Apple Adaptive Audio: Everything You Want to Know

Adaptive Audio is Apple’s way of leveling up the listening experience on their AirPods. This exclusive set of features is available only on the 2nd Pro generation model and AirPods 4, no matter whether you’ve got the classic Lightning version or the newer USB-C option. So, are you interested in what makes Adaptive Audio so special? Let’s break it down.

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What Is Apple Adaptive Audio?

Apple Adaptive Audio on the AirPods Pro makes it easier to get the right sound in any situation. It automatically shifts between transparency mode and active noise cancellation based on your surroundings. It is powered by the H2 chip, and the earbuds can tell the difference between constant background noise, like an air conditioner, and sudden interruptions, all while adapting to what you’re doing. You could be taking a call, listening to music, or staying still.

What’s great is that you don’t have to do a thing. If you step into a noisy coffee shop, Adaptive Audio increases ANC to block out the commotion. Move somewhere quieter, and it eases back to transparency mode. These changes happen so smoothly that you’ll barely notice, which lets you focus on whatever you’re doing without distraction.

How Is It Different From Personalized Volume and Conversation Awareness?

Adaptive Audio stands on its own and adjusts noise control automatically to match what’s happening around you. The other two features focus on personalization in different ways — one learns your preferences over time, and the other reacts immediately when you start speaking.

Personalized Volume works quietly in the background and learns your listening habits and the environments you’re in. Over time, it tweaks the volume to match what you seem to prefer in different situations. The changes aren’t immediate or obvious at first since it takes a while to gather enough data, but the idea is that it’ll gradually improve your experience.

With Conversation Awareness, as soon as you start speaking, it lowers the music, pauses your podcast, and reduces background noise so you can focus on the conversation. Unlike Sony’s Speak-to-Chat, which can be triggered by a simple cough, Apple’s version feels more reliable. If it’s not your thing, you can easily turn it off in the settings.

Read also: Original AirPods Are Now Vintage, It Seems

How to Enable Adaptive Audio Features

You can quickly activate Adaptive Audio features on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and the settings will sync across all your devices when you switch between them.

On iPhone or iPad

1. With your AirPods in and connected, swipe into Control Center.
2. Press and hold the volume control, then choose the feature you want to enable.
   1. To turn on Adaptive mode, press and hold the Noise Control button, then select Adaptive.
   2. To activate Conversation Awareness, just tap the Conversation Awareness button.
   3. For Personalized Volume, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and switch on Personalized Volume.

On Mac

1. With your AirPods connected, open Control Center.
2. Go to Sound and select your AirPods from the list.
3. Choose Adaptive to activate Adaptive mode.
4. Click the Conversation Awareness On button to turn on Conversation Awareness.

Using Siri

You can also ask Siri to take care of it for you — just say something like, ‘Turn on Personalized Volume” or “Activate Adaptive.”

How to Customize Adaptive Audio on Your Devices

On iPhone or iPad

1. With your AirPods in and Adaptive Audio turned on, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Tap the info icon next to your AirPods.
3. Under Audio, select Adaptive Audio.
4. From there, use the slider to adjust how much background noise you want to let in while in Transparency mode.

On Mac

1. With your AirPods connected and Adaptive Audio enabled, click the Apple menu, then head to System Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Tap the info icon next to your AirPods, then choose AirPods Settings or AirPods Pro Settings.
3. Under Adaptive Audio, use the slider to control how much outside noise you hear in Transparency mode.

What Is the Difference Between Adaptive and Noise Cancellation?

This is another feature, not to be confused with Adaptive.

Noise Cancellation works by using special microphones to pick up outside sounds and then generating a sound wave that cancels them out. This is perfect for blocking steady, constant noises like the hum of an airplane or chatter in a crowded place. It creates a quiet, isolated environment so you can focus on your music or calls without the distraction of background noise.

Unlike other features, Noise Cancellation doesn’t change unless you adjust it manually. Once it’s on, it stays on, maintaining a consistent level of sound blocking until you switch it off or tweak the settings.

Which Is Better: ANC or NC on Apple AirPods?

In Apple’s AirPods Pro, ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) and NC (Noise Cancellation) are really the same thing. ANC is a more advanced form of noise cancellation that uses microphones and technology to block out unwanted sounds. If you’re trying to choose between them, there’s no real difference — both focus on cutting out background noise, with ANC being the top option for a more immersive experience.

Is ANC Good for Your Ears?

ANC is helpful for your ears, especially when you’re in noisy places. It cuts down on background noise, so you don’t have to crank up the volume to hear your music or calls clearly. This is supposedly better for your hearing health in the long run.

That said, you should use ANC wisely. Listening at high volumes for long periods, even with ANC, can still damage your hearing. ANC itself isn’t harmful, but you should still pay your full attention to keeping your volume at safe levels to protect your ears.

What Critics Say About Adaptive Audio

Some say that Apple AirPods Adaptive Audio isn’t quite there yet. It’s unclear which sounds should be canceled or let through, which makes the transitions between noise cancellation and transparency noticeable. Even small changes, like wind or rummaging for something, trigger a shift in ear pressure and let in extra sounds.

Transparency works well for daily use, and noise cancellation is better for louder environments. But it’s hard to tell when Adaptive Audio is truly improving the experience.

Conversation Awareness, on the other hand, has been well-received. As for Personalized Volume, if you prefer to have full control over your audio levels rather than letting the software adjust things based on past preferences, it might not be for you.

AirPods are a staple for many, but these new features aren’t for everyone. Conversation Awareness is the most straightforward, but Adaptive Audio adds extra modes that feel unnecessary. 

What About Automatic Switching?

Automatic Switching (the feature that lets AirPods switch between devices) has always been a bit hit or miss — more trouble than it’s worth at times. Often, it’s just easier to turn it off because it can be so unpredictable. The concept of automatic switching is great, but it’s frustrating when the AirPods connect to the wrong device at the worst possible moment.

However, some people have noticed that the latest update has made things much smoother when moving from one Apple device to another. To get the best experience, make sure to have iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma installed.

Similar Features on Other Devices

If you’re not quite a fan of AirPods, there are similar features to Apple’s Adaptive Audio on other devices and accessories, though they go by different names. Here are a few options:

• Sony Adaptive Sound Control — Found in many of Sony’s headphones, like the WH-1000XM series. This feature tweaks the sound depending on what you’re doing — whether you’re walking, traveling, or just chilling — so you always get the best audio experience.
• Bose Active Noise Cancelling and Audio Adjustment — Bose headphones, such as the QuietComfort and Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, adjust noise cancellation based on your surroundings. It’s not exactly like Apple's Adaptive Audio, but it offers a similar real-time adjustment.
• Jabra Sound+ and Adaptive Sound — Jabra headphones, like the Elite series, use their Sound+ app to customize audio and noise-canceling settings based on your environment.
• Sennheiser Sound Personalization — Sennheiser’s Momentum 3 and other headphones allow you to personalize the sound profile to fit your hearing preferences, but it doesn’t adjust in real time.
• Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro — These buds feature Voice Detect, which automatically changes the noise-canceling and ambient sound settings based on what you’re doing.

Is Adaptive Audio Worth Trying After All? 

Adaptive Audio doesn’t block out the world as full noise cancellation does (it’s not the best choice for a flight), but it does enough to keep outside noise from drowning out music — even at lower volumes. It feels like a more refined version of adaptive transparency on the AirPods Pro.

For anyone regularly dealing with busy streets or noisy spots, it’s definitely worth a try. Apple will likely keep improving it as feedback comes in about which sounds people want to block out or let in.