Airpods Pro 2 noise cancellation worse after firmware update 7A294

I completely agree with you. Unfortunately, my suggested “fix” did not last long. It was not long after that I again experienced the same degradation that you and so many others are currently experiencing with ANC. I have since returned them and went back to my original pros. I may have to charge them more frequently, but at least they work…

so you bring up and interesting idea that anc does harm to the ear because even though anc cancels out the noise, the ear is still exposed to loud sound thus the ear muscles mummify while anc is on? and so that’s why apple silently lowered anc effectiveness.

on the other hand we agree that anc frequencies are harmless to the ear.

and on the other side the risk comes from listening to content at high volumes for prolonged periods, not the noise cancellation itself.

but with these last updates, people now have to listen to their content with at least +50% volume, which damages their ears. so which is worse? 

Oh, I think I see the original confusion here. The Apple forum is quite bad at showing when someone replies to another comment here. My post about not using APP2s for protectioin was an answer to this post:

"Same here. It's so frustrating because I am a guitarist of a rock band, and I use my AirPods Pro as ear protection in loud shows. It used to have the perfect amount of noise reduction in adaptive mode. Now, even in noise reduction mode, I can hear much more noise than in adaptive mode. I was so happy to have found the perfect protection for my ears, and now Apple took this out of me."

Since noise cancellation is a digital process it cannot be instantaneous. There is an AD and DA conversion before the out of polarity (cancelling) signal hits your ear. An AD/DA conversion always takes time. At least a millisecond or two. With miniature consumer grade converters, probably a lot longer. That's why there is extremely loud transient material, like the attack of drums, that is not being cancelled.

My comment about using APPs for protection was not a comment on the OPs post about the development or worsening of the software. It was simply to warn the person using them as protection, so that they will not damage their hearing.

there’s no confusion at all) you brought up the idea that ANC does harm people’s ears in a way that the ear muscles mummify while ANC is on. Is that correct?

and this is another point, addressed to @all: 

but with these last updates, people now have to listen to their content with at least +50% volume, which damages their ears. so which is worse? 

Do you know what Hearing Aid is? The complete opposite of Noise Cancellation. Now count 1+1 together ;)

i did that 2 times. It doesen t work for me

Judy did that two time. TV remain loud and clear

Same for me. It’s essentionally not existed for me, no difference between on and off . Remember same thing happened to APP1 before APP2 release.

Unfortunately,It is the same for me the ANC because useless, After the iOS 18.1 ungraded 😯😠

Same here. Happened first with the Airpods Pro 1, so I bought the AP2s. Now it's happening with those. Last time I ever buy any Apple earbuds/earphones.

I too noticed a decrease in noise reduction after the latest firmware upgrade... disappointing.

Same for me... Significant degradation for the ANC. Please Apple, fix this. I think most users value good noise cancellation more than any other feature.

what are your words based on? any facts? from what I’ve heard anc frequencies are harmless for the ear