The third-generation AirPods have an updated design, as well as other new features. Gary Geaves, Apple's vice president of acoustics, sat down for an interview with What Hifi to explain some of the design decisions Apple made with the AirPods 3.
According to Geaves, the AirPods 3 were built with nothing off the shelf. Apple uses a complicated acoustic system, carefully tuning bass port, and a brand new, custom amplifier in order to provide the best possible sound quality. What Hifi points out that Apple can use hardware components to improve sound, but that is not the real limitation.
When asked if Apple is holding back its hardware and sound quality, Geaves said that Apple is concentrating very hard on getting the most out of the technology, and that it's fair to say that Apple would.
"Obviously the wireless technology is critical for the content delivery that you talk about", he says, "but also things like the amount of latency you get when you move your head, and if that's too long, between you moving your head and the sound changing or remaining static." We would like more bandwidth. I will stop right there. He smiles and says they would like more bandwidth.
Geaves said that the team looked very closely at the strengths of the second-generation AirPods. The lack of a seal in the ear is a big draw of the AirPods, but it also creates challenges for the audio team.
The sound people experience will be different, especially the bass, because no two ears are the same, according to Geaves. It's designed to provide a consistent response regardless of the level of fit that each person has.
Apple works from a "strong analytic foundation" and has done "extensive measurements" and "deep statistical research" to inform an "internal acoustic analytic response" that's taken into account when designing audio hardware. Apple understands that listening to music is an emotional experience which people connect with on a very deep level, so it works with an "expert team of critical listeners and tuners" as well, according to Geaves. The team is from the pro audio industry, and they make the sound for the new AirPods 3.
The full interview with Geaves goes into more detail on the AirPods 3 and it's well worth a read for those interested.
