Crackling Noise During Music Playback after iOS 4.1 Update

Same here, using a Pioneer AVH-P4200DVD head unit in my truck. Just started getting the crackling noise as well with my iPhone 4 and 4.1 update. Connected via USB to the unit using the Pioneer USB to dock connector. Same setup with an IPOD 80GB Classic 5G works fine with no crackling. I did not notice this prior to 4.1 update.

Having same issue with 3Gs. Working fine on 2009 Pontiac USB radio since last August and after 4.1 update, music plays for about a minute then audio cuts off but the music keeps playing and changing to next song, etc., just without audio. Only way to get it back is to unplug and start over to get another minute. Tried several cables and same issue, including brand new cable that came with my iPhone 4. Plays fine via headphones, other Apple docks, etc. iPhone 4 still on iOS4.0 does not have the problem.

I have the same Problem after updating my 32gig 4th gen Ipod touch from 4.02 to 4.1.
I have a pioneer high end touch screen head-unit with a built in usb ipod adapter. I had perfect audio yesterday until I updated to ios 4.1!

This is very frustrating!
I guess I have to call apple tomorrow and see what can be done. I will post back if I get any word on how to restore to 4.02.

Same here - Pioneer 1120 AV home receiver connecting via USB port. Was working perfectly with 4.0.2 and then I updated to 4.1. Sound quality is crap and the static is not cool. My other iPod running 4.0.2 works perfect. Wish I could downgrade but I guess is not possible. Really makes it hard to trust Apples updates. NEW UPDATE PLEASE!

Contacted Apple support about this.
There is no way to restore back to ios 4.02.Just have to wait until they release ios 4.2. They are aware of this glitch it seems.
😟

Yes, they are aware now but when I first called last week they were clueless. Looks like the 4.2 update is not due until November, but I hope they push something sooner.

Hi All,

I am having this same issues. At first, I thought it was my case, which is made of metal and coated with rubber. I thought somehow, it is causing interference. Then I took it out of the case and connected the iPhone 4 to my Alpine car deck using the usual USB cord that I have been using for the last few years and it still is happening. I describe it as a clicking and static noise that at some times, totally blocks out all of the music and at other times, allows you to still hear the music in the background but at a low volume. I commute 50 min to work daily and this happens about 6 separate times for about 10-15 seconds at a time during this time. This never happened before iOS 4.1. I used my new iPhone with this setup while on iOS 4 and no problems. 4.1 introduced this distortion. I am also noticing a pattern now that several days have passed,m that it occurs around the same locations on my route daily. I hope that this can be fixed soon. I am considering using my iPod in my car again instead of my iPhone until this is fixed.

iPhone 3GS running iOS 4.1, connected to a JVC KW-XR610. Via USB, it's nothing but snap, crackle, pop every 3-5 seconds. A full reset had no effect.

iOS 4.2 fixes this. The first beta version released yesterday is now installed on my iphone 3Gs and the problem has gone.

Not that it matters, but you can add my name to this list.

iPhone 3GS/iOS 4.1 stutters/crackles through USB connection on both my wife's 2010 Fusion and the aftermarket (JVC KD-A615) unit in my car. Tried several cables all with identical results.

Bluetooth and anything through the headphone jack plays fine. No problems prior to 4.1 update.

I was thinking it might be a fragment of dust (pocket lint) in the dock connector, but cleaning that out has no effect.

You can add me to the list also. I have a Pioneer AVH3200BT head unit and with 4.0.2 the audio played perfectly. After upgrading to 4.1 I get a scratching sound at random times during playback which is very annoying. I did the same thing - thinking it was dust in the connection ports - but no dice. I hope the comment that 4.2 fixed the issue works for everyone else too!

This is also happening with my 32gb iPhone 3GS ever since the 4.1 update. About 2-3 times per song, the music will cut out, much like a CD skip. Also, randomly (anywhere from once every 3 songs to once every 10 songs), playback will mute altogether and I have to disconnect and reconnect the 30-pin connector to make the music play again.

This happens when using my 2010 Nissan Altima Coupe's USB connection with the factory installed Bose stereo but NOT my Memorex iPod clock radio which also uses the 30-pin connector.

I tried changing the phone to airplane mode and turning off wi-fi with no luck in preventing this problem.

This is a source of intense frustration for me, as I invested a lot of money into having a high quality audio set up in my car, and so far there's nothing I can do to remedy the problem but wait until November for the next iOS update.

The next iOS version is too long of a wait to fix this problem, which has made the primary use of my iPhone a constant source of stress. We need a fix for the interim.

Another user with this bug.

Prior to the 4.1 update, USB played with proper quality, although I suffered from the Bluetooth / USB issue where you'd have to manually select the dock connector (with my Ford Flex using Sync). Now the dock is connected properly (although the bluetooth triggers the iphone to start playing automatically by bluetooth) but the USB drops out fairly frequently while playing.

Playing songs without USB and using the built in speaker plays perfectly, as does playing songs through my iHome alarm clock.

Add me to the list. Worked fine before the update, crackles and cuts out now. Using it in the car is the main reason I have an iPod. This needs to get fixed quick.

UPDATE!! Called apple engineering yesterday in regards to this. Im an apple tech for a school district, so i called the "special number". They were, to my surprise, unaware of this issue at the iOS department. So i led them to this discussion, and by the end of the convo, there was a memo in place to their programmers that we have a big issue with 4.1. So good news on that! Not sure if we will see an intermediate update before 4.2, but they are aware of the issue at this point!