The Truth About AirPods Pro 3 Sound — From a Music Producer

Summary

Lo, a seasoned composer with over 20 years of experience, reviews the new AirPods Pro, focusing on their exceptional noise cancellation, adaptive EQ, and overall sound quality. He highlights how the headphones are ideal for casual listening, reference checks, and even client communication. Lo compares the AirPods' performance with typical consumer headphones, praising their balanced bass and treble. He also discusses how online measurements don't accurately capture the real-world experience, emphasizing the importance of subjective listening. Overall, Lo finds the AirPods Pro to be a valuable tool for audio professionals despite their limitations for mixing.

Takeaways

• 😀 The AirPods Pro offer exceptional noise cancellation, with a noticeable improvement over previous models.
• 😀 Transparency mode on the AirPods Pro is significantly better than older models, providing a more natural sound when hearing external noise.
• 😀 The earbuds adapt their EQ based on volume levels, providing a 'smiley face' curve at low volumes for an enhanced bass and treble response, and a 'frowny face' curve at high volumes to prevent ear fatigue.
• 😀 The new AirPods Pro have a more comfortable fit, with foam tips for a better seal and improved bass response.
• 😀 Despite their small size, the AirPods Pro achieve impressive bass quality without the muddiness typical of many small consumer headphones.
• 😀 The sound profile of the AirPods Pro is tailored for different environments, with built-in adjustments that make them more personalized based on the user's ear shape.
• 😀 The AirPods Pro are not intended for mixing music professionally, but they are great for quick, final checks before sending music to clients.
• 😀 Some online measurements of the AirPods Pro are misleading, as their adaptive EQ and real-time adjustments make them hard to accurately measure using standard methods.
• 😀 The adaptive equalization is constantly adjusting based on the pressure in the ear canal, which makes the listening experience unique for each person.
• 😀 The AirPods Pro are useful as a reference tool for producers to ensure clients hear a consistent version of the music, even if they use poor-quality speakers or headphones.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The video script focuses on reviewing the new AirPods Pro, specifically evaluating their sound quality, noise cancellation, transparency mode, and their use in a professional music production setting.

How does the speaker describe the noise cancellation in the new AirPods Pro?

The speaker describes the noise cancellation as being significantly better than previous models, with a noticeable difference when turned on or off. It’s compared to a new level of effectiveness, especially in a sound-treated studio environment.

What improvements in transparency mode are highlighted?

The transparency mode in the new AirPods Pro is described as being much improved compared to the older version. It is more natural and does not have the exaggerated highs that were present in the previous model. The mode is now more accurate for hearing voices clearly.

How does the speaker react to the bass response of the AirPods Pro?

The speaker is impressed with the bass response, noting that while it's difficult for small earbuds to achieve deep bass, the AirPods Pro manage to deliver punchy, transparent bass without it becoming muddy, which is a significant achievement.

What issue does the speaker mention with the older AirPods Pro's transparency mode?

The speaker mentions that in the older AirPods Pro, the transparency mode used to boost the highs excessively, making it feel unnatural. Additionally, it was noticed that the transparency mode would often be about 2dB louder than the real-world sound, which exaggerated the difference when switching to noise cancellation.

What is the significance of the adaptive EQ in the new AirPods Pro?

The adaptive EQ adjusts the sound depending on the volume level. At lower volumes, it emphasizes bass and treble to make the sound more lively, while at higher volumes, it flattens the EQ to avoid overwhelming bass and harsh high-end frequencies. This adaptive EQ helps maintain a balanced listening experience across different volumes.

Does the speaker believe the AirPods Pro are suitable for professional music mixing?

No, the speaker does not recommend using the AirPods Pro for professional mixing. However, they are used as a final listen-back tool before sending music to clients, as they provide a good representation of what clients will hear on their devices.

Why does the speaker use the AirPods Pro as a reference tool in their workflow?

The speaker uses the AirPods Pro as a reference tool to simulate what clients will hear when listening to music on subpar systems, such as laptop speakers. They find that the AirPods Pro offer a more reliable and consistent listening experience, which can help avoid unnecessary revisions.

How does the speaker feel about the general perception of sound measurements for the AirPods Pro online?

The speaker is critical of the sound measurements circulating online, particularly from tech YouTubers who rely on basic measurements. They argue that the AirPods Pro's adaptive EQ, which adjusts based on the user's ear canal and volume levels, makes it difficult to accurately measure their sound using traditional methods.

What unique feature do the AirPods Pro offer in terms of sound adjustment for individual users?

The AirPods Pro have a microphone that measures the pressure inside each user's ear canal and adjusts the equalization in real time. This personalized adjustment ensures that the sound is optimized for the individual listener, which is why the sound experience can vary from person to person.