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Hands-On With the New AirPods Pro 2

Does anyone know if they've updated the mics?

I like my pair for walking around and listening to music, but being on the other end of a set (someone with AirPod Pros walking down a busy street talking to you on a call) is incredibly jarring, as their AirPod Pro mics pic up and seem to amplify the worst noises.

What I want is active noise cancellation on the mics! I'm hoping these have them.

(That said, I haven't seen Apple list this as a feature, which makes me sad.)

I'm just wondering if anyone with first-hand experience with the new Pros has noticed a change (or rather, if the people they're talking to with the new AirPod Pros have noticed a change....)
 
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I just got mine and have been listening to it for the past hour. I came from 2nd gen airpods that I had for almost 2 years (their battery is not holding a charge very well anymore, so needed to be replaced). The medium sized tips were already on them. Very quickly, my ears started ringing (similar to tinnitus) from the pressure of the tips. I switched to the small size, and still ringing. Noise cancellation is OK, as long as music is turned up. But the directional sound feature is awkward and annoying. It works, but the right one keeps going down in volume without my head moving. I think this is a feature that needs to be turned off, it feels like old VR from the 90s that isn't at all natural. So far not impressed with them, but it might just take some time to grow on me.
Edit: also noticed they are not fully compatible with iPad. When pairing, it says it requires "a newer version of iPadOS that will be available soon."
 
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I have a hearing problem - So here's my question: In a restaurant in conversation while in transparency mode .. can I adjust the volume of the conversation by using the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds volume control?
 
KennyJr said:
I have a hearing problem - So here's my question: In a restaurant in conversation while in transparency mode .. can I adjust the volume of the conversation by using the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds volume control?
Click to expand...

www.hearingtracker.com

Apple AirPods Pro 2: Improved Hearing Aid Functionality

AirPods Pro 2 now offer better sound quality, more battery power, and noise cancellation for very loud sounds like sirens.
www.hearingtracker.com www.hearingtracker.com
 
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Eldaerenth Faexidor said:
These are definitely worth the upgrade! Transparency mode is absolutely bonkers how good it is. I wish they’d open up the treble a bit more in a future update, they’re a little bit bass heavy out of the box. It was certainly worth the - 3 year - wait imo!
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It truly is. I've worn the original AirPods Pro virtually every day for 2 years and after putting the Gen 2 in, I forgot I had them in. I wandered into an Apple Store to have a look at the Watch Ultra and had a full conversation with the Apple rep, absolutely forgetting I had my AirPods in. Previously, there was just enough of a digital feeling to the sound that I'd have to take them out to have a conversation. These sound like I have nothing in my ears. Incredible.
 
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CWallace said:
Might want to look at the accessibility support of APP2 - https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-use-your-apple-airpods-pro-as-hearing-aids
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That's a good article on the AirPods Pro 1 using iOS 14. The AirPods Pro transparency mode concept changed with AirPods Pro 2. Apparently the H2 chip improves conversation clarity and reduces background noise but there's been no mention anywhere that I can find of manual volume profile control.

Would someone please check to see if the earbuds volume control while in transparency mode has any control over environmental sounds.
 
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KennyJr said:
I have a hearing problem - So here's my question: In a restaurant in conversation while in transparency mode .. can I adjust the volume of the conversation by using the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds volume control?
Click to expand...

Yes. There's "Live Listen" in Control Center as in previous generations. New to AirPods Pro 2: you can keep the case on the table (near the person you're speaking with) as a mic!!
 
I just got mine - I had the original APP since launch, using the Large tips. The sound difference is substantial. It is not quite like the Max (which I still think sound stunning), but it's a lot better, especially in mid bass. I am legitimately impressed. They also seem to fit better; the shape of the pods is slightly but noticeably different.

Of course - it could change. When I got the APP V1 I thought they were amazing, but quickly the tips deformed/got too slippery and I could never keep a good seal. I am not sure if that was a function of the shape (I never had an issue with the original AirPods) or what. So far though so good.
 
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I guess I'm spoiled by the sound and noise cancelling on my WF-1000XM4 and thought the 2nd Gen air pod pros would be at least "closer" to the sound quality and noise cancelling of the Sonys but tbh I hardly notice much improvement from the first Gen and if so, if is still miles away from what my Sony ear buds can do.

I will say though that the transparency mode is great and superior to the WF-1000XM4 but the Sony still wins by a country mile in music quality and ANC
 
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ipedro said:
Yes. There's "Live Listen" in Control Center as in previous generations. New to AirPods Pro 2: you can keep the case on the table (near the person you're speaking with) as a mic!!
Click to expand...
Yes, I can even do that with my AirPods Max - Volume is set using the iPhone control. All sounds get amplified.

Would someone please check to see if the earbuds volume control while in transparency mode has any control over environmental sounds.
 
ipedro said:
Yes. There's "Live Listen" in Control Center as in previous generations. New to AirPods Pro 2: you can keep the case on the table (near the person you're speaking with) as a mic!!
Click to expand...
I’m assuming that’s what the single hole is at the bottom of the AirPods case. Everyone talks about the three holed speaker, but not one reviewer has mentioned what that single hole is on the other side of the Lightning connector. It makes sense that it’s the microphone.
 
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For those who don’t remember the story from the other day, there is a firmware update for these new AirPods Pro. I currently have mine hooked up by cable to my laptop waiting the requisite half hour for it to update. If I were to guess what the update is, I noticed a problem almost immediately when listening to the AirPods. Whatever I’m listening to stops every once in a while for no discernible reason. It happened with YouTube and with the Music app. It was also on both my iPhone and iPad, both updated to the latest iOS/iPadOS 16 versions (release/beta). I’m hoping this firmware fixes that problem.
 
tobybrut said:
For those who don’t remember the story from the other day, there is a firmware update for these new AirPods Pro. I currently have mine hooked up by cable to my laptop waiting the requisite half hour for it to update. If I were to guess what the update is, I noticed a problem almost immediately when listening to the AirPods. Whatever I’m listening to stops every once in a while for no discernible reason. It happened with YouTube and with the Music app. It was also on both my iPhone and iPad, both updated to the latest iOS/iPadOS 16 versions (release/beta). I’m hoping this firmware fixes that problem.
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Yep having the same issue as well with the music cutting off/slight distortion. Other than that it’s definitely an improvement over the original APP, especially the soundstage and bass.
 
Waiting to hear people's feedback on APP2 audio quality. It's interesting how many feel it is so much better. But those same people would argue that APP1 were great. Is it really that much better or just people hearing that after $250 that they think they sound better? Is it because the original silicone fittings had a tighter mesh and these are more open or is it actually better electronics? (or both?)
 
dmylrea said:
Waiting to hear people's feedback on APP2 audio quality. It's interesting how many feel it is so much better. But those same people would argue that APP1 were great. Is it really that much better or just people hearing that after $250 that they think they sound better? Is it because the original silicone fittings had a tighter mesh and these are more open or is it actually better electronics? (or both?)
Click to expand...

Apple explained this in detail in the keynote. AirPods Pro 2 have all new low distortion drivers, high bandwidth connectivity and a wider range of frequencies. The bass is deeper and cleaner and music seems to have more detail. Michael Jackson's Human Nature is my reference track for audio testing because it has so many distinct layers and I've listened to the vinyl record so many times since my childhood that it's embedded in my memory and I know what I'm supposed to hear. I've had AirPods Pro for a couple of years and upgraded to gen 2 and it's noticeably better on the new pods. In addition to the above, noise Cancelling is x2 that of the previous gen. This of course allows you to listen to just the music without interference from outside sounds, resulting in a better listening experience.
 
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Chiromac81 said:
I guess I'm spoiled by the sound and noise cancelling on my WF-1000XM4 and thought the 2nd Gen air pod pros would be at least "closer" to the sound quality and noise cancelling of the Sonys but tbh I hardly notice much improvement from the first Gen and if so, if is still miles away from what my Sony ear buds can do.

I will say though that the transparency mode is great and superior to the WF-1000XM4 but the Sony still wins by a country mile in music quality and ANC
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As an owner of both the APP1 and the WF-1000XM4, this is a very useful information.
 
Am happy to finally see volume control on the earpieces. However, it looks like still NO multipoint capability....Sad, very sad.
 
prism said:
This is my first pair and it instantly gave me a slight headache. I wonder if it has anything to do with electromagnetic radiation 😳
i guess this must be the pwm in screens equivalent to earphones!
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No. It’s not about the RF signal. Most likely you aren’t used to having pressure in your ears in the same places. It can retake a few days for your ears to get used to having in-ear phones like this.
 
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I like that it comes with a USBC to lightening cable at least, nice to have another spare fast charging cable for iPhone. I might give it to my mother with a spare USB C charger I have from my old MacBook 12 inch, I guess I should research if that is capable of fast charging iPhones first..
 
dmylrea said:
Waiting to hear people's feedback on APP2 audio quality. It's interesting how many feel it is so much better. But those same people would argue that APP1 were great. Is it really that much better or just people hearing that after $250 that they think they sound better? Is it because the original silicone fittings had a tighter mesh and these are more open or is it actually better electronics? (or both?)
Click to expand...
I gave feedback. I have the AirPods Pro 1 and 2 and Sony WF-1000XM4

The Sony WF still had much better ANC noise cancelling than both but the AirPods Pro 2 is a slight improvement compared to first Gen. the Sony also has better sound quality with music than both but the second Gen is a little better than first (again very subtle improvement).

AirPods still my go to for phone calls and transparency mode though
 
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