AirPods Pro firmware 2B588 reduce the noise cancelling capability

Hello,

I see there are some issues with Active Noise Cancellation and AirPods Pro. I know it's important for this feature to work as expected; I'd like to help. Below are some resources which have steps and information that could help with Active Noise Cancellation on your AirPods:

• If Active Noise Cancellation isn't working as expected on your AirPods Pro

• How to clean your AirPods and EarPods

• AirPods Pro Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode

Best Regards.

If Apple worries dizzying or safety problem then it can introduce noise canceling level adjustment and let user choose. Users have suffered enough case of Apple trying to be the clever guy and take bulls**t policy like degrading battery problems.

There’s one more reason I’m waiting for the firmware update I described here:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251260192

Siri on a Mac says my AirLods Pro don’t support that feature when I ask to turn on transparency or noise cancellation 🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

Since Apple is not monitoring this forum, can anyone who is unhappy from ANC being weaker leave feedback on Apple's feedback page about this. If enough people do, Apple may notice that there is an issue and fix it.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/airpods.html

Hey guy, Apple Support US(I am from Hong Kong) just contacted me via phone this morning.

I guess it is because I submitted a feedback here https://www.apple.com/feedback/airpods.html

And he ask me about the ANC.

I methion that it is casued firmware issue instead of hardware and it was fine before the auto update.

and he said his colleague have the same firmware version as me but don't found any issue.

Therefore, they would like to make a replacement for me and get the one on my hand for test.

I am now waiting for an email update.

Anyway, he is very nice.

I'm going to reply to all those mentioning this issue with this information so they can get the help they need (and a notification that they were replied to. This way, they can all get help the quickest way possible)

Please do the following A and B:

A) Submit a case with AppleCare

1) Go to https://support.apple.com/airpods

2) Scroll to "Tell us how we can help"

3) Click "Get support"

4) Just go through the menus and pick the most relevant option. I suggest picking "Audio Quality" but there are others.

5) Click "Chat" and let them know through chat the problems and also please reference our thread in the chat: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250887615

(OR you can schedule a call but it may be best to ask for a follow-up call during the chat if they don't mention it themselves)

IMPORTANT: Mention that the ANC quality was reduced with the AirPods Pro firmware 2B588 and the problem is STILL in firmware 2C54!

ALSO:

B) Please also file a bug report about this on the feedback section while your case with AppleCare is ongoing. That way, both AppleCare and the bug report staff will see these reports.

If we all do this, they will see the growing number of issues with this.

Submit the bug report feedback here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/airpods.html

Currently, there is no way to downgrade or "reset" a firmware on Airpods Pro, KayneGiordano. My suggestion is the following. I compiled a full list of our current options to help right now below:

I'm going to reply to all those mentioning this issue with this information so they can get the help they need (and a notification that they were replied to. This way, they can all get help the quickest way possible)

Please do the following A and B:

A) Submit a case with AppleCare

1) Go to https://support.apple.com/airpods

2) Scroll to "Tell us how we can help"

3) Click "Get support"

4) Just go through the menus and pick the most relevant option. I suggest picking "Audio Quality" but there are others.

5) Click "Chat" and let them know through chat the problems and also please reference our thread in the chat: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250887615

(OR you can schedule a call but it may be best to ask for a follow-up call during the chat if they don't mention it themselves)

IMPORTANT: Mention that the ANC quality was reduced with the AirPods Pro firmware 2B588 and the problem is STILL in firmware 2C54!

ALSO:

B) Please also file a bug report about this on the feedback section while your case with AppleCare is ongoing. That way, both AppleCare and the bug report staff will see these reports.

If we all do this, they will see the growing number of issues with this.

Submit the bug report feedback here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/airpods.html

mrm24, Agreed. Similar experiences here.

See the post above about how to submit a case to AppleCare and also how to submit the bug report feedback. Or I can copy/paste it since it's buried in a bunch of posts now but Apple might delete it. This would be helpful for you to do:

A) Submit a case with AppleCare

1) Go to https://support.apple.com/airpods

2) Scroll to "Tell us how we can help"

3) Click "Get support"

4) Just go through the menus and pick the most relevant option. I suggest picking "Audio Quality" but there are others.

5) Click "Chat" and let them know through chat the problems and also please reference our thread in the chat: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250887615

(OR you can schedule a call but it may be best to ask for a follow-up call during the chat if they don't mention it themselves)

IMPORTANT: Mention that the ANC quality was reduced with the AirPods Pro firmware 2B588 and the problem is STILL in firmware 2C54!

ALSO:

B) Please also file a bug report about this on the feedback section while your case with AppleCare is ongoing. That way, both AppleCare and the bug report staff will see these reports.

If we all do this, they will see the growing number of issues with this.

Submit the bug report feedback here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/airpods.html

First of all i want to say THANKS for customers who has raised this thread with this issue.

Same problem for me for the 2nd pair with 2C54

I have 2 version of AirPods Pro with different firmware, i bought for me and sister,

I'm using 1 pair with Android and my sister with iPhone

1 pair what i'm using with Android still running 2B576 - never connected with Iphone/Ipad - so never updated by android :D

Especially a BIG THANKS for yu217 for creating this thread and customers who reply here and saved me from updating my 1 pair of AirPods Pro !!!!!!!!!!!

2 pair which my sister use connected and updated by Iphone was 2B588 and then 2C54

For me it like lost 80% of ANC comparing all this firmwares and looking here on this thread.

and we have another issue with Microphone on ANC or Transparency mode:

after reset AirPods Pro mic on voice/video calls is very muffled and people on other end can't hear clearly your voice like u can't clearly hear what they saying, all users Airpods pro can test their AirPods Pro mic with simple default voice recorder

this is thread with this issue, if you have same please reply here - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250813242

waiting for firmware update i hope very soon.

Thanks 2 all !

Right.

While you guys are here, I wanted to ask if any of you charge your APP wirelessly and if it works. I have actually two open cases w/ Apple now. One is about this (of course ) and the other is that no charger will properly wirelessly charge the APP (including the 2 that Apple sells -- Belkin Boost Up! or a slightly different SKU of it and the mophie wireless charging pad).

It's a much smaller thread but many people have the same issue and Apple has not owned up to it but Apple rep told me on the phone that his APP also cannot wirelessly charge with the Belkin that they sell...

Thread here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250857964?page=4

Some were claiming 2C54 fixed this. Didn't for me and now that f/w has been pulled and 2B588 (the bane of our existence here) is now up to date.

Just a mess.

There are two new threads popping up about this so I am forwarding them all here. Unfortunately the Community Specialists (with all due respect) are acting as if there is no issue. So I have replied to them with this:

I respect that you are a Community Specialist but this is a large problem.

There is already a large thread about this. Please check this thread with over 20,000 views, 1,800 people confirmed with this problem, etc.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250887615

It has also been in mainstream news now.

Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/17/21069953/apple-airpods-pro-noise-cancellation-problems-firmware-2b588-2c54

MacRumors: https://www.macrumors.com/2020/01/13/airpods-pro-2c54-firmware-noise-canceling/

We need to make sure this thread is updated and on the front page as many others are having the issue and just now discovering it.

I just updated my rep with my info. I want to include it here for reference so others may send their rep similar information and maybe use it as a template. I'll redact personal info.

Hello [Rep],

Thank you. The old AirPods have been sent back with TNT (FedEx) tracking here: [redacted]

Please make sure that the credit card charge comes off for the hold, thanks.

Also I do want to inform you that (as I expected), even though I received new hardware, I still have the same issue with the noise canceling as it is running firmware 2B588 which started the Noise Canceling problem for everyone to begin with. 

Please reference the Apple Community forum that now has 1,900 people confirmed with the same issue with 2B588 and 25,000 views. All people who have received new hardware have received it running 2B588 already and confirmed they also still have the problem. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250887615

This issue is firmware based and Engineering must be made aware of it. The Verge and MacRumors have already posted stories and RTINGS have re-tested their AirPods from the stock 2B584 firmware to the (now pulled) 2C54 firmware citing that ANC levels are dramatically reduced especially at the bass-level. Please have Apple's Engineering and Dev team be made aware of this (again) and have them work on some form of firmware fix (or iOS update that will allow ANC levels to be controlled as has been highly suggested if this was an intentional change. 

Verge article https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/17/21069953/apple-airpods-pro-noise-cancellation-problems-firmware-2b588-2c54  

MacRumors article https://www.macrumors.com/2020/01/13/airpods-pro-2c54-firmware-noise-canceling/

RTINGS confirming that ANC levels are reduced from stock shipping firmware (2B584): RTINGS article https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-pro-truly-wireless 

They discussed any noticed changes thoroughly but the main part with the issue is this: "we retested the headphones and our results showed a fairly significant drop in isolation performance, primarily in the bass-range. This means that with ANC turned on, these headphones won't do nearly as good a job blocking out the low engine rumbles of planes or buses as they did before this update. This review reflects these changes."

Please forward this along. I appreciate it. I haven't tested the wireless-charging but my previous AirPods and one before them (I swapped out before) couldn't charge wirelessly either and I doubt these will work too -- both the Apple-sold Belkin and mophie wireless Qi chargers do NOT work with the Pros. Apple and Belkin confirmed this as well... too many issues...

Thanks.

Yeah, I haven't heard anything back since Apple swapped my device. I just asked them now to follow up. I had sent them this:

"Confirmed that wireless charging also does not work on this model either (0 AirPods for 3 that work). Also 7 different wireless chargers including the Belkin (similar SKU) and mophie that Apple stocks.

Please forward up both of these but more importantly the ANC issue as I don't care about the wireless charging and didn't expect that to ever work -- I just am one of the 25,000 people that have visited the Apple Community frustrated with the ANC change in 2B588 -- there is no firmware changelog which makes it impossible for us to see if the change was intentional but the $300+ product that we purchased (tax, AppleCare+) was drastically nerfed with the 2B588 update. I will again copy and paste the previous email to make it easier and also refer you to the thread again at the top here (Please reference the Apple Community forum that now has 1,900 people confirmed with the same issue with 2B588 and 25,000 views. All people who have received new hardware have received it running 2B588 already and confirmed they also still have the problem. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250887615)

Top part of previous email:

Hello [Rep name],

Thank you. The old AirPods have been sent back with TNT (FedEx) tracking here: [removed] It will only show up on the TNT website and not on FedEx's main website.

Please make sure that the credit card charge comes off for the hold, thanks.

Also I do want to inform you that (as I expected), even though I received new hardware, I still have the same issue with the noise canceling as it is running firmware 2B588 which started the Noise Canceling problem for everyone to begin with. 

Please reference the Apple Community forum that now has 1,900 people confirmed with the same issue with 2B588 and 25,000 views. All people who have received new hardware have received it running 2B588 already and confirmed they also still have the problem. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250887615

This issue is firmware based and Engineering must be made aware of it. The Verge and MacRumors have already posted stories and RTINGS have re-tested their AirPods from the stock 2B584 firmware to the (now pulled) 2C54 firmware citing that ANC levels are dramatically reduced especially at the bass-level. Please have Apple's Engineering and Dev team be made aware of this (again) and have them work on some form of firmware fix (or iOS update that will allow ANC levels to be controlled as has been highly suggested if this was an intentional change. 

Verge article https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/17/21069953/apple-airpods-pro-noise-cancellation-problems-firmware-2b588-2c54  

MacRumors article https://www.macrumors.com/2020/01/13/airpods-pro-2c54-firmware-noise-canceling/

RTINGS confirming that ANC levels are reduced from stock shipping firmware (2B584): RTINGS article https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/apple/airpods-pro-truly-wireless 

They discussed any noticed changes thoroughly but the main part with the issue is this: "we retested the headphones and our results showed a fairly significant drop in isolation performance, primarily in the bass-range. This means that with ANC turned on, these headphones won't do nearly as good a job blocking out the low engine rumbles of planes or buses as they did before this update. This review reflects these changes."

I have had a similar problem with reduced ANC since the firmware update and have been patiently waiting for an updated firmware from Apple to fix the issue - eventually got fed up with waiting and contacted Apple support via live chat. After going through all the things they suggested they admitted they were aware of an issue quoting:

"Apple has been made aware of the issue. At this time, Apple Engineers are working hard to find a resolution for the issue. The resolution may come in the form of an update or steps that may resolve the issue so that ANC is back to working efficiently.

At this time, there is no way of reverting back to the previous firmware version.

Yes, I definitely understand how important it is that your AirPods Pro work as expected because they are really expensive. Please know that Apple’s Engineers are working really hard to find a resolution for the issue. You can also provide feedback by going to www.apple.com/feedback about the issue as well." So we'll just have to wait a bit longer to see if they fix it.