of sound will be affected both by how good a seal you have, as well as personal preferences.

Seal, yes. Personal preference affects which one you prefer. Not that 2 sounds dark and 3 sounds bright. At least on my pairs, the difference is huge. Educated guess: 8-10 dB difference above 4-5khz.

 

[poorcody]

I think music does sound a little different compared to the 2 pros -- but in a better way. But I could see being used to the old way. Don't forget under Apple Music you can adjust the EQ settings -- makes a big difference in how music sounds...

 

[Velli]

I think music does sound a little different compared to the 2 pros -- but in a better way. But I could see being used to the old way. Don't forget under Apple Music you can adjust the EQ settings -- makes a big difference in how music sounds...

My reference is a different brand, but I don’t use those much as the AirPods are simply easier to use. Compared to those, APP2 is darker but acceptable, APP3 is much brighter in a quite (to me) objectionable way. I felt the same way about the original standard AirPods by the way, but I haven’t tried newer versions of those.

You don’t have to agree, just laying out the basis for my experience.

I didn’t use Apple Music for the test. All settings were identical.

Edit: One thing we, including me, may be underestimating here is unit to unit variance, which is likely several dB. Maybe I have a particularly dark APP2, and a particularly bright APP3. But, I think there is more going on than simply frequency response.

 

[jhfenton]

Hard disagree on your assessment of sound quality. I don’t see how they could be any more different. But your experience with ANC matches mine.

On fit, I feel the exact opposite. Ears are different.

Ears are definitely unique. The APP3 don't fit me as well as the APP2. The APP3 don't fit terribly, and they've stayed put through a few sweaty exercise sessions. But they don't feel as secure as the APP2. They're a bit better after dropping down to the Small tips from the Medium. Both passed the seal test, but they feel slightly more secure with the Small tips.

So for me, APP3 wins on ANC. APP2 wins on fit. And sound quality is a draw.

 

[Torq]

Educated guess: 8-10 dB difference above 4-5khz.

I didn't guess, I measured. Fit may affect that for others, as may the test tones/noise. As does individual hearing response. Older people will have reduced high-frequency sensitivity. A transducer that sounds bright to a 20 year old may well sound far more muted to an older listener.

ANC is progressively less effective at higher frequencies.

Not that I'm interested in arguing; I'm getting the results (objectively verified) I expected - if someone isn't then maybe they should buy something else.

 

[MacRumorMoose]

In so angry with Apple, my fave product is AirPods Pro 2 and love them, the new ones not only do not sound better but the anc is worse I spent an hour on a London train and the anc with pro 2 got rid of the whole sound of the train and when I put the 3 in I can hear the train. The seal is fine and I put them in tightly. How is this 2x better? Even the sound quality is a downgrade for me, the pro 2 have full sound and nice low bass; I don’t get any strong bass with the new ones and the sound is tiny. These are not an upgrade but a downgrade. If anyone doesn’t want to believe me try them your self side by side.

Fully agree on the ANC, with ear tips fit reported OK on the 3 the AirPods Pro 2 performs absolutely better! And if the 3 pods are not perfectly fitting it gets even worse. So it requires a lot of effort positioning the pods to get ANC to perform as good as possible, which is still WORSE than that of the AirPods Pro 2!

I challenge Apple to prove the 3 to be even at par with the 2 wrt ANC, let alone 'being up to twice as good' as the 2.

FYI: I am very satisfied with all Apple products I currently own (and that are many!) that always have performed as sped'ed, this is my first encounter of an Apple product that does not perform as specified on this topic by them.
In a 'real world use' Apple WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROVE their sales pitch 'being up to twice as good as the 2', perhaps they can tweak things in lab conditions such that it does.

- Very disappointed user -