Suck on ‘em (to fix crackling issues!!!)

[Theophil1971]

Sorry, I know it sounds indelicate and weird.
I don’t mean, “They’re terrible products, so suck on ‘em”...
I mean, quite literally, that if you’re having sound issues, then actually suck on them.
If you’re experiencing popping and/or crackling noises - especially in Noise Cancelling or Transparency modes - then you need to suck on your AirPods.
Weird, gross, odd, I know. But - at least for me - it’s the only thing that works.
I've had 3 pairs. All of them have developed crackling and popping issues, especially when talking (Phone especially), and when in ANC or transparency mode. Once it happened in the left earbud. Got it replaced. Then it developed in the right. Got it replaced. Eventually developed in both.
Here’s the deal. Debris (from evaporated sweat, or wax, or dirt/dust, or whatever) can accumulate in the grill of the microphone unit. This is the pill-shaped grill on top of each earbud. As long as those tiny black upper grills are clogged, you’ll experience interference in ANC and transparency modes, resulting in all the popping and crackling.
SO. Take a new, clean toothbrush. UNUSED... free of toothpaste or water. Use it to GENTLY scrub the grills of the upper microphones on your AirPods. Lightly. Gently. Carefully.
Then... and this is the critical step... having loosened and debris with the clean toothbrush... gently put your lips over that grill on the top of the earbud, and - without salivating into it - suck air into your mouth, forcing a suction through that grill (into your mouth, not blowing into the earbud). Do this several times, sucking, not blowing, DRYLY, and without any saliva.
Do it with both AirPods. See if it makes a difference.
It cured mine. No kidding. When nothing else worked, this absolutely did.

 

[Duncan68]

When I tried this technique a few weeks ago, I managed to give myself an ear infection in my left ear. Just putting that out there. YMMV.

 

[Harthag]

Yeah, I want to inhale all the particles and dust and other crap on the grilles. No thanks.

I had this same problem, simply using a piece of clear tape a few times over all of the grilles fixed everything.

 

[Inverted_User]

It's true, the right Airpod Pro was having a rattling noise when volume was to high and while moving around, I tried changing the fit but it didn't work. The left one was fine, no problems at all. I got a cotton swab, little damp and swabbed all 3 grills. The lower, side, and massive grills. Then sucked the side and massive grill. It significantly reduced rattle but I think the small grill on the lower still has some debris.

 

[Duncan68]

Just got a replacement left APP earphone due to a crackling issue. Now I have the (as expected) serial number showing as "1". Has anyone ever had that fix itself or do people just live with it?

 

[Duncan68]

Just got a replacement left APP earphone due to a crackling issue. Now I have the (as expected) serial number showing as "1". Has anyone ever had that fix itself or do people just live with it?

This is weird. Sometimes they show "1" and sometimes they show the original serial number that was on the AirPods Pro box when I bought them 3 months ago.

 

[jwhite9185]

Yep, I can agree.

Have the first generation AirPods that sounded terrible. Working in the electronics industry, I have access to a soldering iron filter. Which is essentially a small vacuum. I put the pipe from the filter over the ports of each AirPod, wiped away what came out, and they now sound good as new.

 

[BruiserB]

I recently started noticing the rattling in my left AirPod Pro as I have been going for more walks. Tried this and it seems to have improved significantly. Still a tiny amount of the sound if I tap the AirPod, but eliminated it from just shaking my head or walking. I may try an exchange eventually when the stores re-open. It's not urgent enough to do by mail and risk the firmware issue.

 

[macnmac]

wonder how OP happen around that idea...

 

[SoybeanStasher]

I don't know how you discovered this, but it helped immensely. The right pod's rattle was more severe and there's still a little left, but another treatment might take care of that too. Unbelievable. Thank you.

 

[Phone Junky]

Sounds like a reasonable thing to have to do to make your $250 earphones work like they're suppose to.

 

[JCCL]

Not working with mine. Still get the crackle sound mostly when I speak, like if a speaker was blown, and boy I have sucked on that thing

 

[dreamsound]

I’m having a similar symptom (for the third time now) but at this point I think there are two different but related issues.

Mine rattles with head movement and crackles with talking, but goes away when in “Off.”

Because it is extremely audible in Transparency and Noise Cancellation modes and seems unaffected by cleaning, I suspect my issue is an internal microphone for the noise canceling system that has become loose and is rattling around.

Guessing the symptoms are similar to the dirty grill issue, as dirt also impacts the noise cancelling microphone performance?

Does anyone have insight on the actual components behind the mesh screens and how the noise canceling system works?

 

[yoimrae]

Doesn’t work for me. Still have that crackling sound on noice cancellation and transparency even off. no choice but to wait for apple store to open.