AirPods 3rd Gen – What’s Spatial Audio REALLY Like?

Why not the AirPods Pro?

We really aren’t fans of the silicone things being shoved in the ears.  Tried it some years ago – really didn’t like the feeling.  Just prefer them popped in the ears.

So what do we like about the AirPods 3rd Gen?

Firstly, the fit.  While some reviews like Marquees had issues with them staying it – we had no such issues.  While they stayed in, they even kept out external noise even more than the 1st Gen.  Probably just because they are a better fit, but in walks, you do feel more isolated, without that silicone bud “sucked in” feeling.  They just feel right.

The sound itself is wonderful.  Bass is better – sometimes you sense you have a subwoofer in your ears, as some tracks really do rumble – which for little earbuds, is franky remarkable.  “Hold My Hand, by Lady Gaga” (Top Gun Maverick end track) has just that sensation.  Plus a few tracks from the wonderful Dua Lipa.

We use Amazon Music, but since we got these were offered a 3 month trial with Apple Music, so we could compare the two – rather useful.  For the most part, Amazon Music sounds better.  It seems clearer, and less volumn differences between tracks.  But Apple Music seems to do the 360 better – more on that bizarre sensation later.

You tend to think, they are just ear phones, how can they be better – it’s just music.  But it is.  Whether they are worth that money is down to your own budget, if you feel a £160+ pair of earphones is better value than some cheapies on Ebay for about £30…..  But, it really DOES feel better.  The fit and finish, connectivity, and sound.  We have heard cheap pairs, and they are not a scratch on ‘quality’ ear phones.  Can’t speak for other brands, but these are remarkable.

So the sound, for tiny things in your ears:  10/10.

It also has the charging unit.

The charging unit is MagSafe, but it has the stupid Lightning socket still….. thankfully we still have such a cable.  But as Magsafe, we recently bought a MagSafe charging station (a review on that another time… tho might be live now).

The 1st Gens slotted in super easy – you could almost drop them in.  These are not like.  So far, each time we put them in the slot, it does take a little thought, and in fact drop them a few times while trying to pop them in.  Why, you ask?  Because the 1st Gens pop in the same sort of way they are in your ears.  The 3rd Gens go in, pointing inwards – kind of NOT the way you expect them to go in.    A bit like having to put your TV remote down in a charging port, facing to the right (unnatural).  Something we are sure we will get use to in time.

Onto the 360 Spatial Audio – what is it like?

The sound is wonderful.  The surround feeling is so much better, as envelopes like there are speakers around you.  But like if you are in a theatre watching a movie.

But now the stupid part about 360 Spatial Audio – when you move your head.  The best way to explain why this is stupid… is to go for a walk.  You have music playing and it is 360… you stop at the road to look both ways and you are in fact rather disorientated as suddenly the music is mostly in your left ear…. then your right ear.  Then you walk forward and it is back in your left ear… then both ears. Crossing the street, when that is happening is not at all fun.

We get it – it’s like sitting in a theatre, sound is in front.  But when you are sitting on your sofa, and you turn to grab a snack, or you are walking and you see something to your right – why on earth would you want the sound to MOVE to your Left or Right?  WHY??!  You are not IN a theatre.  You want it all around you… not suddenly all shifted to one side.

Yes it is clever.  How they do it – no idea.  Why they did it – no idea.  I do not like it.
I have since spoken with Apple and great news – you can turn off the Head Tracking side of it.

When you are using the AirPods, you just go to the Control Centre, press and hold the Volume and you should see a Head Tracking icon.  PRess that and you get 3 options.  Off, Fixed, or Tracking.
Fixed is better.  You get all the immersion, with that weird movement.  I mean, walking along a riverbank listening to music – look over to see some swans and the music moves to your left..  No thanks.  You can turn it off.

What are the like on the AirPods 3rd Gen?

Annoying – in a word.  On the 1st Gen, you could double tap the left one, and it would pause.
Double tap the right one and it would skip a track.  Light, simple, easy.
So far, that all seems to have been removed.  That’s for calls, and to do the Controls you now have to pinch the stems which is absolutely nothing like as easy as tapping.  When you are walking at pace and want to skip a track, a little tap was easy.  Pinch Twice… take thought.  You can hear it click, but it really takes thought, and “gentle” pinch so as not to take the out of your ears.  It sounds nick-picky, but try it… walking at a pace (or jogging I suspect).

Progress – no.  Why go from something that was just a little tap… so simple and easy.
And while we are on “simple and easy” – the 1st Gen you could take them out of your ears and pop in the charger.  Take them out later, and press play.

Oddly these we think, auto start the last track when you put them in your ear – that’s happened many times, and it makes you jump a bit – specially if the volume was up.

I have spoken with Apple about this and it is a fixed thing.  Crazy in our view.  That simple tapping to control the tracks and pausing.  If you are running, try changing track.  It’s almost impossible without it falling out.  Trying it when cycling… you’ll end up with it 100 yards behind you!

Here is a link to Apple on how you do it – try it when running or cycling: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/102628#:~:text=To%20play%20and%20pause%20audio%2C%20press%20the%20force%20sensor%20on,triple%2Dpress%20the%20force%20sensor.

#apple PLEASE swap it over, so Calls are for the Stems, and Audio Music is back to the Taps.

One last small thing – slotting them in the case

With the 1st Gen, they almost fell into the case so easily.  The angle they went in was similar to the angle you wear them, so it was natural.

For some reason they designed these so they are differently angled than before.  I’m sure we will get use to it, but it takes a bit more thought to put them in.    It’s a small problem… and poss makes the case as small as it can be.  But when you go from 1st to 3rd gen, you notice it.

Do you recommend AirPods 3rd Gen?

Yes we do.  There are things we may have to get use to with their changes.  But above all else, the sound – 360 aside (thankfully you can turn that movement thing off) – is amazing.  More immersive, just clearer.  Time will tell of course, but overall, started playing and while we did go all iJustine nuts (“oh wow.. my gaaaadddd “), we were more British.  “Wow, yeah that sounds good… let’s listen to Dua”.