Matt Birchler

Question for my fellow AirPods Pro users, if you’re walking down a quiet, suburban/countey street and a car drives by, do you hear it?

I 100% hear it, it’s just quieter, but I get the impression with how others talk about their AirPods that they literally don’t hear it. The world is actually silent when they are using ANC.

Sep 24, 2025 at 12:50pmTypefully
Show threadCliffSep 24, 2025

@matt_birchler In most cases I can barely hear it. There are times that I hear it a bit more, but it's still pretty faint overall.

There are times that I don't hear a car but I think that's more me just not really paying attention and really just focused on the music in my ears.

Show threadDaniel ☀Sep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler No, the world is not silent when using ANC.
Unless you blast music at a high volume. In that case, with ANC on, you can almost eliminate most common noise.
People are somewhat prone to exaggeration when describing their experiences with certain things.
ANC is a godsend to me, but I wish it were even better!
Show threadPaulSep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler I wouldn't use ANC near cars personally. Adaptive for that
Show threadMatt BirchlerSep 24, 2025
@brzz If I couldn’t hear them, I’d totally agree. But since I can totall hear them anyway, YOLO 🤣
Show threadChris HubbsSep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler With ANC on I can still hear things, but just barely. Also depends on how loud or quiet my music or podcast is.
Show threadRildoSep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler I hear it, but usually I turn up the volume.
I don't use ANC outside.
Show threadWarner CrockerSep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler Right there with you. I get the same impressions, but not the experiences others seem to claim they have. Another successfully myth made created by Apple.
Show threadDaniel ☀Sep 24, 2025
@WarnerCrocker @matt_birchler Even before the AirPods existed, I had been reading people claiming that Sony’s or Bose’s ANC makes the world silent.
Show threadTiago Mendes-CostaSep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler Yes, I can still hear cars with the AirPods Pro 2’s ANC on, unfortunately.
Show threadJames NortonSep 24, 2025

@matt_birchler If I am engrossed in what I'm listening to then I wont hear it. Otherwise yes, I will hear it.

ANC is not silence with any headphones of any type in my experience.

Show threadJen Kuntz 🇨🇦Sep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler I get too engrossed in what I’m listening to, so I don’t hear things I should have heard. For that reason I don’t use ANC when using them in areas where I need to be aware of my surroundings, like walking where there is traffic!
Show threadNate BarhamSep 24, 2025

@matt_birchler Definitely hear the car, and AirPods Pro, though easily the best overall anc I’ve ever used, by a lot, aren’t even close to silence yet.

We’ll see about v3 though when I can pick some up.

Show threadNate BarhamSep 24, 2025

@matt_birchler I will add that music volume changes this a lot (with all anc headphones, all headphones really). Podcasts I can always hear the, very muffled, outside world.

I don’t think this is a bad thing, necessarily.

Show threadRamón 🇨🇴Sep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler it honestly depends on the mode and how it’s configured. I primarily use adaptive mode configured to let less noise through and in that mode passing cars are faint, same in noise canceling mode. I’m sure I’d hear them even less I’ve wore the tips Apple suggests (L for me apparently).
Show threadDean MayersSep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler ANC like Spatial Audio is cool but not as amazing as we are led to believe by the internet.
Show threadEric LeamenSep 24, 2025

@matt_birchler This is how I always felt with APP2. People talked about the ANC like everything goes silent but I could CLEARLY hear traffic or hold a conversation while wearing them.

APP3 quite MORE of the world, especially with music or podcasts on, but it’s still not totally silent.

Show threadMatt FantinelSep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler I can, but I honestly feel that after 3 years with the Pro 2, they barely cancel anything anymore.
Show threadNiléaneSep 24, 2025
@fantinel @matt_birchler I feel the same way. It feels like my AirPods Pro 2 have steadily been getting worse at noise cancellation.
Show threadBrian HoughSep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler I had AP1 before, now AP3. With both I hear it, but its significantly dulled - more so with AP3.
Show threadNathan JungSep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler I use adaptive mode on my walks because I WANT to hear a car coming. Then again, I don't have sidewalks where I walk.
Show threadnate boatengSep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler I for sure hear it. ANC knocks out ambient noise but doesn’t adjust super well for short bursts of sound. Ain’t no way people don’t hear cars passing unless they are profoundly preoccupied or it’s an electric car.
Show thread🎃 jackSep 24, 2025
@matt_birchler I just got my AirPods Pro 3 today, and I upgraded from regular 2nd generation AirPods (2019.)

From the videos I saw and posts from people, they made it seem like ANC completely cut out everything but from my experience today (granted only about 2hrs inside my house) it felt like I could hear some quiet sounds of louder things around me. Outside I reckon I’d hear a car.
Show threadCraig ReynoldsSep 25, 2025
@matt_birchler Have used for years and I’ve always heard cars going past. Like you, it’s just quieter and perhaps certain types of noises and frequencies are dealt with better than others.
Show threadTorbSep 25, 2025
@matt_birchler With AirPods 2 I hear gas based on at least, but not sure about electric ones.