ANC is affected ☹️ AirPods Pro 2 Firmware 6B34
Wow seems like Apple’s rolling out updates every couple of weeks now. This time it’s 6B34 for both USB-C and Lightning connector versions, following from 6B32. I don't really expect this to be anything more than just minor tweaks, maybe security related updates, but we don’t know for sure because Apple never publishes what the updates do except for the generic text. That’s why I’m here to help you guys test if there are any changes to its performance such as its sound, noise canceling and mic quality for phone calls.
Sound Quality
In terms of sound quality, this time, yet again there are changes. On the USB-C version we’re seeing a bit of a bumping up in the high frequencies. In this region, not many people can hear the difference, but some might be able to “feel” a bit more airiness in the soundstage.
On the Lightning version there’s a little gain pullback which may not seem significant, but if we compare the USB and Lightning versions after the update, we can see that they are now largely identical in tuning compared to the previous firmware, a lot closer in the upper mids and highs. I daresay, most people won’t be able to hear a difference.
Active Noise Canceling
In terms of active noise canceling, we’re seeing something interesting. While there isn’t any change in the USB-C model, there seems to be a slight weakening in the Lightning version. I actually repeated the recording a few times just to make sure it wasn’t due to coupling issues, but yes, it does seem to cancel a tiny bit less noise now in the lower and mid frequencies. Have a listen and tell me what you think.
Microphone Pickup
In terms of mic pickup without Apple Voice Isolation feature, it seems there’s been a change in this area too. Previously the USB-C version got a little better, but now, it’s not cutting background noise on its own anymore, just like our lightning connector friend. Have a listen to this test recorded in both quiet and noisy conditions with wind noise from a fan.
(Do note that this is without the Voice isolation feature on iPhones. With that, both versions of AirPods and even buds from other brands can sound clean under noisy conditions. But if you’re not using an Apple device, this is the result that you’ll be getting. I tried calling on a Samsung device under noisy conditions, using apps like Telegram and Whatsapp, and it was just like in the recordings that you saw.)
Conclusion
So on the USB-C version, there were some changes to sound, mic quality and active noise canceling, bringing them more in line with each other in terms of performance. That’s firmware 6B34. But if you’ve also detected some other changes not covered in this video, let the community know in the comments. And when there are more updates that could affect their performance, I will come back with more analysis, so check back on this space.
If you’d like to check the latest prices and availability of the AirPods Pro 2, I’ve included links to their Amazon page below.
Amazon
AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) - https://amzn.to/3RCis3o
AirPods Pro 2 (Lightning) - https://amzn.to/3VbAmsW
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