AirPods Pro firmware 2B588 reduce the noise cancelling capability

It's very strange. I bought headphones with the firmware version 2B588 and I was very happy with ANC performance. And after updating the firmware from 2B588 to 2C54, I noticed a huge degradation of ANC performance.

If on version 2B588 the ANC level was 100%, then on version 2C54 the ANC level became ~ 20%. If people who bought headphones with the old firmware version 2B584 did not notice any changes in the ANC performance when updating from version 2B588 to 2C54, then it turns out that the version of firmware is not so much connected with the problem, but more like a global hardware issue. If Cerlini's new headphones with the 2C54 firmware version will have a much higher level of ANC, then this theory will be confirmed.

Yesterday I talked with another Brazilian who bought his APP 2 weeks ago and wrote a positive review about it on his website and guess what? He told me about the power of his ANC, which is good when music is playing but he can clearly hear a lot of things including people talking around him and other sounds when he’s not listening to any music. I told him about my experience when I first used it with the original firmware, about any talk becoming whispers even during a family reunion and almost all other sounds disappearing with no music on and he was just unbelievable and curious about it. So your concern about people being satisfied without testing the original firmware is right.

@_andyy

Yeah. People who are buying them now aren't going to know any difference and just assume this is how it is supposed to be. They have no base-level to compare it to. All of us do on the other hand... Or anyone who used it with firmware 2B584 (or whatever the number was before 588).

How do you determine which firmware version you have? [figured it out: on iphone--> settings/general/about/Airpods Pro]

Mine are new and came with v. 2B588. The noise cancellation feature works quite well for me.

Have you ever tried to "integrate" a shape memory tip? It is a little better but it is clearly not normal to have to hack like that ... And still, I hardly get a better result than my other helmets, the Jabra 75T when they only have the passive noise reduction. It's just not normal, and I confirm that during my 1st purchase of airpods pro, the noise reduction was much better than today. And in addition I can never pass the tip test again ......

Update - managed to get them to pair when doing so individually — so right AirPod Pro and then left.

annnnd now they’re added to my phone as separate AirPods BUT I can confirm that these brand new replacements are using the following firmware

left: 2B576

right: 2B588

Although I can’t test properly as they’re running separate connections to the phone, the ANC is still bad.

So I’m guessing because each has a different firmware, I can’t sync them as a pair. The charging case light just will not go white.

Shanesnh wrote:

More like the Genius Bar people not knowing how to handle this and just doing whatever they feel they can (even though it isn't correct). Yeah not really panicking. But frantically trying to handle situations they don't know how to deal with.

Still, this problem is not widespread. There is no such thing as a "ANC-gate" on the blogosphere, and with millions and millions of units sold in the holidays, it should have already arisen in a big way.

I have poor ANC now, but on this very discussion other people claim to have perfect ANC with new firmware so my guess is that it's a kind of hardware issue, or a bug in the firmware that only manifests itself on certain configurations.

As soon as I get my replacement AirPods to update their (different) firmware, I'll post my findings.

Take a look at this thread in the list of threads for iPhone Accessories. It is by far the largest thread by both number of views, number of replies, and number of people confirming they have the same issue.

This thread is 14 pages long, with many replies from the same posters. It's basically nothing compared to the millions units in the wild.

I now have to return to the Apple Store for a second replacement set (this time including case) after the first appointment left me with the original case and two new AirPods Pro. The left and right units each had a different firmware so wouldn’t sync as one Bluetooth device — only as individual AirPods Pro ‘sets’. The case would not enter the white light mode to sync. It would only do so when either the L or R unit was inside. And then the case instantly showed that white sync light.

I asked the product specialist to please inform engineering and she was lovely and understanding.

Kind of funny that a new issue surfaced in pursuit of trying to solve the initial — and still present — issue of reduced noise cancellation! I was forced to use my old AirPods today and I had the Apple rep on the phone at the time and it was so windy. The AirPods were blowing out and he couldn’t understand me in all the wind noise. I kid you not; I was riding my road bicycle at 35kms an hour with AirPods Pro on noise cancellation and I was speaking to one of my friends and she legit asked if I was in a car. They actually worked so well before. Now not even that nifty feature works ;-;

Having the same issues and referenced this forum with the advisor. Unfortunately, I received a response from engineering that it’s a “perception issue” and it is definitely NOT. Since updating to 2C54 there is a significant decrease in noise cancellation. Treadmill sounds, others talking, keyboard clicks are now heard with noise cancellation active. Product was great with original firmware and now noise cancellation is almost useless.

I have watched this thread along with loads of others on the internet.

I had the original firmware, flew from Houston to Scotland and was loving my APP.

My APP got updated to 2B588 and I did the return flight and wow what a difference. Cleaning the car there is a huge difference to before, lifting in the gym.

I flew over Christmas and didn't even bother using the electronic trickery over it turned off as there was no real difference.

I have not used the APP much since the last 2 updates due to the ANC just being no where near as good as it was before.

I am patiently waiting for the next Firmware to hopefully start to use my expensive ear buds again more frequently.

Right now I wish I could go back to the original firmware.

Same model. I am on the 2C54 firmware.

I mean yes, there is still a difference between ANC and OFF even on these two firmwares... And it is still noticeable of course... but for us, it's only about 20-35% of what it was on the previous firmwares.

I really believe that if you got ahold of some demo models (running an old firmware) or just somehow got ahold of any pair running 2B584 or prior, you would hear it and immediately go "...oh...." because the ANC was just 70% more powerful than even the difference you are seeing now. Trust us 😂

I also have 2C54... I mean I have a difference but just the ANC is about 20-35% as effective as it was on 2B584 (or anything before the 2B588 update)... It still has some ANC.. just... not what it as before.

@ScottyDonald

Thanks for sharing your experience. This kind of post should be very helpful to Apple to perfectly highlight the changes we have seen. Especially since airplanes are one of the "original" marketing purposes for noise-cancelling earphones (like with Bose). I shared my experiences and you clearly see that there is a huge difference following the 2B588 issue.

It's reports like these that Apple needs to accept and come up with a firmware update to fix it. I also really would like to downgrade back to 2B584... If it was possible, I would have done it weeks ago...

Apple is still working with me and I think we might be at the stage where they want my device. I missed their call last night since they call at like 4AM (since I'm currently in Seoul, Korea) so I told them to just email me an update tomorrow about what to do.

yu217, maybe just call them again and ask for a supervisor to get this resolved. Or email them and ask the same thing.