Apple Unveils AirPods Pro: A New Design with Active Noise Cancellation
by Anton Shilov on October 28, 2019 7:30 PM EST
Apple today has introduced a new version of its AirPods wireless earbuds, which the company is calling the AirPods Pro. Designed to be an even more premium version of Apple's earbuds, the AirPods Pro features a revamped design that is equipped with a custom high dynamic range amplifier, as well as adding support for active noise cancellation. And with a price tag of $249, Apple's high-end earbuds will carry a price premium to match its new premium features.
Apple’s AirPods Pro is based on the company’s H1 system-in-package, the same SiP that is used for the 2nd Generation AirPods introduced earlier this year. The new earbuds feature a new design with soft silicone ear tips (the company will ship AirPods Pro with three different tips) as well as new vent system that promises to minimize the discomfort of using the in-ear headphones. The earbuds come with a new custom high dynamic range amplifier, which is used to power a low-distortion speaker that can provide bass down to 20 Hz. Meanwhile, according to Apple the H1 SiP as well as the Adaptive EQ technology automatically tunes low- and mid-frequencies of the audio according to the shape of an individual’s ear.
The sweat and water resistant AirPods Pro comes with outward-facing and inward-facing microphones. These are able to detect external sounds, allowing the headset to support active noise cancellation. According to Apple, the AirPods sample the environment at 200Hz, allowing them to quickly respond to changes in outside noise. Meanwhile the new AirPods also add a new feature that Apple is calling transparency mode, which that allows the user to hear the environment around them while using the earbuds, essentially offering an option to reduce/eliminate the noise-blocking properties of the earbuds.
Meanwhile, the new AirPods also support an Ear Tip Fit Test, which can detect whether the headset has a good fit. And of course, the earbuds also fully support the usual AirPods features, including hands-free ‘Hey Siri’ functionality and everything that is derived from that.
Apple's AirPods Pro can work for up to 4.5 hours on one charge with ANC or Transparency mode activated, or for up to 5 hours without them. Talk time of the new headset is 3.5 hours.
The new AirPods Pro are compatible with a variety of Apple’s devices running iOS 13.2 or later, iPadOS 13.2 or later, watchOS 6.1 or later, tvOS 13.2 or later, or macOS Catalina 10.15.1 or later.
Apple’s AirPods Pro with a wireless charging case will be available starting Wednesday, October 30 in the US and 25 other countries. In the US, the product will cost $249.
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Source: Apple
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edzieba - Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - link
I'll second the recommendation for the WF-1000XM3. Audio quality is perceptually as good as the Shure RMCE-BT2 & SE425 combo I;d been using previously, and more convenient to store & transport. I do miss convenient on-device playback controls though, the "hold your finger down multiple times on a touchpad" scheme sucks.ZolaIII - Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - link
Try with Edifier TWS1. Those are inexpensive, mid centric and suport APTx LL. So pretty much good for video & vocals.Quantumz0d - Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - link
So Apple made another garbage set which is overpriced to moon. Sheep will buy no matter what just Apple logo has to be pasted on it that's all you need.It still doesn't have Zero latency or lagfree vs a basic 300kbps AptX forget the 500Kbps AptXHD and just leave the LDAC 900Kbps and the wired audio with zero latency and highest bitrate without any limits at full HiFi quality without any DRM BS or the limited lifecycle.
As the components miniaturize the battery technology gets worse add fast charge it's more accelerated. No one gives a Fuck tho, 3.5mm jack has been axed for this mediocrity which is overpriced garbage.
Quantumz0d - Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - link
WTF is Adaptive EQ, Apple deems what it should sound rather than the track itself how it is recorded ? This is worse than the garbage DACs they have vs a true audio solution like dedicated SoCs from ESS or AKM in LG / Vivo phones respectively.And a single driver unit, no matter what this cannot beat a Multi Driver / Hybrid Driver sets, and Single DD also this won't be able to beat a basic 13mm Dyn Driver in a 50USD FiiO EXII or IT01 iBasso, or the RHA MA750. Total rip off junk.
ZolaIII - Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - link
Adaptive EQ is just another DSD monstrosity that simply won't work. Much better players with very long experience didn't menage to pool it up like Creative for instance. On the other hand this time around at last they didn't use garbage DAC/AMP. They simply used new generation of those that are really emphasised to do so. For example Texas Instruments PCM510x series. Nothing bad with larger advanced single dynamic driver unit especially for something that will pley lossy codec stuff. Unfortunately Apple doesn't use really good ones. I prefer Foster RP ones. Would be ideal to use 15.6mm active one companioned with planar static one but let's face it we won't see that in TWS ever so a 9/10 nm 32 Ohm's ultra thin bio diaphragm one would be best to hope for. As it is Shanlin UP2 is the best dongle BT/DAC up to date paird with what ever you like up to mid Ohm's earphones.ZolaIII - Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - link
DSP*willis936 - Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - link
Idk what you’re on about. DSP is the saving grace of audio and IEMs are ripe for it. What you hear is highly dependent on small changes in geometry and an adaptive EQ can notch out resonances. In theory, though they certainly did not go this route, if you could handle added latency you could time align with an FIR. That’s the holy grail. Technologically we’ve been here for 30 years, but us mere mortals are still waiting for it to arrive in consumer gear. The audio world is ridiculous snake oil. Any moves in the right direction are welcome to me.ZolaIII - Wednesday, October 30, 2019 - link
I plaid with & programmed one of most popular DSP's back in the days with Creative Audigy 2 Platinum. I do know what it is & how it works,all rho there are some decent VTS plugins developed true time and it's in generally a nice way to play with a lot of thing's through time I developed a need to get back to analogue as much as possible with as less processing as possible and DSD in generally helps me a lot there (because of delta-sigma modulation) & so does the DoP - DSD conversion (of pretty much anything). Don't worry it's actually old teach. While EQ can help you to shape & correct small shots comings of analogue listening end it won't make bad ones sound wonderful. Want a good TWS? This one's have a good foundation & did analogue part quite good.https://www.thephonograph.net/whizzer-tp1-review/
Their are good for Apple and certainly better than this Apple TWS Pro's. They lack the other part of spectrum (better;BT, DAC, LDAC codec suport) but we are certainly progressing (very slowly) into right direction.
sonny73n - Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - link
You’re right but Apple can’t succeed overcharging consumers with their garbages without help from our corrupted government who has been doing a very good job at eliminating some foreign competitors and manipulating the rest.I wouldn’t spend $25 (probably the cost to manufacture these), let alone $249 for these garbage.
tygrus - Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - link
ANC - Aagghh! another excuse for children to say they didn't hear what you said.