Tag Archives: ANC

Pixel Buds Pro making it easier to change in-app ANC

Today, you can touch-and-hold Pixel Buds Pro to cycle through Active Noise Control (ANC) or use the app. An upcoming change will make it easier to change ANC with the Pixel Buds app, while Google’s newest headphones are set to get a “Volume balance” feature in a future update.

At the moment, the row of buttons for Active Noise Control are found on the “Sound” page of the Pixel Buds app/settings. Some users are now finding that the three-button strip with Noise Cancellation, Off, and Transparency are located directly on the Pixel Buds app homepage/”Device details.” It appears just under the “Forgot” and “Disconnect” actions. 

Additionally, this update brings ANC to the Pixel’s “Sound and vibration” panel that’s accessed by bringing up the system volume slider and tapping the three-dot overflow button at the bottom. The controls appear below “Media volume.”

Both are much better places for the ANC buttons as needing to dive into another menu has been annoying since the Pixel Buds Pro launched in July. This is not yet widely available, but there are a handful of reports today.

Current vs. new (Via u/npbevo)

It’s not clear how this change is rolling out as there does not appear to be a new update to the Pixel Buds app. (The last one was in July.) A Google Play services update could be responsible, but we’re not positive at the moment.

Meanwhile, back at launch, Google said the Pixel Buds Pro would be updated with Spatial audio head tracking and a full 5-band EQ. Both will be located within the Sound menu, and joined by “Volume balance” to

Change volume balance between left and right earbuds or switch to mono audio. Your chosen setting will apply across all your host devices.

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Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds have a fresh design and better ANC

Ever since the original pair’s debut back in 2018, Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless earbuds have received heaps of praise for their sound quality. After releasing a sequel in 2020, Sennheiser is announcing the third product in the series today — and this time, they’ve been given a substantial redesign. They’ll be available starting May 10th in black, graphite, and white for $249.95.

The Momentum True Wireless 3 buds look closer to the CX and CX Plus True Wireless than they do their direct predecessors. Clearly, Sennheiser has settled on a universal design language of sorts for its earbud lineup, and that’s reflected here. The Momentums do give off a sleeker and more premium impression than the company’s cheaper buds.

Sennheiser’s new flagship buds move the USB-C port to the front of the case.
Image: Sennheiser

The fabric-covered case is similar in shape and size to previous versions, though Sennheiser has moved the USB-C charging port to the front. This is becoming increasingly common, with companies like Jabra recently having made the same change. It looks a bit strange at first but can be more convenient in some charging scenarios. This new case also supports wireless charging, a feature that was absent from previous models — and hard to accept given the asking price.

Aside from the refreshed style, Sennheiser says its latest earbuds offer improvements to comfort, active noise cancellation, and call quality. But, in two key areas — audio quality and battery life — they are no major upgrades. The Momentum True Wireless 3s continue to use the company’s made-in-Germany, 7-millimeter drivers. Sennheiser’s mobile app now lets you take a listening test to better personalize the bass, mids, and treble, but at least judging from the press release, I’d expect the overall sound profile to be similar. The True Wireless 3s support AAC, SBC, and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codecs. The latter should reduce any perceptible latency when using the buds with devices that also make use of aptX Adaptive, while also reaching higher bitrates than AAC.

Sennheiser has implemented adaptive noise cancellation, which allows the Momentum True Wireless 3s to automatically adjust how much noise cancellation is applied based on your changing surroundings. The company says its “system continuously observes ambient noise to suppress it in real time,” though users still have the option of manually adjusting it to their preference.

Each of the two earbuds now contains three microphones, which Sennheiser says has led to noticeable improvements and “crystal clear quality” for both voice and video calls. Battery life remains at seven hours of continuous playback with the charging case holding an additional 21 hours. The Momentum True Wireless 3s are IPX4 certified for water resistance, making them suitable for workouts and light rain.

Aside from revamped looks, Sennheiser isn’t making any radical changes with the Momentum True Wireless 3s. They still lack Bluetooth multipoint, for example. It seems the company is confident that these will appeal to the same market as prior models in the series: people who prioritize sound quality above all else.

Sennheiser is aiming to lure in the fitness crowd with its also-new Sport True Wireless earbuds.
Image: Sennheiser

Sennheiser recently also introduced the $199.95 Sport True Wireless earbuds to compete against the likes of the Beats Fit Pros. The unique aspect of the Sport buds is that Sennheiser includes both open and closed ear tips, letting owners switch between the two depending on the activity and how aware of their surroundings they need to be. The open adapters will lessen the intensity of body noise like breathing and footsteps, whereas the closed tips will give you more isolation. The Sport True Wireless also add dust resistance to the equation, with an IP54 rating.

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Sony’s WH-XB910N ANC headphones are 49 percent off in Amazon’s one-day sale

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For anyone looking for ANC wireless over-ear headphones at a decent price, Sony’s WH-XB910N should be front of mind. If you’ve been checking them out, now is the time to buy as they’re on sale at Amazon for just $128, a full 49 percent off the regular $250 price. 

Buy Sony WH-XB910N headphones at Amazon – $128

The WH-XB910N headphones aren’t quite up to the standard of Sony’s $350 flagship WH-1000XM4 headphones, but they still deliver excellent sound quality while looking great. You get clear mids and highs, powerful bass and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio surround sound, available on select songs with Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music HD and other streaming services. The active noise cancellation (ANC) works well though, again, it’s not quite up to the standard of the WH-1000XM4 model (which is nearly triple the price).  

The WH-XB910N headphones are great for working at home, thanks to the “Precise Voice Pickup” that amplifies your voice on calls. It also offers on-board controls and an ambient sound mode so you can be better aware of your environment. It’ll last over a day thanks to the 30-hour battery life, and you can get an additional 4.5 hours with a 10-minute quick charge.

The $128 price is one of the best we’ve seen, topping the $138 deal available over the holidays last year. There aren’t many other models that can rival it at that price, so act soon before they’re gone. 

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Apple extends AirPods Pro repair program for crackling or ANC issues

Apple has quietly extended a repair program for the AirPods Pro that offers free repairs or replacements for earbuds that have issues with noise cancellation or static. Reddit users (via MacRumors) were first to spot the change to Apple’s support page for the repair program, which now notes that the program covers affected AirPods Pro for three years after their first retail sale, rather than two. The page appears to have been updated at the beginning of October.

The support program was originally introduced in October 2020, one year after the original release of the AirPods Pro in 2019. It meant that Apple’s repair program was introduced at the exact point that the warranty on launch units was set to expire. With the extension of the repair program to three years, AirPods Pro bought at launch should now be covered right up until October 2022.

As a reminder, Apple says it will fix the following issues with the AirPods Pro:

Crackling or static sounds that increase in loud environments, with exercise or while talking on the phone

Active Noise Cancellation not working as expected, such as a loss of bass sound, or an increase in background sounds, such as street or airplane noise

If you’re experiencing any of these issues, you now have a whole extra year to get off your butt and get a free fix as part of the repair program, which, in our experience, often means Apple giving you an on-the-spot replacement pair to take home. To do so, Apple says you should contact its support team or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or else make an appointment at an Apple Store.

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The Rock’s new Under Armour over-ear headphones pack ANC and a 45-hour battery life

Fans of celeb-endorsed gadgets rejoice. Hollywood’s busiest man Dwayne Johnson has found time to release another pair of workout headphones under the Project Rock line he created with Under Armour. The cans are essentially an updated version of the durable over-ears released in 2018. But, this is more of a trio than a tag team. Built by JBL, the new headphones’ standout upgrades include adaptive noise cancelling and a promised 45-hour battery life. With speed charging, you can get a purported two hours of playback time in just five minutes. 

Like their predecessors, the over-ears are designed to be the ultimate gym buddy. The IPX4 rating means they can withstand your sweaty workouts. While UA provided the extra grip on the headband and supervent materials on the fast-drying cushions, which you can remove and hand wash. 

Under Armor

Johnson, meanwhile, finely tuned JBL’s Charged Sound to his liking. Possibly, so he could listen to his workout playlist on Spotify or relive his atrocious gospel rap ditty, Pie. Just so you know who cooked these up, his Brahma Bull insignia his prominently placed on each ear cup. Additional audio tech includes two ambient modes that filter through external chatter and sounds. Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are also on hand for when you need voice commands mid-workout.

UA Project Rock Over-Ear Training headphones are out now via JBL and Under Armour for $299.95.

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Xiaomi launches Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro with ANC

Credit: Supplied by Xiaomi

  • Xiaomi has launched the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro in India.
  • The headset offers IPX5 support and active noise cancellation.
  • Xiaomi also launched a new portable Bluetooth speaker.

Neckband earphones have played second fiddle to true wireless earphones and premium over-ear headphones in recent times, but they still deliver a great balance of price and battery life. Xiaomi previously launched its Mi Neckband Bluetooth headset last year, but it’s upping the ante in a big way with a newly announced Pro model.

Xiaomi India has revealed the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro, and it features a number of improvements over last year’s product. For starters, the Pro variant delivers active noise cancellation (ANC), with the company saying its solution is able to reduce noise by 25 decibels.

The Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro also packs an IPX5 rating, making it splash and sweat proof. This was missing from last year’s model, so there’s some peace of mind here if you find yourself caught in the rain or exercising.

What else should you expect?

The new headset also touts up to 20 hours of playback compared to the standard model rated for up to eight hours of endurance. It’s worth noting though that the Pro variant’s endurance is based on volume being at 50%, while the standard model’s rated playback was based on volume being at 80%. There’s also no word on the Pro model’s playback time with ANC enabled. Furthermore, the new headset has a slightly bigger battery versus the old one (150mAh versus 140mAh).

Other notable features include voice assistant support via your phone’s assistant, low latency audio, and a 10mm bass driver. Another noteworthy feature (albeit not in a good way) is microUSB charging, which is a little disappointing in 2021. Thankfully, the price makes up for the choice of charging port.

Expect to pay Rs 1,799 (~$25) for the Mi Neckband Bluetooth Earphones Pro. This puts it below the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z, although the two devices share a similar claimed battery life and the same IP rating. Xiaomi’s device does serve up ANC though, which the OnePlus earphones lack. Meanwhile, the OnePlus gadget delivers fast charging (ten minutes of charging gives you ten hours of playback), while the Xiaomi accessory takes up to 1.5 hours to fully charge.

This isn’t the only product Xiaomi announced today, as the company also revealed the Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker (seen above). This gadget packs 16W audio, the ability to pair two of these speakers together for stereo sound, and voice assistant support via your phone’s assistant.

The speaker also delivers an IPX7 water-resistant rating, allowing it to be immersed in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. And you’re getting up to 13 hours of endurance on paper, with charging taking place via a USB-C port.

The Mi Portable Bluetooth Speaker retails for Rs 2,499 (~$35) and will be available in Black and Blue color options.

How important is active noise cancellation to you in a Bluetooth headset? Let us know by taking the poll below!

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