What Is Adaptive Transparency Mode for the AirPods Pro 2 and How Does It Work?
The second-generation AirPods Pro offer the best transparency mode of any noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds we've tested. In addition to portraying the world around you accurately, a new Adaptive Transparency option automatically lowers the volume of harmful noises above the 85dB threshold. Bose offers a similar feature called ActiveSense Aware on its excellent new QuietComfort Earbuds II, but it's less sophisticated and leans more heavily on active noise cancellation (ANC) to suppress volume indiscriminately.
We spent a good deal of time using Apple's Adaptive Transparency mode while reviewing the second-gen AirPods. This is how it works.
In regular Transparency mode, the AirPods use built-in mics to recreate your sonic surroundings as precisely as possible so that you can hear the world around you without removing the earpieces—everything retains its original decibel level, envelope, and timbre. The effect is impressive, and the AirPods add only a slight amount of brightness to the soundscape.
Switching from regular Transparency mode to Adaptive Transparency mode won't change things much if you’re in a relatively quiet environment. But if loud sounds above 85dB suddenly occur (such as someone starting up a power tool), the AirPods dynamically lower the offending noise without radically altering the tonality of anything else. This feature can come in handy at worksites or on busy city streets, because it enables you to hear the important things (like a nearby jackhammer or an approaching siren) at non-damaging volume levels. There is a prerequisite, however: You must successfully pass the Ear Tip Fit Test in the AirPods settings menu for each earpiece beforehand. Only then can you be sure that no audio above 85dB
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