Photo Credit: Aaron Yoo. Title: apple airpods pro. [CC BY-ND 2.0] (Cropped)
Released only two and a half months ago, the AirPods Pro has been a great success. A new firmware update changed the listening experience for some users.
Complaints
Users started complaining about the quality of the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) with the latest firmware update. The problem lies in cancelling out sounds in the lower frequency ranges.
The biggest drawback with this problem is the lack of cancelling out engine noise in aeroplanes and the rumbling noise from busses & trains, which is perhaps where people use the AirPods Pro the most.
Rtings did another batch of tests to confirm objectively that the update did indeed worsen the ANC and that it isn’t a subjective phenomenon.
The Update
The update in question is version 2C54 and the previous version was 2B588.
Firmware updates to AirPods and AirPods Pro don’t happen a lot, but when it does, it’s done automatically. Apple initiates the update when the AirPods are plugged in and in range of your iPhone. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to stop the updates.
You can check on which version you are currently to learn whether you are affected or not, by going to:
- Settings
- General
- About
- <AirPod’s Name> AirPods Pro
The update was pulled not long after it was released.
The Good
There is some good news though. A considerable improvement was made with all-round frequency response, especially in the lower ranges.
In short: the sound is more balanced.
Now I want to challenge your thoughts: do you think the worsening of the ANC in lower frequency ranges is a direct effect of enhancing sound quality especially in the bass region or is it a problem somewhere else?
Downgrade
It is with great misery that I inform you that there is no way to downgrade to the previous firmware version.
If you are still on version 2B588, you are one of the lucky ones not affected by the worsening ANC, but you have a more balanced sound, especially in the bass range.
Resources
To see an extensive and in-depth review of the AirPods Pro, head over to Rting’s page.
Closing
Just goes to show how things can turn out. You can either be unlucky with having less ANC or be lucky with having better sound quality. Depends on what you are willing to sacrifice.
