Apple AirPods Pro 2 -- 10 more thoughts 📝 ('Dear John')

[@DarkoAudio]

PLEASE READ *before commenting*! 1) All comments here are moderated by a third party 2) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome 3) No URLs, racist/sexist remarks or conspiracy theories, please

[@roadhouseguy]

You were absolutely right, AirPods Pro 2 is the best $250 in audio I could have spent in 2022. It’s not even worth comparing to Gen1. These things are just in a different league. Bass punches more low down, at more moderate volume. Spatial audio doesn’t suck, or remove all the low end as before. The sound stage is so much more airy, imaging and instrument separation. I’m really enjoying these for music unlike before. Transparency is more natural, less pressure, shape is nicer less pain on the ears.

[@markphaneuf4653]

John these 10 more thoughts are some of my favourites of yours. Thanks for doing them. It really connects you and the viewers.

[@thecapone45]

Thanks for the ad break warning!! 11:30 It really does make a difference and when I first encountered it I thought it was gonna be a KZbin ad AND your sponsored ad. The reality was much nicer. Really appreciate the heads up. Don’t think anyone else is doing this. Makes the transition so much nicer and not abrupt.

[@mallcivilization]

this was a breath of fresh air. clean, concise and most of all informative. keep up the good work!

[@marvean2519]

The AD break transition makes it a lot better. Wish more channels would do that.

[@jimmyg3855]

I am a air conditioning mechanic and just purchased the AirPod pro 2 and love them when I’m driving the transparency mode is amazing and when next to a noisy machine the anc is amazing and the sound especially with spatial audio is so good and so much fun. And the all day comfort is top notch! Buy an aftermarket case the factory one us to slick and smooth and easy to slip out of a pocket.

[@riad9042]

There will always be someone preferring one thing or the other and they will shout and push for it, it’s good you shed light on things that normal people need and use with emphasis on audio, other people/reviewers might not have the audio experience or put things into the same perspective. You do you man your stuff is great.

[@Another_Audiophile]

I have the AirPods Pro, pro 2 and the Sony. One thing I like from the Sony is something nobody has ever mentioned. I like to sleep with wireless IEMs. Usually I listen to music with a sleep option set at 30 min. The Sony will play through and after the music ends they will automatically go to power saving mode. The Apple’s battery will drain and are at 0% battery when I wake up. The Sony are always above 80% charge. Something to consider

[@JeffJacquesmd]

This is a great point which I forgot in my own comment above. Do you find the XM4s comfortable for sleeping tho? I side sleep and find that I get too much ear pressure.

[@Another_Audiophile]

@@JeffJacquesmd I find the Sony more comfortable with much better passive isolation but that’s again very different from ear to ear. I sleep face up so not much of an issue for me.

[@emreisiklar]

@@JeffJacquesmd only face up with them, I own both but bought linkbuds for sleep

[@Umuliuz]

Apple have something to learn here

[@stevoc123]

Really enjoying the 10 more follow up vids. It’s a great format

[@CS-ek4zi]

I appreciate an audiophile such as yourself taking the time with your knowledge to give your opinion on something such as the AirPod Pro 2s. you’re coming from an audio standpoint, which the average consumer, that being most of the world is not. The thing most people don’t get about Apple users, especially in the iPhone/AirPod space is the simplicity of use. people want something that just works,and works well all around. It may not be the best, should never be the worst it just gets the job done with focus on ease of use. because they have other things to do or higher priority things.

[@benediktbernet1585]

Keep going John. Always coming back to your content as you are making a stand on your view of the audio and hifi world. Not letting the audience decide for you makes your channel authentic. Thanks for that.

[@Arcadium1177]

forget the comments taking general issue with you covering “lower end consumer” products like this. this information and perspective is vital. i love hi-fi but products like the airpods pro make so much sense for those who are on the move day to day. you don’t bring the super car to ikea, you bring the practical car and that’s where i think these excel. there’s plenty of space for both worlds to coexist!

[@MrDaruma]

I always come to you channel for fresh perspectives regarding audio gadgets, and you never disappoint. What I like about your videos is that you’re not a snob when talking about audio, you’re a down to earth reviewer, and since I’m not that educated in sound vocabulary and terms and stuff, I always understand what you’re talking about.

[@frankbernharduebler]

I agree, your add break graphics are cool. Nice touch.

[@Bluray-pe3ys]

First AirPods ever, The Pro Gen 2 are really good !

[@tinyfatgiant]

The most trustworthy audiophile YT channel, period. Thank you for reviewing audio products, authentically.

[@Eric-W0EDG]

Thank you for this series. I am ready to move on from my Sony’s so this was very helpful. I also like the ad break transitions.

[@Innaething9]

More of a viewer of general tech KZbinrs and I disagree with the comment that said your video was no better. You had another very interesting and rich perspective and it was quite lovely, thank you for those videos !

[@isaacwutkee11]

This response video is awesome. You can’t be the only one who has done this, but it’s the first time I have seen a content creator give an inside look into their motivations as they break from their norm, and then react to their followers responses to it. But it was done so specifically, one at a time, in response to the general feedback. Well done!

[@gamerfinn3634]

Enjoyed the fire side chat style! Well done..

[@jonbravo6262]

Dear John… because of your video I purchased the G2APP & Subscribed! Having used a wide variety of TWS IEM over the years, I’m impressed with everything you have highlighted, let alone the Apple functions I’m working my thru to customise to my hearing/tracking etc. I will continue to watch your videos with IEM or overear, to really appreciate your sound production and music suggestions. Fantastic channel!

[@emilianorevert2358]

So.. I rarely comment on videos. But.. seeing some of the comments I want to say why this videos from John are so important for me. Hearing an opinion on this level of products from some one that you consider to have a good criteria tu judge audio, is priceless. I wouldn't even consider on buying an airpod if it wasn't for the previous review. I really love how apple works with the "ecosystem" however when it comes to audio, I always kept with the uncomfortable cables, dacs, etc... that are a pain in the a....so may be is time to try this airepods out.

[@paulbigbee]

Your approach to this content IS different and yes, the style is more pleasing to me personally. That said, your modesty and **taste** always informs my own sensibilities and is quite different from the "techtubers". Always excited to see your videos, even when the content is well outside of my budget "base consumerism" smacks of some tiresome gatekeeping).

[@drevo50]

More power to you, John. The occasional interlude for consumer products is interesting and valuable. I travel a lot for work so use true wireless IEMs regularly. I’m finding the AirPods Pro 2 extremely good, thanks for the advice!

[@kylevanwagn3r]

Really appreciated your thoughtful review of the AirPods Pro, especially after hearing the reasons for your newfound need to be moving more. Very nice to hear a well laid out and in depth review from someone who loves audio.

[@neilshirley]

Really like these Dear John videos, and there is always something interesting raised.

[@KaiHowells]

Now, I never though I'd be saying these words, but out of the box the AirPods Pro 2 have too much bass. There, I said it. I found a very easy way however to tweak the tuning, without having to create a custom EQ curve for them. On your iPhone, go to: Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Headphone Accommodations Turn it on. Set Turn Audio For: Balanced Tone Set the slider to Sight or Moderate. This fixed the Beats-tuned bass and delivered a much more even sound.

[@hoilau8926]

John, respect for sticking to your own ethos. I think these days people have multiple earphone/headphones to suit different use cases. I use my AirPods Pro for convenience ( also the great user experience that it offered) knowing that it will not sound as good as my nice pair of wired headphones.

[@PhotoViking]

I bought these recently, and I am truly impressed by them. When the wife goes to bed early I use them with my Apple TV and I get ”surroundsound”, spatial audio, in the headphones. Amazing!

[@Rock-Pirate]

Love all your videos. Especially when you review products I know nothing about. How else can something be learned. Thank you always. Jazz Pirate in Pennsylvania. 😎☠️🏴‍☠️

[@ScowlerJase]

Yeah you got me - I never look at the Apple Music home page so missed the Talking Heads news 😄. I upgraded to AirPods Pro 2 last night , so far totally agree with you.

[@sidewinder244]

Love these kind of videos… as someone who likes tech and portable audio, its great to have a review of consumer audio products by those who really know their stuff. While there will always be hi fi people who will scoff at true wireless, its great to see reviews like this who definitely knows what they are talking about :)

[@mattmcmaniac]

5:56 Thank you for commenting on the user experience! It's just so seamless and easy.

[@piccman1]

John, I watch your channel for your insights on all things hi fi. I am not a techno music lover but you are able to relate even the modest of electronics to the masses. I found the wireless ear buds comparisons to be very informative. Those that comment about your dive into consumerism have not followed your channel with the thought of maybe learning something new. Keep up the good fight!

[@assai74]

Dear John, countinue doing what you love to do. It shows and I enjoy these ones most.

[@dubsmachine555]

Thanks for the shout out to my comment on the review video. I also have Jabra 65t which I prefer for longer listening on Android devices for comfort, but they are a few generations old and the anc feels it. They do have a nice balanced sound though, probably somewhere between Sony XM4 and Airpods Pro 2. I only discovered your channel when looking at Airpods reviews but look forward to more videos in the future.

[@jagkahlon]

Really appreciate this review, great visuals. Have the AirPods PRO 1, will be going in for the gen 2 based on your review.

[@MeestroDavid]

There is surely higher quality sound to be had but the AirPods Pro 2 deliver on so many other levels for every use-case beyond focused, critical listening in silent environments. Yes, I have wired IEMs and a portable DAC for late-night listening, but 90% of the time it’s a too-bulky, too-limited solution to extract that last bit of resolution. I have nitpicks about the APP2s, but, overall, if you’re an iPhone/iPad/Mac user they do so much more than anything else on the market and sound great considering the inherent limitations of wireless audio.

[@MikeSandoval]

Hi John Regards from Chelsea, Massachusetts. I appreciate your Work...

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

THANKS JOHN,WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO…KEEP ON DOING IT 🤗 And keep the outtakes please 💚💚💚

[@barlypop]

Another interesting follow up video John. Yes the out-takes and your honest approach make your channel what it is, keep up the good work. 👍

[@cestmoi7829]

Honestly I had watched many pro 2 reviews and they all missed the mark. I purchased them anyhow to replace my pro 1 and I was simply blown away at the improvement in the sound quality; I can now use these for music too when the originals were so bad I never did. You were one of only two out of the many who actually recognized this improvement and I don’t see how so many others didn’t hear it. The best review out there by far. Also I have a pair of share 835 and honestly the portable dac/amp etc can’t really drive these to bring the best out of them so I would recommend say a 535 which I also owned previously for music lovers. Last comment - so happy that the pro 2 have taken such a large leap forward; they are so convenient !

[@barryarmstrong5232]

Honestly think you make some of the best quality videos i watch on KZbin.

[@jonp6798]

I’ve recently started watching John’s videos. I like these consumer audio from someone with a trained ear and track record of good audio journalism. You can’t necessarily trust all the ‘lifestyle’ reviews of these products so a good practical review where you know that sound quality will be paid attention to is great. I’d love some more of these when there’s more to compare. Ignoring products because you have an opinion on them without listening to them like that one angry audiofile guy makes no sense to me. John seems to represent my viewpoint on audio even though he clearly has a better room and equipment than me. 😢

[@fisky2000]

You know what John the old man audiophiles can crawl under a rock keep the new school coming , also your electronic music taste is spot on.👍

[@qwertzuiop875]

You are still pulling them out in a diffult way: 1. Open the lid with the light facing towards you 2. Put your finger behind an airpod pressing slightly downwards. 3. Pull the finger towards you.

[@nils5479]

Keep on doing awesome reviews ( just like this one) John! Love your approach to hifi and the fantastic quality of the videos you guys make.🙏

[@Terrilltf]

I own the Dragonfly Cobalt. Amazing device.

[@imaxximus]

I think your insights are unique and measured whether it is couture audio or integrated ecosystems or mobile. We are all living it. Videos too are great. Keep it up please.

[@kneesockslength]

You have to review the kef mu7

[@t3dewys]

I own a pair of Focal closed backs, a pair of hifiman sundaras, and some high end IEM’s. I just got the AirPod pro 2’s based on your review and I’m blown away!!! Integration is amazing!! And the sound quality is really really good.

[@gianpaologliori3604]

These wireless headphone reviews are really helpful. I like hi-fi gear but I have come to hate the faff and hassle of multiple components and wires. Listening to music with just an iPhone and wireless headphones is wonderfully simple and hassle free and for me I think it is the future. Looking forward to the next generation of true lossless bluetooth and however apple implement it! My only reservation is that wireless headphones tend to break after a couple of years and are not well supported by the manufacturers. I would be happier spending on high end wireless phones if I knew that they could be repaired, even if I had to pay for it (hate throwing things away).

[@razor.premium]

Dear John! Awesome job bro! Keep rocking 😎🤙🏼 I just wonder, any thoughts on the 2023 usb-c version of the apple EarPods?

[@Andyboybv]

The intro music is superb as always! Could you recommend some music of this sort please? Thanks

[@Greye_Vernados]

Wonder how these compare to the Beoplay EX.

[@slapstra1970]

Old man grumbling 🤣

[@richiejrich]

I for one hope you do find more time to review more wireless in ear headphones. Your expertise in sound quality is so much more valuable to me than 90% of other reviews that are out there on youtube

[@KevinBritain]

Really enjoy your content and channel.. thanks.. your thoughts on this pushed me to upgrading from 1st gen to 2nd gen and thought the sound quality is ever so slightly the transparency and noise canceling differences are quite awesome.. I also share all of your additional thoughts but would like to add one key word for Apple, (and though not a fanboy I am drawn to a lot of their products).. that key word for Apple is Ecosystem.. every thing just completed works together all of the time and that’s the r&d money that they invest into their products or rather their brand.. again, keep up the great work John..

[@marksoftime]

Hey Darko. Hoping you can review the new KEF headphones. Great video as always

[@stro_photography]

Thanks again for your work! sympathy and style... thanks !

[@Keyboardnut99]

I love the air pods 2 they are the best in ear headphones I have ever heard

[@_Just_Some1]

Loving them!

[@Masna_]

I’m no audiophile, but appreciate your reviews - got the ifi zendac, and now thinking about some wireless iems. Your reviews seem the most unbiased (and accessible) for plebs like me :)

[@tyo101]

Darko, great insights, thank you.

[@ginovairo6487]

I really enjoyed these two videos. Inspiring me to upgrade to the Pro2’s. One more thing about Apple is their excellent customer service. My 2 yo (out of warranty) AirPod Pro’s developed a crackle. Made a Genius Bar appointment and brought them in to Apple and they agreed and swapped over for a new pair (with a new 2 year warranty). I am happy to pay a premium (if that is indeed true) for apple products knowing they really stand behind their products!!

[@FrankBruce]

Thank you for sharing your insights on these particularly good three wireless earphones

[@mokisan]

Review the oppo enco x2, best sounding tws imo

[@_Just_Some1]

Love the channel!

[@marcianoacuerda]

Wasn’t expecting a hoodie mention. Wanted to know the same thing 😅

[@tonyroolze]

I think the reason people hook into these types of reviews regarding ear pods and the like is because it’s very difficult to have demo in shops unlike headphones etc. Obviously I understand these reasons but it does frustrate me I have to rely on reviews by people like yourself. Great work John and for the record I bought these based on your review and would like to thank you, I came from the Sony xm3 but understood that the AirPods Pro 2 do have an all round capability if your into the apple eco system, which I am.

[@murraysampson2501]

Additionally, at least in my experience, Apple’s customer and service support is second to none.

[@qwertzuiop875]

Yes really, went there to replace the case because the capacity felt low. They said that the battery still should be good (after 3 years) and that I should first charge the case completely and check if the problem still occurs. If it still occurs I could buy a new case. I went home, fully charged the case and noticed that I was just stupid by not taking care to fully charge the case 😅

[@GadZookz]

Darko is right about the AirPods Pro 2. The OG was not the best at anything but it did everything more than well enough to make it the best choice for many people. The Gen 2 is a definitive improvement with in that design philosophy.

[@EnthusiastGamers]

Darko I can wait for your review of the Px8 Bowser & Wilkins, or rather I wait for you .. I hope you will do it as soon as possible I was going to buy the Px7 S2 and then I saw the new Px8 but the costs have gone up a lot, will it also be justified by the new potential? thanks a greeting from Italy I follow you ...

[@thewebart]

Great additional info. Audio is Audio - it does not matter if it is 300USD or 30.000USD. Thank you!!!!

[@TorToroPorco]

No surprise there is a lot of interest in wireless IEMs as they are convenience lifestyle devices many people rely on. The sense of calm that noise cancellation can help facilitate is a very attractive feature that many people appreciate.

[@JeffJacquesmd]

John, I’ve owned a set of the AP Gen 1 since they launched. Bought the Gen 2 as the battery life on mine were starting to degrade. Agree with you on the improvements on the new set. Don’t love the Sony XM4s, not comfortable in ear for longer than about 60 minutes. The Sennheisers are quite good, but the AP Gen 2 are better in my opinion. Cheers

[@princediesel1]

Have you tried the Devialet Gemini?

[@kokhoongcheah8440]

Sometimes I just watch your video for the soundtrack

[@siddharthasware]

Love you, as you are. Most important is you are honest in your presentation, you are also touching on the aspect where the convenience perspective is the matter, where this TWS hits the part. Here in India, true Audiophiles cannot survive, especially those who commute by local trains, the trains here are super heavily crowded and we cannot afford to get on the train with our DAC/AMP and IEMs. Here we can get convenient with TWSs with codecs like AptX/ AptxHD/ LDAC etc. which really makes a difference and comes with convenience. Thanks for all your efforts.

[@hrvojemagic5936]

Keep on Darko! Cool video, nice content, and is smoothly optimized for KZbin (a small tip add a couple of tags in the backend for SEO kick). :) Thanks for the review!

[@chrisjohnston964]

Love your videos, particularly your presentation. You unabashedly show your humanity, which is refreshing. So many other channels are churning out soulless AI generated garbage. Keep on keeping it real!

[@caldorius]

Instead of pulling them up, You can also try pulling them toward the front of the case - that way is the easiest for me as they simply pop out with no effort. As for APP 2nd gen., Your review is one of the reasons I bought them and I’m really happy I did! You inspired me to make that move, so thank You!

[@timo5601]

I was skeptical, but I bought the APP2 for $189. First day of riding my bike I forgot they were in my ears. So comfortable. Sound great and I haven't even set up spatial yet. I opened the box and they connected to my Apple ipad, iphone and desktop effortlessly. Wish for EQ, unless I'm missing a feature. Still exploring but very satisfied so far.

[@stephensmith3111]

It's not just your ear canals, it's your whole central nervous system. Yeah, the basic template is the same, but everybody's brains are wired up (okayed, synapsed) differently. Otherwise we would all think and percieve the world exactly alike. And the brain is constantly rewiring itself as it subconsciously tries to maintain what it deems optimal function. The brain is an enormous kludge and it's amazing that it usually works as well as it does, or even at all. Biology is messy, but it's what we got. So the best that you can do is take your personal experiences, thoughtfully evaluate these experiences, and then express your honest opinion. Ideally. There are a lot of people out there that are not honest. [Wait, what?!!!] John, you seem to be one of the good guys, but I'm about a third of a planet away, so what the foxtrot do I know. 🎶 keep on keepin' on 🎶

[@DAMN11KIDS]

I really enjoy your stuff! 🤙🤤

[@konstawillberg9039]

Yeah.. Twisting is kind of the wrong word.. Just put your fingers behind the buds (in the empty space in the lid) and just press the bud towards yourself.. It kind of twists out..

[@nathaniel2329]

Does: settings > accessibility > audio/visual > turn on Headphone Accommodations > balanced tone > slight, have a beneficial effect?

[@maslovsergey]

Might be a little late to chime in, but in my experience balanced tone slight removes most of the veil which is there by default, and then makes them finally enjoyable!

[@judgejoolz7594]

John, you and your team are magnificent, truly. I'm one of your more 'consumer' level viewers, rather than a connoisseur of high-end audio hardware. That said I thoroughly enjoy all of your content so I wondered, why not have a second channel for the more 'consumer' level hardware?

[@seanoconnor1398]

You are a the KING for coming back at the “Talking Heads” comment best thing is they probably won’t even understand your jab was a much more creative and entertaining jab or thss as t it was a jab at all. Lol proper videos mate really enjoy ALL ASPECTS of them.

[@GoldenRvr]

Thank you

[@drunkaviator81]

Haha, as a premium user, I was wondering the meaning behind those Ad breaks. Pretty silly on my part, but I’d completely forgotten they insert them into the middle of videos.

[@eugeniorenzi7790]

Nice update.

[@cappachino78]

I would want to see a review of B&W PX8

[@uw4ntsum342]

If you wanted to you could buy a pair of IEMs, a dongle dac and a cable with an in-line mic. That way you have the option to make calls by simply disconnecting the dongle and going straight to port.

[@darth420vader]

Wired or wireless. We have all experienced the frustrating mechanism of perfectly placing an IEM, just for someone in the office to walk up at that exact moment to ask a question....

[@iainverigin4708]

*Thank You* i liked this

[@nuegonah886]

About chi-fi iems and phone calls. It's easy-peasy to order a wire with built-in microphone and use them as a headset. Usually cable with mic costs about 2 buks more than a cable with no mic. (didn't want to be as captain obvious as it appears, but who knows). I usually order versions without mic, and it's not for economy, but for special intention (during session of deep listening I'm not planning to make a phone calls)

[@HaimPeretz]

Please review the soundcore liberty 3 pro

[@thewebart]

Will you ever show Olaf on the camera?

[@gs10101010]

Sometimes I wonder whether reviews of other things than Hifi also get random (know it all type) comments suggesting a better thing. Like a review of a family car review video asking if can’t get a better driving experience for less money if you by a hatchback. Or espresso maker reviews having people suggest filter coffee machines as a cheaper way to get better cups of coffee. True wireless anc earbuds have a place in the world and are not the same as wired IEMs. Apples and oranges. I do feel like TWS ANCs are also a headphone market segment overrun with mega-cheap crap, half of which a AirPod clones offering amazing everyone for $20. In short: thanks for the review, the comparisons with Sennheiser, which weren’t on my radar really. B&W PI7s still look interesting (esp. because of the transmitter in the charging case, which seems such a good idea for travelers), but also wouldn’t expect you to buy them so I get that comparison 😂

[@PeterHas]

If you want to do more reviews outdoors, the B&W 801 D4 have wheels, so you could push them to the Tiergarten and run the electronics off a portable battery like an Ecoflow.