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Cyberius11

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 20, 2011
418
369
Having some issues with my AirPods Pro second gen. When I'm on a phone call, I get intermittent audio crackles if I am using an app, browsing the web, or a notification comes in. If the phone is just sitting unused (not using any apps) and I'm talking on the phone, there are no crackles. The crackles are not constant, but intermittent. When I swap back to my AirPods Pro first gen, this does not happen at all - I can use the phone as much as I want and audio is crystal clear. I'm using an iPhone 13 Pro. Anyone else have this issue?
 

Tagbert

macrumors 603
Jun 22, 2011
6,254
7,280
Seattle
I’ve not heard anything like this.

I’d suggest checking for software updates on your phone. Check the software version of the APP2s (mine are 5A377. I think they updated when I first charged them). Restart your phone. If none of those things do anything, see if you can take them to an Apple store to have them check them out.
 

Cyberius11

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 20, 2011
418
369
I’ve not heard anything like this.

I’d suggest checking for software updates on your phone. Check the software version of the APP2s (mine are 5A377. I think they updated when I first charged them). Restart your phone. If none of those things do anything, see if you can take them to an Apple store to have them check them out.
Already did all that, everything is up to date. I'm just keeping the old ones and returning the new.
 
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rijc99

macrumors 6502a
Apr 27, 2015
854
645
I'm having the similar issue. When the airpod encounters a loud noise it converts it into a loud crackle. I've exchanged my first set already thinking it was a hardware issue. Second set does the same thing.

I could replicate it every time by making a loud noise that triggers the loud noise protection feature.
 

RagingHamster

macrumors member
Sep 28, 2022
45
50
Glad I found this. Made an account (long time lurker) just to pitch in.

I'm noticing an occasional crackle/short pop while playing audio (Apple Music/Spotify/YouTube) and then using the phone as normal. Can't repro it perfectly, but while playing a track on Apple Music, open Mail, the Weather App, Safari, etc.. There's a short audible pop as if the phone were "too busy" to stream the audio correctly for a split second.

When I just put the phone down with the screen off, it *never* happens.

This is my first pair of AirPods, or any wireless headphones and I was starting to worry that this is normal behavior.
I'll check later if it also happens on iOS 15.7.

Details: iPhone 13 Mini / iOS 16.0.2 / AirPods Pro gen 2 on 5A377 firmware.
 

supergt

macrumors 6502a
Feb 22, 2019
652
1,600
I am getting a slight crackle or distortion intermittently across different music platforms. Wonder if it's a defect or can be resolved via firmware update. Disappointing for an otherwise excellent product.
 
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RagingHamster

macrumors member
Sep 28, 2022
45
50
It might not be AirPods themselves causing the problem. Just tested with an M1 MacBook Air (running Monterey) as the source. Playing the same (dolby atmos) album on Apple Music, while running Geekbench. No crackle.

So it's down to either iOS 16 or something that iPhones do (anyone have an iPad to test with?).
I do have another iPhone 13 available on 15.x to try and reproduce the behavior. Can also double check with my wife's APP2s.
 

Faroussi

macrumors newbie
Sep 29, 2022
3
2
It might not be AirPods themselves causing the problem. Just tested with an M1 MacBook Air (running Monterey) as the source. Playing the same (dolby atmos) album on Apple Music, while running Geekbench. No crackle.

So it's down to either iOS 16 or something that iPhones do (anyone have an iPad to test with?).
I do have another iPhone 13 available on 15.x to try and reproduce the behavior. Can also double check with my wife's APP2s.
in my experience its not while holding the phone or not, its everytime am on a phone call using the airpods, the static/crackling noise appears for a split second & disappear & this goes on & on, are you experiencing the same as this or is it something else ?
 
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RagingHamster

macrumors member
Sep 28, 2022
45
50
in my experience its not while holding the phone or not, its everytime am on a phone call using the airpods, the static/crackling noise appears for a split second & disappear & this goes on & on, are you experiencing the same as this or is it something else ?
Seems like a distinct issue (though maybe related). Didn't mean to hijack the thread if it is a separate issue.
 

shady16

macrumors 6502a
Oct 3, 2019
847
725
im having the same issue on a 14 pro max on 16.1 beta 3 considering exchanging them
 

nognome

macrumors newbie
Feb 21, 2013
13
19
Glad this thread appeared, exact same thing happening to mine and was going nuts trying to figure out what was going on. Swapped out a first pair because I thought the hardware was broken and it’s still happening.

Strangely, it’s only on voice calls through the phone app. It doesn’t happen when on zoom calls, listening to music or video, or in any other situation I’ve seen yet.

Very annoying but assuming they’ll be able to patch it out.
 
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kevcube

macrumors 6502
Nov 16, 2020
447
621
Glad this thread appeared, exact same thing happening to mine and was going nuts trying to figure out what was going on. Swapped out a first pair because I thought the hardware was broken and it’s still happening.

Strangely, it’s only on voice calls through the phone app. It doesn’t happen when on zoom calls, listening to music or video, or in any other situation I’ve seen yet.

Very annoying but assuming they’ll be able to patch it out.
Interesting that it doesn’t affect zoom calls. When the APP1 are using speaker+mic at the same time they have to switch codecs, which may be what you’re hearing, but if it’s not on zoom then that’s unlikely. Does it occur on a FaceTime audio call?
 

baking soda

macrumors regular
Oct 29, 2020
133
136
Italy
Experienced the same with Spotify the very first time I've used them on my way back from the store.
I am going to test them again today and see if it happens again, but the fact that it did happen in the first place makes me question their reliability. Will probably call Apple today..
 

RagingHamster

macrumors member
Sep 28, 2022
45
50
Did some more testing in the meantime by downgrading an iPhone 13 Mini to iOS 15.7. No more crackling while playing audio. So it’s indeed another undocumented iOS 16 “feature”.

I would recommend downgrading while Apple is still signing iOS 15.7. Once you’ve been on 16 prior, your AirPods will have had time to update their firmware and it seems that iOS15.7 now shows the battery status indicators correctly (one pair of AirPods and the case separately, whereas before it showed me 2 AirPods Max). The only things missing in 15.7, are Find My support and the separate AirPods menu in Settings.
 

baking soda

macrumors regular
Oct 29, 2020
133
136
Italy
Did some more testing in the meantime by downgrading an iPhone 13 Mini to iOS 15.7. No more crackling while playing audio. So it’s indeed another undocumented iOS 16 “feature”.

I would recommend downgrading while Apple is still signing iOS 15.7. Once you’ve been on 16 prior, your AirPods will have had time to update their firmware and it seems that iOS15.7 now shows the battery status indicators correctly (one pair of AirPods and the case separately, whereas before it showed me 2 AirPods Max). The only things missing in 15.7, are Find My support and the separate AirPods menu in Settings.

Cries in iPhone 14 Pro.
Well if a different software version solves the issue, then I'm happy. I'll just wait for an APP2 firmware update.
 

RagingHamster

macrumors member
Sep 28, 2022
45
50
Issue still not fixed in IOS 16.1
Seems like this time the .1 update releases yet more bugs features rather than the usual fixes.

I feel great on 15.7 (and Monterey/WatchOS 8) and am staying put for the foreseeable future. That’s a first for me. Sure I’m missing some important features (no Find My for my APP2s), but at least it’s a smooth experience across the board.
 

shady16

macrumors 6502a
Oct 3, 2019
847
725
Seems like this time the .1 update releases yet more bugs features rather than the usual fixes.

I feel great on 15.7 (and Monterey/WatchOS 8) and am staying put for the foreseeable future. That’s a first for me. Sure I’m missing some important features (no Find My for my APP2s), but at least it’s a smooth experience across the board.
I don’t have that option as I’m on 14 PM it’s getting to the point I’m considering going back to gen 1 until the issue is fixed
 

desiapollo

macrumors newbie
Nov 9, 2022
2
1
India
I have the same exact issue and I thought I was along in the world going mad. I've put the Airpods Pro 2 through the Apple Service S well - no change - still the occasional cracking, glitchy noise-cancellation, and lately a deep dead-battery type slowdown sound.

Very not nice :/
 

astroteej26

macrumors newbie
Nov 9, 2022
1
0
So I’m not going crazy. This is exactly what I’m experiencing on my APP2s. But my issues only started after the latest firmware update (5B…). Rather frustrated right now.
 
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