[Review of products targeted for Prime Day] AirPods Pro Review: The role of wireless may not be sound quality.Maybe that's fine

"Holding two" also comes into view.

From 0:00 on June 21st (Monday) to 23:59 on June 22nd (Tuesday), 2021, Amazon's oversized sale "Prime Day" will be held, but the already announced "Prime Data Im Sale Target" I found AirPods Pro in the product list!

Actually, there was a secret sale at the beginning of this year's Golden Week, and at that time, it was a discount of about 5,000 yen. I wonder if they will give me the same discount on Prime Day.

Let's review the appeal of AirPods Pro again in a review article by writer Yamada Yuus type.

* The following is an edited and reprinted article on December 12, 2019.

Earphones may have more meaning than listening to music.

When "AirPods Pro" was announced, I felt uncomfortable with the excitement of SNS. Isn't it too complimented? Isn't it flourishing? Are they really good earphones? There have been many review articles since then, but it seems that the usability is really good. The editorial department Tsunafuji-kun also recommends it from Sony's "WF-1000XM3".

The wireless earphone I'm using is "Jaybird Tarah Pro". However, I usually use DAP and wired earphones or headphones. Because I'm not in the music subscription. Since there are high quality music files on the device, I really want to listen to them by wire. I'd like to focus on wireless when I start using Spotify, but ... Wouldn't it be a dead language soon? How are you guys doing that?

Anyway, this time I tried using AirPods Pro without skin for 2 weeks, so I will deliver the review. I've been trying out various wireless earphones for my work, but why is AirPods Pro so exciting? Which one is sensational? As a latecomer reviewer, I would like to dig deeper into the actual part of that.

Let me state my stance first. From a non-target of wireless earphones, the AirPods Pro is a really great earphone, though disappointing. I wanted it, but I'm sorry! Let's find out together where this regret is caused.

AirPods Pro

What is this? : Ace suddenly appeared in the wireless earphone world by Apple

Price: 30,580 yen

Favorite place: Highest noise control, stress-free compactness

What I don't like: Sound quality for the price. For the price!

The impression of ringing is as it is

When I first heard the music, I was not as impressed as Sennheiser "MOMENTUM" and B & O "E8". It is written in the memo at that time that it lacks a sense of three-dimensionality and presence, and the sound expected from 30,000 yen earphones is a little unimpressive.

Compared to the current non-Pro model, the second generation AirPods, it sounds good. But it wouldn't be fair to compare an earbud AirPods to a canal AirPods Pro. There are many earphones that sound better when compared in the same canal type neighborhood. Considering the amount of money, I think I wanted a sound that came to my heart and ears a little more, so the average score for sound quality is normal. In a sense, it sounds like Apple's sound, or it's a tuning that seems to be the genealogy of AirPods.

No stress on wireless connectivity or startup speed. Take the case out of your pocket, take out the right earphone (already connected), put the earphones in both ears, play. The flow was very smooth and the delay was not noticeable. Well, this is the latest wireless earphone, and it costs 30,000 yen.

Neucan and external sound capture that shook the gadget world

Following the average sound quality, it was noise canceling that was the first challenge for Apple and achieved great results. Its power is so great that if you use it on a bus or train, you will feel uncomfortable that your body is shaking but there is no sound. Even if you use it in the front row of a live house, you can get enough silence to sleep your baby.

This is arguably the pinnacle of cancellations I've ever experienced. It is more powerful than the WF-1000XM3, if not a big difference. The treble and the female voice pass a little, but the bass is a high-pass filter.

And sometimes Neucan can feel the opposite phase sound as unpleasant noise. The AirPods Pro's noise canceling isn't as natural as the WF-1000XM3, and although there is a slight sense of discomfort in the opposite phase, it was a level that I got used to as I listened to it. Since human sensory organs adapt, I wonder if this kind of discomfort is within the permissible range.

Also one. The external sound capture function further enhances the excitement of the powerful noise canceller. This is really good, both functionally and in terms of design. It's not uncommon as a feature, but the AirPods Pro's external sound capture is so natural that it makes you laugh. When I asked a friend who was not familiar with gadgets to try it, he showed me the reaction of Showa that he got up from the chair and was surprised.

AirPods Pro combines two things, noise canceling and external sound capture, with the term noise control. As you might expect, AirPods Pro is acclaimed for its flexible noise control. Powerful noise canceling that silences the sound from the world and external sound capture that allows you to feel the original environmental sound as it is. The seamless movement between the two worlds brings an impression that has never been seen in earphones. The fact that there is no announcement when the noise cancel is ON will also lead to seamlessness. Sound effects will be heard, but it is good to make the transition without stopping the sound. This specification is rather rare.

You can go back and forth between the world of silence and reality by simply pressing and holding the earphone shaft (udon part) for about 1 second. This feeling has a special floating feeling that makes you feel as if you are sliding to a different dimension. By not removing the earphones, you can feel the silence and the real experience. It's natural that it gets cooler if you take off your clothes, but it's a little amazing if it gets cooler while you're wearing it, right? AirPods Pro is a wearable gadget that allows you to jump dimensions.

Also, during the review, I was connected not only to my smartphone but also to my Mac, but in my life where I often listen to music on my DAP when I'm on the move, it was more convenient to work with my Mac. Transcription with Neucan ON during Nomad work, or play YouTube as a substitute for BGM. There is a lot of usage with Mac, not with smartphone. Rather, it was so convenient to use that I wanted it ...

After all, what do you want from wireless?

In the first place, there is a limit to the sound quality of music played via Bluetooth, and if you use iOS, you will not be able to obtain a transmission speed ≒ resolution that is higher than the AAC codec. For good earphones, we develop our own driver unit, devise a housing, and pursue sound quality with corporate efforts, but it is physically unavoidable that cable earphones have an advantage in sound quality.

This means that if you really want sound quality, you should use a cable, and even if you say that you have a certain amount of scrutiny at the stage of choosing wireless, I can't say strongly. Of course, each company devises within that range, and it goes without saying that the differences between them are interesting.

Then, how do you make up for the poor sound quality? Or how can you listen to music better while keeping the sound quality?

That's right, noise canceling. The style of listening to the music you are listening to by eliminating noise shows the superiority of wireless, and now the noise-canning power is becoming an index of wireless earphone specifications as it is. With cable earphones, you should try to improve the sound quality itself instead of eliminating the noise, so trying to eliminate the noise and improve the sound can be said to be a method unique to wireless where the ceiling of the sound quality can be seen.

This "creating an environment for listening to better music" is a design of experience rather than raising specifications. AirPods Pro can be said to be an earphone that focuses on Coco, and it can also be said that it is an earphone that tried to contribute to the way of listening to music by redesigning parts other than sound quality. I think that the new function "Eartip mounting condition test" was often added as an assist function for listening to a proper sound in a proper position. Well, the accuracy of this is not good, and even if it is clearly shifted from side to side, it will be judged as OK. May I judge it a little more severely?

When I say that, "Isn't it a trick!", I'm still skeptical that I'm misleading the way I hear by working hard on the parts that aren't sound quality. However, as long as it is a wireless earphone, there is a limit to the pursuit of sound quality, and it is honestly unbelievable that Apple will overtake even though sound quality driven manufacturers such as Bose and Sennheiser are doing their best. I mean, the sound quality of AirPods Pro is not bad. Just because it's not a sound of 30,000 yen, it sounds perfectly fine.

When it comes to that, what you're expecting from Apple's wireless earphones, which cost 30,000 yen, is at least not the sound quality. Then, let's look at other factors, the noise canceling ... Oh, it's really good. External sound capture can be heard clearly. The body case is small and the battery is sufficient. Alright, if you think about it in total, this is fine!

That's the story, isn't it? I gave up on the sound quality, but everything else is too good. The sound quality is not bad at all, and it sounds to a level that can be recommended to people. I'm sorry for this. Regardless of the value, I wanted to be driven by the sound quality of expensive earphones. How about that, how easy it is to use and how portable it is. A writer who was a sound quality supreme principle will be struck by AirPods Pro! No, it's fine!

Beautifully designed products also design your life

It's safe to say that the new AirPods Pro has become the gadget for the sound part of the Apple ecosystem, which is addicted to cycles such as Mac, iPhone, and iPad. The ism inherits not only the main body design but also the ideological part of dyeing the lifestyle of the user in Apple color. Even the actual wireless cooperation is very smooth. Smooth cooperation is comfortable to use.

And the powerful noise canceling and the function of capturing external sounds that sounds natural are so good that once you use it, it becomes mellow. Use noise cancel when working in a cafe or when moving, and take in external sounds when you want to blend in with the surroundings. These features aren't just for music, they support the user's experience in every aspect of the day. AirPods Pro will improve your quality of life and extend your lifestyle.

Neucan has other uses besides music, but AirPods Pro has the design of the user's life in the first place. With AirPods Pro, you have more than just listening to music wirelessly. Even with the small size of the main body, it feels like you should always have it on hand. Beautifully designed products also design your life. I think it is a typical product. ... Well, in that design thinking, the priority of sound quality is not so much, but I feel that it is also ant in the gadget called wireless earphone. That's regrettable.

Speaking of regret, why did it become a canal type? I like AirPods because they are inner ear type. Unlike the canal type, you don't have to think about position adjustment, and it's easy to put on and take off. There is a sense of security in hearing the outside sounds. Since it became a canal type, the number of rivals increased at once. Huawei's "Free Buds 3" realized a noise cancel with an inner ear type, and I think it was not necessary to make it a canal type separately. In terms of sound quality, the canal type is good, but it's not surprising that the sound quality is saved and the canal type is used.

What is your favorite wireless push?

If you're looking for wireless earphones on a budget of 30,000 yen, you have a pretty luxurious and unmistakable option. Among them, whether to prioritize sound quality, choose a battery, design, or the performance of noise canceling. Wireless earphones require self-questioning and self-answering with similar specs to search for such properties. Especially when it comes to the budget so far.

AirPods Pro guarantees sound quality that is pleasing to many. There are models with the same price of earphones that have better sound quality, but it is another matter whether you can see the difference, and if you pay the same price for a trivial difference in hearing, it is powerful noise canceling, compactness, and cooperation with iOS. The decision to focus on is not a mistake at all. Well, if you look at it in total, it's the one (what is the total sound quality of earphones! Well, aren't you particular about wireless sound quality?).

If you want to express it dramatically, you can call it an earphone that will change your life. It was very convenient even when I actually used it (see, it's an expression of convenience). Once you have the boundary between silence and reality, you can be alone anywhere and always be one with the world. You don't have to remove the earphones. You'll be amazed at how smooth and stress-free your everyday tasks will be.

In the first place, I don't know how many people can afford 30,000 yen for wireless earphones. In that sense, the inner ear type AirPods were kind. But I think the amazing experience that AirPods Pro brings will be more rooted in you than listening to music. Can you imagine that earphones will change your life?

summary

・ Complete wireless earphone with noise canceling function made by Apple

-Although the sound quality is normal, the noise canceling is powerful and the external sound capture mode is surprisingly natural.

・ The ability to control the sound that reaches your ears is enough to change your lifestyle.

・ While there are many rivals in the 30,000 yen class, the high overall strength is very attractive.

29,036 yen (* Not a sale price)

* Prices and other displayed information are as of the time of writing. Please check the sales page as it is subject to change.

Source: Apple