AirPods Pro Noise Cancellation: What it is and How it Works

Since its launch in late 2019, Apple‘s AirPods Pro have stood out for a specific feature that many users have been asking for for a long time: noise cancellation. In this article we tell you everything you need to know about this functionality, be it the technology that makes it up or how to activate it.

airpods pro

What is noise cancellation

Maybe you have been reading this word for a while but you don’t know what it is about. In summary, it could be said that headphones have noise cancellation when for physical reasons or internal technology they are able to isolate the external noise from the sound that is being reproduced, thus helping the user’s immersion to be better.

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We found two types of noise cancellation, the first of which is passive cancellation , which is fundamentally due to the shape of the headphones and arguably is innate in them, since there is no need for any internal technology to facilitate it. The very design and materials used when building them favors noise insulation. Normally this is usually given in headband or in-ear headphones, as is the case with the AirPods Pro, but not the rest of the AirPods.

On the other hand, we have active cancellation , which may or may not combine the factors of passive cancellation with a meticulous technology that allows noise isolation. This is generally achieved through an external microphone that receives the sound from the environment, transforming it into an opposite sound wave that generates silence. Headband headphones are understood to work better because passive is added to this active cancellation.

Noise cancellation on AirPods Pro

We have previously explained in brief what active noise cancellation consists of and this is precisely the technology used by Apple in the AirPods Pro. The ‘in-ear’ design of these headphones can be a favorable factor for better isolation in itself , because it plugs the ears causing less outside noise to enter. In addition we find several pad sizes that fit our ears. In any case, this would not be a passive cancellation sufficient to take it into account.

The greatest asset of the AirPods Pro lives inside these, thanks to the fact that they are one of the few of this style that are capable of constantly adjusting the sound according to the noise it detects outdoors. This detection occurs thanks to an outward-facing microphone that makes the internal components of the earpiece capable of emitting an antinoise signal of the same amplitude to cancel it.

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So far we have seen how these headphones from Apple fulfill the final function of active noise cancellation, but to this we must add that there is still one more microphone inside. It also checks for any unwanted sound and is able to override it with another anti-noise signal. In fact, this whole process of noise cancellation is adjusted 200 times per second to avoid distractions when this mode is active.

It would be absurd to say that, despite this painstaking technology, AirPods Pro have the best noise cancellation on the market. It is evident that due to its design there will be much more powerful headband headphones in this sense, however it is very important to keep in mind that it is one of the best cancellations in this type of in-ear headphones. Although each person has a different hearing level, they are able to adapt as much as possible to favor an immersion in music, video or the sound that is playing.

Activate AirPods Pro noise cancellation

iPhone and iPad

Once you have AirPods properly connected to your device, you’ll find up to three different ways to activate noise cancellation. The first of them, and easier, is to press on the haptic button that these headphones have on their temples, although if you do not differentiate well between modes it may be somewhat confusing. So the best way to do it is by opening the Control Center , going to the volume adjustment part and clicking on it to find the different sound modes of the AirPods Pro. Also from Settings> Blueetoth you can press on the AirPods to access to more settings, including noise cancellation.

Mac

If you connect your AirPods Pro to a Mac, you must go to System Preferences> Sound , or go to the toolbar if you have these settings located there. Then, by clicking on the AirPods Pro you can switch between the different sound modes. If you go to System Preferences> Bluetooth and click on “options” on the headphones, you will find various settings, among which it is worth highlighting the ability to select those related to the noise control of the headset button. If it is more comfortable for you, you can simply check the ambient sound and noise cancellation option so that each time you use this control, the AirPods vary between these options.

Apple tv

These Apple multimedia playback devices also have compatibility with AirPods Pro and its many options. In this case you must make sure they are connected from Settings> Controls and devices> Bluetooth. Once this is done, you can change the sound modalities through the haptic button on the headphones.

Other devices

Both the AirPods Pro and its noise cancellation modes are compatible with other devices such as Android mobiles and tablets or Windows PCs. In them you could lose the options to change modes from the settings, as well as find your own animations, but in each of them you can activate and deactivate noise cancellation thanks to the same haptic button with which you can operate on Apple devices .

And you, have you tried the noise cancellation of the AirPods Pro? What do you think? You can leave us your impressions in the comment box.