Need help! Audio quality from speech in movies/series is terrible after upgrading Airpods!

I need help. Went from Airpods 2 to Airpods 2 pro and the Audio quality during music is slightly better so i'm satisfied with that. But i'm very sad with how the movies/series sound especially when someone speaks. I'm terrible at describing sounds so hopefully i get the words correctly. The regular Airpods 2 had very good bassey and full/intimate audio quality when people/characters spoke but the Airpods 2 pro doesn't have the same feeling. Instead of characters sounding like they are standing closely/intimate to you and you can hear EVERY detail in their voice now it sounds like you are standing at the opposite side of a somewhat empty room and almost eavesdropping on the conversation. (Not refering to the audio being to low). Another semi-similar comparison would be that the Airpods 2 sounded like the spoken audio was recorded in a Professional sound studio while the Airpods 2 pro speech sounds like it was recorded in a newly started sound studio that uses some gaming headset to record voices instead of a quality microphone. Maybe a good description of the sound would be airy/empty and lacking the gruntiness/raspy sound from the throat of characters when they are speaking. I've also tried the Airpods 4 and it has the exact same issue.


I've sat with the Health apps manual input Hearing test and tried different values for the Frequencies for hours but can't make it sound as good as the Airpods 2. Please can anyone help with this issue! What frequency values should i set to make it sound as good as the Airpods 2?

iPhone 13, iOS 18

Posted on Sep 23, 2025 8:07 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 24, 2025 4:40 PM

Hi Henke888

welcome to this Apple (user-to-user) Community!


Re: "What frequency values should i set to make it sound as good as the Airpods 2?"


Values may be dependent on one's own unique hearing health needs.

As you mentioned the Hearing Test: For tips see Apple Support's online article (link below)

See how to: Use the Hearing Aid feature on your AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3 - Apple Support

Eg says:

"About Noise Control modes with Hearing Aid"

"The Hearing Aid feature amplifies sounds in your environment only when you're in Transparency mode. Media Assist makes adjustments to improve the clarity of music, video, and calls across all noise control modes".

______________________________________________________________________

Re: "Audio quality from speech in movies/series is terrible after upgrading Airpods"


If you scroll to: "Set up and use Media Assist" in the above linked article, it lists the steps to follow :

Eg: says "With Media Assist, the audio adjustments based on your hearing test results

can be applied to the sound of music, videos, and calls".


There is much more info. in the above article.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Else: If I guessed incorrectly, and you are not using a Hearing test and the hearing-aid feature:

You can try using Headphone Accomodations to customize headphone audio levels to suit

using the steps provided in the article below.

See: Customize headphone audio levels on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Eg: says:

"If you enable Hearing Assistance (ie: that article at the very top of this reply) with your AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3 on iOS 18.1 or later, your Headphone Accommodations settings will be overridden."

_________

If needed: The article below may be helpful in improving the audio quality:

If the sound from your wireless headphones cuts out or is distorted - Apple Support

Eg: says:

" Your headphones communicate using Bluetooth,

and a Bluetooth signal can be interfered with or weakened in some situations."

The article gives a way to test the signal, and give tips to improve the situation.

_______________________________________________________

Online Resource:

AirPods User Guide - Apple Support

__________________________

More support . info. if needed:

Find all the topics, resources, and contact options you need for your AirPods...

AirPods Support Website: AirPods Support - Official Apple Support

All the best :-)

Similar questions

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 24, 2025 4:40 PM in response to Henke888

Hi Henke888

welcome to this Apple (user-to-user) Community!


Re: "What frequency values should i set to make it sound as good as the Airpods 2?"


Values may be dependent on one's own unique hearing health needs.

As you mentioned the Hearing Test: For tips see Apple Support's online article (link below)

See how to: Use the Hearing Aid feature on your AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3 - Apple Support

Eg says:

"About Noise Control modes with Hearing Aid"

"The Hearing Aid feature amplifies sounds in your environment only when you're in Transparency mode. Media Assist makes adjustments to improve the clarity of music, video, and calls across all noise control modes".

______________________________________________________________________

Re: "Audio quality from speech in movies/series is terrible after upgrading Airpods"


If you scroll to: "Set up and use Media Assist" in the above linked article, it lists the steps to follow :

Eg: says "With Media Assist, the audio adjustments based on your hearing test results

can be applied to the sound of music, videos, and calls".


There is much more info. in the above article.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Else: If I guessed incorrectly, and you are not using a Hearing test and the hearing-aid feature:

You can try using Headphone Accomodations to customize headphone audio levels to suit

using the steps provided in the article below.

See: Customize headphone audio levels on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Eg: says:

"If you enable Hearing Assistance (ie: that article at the very top of this reply) with your AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3 on iOS 18.1 or later, your Headphone Accommodations settings will be overridden."

_________

If needed: The article below may be helpful in improving the audio quality:

If the sound from your wireless headphones cuts out or is distorted - Apple Support

Eg: says:

" Your headphones communicate using Bluetooth,

and a Bluetooth signal can be interfered with or weakened in some situations."

The article gives a way to test the signal, and give tips to improve the situation.

_______________________________________________________

Online Resource:

AirPods User Guide - Apple Support

__________________________

More support . info. if needed:

Find all the topics, resources, and contact options you need for your AirPods...

AirPods Support Website: AirPods Support - Official Apple Support

All the best :-)

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Need help! Audio quality from speech in movies/series is terrible after upgrading Airpods!

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