💾 Archived View for fuwn.me › blog › the_daily › airpods_4_anc captured on 2024-12-17 at 10:58:14. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
https://ruu.neocities.org/images/animeHeader.gif
Author: Fuwn
Created: 2024. 10. 24.
Last Modified: 2024. 10. 24.
I've owned a few sets of AirPods since their initial release, and they've always been some of my favourite audio appliances. With the release of the new AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, I thought it was time to pick up a new pair.
I initially purchased the AirPods Pro 2, but the pair I received had the infamous audio imbalance issue where the audio panning is constantly stronger to one side or the other. In my case, the left side was noticeably skewed to the left. I wasn't going to just give up, so I picked up another pair the next day and returned the first pair, and the second pair also had the same exact issue! At this point, I didn't want to try my luck a third time, so I went for what is mostly a side-grade, which is the AirPods 4 with active noise-cancelling.
From what I am aware, the AirPods 4 with ANC are missing very few features when compared to the AirPods Pro 2. They lack the clinical hearing aid and hearing test functionality and the ability to adjust the volume using the stem controls on each AirPod. If I missed anything, it likely wouldn't matter to most people, but I don't think I did.
I actually highly prefer the classic AirPod design without the silicon ear tips over the Pro design. Even though I often use both designs throughout the day, I still find myself escaping back to the classic more and more. With the AirPods 4 with ANC being an even better choice this generation, I could finally and confidently ditch those annoying ear tips.
I've been testing out the active noise cancellation on the AirPods 4 for about a week now, and they are really impressive. They aren't 1:1 with the Pros, since they lack the silicon ear tip to seal the audio in, but they are very close. The AirPods 4 do an excellent job at cancelling out low and steady sounds, and are effective for higher frequency sounds as well. The active cancellation range does get noticeably better the further you move out, with anything about a metre out typically being silent, and anything closer in depends on its frequency. I'd rate the AirPods Pro's ANC at around a 7.5‒8/10, the AirPods 4 at a 6‒6.5/10 for high frequency sounds, and again at a 7.5‒8/10 for low and steady sounds.
Some other compliments I have are that the battery life is great and lasts me a fantastic amount of time; the charging case is nice and small for pocketing; and the shape of the AirPods make for a comfortable and secure fitment.
"I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something." - Richard P. Feynman
Copyright (c) 2021-2024 Fuwn. All rights reserved.
Any and all opinions listed here are my own and not representative of my employers; past, present, and future.
