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Pheidl Author

Level 1

46 points

Airpods Pro 2 noise cancellation worse after firmware update 7A294

The active noise cancellation on (at least) the AirPods Pro 2 is much worse after firmware update 7A294, including 7A302. The noise cancellation effect seems noticeably weaker now, roughly 50-70% as effective. Qualitatively, the effect is now closer to a slightly quieter adaptive mode. Essentially, I can now practically hear everything at a reduced volume, and my Sony 1000XM5 headphones now perform much better than my AirPods Pro 2, and this wasn't the case until the firmware/iOS 18 update.

Troubleshooting steps I've tried:

Cleaning the AirPods and tips (gentle surfactant/alcohol wipes, Blu-Tack), although they were already clean
Replacing the tips (they were already pristine)
Changing tips and ensuring proper fit
Resetting the AirPods
Toggling all settings on and off (Off, Transparency, Adaptive, Noise Cancellation)
Ensuring I hadn't accidentally selected something other than the noise cancellation mode
Having the AirPods replaced at the Apple Store

None of the above remedied the issue.

Some examples and context:

I can now fully make out conversations on the train in Tokyo, which I wasn't able to do that up until a day or two ago. To wit, train announcers are now less distant and audible. I can now hear people conversing on the other side of the carriage, and at one point, I was able to make out the music leaking out of someone else’s headphones...
I can now make out talking heads playing at low volume on a TV in another room.
I can now make out external sounds when ANC and Background Sounds (Dark Noise) are active at the same time, and up until the most recent update this combination was closer to being fully isolated.
Background music in convenience stores is now fully present, where as prior to the update I couldn't hear a thing.
I now no longer bother swapping to Transparency when my girlfriend is trying to talk to me across the room, because I can hear everything she has to say while noise cancellation mode is active. In the past, having to toggle between settings was a source of annoyance for us.

The situation is particularly disappointing, as I once adored these headphones, and the degradation of the noise cancellation effect makes the AirPods Pro 2 essentially more annoying than anything else.

iPhone 15 Pro

Posted on Sep 25, 2024 4:53 AM

Top-ranking reply

corneliu_sava

Level 1

38 points

Posted on Sep 29, 2024 1:51 PM

Same for me. From best AirPods with which I bragged to everyone who didn't have a pair of AirPods to checking if ANC is even turned on. We need to get Apple's attention so maybe have everyone else affected, comment on this thread.

View in context

32 replies

ath86

Level 1

38 points

Oct 8, 2024 12:45 AM in response to JereRoge

We all have to push for that issue! In every Forum and community! And just maybe we will have a response…

Oct 9, 2024 12:22 PM in response to ath86

Exactly. Get as many people to post here and comment on X(former Twitter) on Apple support posts. Let's get their attention.

Oct 4, 2024 9:44 PM in response to Pheidl

7A305 essentially entirely disabled both ANC and transparency on mine. I reset them, cleaned them, everything. I just threw them out, I'm done with Apple hamstringing these AirPods more with every update and now they're essentially useless as the sound quality also took a major dive.

goiy

Level 1

14 points

Oct 6, 2024 6:35 AM in response to Pheidl

Same here - transparency custom mode, headphone accommodations with audiogram are not working since 7A302 IOS18.0.1 (possibly earlier) The 'hearing aid' effect is now gone, after Apple made a fuss about it being FDA approved ! Volume goes up and down randomly too

Stf11

Level 1

14 points

Oct 12, 2024 9:38 PM in response to Pheidl

Same here. Noise canceling on my airpod pro2 virtually non existent. It muffles sound slightly, but you can hear conversations, tv almost any sounds. Passed airpod seal rest. Airpods 4 being without rubber tips, are doing better anc at the moment. Not better what airpods pro 2 did. Before on airpods 2 filtered all but very loud or sudden sounds, and those were very muffled. now i can have normal conversations with noise canceling on.

Oct 9, 2024 10:57 PM in response to Pheidl

exactly the same for me. 3 months old AirPods Pro 2 cleaned regularly suddenly went from good ANC to not enough.

Oct 15, 2024 2:28 PM in response to Pheidl

I just got new pro2 buds from a applecare replacement, and the ANC is still nowhere near as good as it used to be, if I had to try for an educated guess based on Apple's history, I'd say they are prepping for a new AirpodPro model in the future that will have "The best noise cancelling we have ever made".

I'd like to figure out how to revert to the old software versions to confirm these suspicions.

Oct 16, 2024 2:45 PM in response to Pheidl

Just want to add my comment here in addition. Completely agree that my AirPods Pro 2 noise cancelling feels about 60% as effective as before. I do a daily commute on a train and like to use noise cancelling to drown out noise, now I can hear everything, just reduced. If this doesn’t get resolved asap I will be forced to move to other earphones.

rloschy

Level 1

14 points

Oct 18, 2024 7:15 AM in response to Pheidl

i have been very impressed with my original AirPod pros noise cancelling. Purchased pro 2 as Apple advertised 2x noise cancelation performance. They currently cancel 50% as well as my old ones did. Generic over ear headphones currently cancel noise better than the pro 2. This has to be a bug. Cleaning does not help. Apple please fix this!

AzSR

Level 1

8 points

Oct 13, 2024 8:29 PM in response to Pheidl

Same for me. I repeatedly mistaken ANC for transparency!

Oct 16, 2024 1:56 AM in response to Pheidl

Same here as of 7A305. Huge step back for me. I live in a city with relatively high levels of noise pollution (Hong Kong) and my AirPods Pro 2 used to be life saviors while outside. Now even indoors I am able to hear (and be distracted by) AC and fan noise, street construction noise, etc. Huge +1 for the capability to be brought back at previous levels, hopefully sometime soon🤞

Pheidl Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 16, 2024 7:33 PM in response to Stf11

Yep, this maps to my own experience. The noise cancellation is there, but it’s as if it has been toned down 20, 30, 40%, something like that.

Interesting to hear about the AirPods 4 performing better for you. I’d be interested to see someone comparing the two with the tone generator test, or something repeatable I don’t know about. I.e. load up a tone generator on your iPhone, set it an arms length away, lower the volume until you can’t hear the tone on AirPods 4 and then check if this holds with Pro 2.

Anyway, these things were such a god send. What a shame.

Oct 18, 2024 1:45 PM in response to Pheidl

. After all the testing at the Genius Bar the problem still persists. Static or robotic sound quality ONLY on phone conversations does distortion present itself . Not on streaming or listening to music only phone conversations. Problem started a couple of software upgrades ago. AirPods work on other device such as galaxy 23 Etc. so when two way data on Bluetooth is needed problem happenes. Works fine on speaker or handheld earpiece . Any assistance would be great appreciated

Pheidl Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 4, 2024 3:37 PM in response to mohanad995

I feel the same way 😩

mfittko

Level 1

14 points

Oct 11, 2024 7:27 AM in response to Pheidl

Same thing, was repeatedly checking if ANC is on or not lately. Also my right side Airpod 2 pro started giving a very bad high pitch feedback noise. No idea if related.

Airpods Pro 2 noise cancellation worse after firmware update 7A294