I don't like them, but maybe I do? AirPods 3.

[Spiff]

So I splurged and got me a pair of AirPods 3 a couple weeks ago. I was needing another pair and thought - why not? Accoustics are supposedly better and liked the active sound stage thing.

THEY DON'T FIT MY EAR!!! They always feel like they are going to fall out and do not appear to have a good seal. The sound is, well, sounding far away. The previous generation AirPods fit perfectly and have a great seal with my ear.

But I tested them side by side. First the 2nd gen AirPods - fits wonderfully and the sound with encompassing in my ear. Wonderful. Then I put in the AirPods 3. I keep pushing it in my ear further to get a good seal. But oh my goodness! The sound is so much better (though seeming to be further away). The treble and midrange is so much better appreciated and the bass is not as muddy. A vast improvement in sound.

So I am torn as to keep or gift them on. I am leaning towards keeping, but I hate that "not fitting right" feeling. Anyone else have that problem? Thoughts on version 3 vs 2?

[Wags]

I feel your pain. I first tried the Beats Pro and sent them back because the silicon tips hurt my ear after about an hour. Then I got the AP2 mostly by mistake and tried those. They were fine, but I'd already heard the spatial effect from the Pros. So I sent them back and settled on the AP3's. Not a tight fit, but I don't want that. I don't use them outside but I think they would work for walking, but not jogging. I wear them mostly when I'm using my iPad and for that they're great. I can wear them for couple hours with no problem. Sound is good, not premium audio high fidelity, but good. I snug 'em in then rotate the stems to about horizontal. Tolerable fit for my ears.

[zachdog]

I have the 2s and the 3s.
The 3s have better bass. Spatial audio is nice but not a big deal.
The 2s are better in every other way.

[RAMd®d]

The AirPods 3 are a somewhat precarious fit for me as well.

Apple changed the shape for some reason.

Part of that is to seal the ear better than the previous two generations (which fit me very well).

Both the PowerBeats Pro and AirPods Pro hurt my ears.

I could never adjust the PowerBeats to line up properly and they were a bit fiddly to put in.

There was no way the AirPods Pro were ever going to fit me.

Eating while wearing the AP3 can be annoying, as one will sometimes fall out if I'm taking a larger bite of something.

So, like a cat (if I had a cat) these are indoor 'Pods for me.

The sound is better, so I'll put up with the fit, or lack of.

For outdoor listening, I'm using Beats Flex.

Still not a great fit, but I'll try some memory foam tips.

Those sold by Shure work very well on my Shure (wired) buds, while the third party tips (Comply) I tried for the PowerBeats are terrible.

[Michael]

Would it be worth trying some of the replacement tips that change the shape going into your ear?

[Lux Interior]

I used something similar to these for my original Airpods.

Otherwise they were unusable at the gym.

https://www.amazon.com/OneCut-Anti-Slip-...0834Z4LVX/

[datbeme]

Spiff wrote:
So I splurged and got me a pair of AirPods 3 a couple weeks ago. I was needing another pair and thought - why not? Accoustics are supposedly better and liked the active sound stage thing.

THEY DON'T FIT MY EAR!!! They always feel like they are going to fall out and do not appear to have a good seal. The sound is, well, sounding far away. The previous generation AirPods fit perfectly and have a great seal with my ear.

But I tested them side by side. First the 2nd gen AirPods - fits wonderfully and the sound with encompassing in my ear. Wonderful. Then I put in the AirPods 3. I keep pushing it in my ear further to get a good seal. But oh my goodness! The sound is so much better (though seeming to be further away). The treble and midrange is so much better appreciated and the bass is not as muddy. A vast improvement in sound.

So I am torn as to keep or gift them on. I am leaning towards keeping, but I hate that "not fitting right" feeling. Anyone else have that problem? Thoughts on version 3 vs 2?

I've always wondered if John Siracusa was a member of this forum. Howdy, John!