Sony WH-1000XM3 - v4.1.1 firmware failure?

[GapsOfTheGod]

Having updated my 1000xm3's over the wekeend, there seems to be an introduction of hiss and a background noise of what sounds like distant traffic (even though I can hear nothing at all without the headphones on) when using Active Noise Cancellation, which was previously stellar. The potency of the noise cancelling is noticeably weaker since updating (I'd estimate around 40% less). Familiar auditory environments which were previously rendered almost entirely silent are now notedly audible. I've checked that the noise cancelling slider is left-most, and indeed it is.

I'm also disappointed to find I can't ask Alexa to play music from Spotify, and I press the button and just say "Play Metallica", it responds with "Shuffling music by Metallica on Amazon Music", yet nothing plays at all.

This update is very much a downgrade as it stands.

[bmgoau]

I have noticed a big difference for me with general chatter / talking and keyboards around my desk at work now back on 2.0.0.

I can no longer make out individual words during colleague conversations, unless they are right next to my desk, or individual key-presses.

For lower frequencies there is no difference (but that was never an issue on 4.1.1, it was always the higher frequencies).

I use these for around 4-6 hours a day. So around 50-60 hours on 4.1.1 and 500-600 hours on 2.0.0.

To me it feels like what Sony mistakenly did with the 4.1.1 change was to cap where ANC works to lower frequencies (but still some higher frequencies), since higher frequencies require much quicker processing and perhaps they were looking for some power saving.

I also did a before/after change with a synthetic "cafe / coffee shop" audio scene running out of my home theatre before and after the downgrade - and in those conditions I couldn't find any difference (which is odd because it is still voices and keyboards and the clanging of plates and cups). But the moment I got into the office the difference was obvious with "real" noise.

I wonder what the difference might be between synthetic tests and real-world voices and keyboards and other higher frequencies, some sort of frequency range compression that makes ANC falsly good?

[RonnyAndresen]

Hello How did you downgrade to 2,0..?

[FrancoLoco]

Just look at this thread on reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/sony/comments/akynjz/psa_the_new_sony_wh1000xm3_firmware_v411_is/

[RonnyAndresen]

OMG, I'm sorry.. I'm not a computer wizard.. THAT looks very complicated :l

[FrancoLoco]

iOS

[RonnyAndresen]

Samsung galaxy note 9, Android

[Ninyu4]

Did the firmware update to 4.1.1 so as to disable the annoying voice guidance + confirmation beeps, but the beeps are still on. 😕 

About the NC I cannot tell much but I think it didn't deteriorate. 

[davidbfranks]

So now people have downgraded successfully, the general consensus seems like there is no big difference at all.

The 40% degradation on ANC was vastly blown out of proporition?

[GapsOfTheGod]

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@davidbfranks wrote:

So now people have downgraded successfully, the general consensus seems like there is no big difference at all.

The 40% degradation on ANC was vastly blown out of proporition?

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I'd now say it was more like 40% of particular frequencies / noise types. Since downgrading it's clear to me that full ANC efficacy has been restored.

[1ychee]

I think ANC of 2.0.0 is better than 4.1.1, especially the process of sound of people talking.