Not sure how long I've had mine, but mine have not developed this issue. I am on a replacement pair as I had other unrelated issues. Fingers crossed.
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AirPods Pro: Rattlegate
- Thread starter MacRumorsRanger
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Probably an interesting data point to hear from those who don't have the issue yet as well. Judging from all the comments I have read, it seems most people who have said they have the rattling seem to have developed it around the 2 month mark. My launch pair lasted roughly 3 months, while my first replacement pair lasted 2 months.
I do wonder if it's correlated with use and something everyone will eventually get given enough time, or whether its a hardware/firmware issue that doesn't affect everyone.
I used my APPs most days of the week: around 5-6 hours a day at work (usually with music, but sometimes just silence to block out background noise), and probably another 4-5 hours on weekends listening to podcasts or music.
I had a further chat with Apple support concerning my AirPod Pro replacement. They told me "The replacement will be new or like new and not previously used". And they confirmed the same thing you state, that the warranty is still based upon the original purchase date.
Further, if you have to replace your AirPods at a time that is close to the end of the warranty period, then they will give you 90 days from the date when they are replaced. That could be helpful and points out the importance of staying aware of when your warranty will expire.
It seems "like new" means "refurbished" in Apple parlance. From Apple's "Why Refurbished" page: "You will receive a "like new" device with genuine Apple replacement parts (as needed) that has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected.".
Hah, considering most of us seem to be struggling to get beyond 3 months without the rattle occurring, that sounds like infinite warranty!
The comment about refurbished may hold true with phones, macs, and other REPAIRABLE devices, but the AirPods are not repairable in any way. I would be very surprised if the so called refurbished weren't 'new.'
I can’t imagine them dispose all the hardware they get back from the APP. Some parts are gonna be reused 100% in the replacement units for sure... Nevermind, I’m done with this banana product and contacted Apple for a full refund due to the German law that you can use in a case if the product is faulty and can get restored to working conditions after swapping them 2 times. I’m on my 4th or 5th pair since released, so fed up with this!
Saw one of the ATP guys tweet about this and remembered I had to do my quarterly exchange. Hasn't been as urgent since quarantine. Both Airpods were rattling/crackling with horribly distorted feedback. A $200 card hold, 2 business days later, and my new pair should be here today. Impressive response, ridiculous that this will be my 3rd pair.
Does anyone know if the new firmware finally solves it?
EDIT: Mine just got the update. Enabled ANC, talking alone as that is the trigger usually for the rattling sounds, so far nothing.
Still early to tell as it is intermittent, but we'll see
EDIT 2: Problem still there. Move along, nothing to see here.
EDIT: Mine just got the update. Enabled ANC, talking alone as that is the trigger usually for the rattling sounds, so far nothing.
Still early to tell as it is intermittent, but we'll see
EDIT 2: Problem still there. Move along, nothing to see here.
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My replacement set is about 3 months old and never developed this issue.
BUT...I can guarantee you that the problem you describe is a faulty MEMS microphone, though. Could be liquid intrusion, or dust intrusion, or just bad mics (they are very fragile). I know this because I broke the mics in my previous set by blowing into the air vents rather than sucking on them while trying to see if it would affect the Fit Test. After all that air pressure was applied, every time I coughed or talked loudly, it crackled in my ear. After blowing even harder, the AirPods started making an odd squealing sound and the noise cancel / transparency modes essentially failed to work at all. Kind of a stupid thing to do, but experimentation is the basis of science! lol
Side note is that BluTak will harm nothing (but it won't fix this issue). They actually use it in the AppleStore while troubleshooting.
Nice! Clearly the rest of the world needs some consumer protections like that!
Have one of them had this rattle issue? If they have I'm tempted to sent this thread to them.
Oh wow, nice timing, I was just about to drop my rattling set into the mail back to Apple as the return window for them is almost up. I've just pulled them back out of the box and updated the firmware to 2D15: and sure enough they still rattle. It sounds exactly the same. So my findings echo yours.
I wonder whether the new firmware could reduce the likelihood of the issue occurring for currently unaffected devices though.
Certainly wouldn't be the case for my second pair which developed the rattle, as I was super paranoid with them. They didn't even get used outside or while exercising. Which makes me think some mics may be more sturdy that others.
Makes me wonder whether the hardware is physically breaking due to air pressure changes in people's ears during use. Swallowing, yawning, coughing, sneezing, clearing your throat, chewing, etc. are all things that cause pressure changes in the ear. Normally this just results in the pressure equalising with the outside, but with a good APP seal blocking airflow maybe this places a similar pressure on them. That said, if the hardware breaks that easily then that's a massive design flaw.
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Figured I'd give it a try just to confirm while I had the bad pair out of the box: yep, no change. Rattle is still the same.
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Each pair of AirPods Pro has 6 MEMs microphones total. Standard MEMs microphones (which is what Apple used) are just incredibly fragile, and can be rendered inoperative by the tiniest level of contaminants and also to big, fast pressure changes (and that's probably not great for something that's in your ear for hours at a time). Normally in other devices, like your phone, if a mic has an issue, you might not notice unless the people youre talking to on the phone complain about your voice quality. But with the AirPods, all the sound you hear (their main function) is directly tied to the microphones. If the internal mic has a problem, the sound processing will fail. If the outer mic has a problem, the noise cancelling won't work.
If you are a tech minded person, this paper has some very interesting, relevant information about the pitfalls with MEMs microphones:
https://vespermems.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Vesper-Microphone-Arrays-whitepaper-1.pdf
There are actually better piezoelectric mics that are much more durable and resistant to failure, which would have been a much more robust option, but I'm sure that would cut into Apple's profit margin too much.
Interesting read, thanks.
My take-away from reading that (assuming it's accurate) is that this is a hardware issue that is likely going to affect everyone eventually given enough time/use - either from the degradation of the MEMs microphones over time (as they're a moving part) or from microscopic particle ingress. It sounds like repeated exposure to sudden loud noise can hasten the degradation, presumably things close to the mics (like coughing or sneezing) or generally loud environmental sounds.
Assuming Apple don't make any hardware changes then it sounds like we're in for regular replacement of our APPs even if we're super careful with them. Sigh.
I mean, they are basically designed to be disposable anyway. The batteries can't be replaced no matter how hard you try, and they only have enough charge cycles for a couple of years of heavy use tops.
Probably true, but it's one thing if the mics lasted 3 years before failing (at which point the battery life is pretty bad), it's another with them only lasting 2-3 months before mic failure. It's going to be interesting when Oct/Nov rolls around and people start hitting the 12 months mark...
So MacRumours news just alerted us to a new Apple support document:
support.apple.com
I can confirm those steps are 100% useless for this rattling issue.
Really the only interesting bit it them now referring people to contact support for "if the issues increase in loud environments, with exercise, or while talking on the phone": Apple clearly know they have a problem on their hands at this point.
If your AirPods Pro (1st generation) make crackling or static sounds - Apple Support
Follow these steps.
I can confirm those steps are 100% useless for this rattling issue.
Really the only interesting bit it them now referring people to contact support for "if the issues increase in loud environments, with exercise, or while talking on the phone": Apple clearly know they have a problem on their hands at this point.
Today Apple refuse to change my AirPod left. been talking to 2 CSO, and they insist me to bring to autorise service to have a check when the lockdown finish which 1june for singapore. Reason becoz I had got it change once.it like they telling me that for this warranty, I can only change once even it a hardware problem! & the funny part is they keep insisting me to buy a new AirPod Pro.
going to try calling them till I got it change.
going to try calling them till I got it change.
So MacRumours news just alerted us to a new Apple support document:
If your AirPods Pro (1st generation) make crackling or static sounds - Apple Support
Follow these steps.
I can confirm those steps are 100% useless for this rattling issue.
Really the only interesting bit it them now referring people to contact support for "if the issues increase in loud environments, with exercise, or while talking on the phone": Apple clearly know they have a problem on their hands at this point.
yup. it's clearly a hardware issue. i imagine they'll be replacing a lot of these. hopefully the newer versions will have it fixed. how long til someone can do a tear down comparing?
Very discouraged. After storing my "crackle pods" in the drawer for months, I just got the 2D15 Firmware update.
The buzzing sound (software issue) is STILL THERE. Ugghh.
The key to knowing this is software is simple. (it is not a bluetooth pairing or dirt issue)
1. "Humm" with your mouth. Does the noise increase and decrease with your humm level? (yes? software)
2. Does setting your Airpods Pro control to Off position make the buzzing go away? (yes? software).
On reddit there are people saying they go through a nightmare. They spend a whole day convincing Apple it is a warranty issue. Apple gives in and then puts a $ hold on their CC (until non functioning AirPods Pro earbud is returned) plus more $ for your deductible. The new Airpods Pro earbud arrives. It is shiny. New from the factory, it very likely has a different firmware version than the other, working AirPods earbud. Two Airpods Pro earbuds with different firmware are supposedly bricked (you can't control syncing the firmware - and that Apple tech is not an electrical engineer).
People on Reddit claimed they could tell the [different] left pod firmware version from the right. How do you do that?
The buzzing sound (software issue) is STILL THERE. Ugghh.
The key to knowing this is software is simple. (it is not a bluetooth pairing or dirt issue)
1. "Humm" with your mouth. Does the noise increase and decrease with your humm level? (yes? software)
2. Does setting your Airpods Pro control to Off position make the buzzing go away? (yes? software).
On reddit there are people saying they go through a nightmare. They spend a whole day convincing Apple it is a warranty issue. Apple gives in and then puts a $ hold on their CC (until non functioning AirPods Pro earbud is returned) plus more $ for your deductible. The new Airpods Pro earbud arrives. It is shiny. New from the factory, it very likely has a different firmware version than the other, working AirPods earbud. Two Airpods Pro earbuds with different firmware are supposedly bricked (you can't control syncing the firmware - and that Apple tech is not an electrical engineer).
People on Reddit claimed they could tell the [different] left pod firmware version from the right. How do you do that?
Well the troubling thing here is Apple's response to the butterfly keyboard issues: they never fixed them for the affected models. If you have a problem you just end up with another butterfly keyboard, instead of a new design that actually addresses the underlying problem.
My worry (and to be honest, expectation) is Apple will take the same approach with the APPs. Apple will eventually release a second generation version of the APPs without the flaw, but those of us with the first generation design will be stuck getting the same flawed replacements until the replacement/warranty period runs out.
This is incorrect, this is a hardware issue. It appears to be an issue with the noise cancelling mics failing/degrading over time. There is a good discussion earlier in this thread about the microphone design (MEMS) being flawed.
The reason changing to Off stops the buzz is then the noise cancelling mics are disabled (and so the APPs no longer have to attempt to cancel out background noise by playing the inverse waveform/sound through the speaker). The reason you hear a rattle in NC/Transparency mode is that the mics are damaged and are picking up garbled sounds or sounds that don't exist and then attempting to cancel them (or play them in transparency).
The earbuds will be the same firmware: if one earbud is on a newer firmware the other earbud will be automatically updated to be the same firmware. The earbuds will not sync/pair while on different firmware versions. There is a good discussion about this in this thread.