Apple AirPods Professional (2nd-gen, USB-C) overview: Greater than only a new charging port
The very first thing you should know in regards to the just-announced AirPods Professional that include the USB-C charging case is that it’s not simply the charging case that’s totally different. There are refined however vital variations on the within too.
In true Apple trend, the corporate says this new AirPods Professional have a brand new “acoustical structure.” What this implies precisely is unclear, nevertheless it permits this new AirPods Professional to transmit lossless audio to the yet-to-be-released Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. Audio lovers will know that it is a world’s first. As I’ve talked about quite a few instances in different evaluations, codecs like LDAC and aptX HD usually are not really lossless.
Apple is coy about how that is carried out and would solely inform me that it’s not Bluetooth and that it’s doable solely as a result of they’ve developed a brand new protocol. They gained’t verify if it’s Wi-Fi, however they did say that battery life will stay the identical. Anybody with a deep understanding of wi-fi audio transmission will know that that’s outstanding.
Sadly, lossless audio transmission is at the moment just for the Imaginative and prescient Professional – you’ll be able to’t allow it on different Apple units. That’s an actual disgrace as a result of many Apple units – iPhones and iPads – haven’t any headphone jack and subsequently the one approach to get pleasure from lossless music is to attach an exterior DAC after which wired headphones to them.
Anyhow, I digress, however this is among the key variations of this new AirPods Professional, so anybody who’s contemplating buying the Imaginative and prescient Professional when it comes out ought to take word if they need the very best audio expertise.
Bodily, this new AirPods Professional is an identical to the Lightning model. The buds are the identical form and stems can nonetheless be interacted with to manage music playback and regulate the amount. The charging case is identical compact form and measurement too. There are additionally speaker grilles on the backside in order that they’ll emit a noise if you use Discover My to find them. The one variations are the charging case now has a USB-C port as a substitute of a Lightning port, and the water and dirt resistance rankings have been improved to IP54 (it was once IP4, and for water solely). That makes it far more handy to cost, particularly when you even have a brand new iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Professional. You may cost it wi-fi too with MagSafe or any Qi wi-fi charger. Battery life is unchanged at as much as 6 hours from a single cost and as much as 30 hours with the charging case – that is with ANC on.
There are additionally new options price mentioning, like Adaptive Audio, Dialog Consciousness, and quicker Automated Switching. These have been introduced throughout WWDC 2023 and I’ve to stress that aren’t unique to the AirPods Professional with USB-C. They are going to be coming to all second-generation AirPods Professional – even these with Lightning charging case – as soon as a brand new firmware drops alongside iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma.
Additionally price mentioning is that these options, as welcomed as they’re, aren’t ground-breaking. Sony has been implementing some type of adaptive energetic noise cancellation of their earbuds because the WF-1000XM3 from 2019, even when their effectiveness may be suspect at instances.
I’ve solely tried these options for a few days however they appear to work as marketed. Adaptive Audio is a pleasant center floor that blends energetic noise cancellation with transparency mode to present customers consciousness of their environment whereas nonetheless suppressing noises within the atmosphere. I can see this being helpful when you find yourself on a flight and need to stifle the drone of the engines whereas nonetheless with the ability to hear the pilot’s bulletins.
Dialog Consciousness routinely lowers the amount of no matter is taking part in and reduces background noise the second it hears the wearer talking. And when you find yourself carried out talking, it routinely goes again to no matter listening mode you have been in. That is particularly useful because it relieves me of getting to manually swap to Transparency mode, each time I’ve my AirPods Professional on and I want to talk to somebody.
And as somebody who makes use of a number of Apple units. I can not let you know how completely happy I’m that Apple has improved the Automated Switching operate. Beforehand, it might be glitchy and gained’t swap between units if you need it to. However after I was given a demo at Apple Park with this new AirPods Professional, I discovered that I might swap between units rapidly and reliably. It’s nearly like a super-powered model of multipoint connection. I will be testing this function out extensively as soon as Apple releases all of the OSes later tonight.
As for the effectiveness of the energetic noise cancellation operate, I can hear no distinction between these new AirPods Professional and those launched final yr. It stays to be among the best within the enterprise even when I believe Sony’s new WF-1000XM5 earbuds have a slight edge. The Transparency mode, nonetheless, is peerless. There’s a naturalness to the way in which it sounds that’s unmatched by all of its rivals even in spite of everything these years.
Sonically, these new AirPods Professional with the USB-C charging case sound an identical to those that got here with the Lightning case. Which means it has a V-shaped sound signature with tastefully elevated bass and treble. The bass is full-sounding and punchy, whereas the treble is lifted simply sufficient to it a way of air and sparkle. The place the AirPods Professional falter is within the decision division. It will possibly’t match newer flagship earbuds like Audio-Technica’s ATH-TWX9 or Technic’s EAH-AZ80, whose drivers have noticeably higher element retrieval and backbone.
Last ideas
Are the AirPods Professional nonetheless the perfect earbuds for an iPhone or Apple person? Sure, unquestionably they’re. Having a USB-C port makes charging a lot extra handy, the energetic noise cancellation stays wonderful, and new options like Adaptive Audio and Dialog Consciousness are helpful and good to have. Automated Switching appears to work as meant and might be invaluable to anybody who owns a number of Apple units. And if you wish to get pleasure from spatial audio in your Apple units, the AirPods Professional are nonetheless essentially the most fuss-free approach to go about it.
At S$362.35I hesitate to name them low cost, however they’re priced competitively and attractively. Insofar as flagship merchandise are involved, the AirPods Professional may be stated to be one thing of a discount (comparatively talking, after all). Right here’s the way it stacks up in opposition to different flagship-class earbuds.
Nevertheless, there’s room for enchancment. Latest earbuds releases from rivals are revealing that the AirPods Professional’s drivers can’t fairly sustain when it comes to sound high quality. The tonality is generally well-judged, nevertheless it’s a step behind when it comes to decision and element retrieval. Additionally, lossless music assist is simply with the Imaginative and prescient Professional and never different units, and that’s an actual disgrace as a result of lossless music is one among Apple Music’s largest highlights.
Nonetheless, regardless of my grievances, I’ve no bother recommending the AirPods Professional. Their mix of efficiency, options, and worth make them indispensable for readers who’re deeply invested in Apple’s ecosystem. In reality, I problem you to call higher earbuds for Apple customers. Go on, I’ll wait.
