believe the active noise cancellation on the AirPods Max has deteriorated 

.My one-week-old AirPods Max's active noise cancellation (ANC) has gone soft.

[{"selector":"#anim-dfda08cd-631f-437e-80d6-0dfde84f70dd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-360f882a-dd56-4934-b8db-1057c6c6f26e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 959.25814%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1edd92bf-acaf-4986-a9b5-2d66c0b84da2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db5246b0-53f2-4974-91ca-cc7e892c6f8f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30.45501%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-812b8772-7178-4896-9973-75cd64c2e10f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

.Now, I hear everything I don't want to hear, and I'm positive the firmware update is to blame

[{"selector":"#anim-b332b727-e729-4e88-bcf6-7f6f1cc97f59","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-481cb742-fbf7-440e-a6e6-42fb8ea8eda6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 29.77627%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d35695e-5087-40fa-b193-c37b24eec008","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97150068-8ce7-4a93-b4de-504d7d593c5b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 892.59148%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7386f9eb-4331-44a2-a65a-e2426833808f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.278320223169416%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

The ANC now sounds like the transparency mode for a librarian, in my opinion

[{"selector":"#anim-6f956795-6464-4fe2-a812-40d7ff06f38d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-faeef8ec-ad00-417c-aa81-b0abc64ce895","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-358deg) translate3d(0px, 31.69935%, 0) rotate(358deg)","rotate(-358deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(358deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c15b874e-db75-4cf5-9a08-a951b3f195ad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72651553-4044-4a31-a512-d3815cabb989","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 946.75808%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3cf0513b-ae82-4a68-87d2-ee5bd62194ed [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

----------------

[{"selector":"#anim-ae77ad65-c00b-4358-85b6-4f0752de99d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cfbc647f-62b5-4aa8-89c1-671bc5fc831c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30.11564%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62328ee8-b2a4-4c5f-be20-0227bae7692e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79601f3c-b633-42bd-bc47-613db394b073","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 946.75808%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3feee4e2-2bfa-42cc-a1a6-fea4320766ae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(20.398437320378868%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] The finest ANC serenity and quiet I've ever experienced while working was not restored after resetting the AirPods Max by pressing and holding both buttons

Similar complaints concerning decreased noise cancelling efficacy following a firmware upgrade were made by Bose QC35 II owners in 2019.

[{"selector":"#anim-6131df73-2805-4795-8dba-b294d3cc65eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c144a7d4-af9f-499d-9f93-51e112fa9a02","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30.45501%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-631b0905-1ddc-4ca3-8aba-d01810f28627","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-119.93127%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f62f3515-c55a-473a-8833-9a690b33f13a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0426b26-cb5d-4dea-891b-179e152442b1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-76dfadfa-6937-469b-9e9a-ae991dad79ce [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(14.10361815616698%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Generally speaking, Apple software changelogs are fairly instructive. For instance, this week saw the release of iOS 16.0.2.

[{"selector":"#anim-a53a8e86-e4a5-462f-a283-b3d47c1ab012","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c2ffa521-a1d5-42cd-bd29-04a7a9dbcc6b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30.11564%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f95c85f6-b3a2-495e-9a67-2a4b82042fdf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-120.61856%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee2c311a-9dde-4597-818b-edaee3b8dfee","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd61320e-c53d-451d-8507-60f4fcfd3b13","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71f56dba-ad97-455b-9c75-0d9a74ca202e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(18.392856951066225%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

After an upgrade in November 2019 that many users said made their AirPods Pro ANC less effectivemore users reported a similar impact with update 2C54 in 2020

[{"selector":"#anim-04de3fca-27dd-4816-9a7f-a3cbc55e5178","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee5f472e-ec1a-4a10-931e-06fe3b40bc26","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 30.11564%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6292c1f-84e4-462f-be3d-a2e23110118e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-123.36769%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc412891-847a-4957-801f-4f113ce89ad9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86c35813-a3bb-47f6-8edb-f6725f4ceeda","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-558f98c7-54a3-4b2c-a7c7-986cc987a86b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(58.048931021348714%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

s. Some say it’s just a placebo effect, but after my experience, I’m convinced ANC was weakened

[{"selector":"#anim-778dff9d-a7ce-4ece-ba7c-9945bcf30db9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28875ee5-ae2b-4b1f-9560-570dc26e8e04","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 31.24686%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a2459a3-27fc-4f36-a3d5-f57fb2cb1a9a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-121.30584%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0ca04ab-6a42-45a1-8647-f0b216eb300c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7223d791-8218-446a-9964-db22ad7f4c8b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-06a79baf-87a2-4a25-8daa-2472a52ee621 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

[{"selector":"#anim-44587611-39e1-41fd-bb18-eaa990702c9b","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-341deg) translate3d(66.73077%, 0px, 0) rotate(341deg)","rotate(-341deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(341deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f162e84-4dc6-4d5c-a669-16baed8a307a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a0c4757-93da-4ba4-b8a7-77558664136b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a82024a-73e9-493a-bd67-10208932df1a","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(15deg) translate3d(-52.3077%, 0px, 0) rotate(-15deg)","rotate(15deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-15deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4be6ea9-0341-4af5-bd7d-eb35a6f55009","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02a27b2d-b470-4231-80db-08a75298298d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fa8ba245-9191-4d24-acfe-70ba35209f11 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.812499744007886%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] click here