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Some AirPods Pro 3 Owners Complain About Static Noise

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Some AirPods Pro 3 owners have been experiencing a problem with a static-like sound when Active Noise Cancellation is on but no media is playing, according to complaints on Reddit and the MacRumors forums.

airpods pro 3 prime day green
Those who are affected have described the noise as static, an audible hiss, white noise, rain, and an ocean-like sound similar to holding a seashell up to the ear. There have been reports of users hearing the static sound in ANC, Adaptive, and Transparency modes. From MacRumors reader ugh:

It's very strange, I would think it's defective, but it's on both ears?? You can switch ANC from on to off, clearly ANC is quieting down the lower frequencies, but the higher frequencies seem to actually get LOUDER in a quiet room when turning ANC on. It just sounds like I have a small fan on in the room all the time (I do not).

From xJohnyxx:

Very pronounced in mine but only in Transparency/Adaptive mode. And only, or at least way more pronounced, in the right one. Had absolutely zero static noise with APP2. Will be returning since I also don't quite like the new sound profile and they are less comfortable for me.

From rolan2q:

OMG after one week of ownership I had to exchange my AirPods Pro 3. During a flight from NYC to Chicago I had a whistling/wind noise on my right Airpod the whole time. I reset, repaired, cleaned them and same thing. Hopefully this is not a widespread issue.

Some users say the static is worse in one AirPod than the other, and others suggest that high frequencies also seem to be oddly amplified. Music mitigates the problem for some users, but not others. From EdRecde on Reddit:

I have the same problem. It's not possible to hear music at a low level around 30 db because the static is too much. It's my first pair of AirPods so I can't compare but only switching the microphones off makes the headphones silent

Not all ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ units seem to be affected, and there are people who appear to be experiencing no issue at all. Some users may also be less sensitive to any kind of ambient static sound.

One user who reported the issue to Apple received replacement AirPods, and other people have exchanged the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ but experienced the same issue with the replacement pair. One user said that Apple is directing store employees to exchange the AirPods Pro 3 for users who report static issues.

It's not clear if the static that people are hearing is related to hardware or software, but if it is a software issue, Apple could address it in future firmware updates. The only option for eliminating the static entirely appears to be turning ANC and Transparency off, which can be done in the Settings app when wearing the AirPods.

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Top Rated Comments

boswald Avatar
boswald
12 months ago

I don't get it. What's the problem? Every headphone with ANC will "play" some static noise, it's how ANC works.
I must be hard of hearing then because my APP2 didn't make any sound.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
V
varsity
12 months ago
There’s a similar class action lawsuit in progress for the Gen 1 pros
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacUserFella Avatar
MacUserFella
12 months ago
It’s a new feature, Background Sounds integration!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thadoggfather Avatar
thadoggfather
12 months ago
https://basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/the-airpods-pro-3-flight-problem

To save a click, I'll just c+p the main part:

My trouble came at 39,000 feet when I first noticed a high-pitched whine coming from my left AirPod. The issue was that the AirPod’s ear seal kept loosening, leading to a noise-cancellation feedback loop and a painfully loud piercing screech from the AirPod. Attempts to readjust worsened the feedback, especially if I accidentally covered the external microphone with my finger. This happened multiple times, making the experience so unpleasant that I eventually switched to my spare EarPods for the remainder of the flight. While disappointed, I wasn’t ready to condemn the headphones yet; perhaps the medium seal worked fine on terra firma, but on flights, I might need a different size for a better seal.

After landing, I tested the tips and switched from a Medium to Extra Small (Apple offers XXS, XS, S, M, or L tips for AirPods Pro 3). Both XS and M tips sealed well and were comfortable for long wear. For weeks, I couldn’t reproduce the whistling feedback, and I forgot about it until my next flight earlier this week.

Once again, it was only a few minutes after takeoff that the painful screech returned. Careful adjustments or yawning would fix the issue, but only for a couple of minutes at most. I figured that the new foam tips were trapping more heat, reducing airflow and ventilation, and less flexible, and that somehow all that was playing a role in loosening the seal. And when paired with the aircraft’s loud, steady hum, a feedback loop was created. But day to day, this is a non-issue because I never encounter the same types of pressure changes and noises that would reproduce this issue.


--

Really concerning issue that seems to impact some people when up in the sky... I'm perfectly fine with my APP2's (lightning model no less, I mostly just use them for travel) and Airpods 4 with ANC for everything but if I were tempted, this would be something I'd have to be certain I wouldn't experience cause it sounds like a total deal breaker, changes to the fit aside (that I would also have to try out, since its a ymmv thing depending on your ear shape and size).
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
L
Love-hate 🍏 relationship
12 months ago
I thought this was a side effect of strong ANC ? am I wrong ?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Digital Dude Avatar
Digital Dude
12 months ago
It’s not a new feature because I’ve had the static noise in my old AirPods for about a year or so. I kept thinking a firmware update would fix it. Unfortunately, Apple is no longer hungry, so there’s no incentive to stay on top of things’. 🫩
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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