My opinion is shared by many. Regardless, Apple has a duty to inform the consumer of what the firmware update entails and give the user a choice whether to update.
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Apple Provides Advice to AirPods Pro Users Experiencing Noise Cancellation or Crackling Sound Issues
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My opinion is shared by many. Regardless, Apple has a duty to inform the consumer of what the firmware update entails and give the user a choice whether to update.
The mesh is easily cleaned through the use of blue-tack or similar. This has been documented on this site with a microscope and dozens of people confirming it works repeatedly to restore a successful fit test.
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There is a reason subjective opinions about audio quality are often compared to a certain body part...
I have the same experience as the vast majority in this thread. When I first bought them, Active Noise Cancellation worked flawlessly. With the Nov update, it started to suck, the new update did not fix the issue. Sometimes with Transparency Mode on, I start hearing annoying crackling and must turn it off.
And in my experience also to restore bass and ANC, and reduce body-transmitted sounds like footsteps. It might also help with the crackling issue, because clearly microphones are involved there too. I don’t get why people refuse to give this a chance... cleaning them is not that hard. And yeah, Apple should be more transparent about the issue, but the support document at least suggests cleaning the microphone grilles. I guess that’s Apple’s way of saying the bluetack method works.
Latest firmware update and I'm still getting the crackling/buzzing noise when I take foot steps or jump up and down. This is after cleaning with q-tips, blue tac and various tips.
My wife's are on the original launch firmware. I did a blind test where I shuffled the cases up, put them in and did a jump test. It was very obvious which were my pair and which were hers. This was blind - I couldn't tell the difference when inserting them into my ears.
I've organised a replacement. I hope this is a mechanical failure rather than firmware. That way I get to have the awesome release day airpods. Otherwise I'm stuck with a pair that's not ideal.
Good news is that Apple are shipping the replacement pair first and asking me to return my pair. So I can easily test the replacement pair for the buzz/rattle.
I suspect that the lack of ANC on the later firmware is to do with how they tweaked the loss bass amplitude. It's needed to cancel out the occlusion effect.
It used to really gripe me that they started the ratling. But with the covid situation I've not been travelling so have no need for ANC. At home I've been enjoying my loud speaker 7.1.4 setup. But it's a good time to try and get it fixed before we need to venture into loud situations again.
Edit: I did the bluetac clean a few more times. It definitely improves the issue! I guess it's going to be hard to get them clean like on day 1. I'll still report back on my replacement pair.
Edit2: Further cleaning by keeping the blutac on for a while and doing it repeatdidly has dramatically improved the situation. No more buzz and rattle and the latest firmware has stopped ear drum suck for me completely. Amazing update! Apple needs to update their support article to say you need to clean the mics with tac. There's no other way to get them clean.
My wife's are on the original launch firmware. I did a blind test where I shuffled the cases up, put them in and did a jump test. It was very obvious which were my pair and which were hers. This was blind - I couldn't tell the difference when inserting them into my ears.
I've organised a replacement. I hope this is a mechanical failure rather than firmware. That way I get to have the awesome release day airpods. Otherwise I'm stuck with a pair that's not ideal.
Good news is that Apple are shipping the replacement pair first and asking me to return my pair. So I can easily test the replacement pair for the buzz/rattle.
I suspect that the lack of ANC on the later firmware is to do with how they tweaked the loss bass amplitude. It's needed to cancel out the occlusion effect.
It used to really gripe me that they started the ratling. But with the covid situation I've not been travelling so have no need for ANC. At home I've been enjoying my loud speaker 7.1.4 setup. But it's a good time to try and get it fixed before we need to venture into loud situations again.
Edit: I did the bluetac clean a few more times. It definitely improves the issue! I guess it's going to be hard to get them clean like on day 1. I'll still report back on my replacement pair.
Edit2: Further cleaning by keeping the blutac on for a while and doing it repeatdidly has dramatically improved the situation. No more buzz and rattle and the latest firmware has stopped ear drum suck for me completely. Amazing update! Apple needs to update their support article to say you need to clean the mics with tac. There's no other way to get them clean.
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I dont understand how it happens or if these people are just dirty but it's the most stomach churning experience to see I promise you
Of course someone on this forum would blame apple for their detty ears
I didn't say it didn't work, for me the November firmware update just made ANC really bad compared to the original firmware that shipped with the Pros on launch.
"In particular, Apple says this buildup could result in a loss of bass sound or an increase in ambient noise. "
This is what I had been saying when people were debating whether the 2nd generation Airpods sounded different or not. Most of the side by side comparisons that did claim they sounded much better had visibly waxy 1st gen Airpods, lol.
This is what I had been saying when people were debating whether the 2nd generation Airpods sounded different or not. Most of the side by side comparisons that did claim they sounded much better had visibly waxy 1st gen Airpods, lol.
My firmware updated but still have the same crackle issue. Mine may be different though. ANC works fine. But on pass through mode any sudden noise, like a cough, causes crackles. Is this operating normally or is pass through supposed to have better performance with sudden noises?
The crackling in my right earpiece is enormous, often louder than the audio itself. Sometime it even echoes with an incredible distortion, static, like a short circuit. I realized if I turn off the noise cancellation, it's almost completely gone. I'm not an audiophile, the crackling is like bad wiring, it's twice as loud as the audio itself, and almost non-stop. Sometimes it goes away for a few seconds and comes back. Sometimes it's a reverb, audio repeated with a quarter of a second delay with appalling distortion, like an Edison phonograph. I'm not imaging this. And turning off noise cancellation makes it disappear. Only in the right unit, never in the left one. I may have a faulty mic, because when I originally got the device in January it was perfectly fine. And I use all sorts of earphones without any complaint about audio quality. No ear wax or dirt. The mesh never goes to the ear at all.
You’re correct. It’s well known, for example, that in blind listening tests people cannot tell the difference between speakers connected by ultra-expensive, snake oil speaker cables and those connected by cheap lamp cord (because there really isn’t any audible difference), yet if they know how they are connected most will inevitably swear that the expensive cables sound better. Goes double for the buyers of said uber-expensive cables, as they have a psychological need to believe that their purchase yielded better results.
Lysol wipes also work to clean the mesh. This is the main thing that fixed my noise cancelling dropping in and out... Now that the tiny black mesh is clean, the noise cancelling never drops out.
Cross posting this from my response in the Airpods thread.
Saw this thread on reddit.
Seems the problem might be adhesive getting stuck in the grills, which triggers the microphone. This isn’t something which can be fixed with firmware, so Apple ships replacements, but since it’s evidently a manufacturing defect, there’s no guarantee that your replacement AirPods won’t face the same issue either.
Saw this thread on reddit.
Seems the problem might be adhesive getting stuck in the grills, which triggers the microphone. This isn’t something which can be fixed with firmware, so Apple ships replacements, but since it’s evidently a manufacturing defect, there’s no guarantee that your replacement AirPods won’t face the same issue either.
Abazigal thanks for posting it here - had no idea about the glue. The pic really shows it up well.
I don't have issues with blue tac getting stuck in the holes. It did happen to me a couple of times but as long as you keep dabbing it removes the blu-tac. I've had a lot of practice using blutac and getting off walls. But of course - it's not really a solution.
I don't have issues with blue tac getting stuck in the holes. It did happen to me a couple of times but as long as you keep dabbing it removes the blu-tac. I've had a lot of practice using blutac and getting off walls. But of course - it's not really a solution.
The air pods pro have serious manufacturing defects. Less than a week of usage and the left airpod buzzed everytime I talk. Apple trying to pass the buck as usual onto the customer for “earwax” or inproper fit testing or software updates and its all a load of crap. I wasted an hour of my life running through applecare+ warranty questions and finally just said enough and returned them to the store. I clean my ears regularly and they were less than two weeks old. Apple needs to admit their noise cancellation is jacked and fix it. If they want people to shell out $250 for airpods, they better not buzz every time you walk or talk and they should stand by the warranty 2 weeks in without making the customer run through dozens of stupid questions.
In recent months, some AirPods Pro users have been complaining about reduced noise cancellation and crackling or static sounds, particularly since the release of firmware version 2B588 for the earphones in November.
As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple has now addressed these potential issues in two support documents here and here, providing affected users with troubleshooting advice.
For users experiencing noise cancellation issues, Apple first says to make sure that you have the latest software installed on your connected iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac. Apple has also just released a new firmware version 2D15 for the AirPods Pro, which should automatically install after the earphones are connected to an Apple device for a short period.
Next, Apple says to place both AirPods Pro in your ears and perform the obvious step of making sure that Active Noise Cancellation is turned on.
If noise cancellation still isn't working as expected, Apple says to clean the mesh located on the top of your AirPods Pro, noting that sometimes noise cancellation can be affected if debris or earwax builds up in the area highlighted below. In particular, Apple says this buildup could result in a loss of bass sound or an increase in ambient noise.
As for crackling or static sounds, Apple again says to make sure that you have the latest software on your connected iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, and to ensure that there are no wireless interference or obstructions between you and your device. Apple also recommends listening to audio from a different app to see if a particular app causes the issue.
If all else fails, Apple says to contact its support representatives.
Since the release of firmware version 2D15 yesterday, there has been mixed feedback about noise cancellation, with some users noticing an improvement, some noticing no change, and some noticing further degradation.
Article Link: Apple Provides Advice to AirPods Pro Users Experiencing Noise Cancellation or Crackling Sound Issues
The AirPod that usually touches my pillow has started to fail ANC. The other one is just fine.
Upon looking at in with the iOS Magnifier shows the mesh grills are filled with dust and skin (from me pushing them in my ears). I always wipe my ears and the AirPods down with a IPA wipe. I don’t think they’ve ever been dirty except for the dust I’m seeing under the magnifier.
I know they’re disposable but I figured I would get 2-3 years before the batteries crapped out.
Upon looking at in with the iOS Magnifier shows the mesh grills are filled with dust and skin (from me pushing them in my ears). I always wipe my ears and the AirPods down with a IPA wipe. I don’t think they’ve ever been dirty except for the dust I’m seeing under the magnifier.
I know they’re disposable but I figured I would get 2-3 years before the batteries crapped out.