AirPods Pro firmware 2B588 reduce the noise cancelling capability

Hey again all,

Unfortunately I am going to have to offer some evidence for the hardware theory now. I was firmly (heh) on the firmware side of the debate until today. When I purchased my AirPod Pros, I also picked up a friend's order at the same store for him. I saw him today and we were able to compare our units - both are on 2C54 and his units' ANC is far better than mine are. It wasn't even close comparing them in a room with a big fan going. I can't say for certain if it was 100% as good as the original firmware was, but it was far closer to that than mine are now. Mine sound like there's a degree of transparency mode enabled where I can hear the fan, whereas on his it was completely gone. I actually wonder if maybe that's a clue as to what's happening - maybe it actually is that somehow.

Will be going to Apple this weekend and getting mine swapped (and hopefully my originals sent to engineering), and I hope they figure out w t f is going on. I feel like it has to be firmware causing something to go wrong in the hardware under certain conditions now.

Unfortunately new versions are shipping with the 88 firmware as I just pick one up yesterday for direct comparison and the ANC is exactly the same as my original airpods currently on the December firmware. I’m totally convinced it is a a firmware issue and again people either don’t realize the reduction because they never had the initial firmware or the current ANC is still good enough for them.

Well right out the box brand new from APPLE/Best Buy and current Firmware is 2B588 and Hard. 1.0.0

So its firmware guys... just as crappy ANC (30%sh reduction and almost no difference between transparency and ANC) and no other issues... 100% at least we have 45 days to return these now from today if they don't fix this sooner than later.

Also, this may be our biggest fear coming true... since this shipped with this version anyone who didn't listen to them at launch, in store, or purchasing early will never be happy and will more than likely turn into a legal matter to see revision notes and get corrected... for what we were originally sold on and now outside their window of return. Ehhh...

I bought my APPs at an Apple Store a week ago, and tried them as soon as I left the store. I was blown away by the ANC.

I have some old Etymotic ER4s, and have always used a "finger-snapping" test to determine whether I've got a good seal on those buds. So, I did the same test with the APPs, and was blown away that I couldn't hear my finger-snapping at all. I wasn't playing any music; I simply had ANC turned on, and it was completely blocking the snap.

I got home and charged my APPs to 100%. Then, I put them back into my ears and, before playing any music, tried the finger-snap test again. To my surprise, I was able to hear the snap quite easily. I double-checked to make sure ANC was turned on, and it was.

I'll never know what firmware my APPs had out of the box, but after finding and reading the posts here, I'm convinced that mine got updated to 2B588 when I charged them for the first time. If it wasn't that, well — SOMETHING changed to make the ANC far less effective than it was when I tried them for the first time.

So I noticed a lot of posts regarding the firmware update and how it’s broken noise cancelling levels. But, what a lot off people may have not realize is... While Firmware Update 2B558 did in fact reduce the noise-canceling effect.. Firmware update 2C54 (Which is rumored to have been pulled by Apple See link at bottom of post) dramatically reduces bass levels, as well as producing tinny highs and flat mods, in my opinion. 2C54 basically reduces them AirPods 1 or 2 levels, audibly.

I’m a self-proclaimed audiophile and from my 10+ years experience as a DJ and Music producer. Not saying I’m a genius. But, I have the technical know-how to say this much....

I bought them knowing they’d fall short. But, their overall sound quality, ridiculously low Latency and top notch Bluetooth stability surprised me! When they were running 2B588.

Thankfully when my Pro’s with 2C54 we’re replaced... The replacements are running 2B588! I have bass again! Haha haha Sorry for highjacking the post OP. Just wanted to make everyone aware, as I hadn’t seen anything other than ANC posts.

Firmware retraction info Link : https://www.iphone-ticker.de/airpods-firmware-2c54-offenbar-von-apple-zurueckgezogen-151650/

I just dealt with this issue this past weekend when I got my originals replaced. Put them in the case, let it charge for 20-30 minutes, then open the case and hold the button on the back for a good 10 seconds. The light will start blinking white and both will be on 2B588.

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 !

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."

So I sold my AirPods Pro as I don’t think they will make ANC stronger. I bought Sony WF1000-xm3 instead and noise cancelling was a bit stronger. However they ran old firmware and after I updated them noise cancelling weakened as well.

I started investigated and found similar discussion on Sony forum where people claimed to have experienced the same as here - new update reducing ANC strength.

I visited Sony store and consultant there told me that manufacturers cut ANC intentionally due to safety regulations as there have been cases of pedestrians getting into car accidents due to isolation.

I am disappointed by the whole ANC thing as I expected them to help me concentrate on the office where there is a lot of noise from voices / steps / keyboards / coffee machines / doors and etc.

My final opinion is that the best price/quality ratio for iPhone users are AirPods 1/2

So were mine until Apple contacted me and requested that I surrender my Pros (they call it “capturing” the device) so they can see what the issue is in-house and provided me with a brand new sealed pair running 2B588. The bass performance on 2B588 is much better than the bugged 2C54.

But both firmwares have highly degraded ANC compared to the launch firmware/EARLY NOV 2019 firmware 2B584. 84’s performance was stellar. Blocked out an entire Apple store of screaming customers. 88 and the removed 2C54 does about 15-30% of what 84 did on launch.

If you don’t have a baseline to compare it to, you can’t compare it.

I still prefer some ANC to zero ANC (even on 2B588) but it’s nothing like it was when I purchased them running 2B584 in November. That is what that thousands of people are discussing, confirming, corroborating, and elaborating upon here. ✌️

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

Please go to the feedback page and send a formal complaint.

If the ANC performance keep the current level, I will definitely not recommend others to buy it.

Updates:

There is a new firmware for the AirPods (Gen 2) and AirPods Pro but it is unreleased to the public and is only showing up in new replacement units shipped from Apple. The firmware version is 2D3. It is causing new problems because a single AirPod (or AirPod Pro) running 2D3 cannot pair properly with another AirPod running 2B588, 2C54, or any other firmware... But there are many confirmed instances of this firmware shipping from AppleCare as replacements. It is unclear why this firmware remains unreleased to the public or if it fixes the 2B588 ANC issue that we have been complaining about since November but there is a new firmware and it does exist in some owner's AirPods. I have not found anyone that has an entire set running 2D3 yet though.

Another poster discussed how this problem is still being discussed here as well: https://medium.com/macoclock/we-need-to-talk-about-airpods-pro-4bbd2533e031

Sources:

https://www.imore.com/apple-shipping-single-replacement-airpods-new-unreleased-firmware-and-people-cant-use-them

https://www.macrumors.com/2020/04/08/replacement-airpods-unreleased-firmware/

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.

Might be getting somewhere... check this out

https://www.iphone-ticker.de/airpods-firmware-2c54-offenbar-von-apple-zurueckgezogen-151650/

Obviously use browser to translate... = )