AirPods Pro 3 Sound Quality Improvement: Real-World Test and Experience

Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 bring a fresh wave of audio enhancements that elevate the listening experience. Focusing on a custom multi-vent acoustic architecture and innovative foam-infused ear tips, Apple has refined key sound aspects such as soundstage, vocal clarity, and bass response. This article dives deep into these design improvements, shares first-hand listening impressions, and compares them with the AirPods Pro 2.

Custom Multi-Vent Acoustic Architecture: Expanding the Soundstage

A central upgrade in the AirPods Pro 3 is its custom multi-vent acoustic structure. Apple redesigned the internal venting system substantially, doubling the size of the vents compared to the previous generation. This design optimizes airflow and pressure balance within the ear canal, significantly reducing distortion and enhancing sound separation.1

The result is a distinctly wider and more open soundstage, allowing instruments and vocals to be perceived with greater space and clarity. When listening to complex tracks, the improved soundstage gives a sense of three-dimensional depth that improves both musical and cinematic experiences.23

Foam-Infused Ear Tips: Better Seal and Bass

Another notable feature is the introduction of new foam-infused ear tips. These tips combine a soft foam layer with silicone to form a flexible, snug fit that adapts to the ear shape better than traditional silicone tips. This leads to a superior acoustic seal and enhanced passive noise isolation.34

The firmer seal provided by these foam tips results in a more controlled and deeper bass response without muddiness. The bass notes are punchier yet balanced, which is noticeable in bass-heavy genres like hip-hop and electronic music. This design also enables improvements in active noise cancellation (ANC), with Apple claiming up to twice the ANC effectiveness of the AirPods Pro 2.5

Vocal Clarity and Midrange Precision

The AirPods Pro 3’s Adaptive EQ system benefits from the improved acoustic design, making vocals clearer and more natural. Dialogue in videos can be heard with greater detail and less distortion, significantly improving speech intelligibility. Podcasts and vocal-focused music genres also benefit from this upgrade, as the midrange frequencies are less congested and more refined.

Transparency mode has also been enhanced, allowing the user’s voice and ambient sounds to come through more authentically without compromising sound quality.4

Real-World Listening Experience and Comparisons

In actual use, the AirPods Pro 3 demonstrate a clearer distinction between instruments, a wider and more immersive soundstage, and more impactful bass compared to the AirPods Pro 2. For example, when playing live concert recordings, the sense of space and audience ambiance is markedly better. Bass hits are tighter and fuller, particularly noticeable in songs with deep bass lines like Billie Eilish’s “bad guy”.1

Compared to AirPods Pro 2, the 3rd generation shows less ear fatigue during long listening sessions, attributed to the improved fit of the foam tips and reduced internal pressure from the multi-vent architecture. While AirPods Pro 2 already offered solid sound quality, the new model refines these elements to offer a richer, more balanced listening experience.

Summary of Key Improvements

Conclusion

The AirPods Pro 3 deliver a noticeable step up in sound quality through a refined multi-vent acoustic approach and innovative foam-infused ear tips, enhancing the soundstage, vocals, and bass. These improvements together create a richer, more immersive listening experience for both music and video. Compared to the AirPods Pro 2, the 3rd generation offers clearer audio detail, stronger bass, and improved comfort. For users who value premium sound and a perfect fit, the AirPods Pro 3 make a compelling upgrade.