Apple released the third generation machine of the completely wireless earphone "AirPods" on October 26th. The AirPods series occupies an overwhelming share in the "BCN ranking" that aggregates POS data from home electronics mass retailers and EC shops nationwide, but the author, who is also an audio writer, explains who the new model is a recommended wireless earphone. do.
What are the differences between AirPods series earphones?
The big difference between the high-end model "AirPods Pro" of the AirPods series and the new AirPods is the presence or absence of noise canceling function and external sound capture function. The new AirPods have a small hole in the outer shell of the earphone body, which is generally called the housing, and inherit the structure that can naturally capture the surrounding environmental sound while wearing it on the ear from the second generation machine. The feature of open type earphones is that the main body is light and can reproduce clear and clear sound. The price of the new AirPods is 23,800 yen. The 2nd generation AirPods with a wireless charging case that was discontinued earlier was 25,080 yen, so the price has dropped by about 1,280 yen. The second-generation AirPods, which come with a case that does not support wireless charging, will continue to be sold as an entry model in the series for 16,800 yen. The latest AirPods family consists of four models, including the high-end AirPods Pro and the wireless headphones "AirPods Max" equipped with noise canceling functions.What has changed between the old and new AirPods is the "feeling of wearing"
The design of the new AirPods is similar to that of AirPods Pro in both earphones and charging case. The stick part of the main body with a built-in remote control with a pressure sensor is 33% shorter than the 2nd generation AirPods. It looks compact and neat. The new AirPods aren't the wearing style that uses silicone eartips to secure them into the ear canal like the AirPods Pro. The shape of my ears seems to go well with the new AirPods, so even if I ran with the earphones on or moved my body a little dynamically, it was firmly fixed to my ears and did not fall off. However, the new AirPods are slightly larger in size than the second generation. If you have small ears, we recommend that you visit a shop that exhibits AirPods, such as the Apple Store, and try it on when you are considering purchasing.Enjoy a 3D music experience of movies and music
The one-touch pairing function with iPhone / iPad is of course inherited by the new AirPods. A particularly memorable new feature is that the new AirPods can now use the "Dynamic Head Tracking" feature when playing content that supports Apple's unique 3D music experience "Spatial Audio." Dynamic head tracking is a function that further enhances the immersive feeling when playing content that supports spatial audio with AirPods attached. Even if the user turns his / her face, the sound image of the content remains localized in the desired position. The sense of presence when playing action-type movies, animations, and live music content is further enhanced. Content services that support spatial audio began with Apple's Apple TV + and Apple Music, and spread to Netflix this summer. When you connect AirPods to your iPhone / iPad and play Netflix content, you can automatically enjoy three-dimensional content playback with dynamic head tracking. At the moment, there are only three models of earphones and headphones that support dynamic head tracking, including the new AirPods, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max.Full bass reproduction.Water resistant for peace of mind even in sports scenes
The sound of the new AirPods is much stronger and more tense than the 2nd generation. The newly developed dynamic Apple driver and custom-made high-output amplifier are probably working. Even though the earphones have an open housing with holes that allow air to pass through, vocals and bass rhythms are drawn with clear and vivid outlines even when playing music outdoors. Even if you don't turn up the volume too much, you can hear the dialogues of music and videos clearly, so when you use it outdoors, you don't have to worry about the playback sound leaking out and causing trouble to the surroundings. On the other hand, in places surrounded by stronger noise such as airplanes and subways, open earphones such as AirPods are inevitably noisy and difficult to hear. I want to use earphones and headphones equipped with a noise canceling function like AirPods Pro depending on the situation. Not only the main body of the new AirPods, but also the charging case is IPX4 grade water and sweat resistant. It is a big advantage compared to the 2nd generation AirPods, and there is a big merit that AirPods can be used without hesitation in the sports scene. The new AirPods are a unique earphone that is worth adding to your collection, not only for those who are considering buying left-right independent, fully wireless earphones for the first time, but also for those who already love AirPods. On the other hand, recently, it has become an era where you can find a good model of left and right independent complete wireless earphones with water resistant specifications and noise canceling function at the 10,000 yen level. In order for the relatively expensive AirPods to solidify its popularity, I would like Apple to proactively set up a powerful "push" like the color variation of AirPods. (Freelance writer Atsushi Yamamoto)
