Hey,
Think we can all agree that the magic switching boasted by AirPods isn't designed for us. Yes, it switches when we start playing media, but it doesn't switch reliably when VoiceOver is in use, IE, the device that is speaking should take over the connection, but doesn't... Don't see that changing either.
I was wondering about people's experience with multipoint bluetooth which allows for two devices to be connected at the same time. My use case is my Mac and an IOS device. I want to listen to a document on the IOS device, pause, and type notes on my Mac. I was hoping that the multipoint connection might make this possible but can't test as don't have any headphones but those created by the god fruit.
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Sony WF1000 X M5
These are connected to my iPhone and iPad or iPhone and laptop. The switching is almost instant. Under a second. Exactly how AirPods should work but never have. On the Sony’s it really is fantastic and works every single time. Without fail. There is a possibility that AirPods are going to be improved though. There’s a new firmware version out as of yesterday that claims quicker switching. Let’s see if they’ve forgotten voiceover yet again. I haven’t downloaded it yet but will update when I get it.
Yeah, got the beta on…
Yeah, got the beta on AirPods. It's a little better but don't expect too much.
Interesting regarding the Sonys. I'm looking at the B&W PX8, bit of a back to uni gift... How does it work with pairing and switching. You say you are paired with iPad, iPhone and Mac, how does it decide which it will connect to or do you have to do that manually?
I'm also looking at getting a kindle to read/listen to books and don't think the switching will work with AirPods but may with multipoint between my apple device and kindle.
You have to choose 2 devices at a time.
The easiest way to do this if it connects to the previous 2 and they aren’t the ones you want is to turn off Bluetooth on the device you don’t want it to connect to until its found the 2 you do want. This works really well but could get annoying if you had 4 or more devices. You can obviously go into settings and connect to the 2 you want any time but it’s easier just to turn off BT on the device you don’t want. As for the Kindle, I don’t see any reason why that wouldn’t work just as well as 2 apple devices. With AirPods. Not so much. I haven’t tried any B&W P series with Bluetooth. The last ones I had were the P7’s with 3.5mm jack. They were very nice.
Ah, so the device requests…
Ah, so the device requests the connect to the headphones so, in theory, if Mac lid is shut, or iOS device is locked, it will only get requested from active device...
Yeah, I'm looking at the B&W to replace my AirPods Max. They were great but lacking in some key areas, usb-c, direct audio connection over usb, and they were just very heavy and difficult to wear lying down. I know it's a small thing, but Like listening to music whilst lying on the floor... It's a thing... spacial audio and head tracking, in my humble opinion, is fun but pointless. I believe Atmos tracks should still work the same no matter what headphones you have.
Also, with the new iPhone coming out with a usb-c port, I'm thinking a direct connection is a no brainer for some 24 bit 48 k lossless goodness.
Hell yeh for the USB C port.
Hopefully with everyone now deciding USB C is the way to go, wired connection will make a comeback. Weight was the reason I didn’t buy the AirPods Max. They really were very heavy indeed. Head tracking is dumb in my opinion and whats worse is every time I turn it off. Apple turns it back on until iOS 17 GM where I can’t turn it off at all. The toggle does nothing. So now i have to listen to music in a way that my brain doesn’t recognise it as the original recording. Everything sounds weird and I don’t like it. IMHO you can’t mess around with a recording that everyone knows. It would be like going round all the art galleries making all the art 3D or colourising the paintings. Some people might appreciate it but I think lots would find it upsetting.
Turning off head tracking is a per app function
Turning off head tracking is based on each individual application. You have to go to the control center double tap and hold volume and then switch tracking to stereo or other options. You’re not going to be able to do it directly from the AirPods Settings. You have to open up the application and play media and then go to control center and double tap and hold volume.
In which case, what is the…
In which case, what is the point of the toggle in the AirPods setting it it has no baring on other apps?
Daft design choice. There needs, like other functions, the ability to kill it system wide. Imagine if turning off wifi required doing it on an app by app basis...
Thanks Ash.
I’ve been using the toggle in accessibility to switch it off, I didn’t realise I would have to do it per app. I don’t know why they left it in accessibility if it doesn’t work anymore.
Good and bad in the AirPods update.
As expected voiceover completely ignored again so AirPods don’t switch to the active device unless you play something. Nice surprise seems to be the latency though. It’s very low indeed. I don’t remember it being this low. Another negative seems to be a slight hiss/electronic interference noise when in transparency mode that wasn’t ever there before on a pair of AirPods.