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Hey Friends, Today’s the day. SoundID + Custom EQ update is available for Panda.  Find your update instructions here: https://drop.com/talk/77511/drop-sonarworks-panda-release Beyond the SoundID integration, our team was able to include a fix for times where Panda would enter sleep mode despite microphone activity. Panda will not enter sleep mode if there is any activity on the mic, regardless of primary/secondary device pairing.
(Edited)
bl4dy
33
Mar 31, 2021
WillHey @Will thanks for this awesome addition to our pandas , any chance you can provide a changelog regarding fw update ?
Bedast
17
Apr 2, 2021
WillReplying to the stickied thread as requested. Headset still shuts off inappropriately when in BT headset mode. It was a webinar kind of thing, so no speaking for me, so no microphone. But there were definitely speakers speaking when they shut down.
BedastHey, thanks for this. We'd like to get your unit back to our team for review, please contact support so they can send you a replacement and direct the return to our development team.
man0faction
8
Apr 7, 2021
BedastSame here. It turns off (or times out?) during Zoom and Teams meetings. However, the MOST annoying part is the BUZZING in the right ear! I was told that the firmware update would fix this. It did not.
brutebasher117
12
Apr 8, 2021
WillAfter updating I've had nothing but problems. The Pandas will not stay connected to my pc and keep pausing my music at random on my phone meaning that I basically cant use them wirelessly which is the entire reason that I bought these headphones. They sound great but I cant use half of the functionality which is honestly just unacceptable at this point.
J41235
61
Apr 8, 2021
WillHi Will, I am still enjoying my Pandas but experiencing some issues.
  1. Since the firmware update I have been having problems with the headphones often disconnecting from my cellphone during calls.
  2. Initially after I performed the firmware update then I no longer heard noises and had drop outs when my phone has some activity such as a notification while I was listening to my Windows 10 PC. I have started having dropouts and buzzing again. I think this started since I started using the SoundID app. At some point I will try resetting the Pandas and re-pairing to my phone and PC.
  3. Please add more significant figures to the displays of dB, Freq, Q in SoundID. Please allow typing in values. Right now it is impossible to reproduce equalization settings that someone else has used.
  4. It would be nice to be able to force SoundID to do the corrections on the phone instead of the headphones so we can quickly change the equalization and see how it sounds with our own sources. The sample tracks are not the greatest.
  5. I also would like to just be able to correct relative to the unequalized response. I just want to boost treble and adjust the bass a little. If this cannot be done then maybe show the unequalized response curve in the area where we customize the response so we can see how far away from it we are.
  6. It would also be nice to see some response cures for the different pads.
Patson
149
Apr 10, 2021
Will@Will since the update the Pandas just wont stay connected to my iphone if there is silence for just 2-3 minutes, they disconnect or should I say go to sleep even though they are still on, the sound then plays of my phone speakers. i will then have to switch them off and on again for it to be connected, this has been going on for a few days now and I have done a soft reset. I did not have any issues before this update.
iAmBoomerStrong
479
Apr 13, 2021
Will My THX Pandas are doing the exact same thing as many others with my iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPad. I go through the whole process of building an EQ & save it. I get the “Upload Saved” message then to be safe, I go to the connect area to ensure the Sound Personalization toggle is on. THEN.. If I stop playing music to do something or for some reason there’s nothing playing thru headphones for approx 3 minutes, there’s a slight click and the Pandas have now disconnected from the SOUNDiD App & the Uploaded EQ that is “supposed” to be saved permanently to the headphones (unless we make another change to the EQ settings), is no longer working UNLESS I reconnect the THX Pandas to the app. YES, I have even have gone into the Connect area to make sure the Sound Personalization toggle is still on. So its quite obvious the uploaded EQ I worked hard to make is NOT saving to the headphones permanently (as promised), even without using the App bcuz I have to (like @Patson said in his message), turn them off & back on again for the THX Pandas to reconnect to the SOUNDiD App and then the uploaded EQ starts to work again. Basically I’d the pandas are not connected to the SOUNDiD App, the custom EQ I made does not work AT ALL. Something is obviously wrong bcuz for me and others the uploaded EQ is NOT saving to the pandas PERMANENTLY and only works if your device is connected to the App. This was a long wait for this ridiculousness to be occurring. Hopefully we’ll get a fix very soon, until then .... Stay safe and happy listening. Boomer 🐼 🎧
AnthonyC
0
Apr 16, 2021
WillFYI - I’m having the same issue after update as well. It will not be a talking setting but my headphones will randomly turn off
(Edited)
meart_jellay
25
Apr 16, 2021
WillThe firmware update completely changed the sound signature and the volume output of my headphones. Didn't even connect them to the app. What a joke. Is there a firmware update on the way that fixes this? if not I will absolutely return, they sound like garbage now.
iAmBoomerStrong
479
Apr 16, 2021
meart_jellayI agree fully .. It’s Garbage and the EQ sucks. As I remarked above, I don’t know why they didn’t make the Drop Panda Sound as one of the presets... that way we could make the minor adjustments we wanted to the original good sound.
GeneralSpecific
4
Apr 16, 2021
Will@Will : Thanks for the update. Some problems since the firmware update: Music dropping out frequently when listening from MacBook Pro over Bluetooth:
  1. On MacOS Catalina (10.15.7) | 2018 15" MacBook Pro with Panda and Logitech MX Ergo Trackball connected over Bluetooth, the sound drops out randomly and frequently where previously it did not drop out.
  2. Drop outs seem to happen when I'm moving the pointer around quickly.
  3. Music playing on YouTube music high quality over ethernet.
  4. Panda is also paired to an iPhone 6S Plus | iOS 14.4.2
  5. Listening to music on the iPhone 6S Plus is fine; no drop-outs
SoundID app on iPhone does not connect to Panda
  1. SoundID 2.0.21 on iOS 14.4.2
  2. Get the green tick when selecting the "Drop + THX Panda"
  3. Click the "Connect" button
  4. Get the "Please wait..." screen forever.
I've done the following to troubleshoot and no improvement or changes:
  1. Forget / remove the Panda from all devices.
  2. Factory reset the Panda.
  3. Only pair the Panda to the iPhone.
  4. Try connect to SoundID; still no luck.
  5. I've submitted a support ticket to Sonarworks today.
On the MacBook, I've gone back to using the USB-C connection as video calls over Zoom don't have audio drop outs and the MacBook microphone is better. A problem before the firmware update was the Panda would crash (turn off) after some time (15+ minutes) when on a Zoom call over Bluetooth on the MacBook Pro.
  1. I haven't checked this since the firmware update since the audio drops out too frequently.
  2. Prior to the firmware update, the Panda would crash sooner (10 minutes) when using the Panda microphone than when using the MacBook microphone (30+ minutes).
  3. I would select the MacBook microphone by holding "option" on the keyboard and clicking the volume icon on the top-right then selecting the Panda for output and the "MacBook Pro Microphone" for input. Incidentally this gives the best audio and voice coms for video calls.
Russmaf
7
Apr 17, 2021
WillI never had the random shut down until after the new firmware. The headphone seems to shut down when initially connecting to bluetooth. Another new problem occurring now is that I have a significant rattle from the left cup. This only happens on deep punchy bass notes and only bluetooth.
Amandaa
3
Apr 23, 2021
GeneralSpecificI cannot connect mine to the Sound ID app either (iOS)
(Edited)
rob_livinlife
8
Apr 24, 2021
WillGlad I saw this. Definitely won't be updating the firmware until: (1) we can see a changeling; (2) faster response times on here or a different forum or ticketing system for submitting questions/issues; and (3) assurances of reverting the changes without any other negative impact.
GeneralSpecific
4
May 7, 2021
GeneralSpecificI finally managed to connect the SoundID App on my iPhone 6s Plus to the Drop + THX Panda. TLDR (Steps to Fix)
  1. Forget the "DROP Panda" in your Bluetooth settings
  2. Turn off Bluetooth on iPhone (so the SoundID app doesn't try connect forever)
  3. Start the SoundID app and reset it (in the app / settings / profile / reset)
  4. Force quit the SoundID app
  5. Reset the Panda (Connect via USB-C, hold power button for 6 seconds, wait for white LED to fade, hold power button for 2 seconds, wait for white LED to turn on and off and fade)
  6. Turn on Bluetooth on iPhone (DO NOT pair with Panda - this is important)
  7. Start the SoundID app, connect, choose "Drop + THX" then "Panda" and try connect
  8. Turn on the Panda - you should get the "first time Bluetooth pairing sound"
  9. Wait until you get a popup saying the Panda wants to pair
  10. This is when you accept the pairing request
  11. SoundID should try and upload EQ settings. It might fail but you can try again
  12. I ran the test which at the end uploaded EQ settings to the Panda
  13. If you want to reset the EQ to flat, Click the "test" or weird patterns, then click "Customize" then select the "Flat" preset.

More Details (Story behind the fix) Sonarworks support contacted me on 6 May 2021 but I only managed to respond and troubleshoot on 7 May 2021. They thought it was because the firmware update failed. After several back-and-forths I proved that the firmware was up to date since the firmware update app kept telling me (I sent them screenshots). Suggestions were to reset the Panda, only pair to the iPhone, reset the SoundID app and try connect again but all that didn't work. While waiting for further suggestions, I was poking around in the iPhone Bluetooth settings while the "Drop + THX Panda" was connected (I had renamed the device). I noticed that a device named "DROP Panda" kept appearing under "OTHER DEVICES" and I clicked it. It then proceeded to appear in "MY DEVICES" as "Connected" (missing the "i" next to connected where you can rename or "forget" the device) and shortly after disappear from "MY DEVICES" and re-appear in "OTHER DEVICES". I decided to reset the "Drop + THX Panda" name to "DROP Panda" (by clicking the "i" next to "Connected" and clicking the "x" next to the name). This didn't make a difference. I decided to see what would happen if I "forgot" the "DROP Panda" and tried the whole "reset panda", "turn off Bluetooth, "reset SoundID", "turn on Bluetooth", "connect Panda via SoundID instead of iPhone Bluetooth pairing process" thing as in the TLDR above which worked. I've let the Sonarworks support person know how I managed to get it to connect with lots of screenshots. Hopefully the Sonarworks engineers can use the information to isolate the issue which seems to be that the SoundID app tries to force the Panda to pair with the iPhone continuously instead of just using the existing pairing.
skdykes1740
28
May 15, 2021
WillMy panda's won't connect to this app no matter what i do :(
iAmBoomerStrong
479
May 17, 2021
skdykes1740Hi … I will try to help. Let me start by saying this … if your pandas sound great to you and they work great… there is no need to connect and it download the app. Secondly if you are having problems or want to change your sound EQ, you MUST go they the process of downloading the new SOUNDiD Hardware and firmware changes to your pandas. That is ONLY done so wired via android or iOS desktop/laptop. If you have completed that process this is the process you will need to then connect your Pandas to the SOUNDiD app.
  • completely remove the drop panda headphones from ALL Bluetooth devices (phones/tablets/laptops etc).-
  • Completely delete and reinstall the SOUNDiD App.
  • bring the pandas back onto bluetooth of ONLY one device for now. Your main device in which you’ll be using the pandas the most with.
  • aign back into the SOUNDiD app and choose your headphones.
This should work now and the Pandas should connect to the SOUNDiD App. Remember that once you complete your sound test and have chosen either to use the sound they have created for you or have chosen to make your own Custom EQ sound (if that’s your want) and the pandas have said after buffering “UPLOAD SUCCESSFUL” touch on the connect word at the bottom left of the app page and make sure you have turn on the SOUNDiD PERSONALIZATION toggle. This means the new sound you have either created or chosen is now permanently locked into the pandas and there is no more any need ti go back into the SOUNDiD App unless you’ve received an email there is an update or you wish to change the EQ Again. Every time you decide to change the custom EQ at which point you will ALWAYS have to ensure the SOUNDiD Personalization toggle is on. Hope this helps.
koblongata2
46
Jun 23, 2021
GeneralSpecificThis SoundID thing has to be one of the most disastrous piece of software I have encountered in my 30 years of IT life.
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