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Popping Sound with USB

The Problem:

Popping or clicking sound or noise when using a USB cable connection with any music playback device (home stereo receiver, car audio, portable speakers with USB, etc) This sound is likened to vinyl record noise, popping and clicking. It is random and does NOT repeat in the same spot.

I’ve started this post to bring focus to this issue and to show a relationship to all similar USB related issues in this forum and will be hopeful that the OEM (Apple) will see it is a major problem to be address, ASAP.

The ongoing ‘thread’ (discussions.apple.com/thread/2581406?) beginning in 2010 spotlighting USB playback noise (Popping Sounds) with car audio devices, seam to be one of the same issue and I would advise all to test this by simply connecting to another (USB) playback device (if you don’t have one; try connecting to an in-store demo speaker/amp or home-receiver with USB)

Some Background:

My spec. is as follows; New iPod Touch 64, 4G, iOS-5.1 using iTunes (ver. 10.5.1.42) on a Win-7 Pro, SP-1

To validate some discussion on my part; iPod user since 2004 and have owned 5 different models. Professional background; audio recording engineer, cross-platform computer technician and OEM builder, multimedia engineer.

Discovery:

As of 10/2011, new iPod Touch (‘iTouch’) began making popping sounds with USB playback thru car stereo. I have never had this problem with any iPod prior to using the new iTouch 4G with iOS-5. Have NOT verified if this began after iOS-5 or iTunes 10.5 updates.

Testing:

-Verified it was only thru USB, apart from PC connection (playback via USB thru iTunes, built-in iPod speaker, headphones or dock connection to a playback device are ok).

-Used various USB cables (Belkin and the original Apple USB) which made no improvement.

-Connecting to home-stereo (new Yamaha RX-V671) using USB produced the same problem; therefore it is not related solely to car-audio devices.

I hope this brief (and the feedback to follow) will be a motivating force for resolving this ongoing problem. I will open an Apple Support item on this issue.

iPod touch, Windows 7

Posted on Nov 27, 2011 9:06 AM

61 replies

Dec 12, 2011 8:05 AM in response to Mac-Win Harmony

@ Grayon and all;

In entertaining your theory (thanks for that by the way) that somehow the volume setting (although signal is via its dock-connection and digital) played a part in the known Pop/Clicking issue, repeated testing has shown that setting the volume either all the way down or up had No Affect In Reducing the problematic noise.

The only relevant finding was that ‘duration’ of play time produced more noise in the nature of; first play of the day, pop/clicking occurred approx. 20-30 seconds apart and after repeated plays, every 5-10 seconds.

Further observation leans to a fact that this maybe a hardware problem after all. In testing a direct ‘Dock-Connection’ without USB (such as portable speaker with iPod Dock), there is no problematic noise at all. This leads me to thinking it is a dock-connector ‘Pin-Out’ issues when the connection is wired to USB, electro-static discharge from the unused pins being audible by the signal pins perhaps. On the other hand; there had been reports that this problematic noise occurred only after the 4.3 iOS update of a year ago.

If any will be entertaining other theory’s, please back them up with detailed facts before posting, this isn’t a contest for bonus points (and would be appreciated by all parties I’m sure).

One thing is assured; this is a Product Wide Problem for the iPod and iPhone and maybe the iPad included and that’s a whole lot of units…

My testing on the matter is now concluded, as it is a factual problem and the question is: Will Apple CEO ‘step up to the plate’ to fix it and remain an outstanding company?

What do you say Apple?

Dec 14, 2011 6:03 AM in response to Mac-Win Harmony

Why USB Compatibility/Functionality Is Vital To Apple:

An essential part of the modern (and future) multi-media experience, both in Home-Entertainment and Car- Entertainment systems rely (in part) on USB integration compatibility.

How so? USB integration is the pathway by which Digital Audio, Metadata and Remote Transport Functions are fed and read by the host system. It is how the user attaches the device which the system reads, displays all metadata content; Album Art, Playlist, Artist, song, etc. which the user can remotely navigate while watching his large on-screen display (and can also distribute that program (and function) throughout the home).

There are many applications and scenarios’ to this (I design and program them), it is essential for Apple to resolve the USB playback noise that is plaguing its products.

USB is a universal standard. Apple; don’t become a ’SONY’ (an inland to its own madness). But even so, the Walkman has perfect USB audio playback (see above test).

Dec 14, 2011 6:46 AM in response to Mac-Win Harmony

This is strange. I had this problem with my iPod Touch about a year ago, but somewhere and somehow it disappeared. I used my iPod unil I got my iPhone about 5 months ago. But just last night these static noise and spark sounds started on my iPhone! Out of nowhere!

I drive a taxi in Norway, so I listen to music on my iPhone via USB almost every day. (Volvo XC70). I have the latest update (ios 5.0.1), had it for a while now.

What I have done lately that might have had an influence, is that I moved some itunes folders. I ran out of space on my harddrive C: and I found that my itunes folder was at 8GB.. So I moved it to another drive (e:) and changed the settings in itunes to this new folder. This might not have been a good idea.. Now I can't edit music on my iPhone in itunes anymore.. When I set itunes to manually update music, it says that the iphone is synced with another library, and if I want to delete the iphone unit and sync with the new library.. which i don't.

Anyway, I have used the iphone with USB a lot after that, and I'm pretty sure there where no static noise... Until last night.

Dec 30, 2011 11:17 AM in response to getstew

Same issue here with my iPhone 4 playing through a dock connection to Bowers And Wilkins Mini Zeppelin at low volume. I can confirm that the popping sound does not occur when I send the same music files from my home pc wirelessly to an Apple Airport Express then in to the line input of the MZ. It only happens when I play music from the docked iPhone to the MZ. Was wondering if it might be an issue of the iPhone processing these music files as nearly all of my music is ALAC. Hmm might be a bit of a test to try mp3s...

Marsaro

Level 1

1 points

Mar 29, 2012 10:40 PM in response to Mac-Win Harmony

Hi;

I have had this problem with my iPhone4 for the duration of the time I have owned it and have followed the discussions. It is sad Apple does not reply or indicate if its SW or HW related. I would be happyto even know its "found" and had to wait. But not knowing if they even care is infuriating.

I like music, and I like many others have tried cables, volume, syncs, power offs, and no matter, it comes back. It seems to get progressively worse over time. I am using a Alpine Head in the car, attached to a Fosgate AMP, with monster cables throughout. Running iOS 5.1 now, same stuff....pop, crackle intermittently.

peroxyd

Level 1

0 points

Apr 18, 2012 6:09 PM in response to Mac-Win Harmony

I have an iPod Touch 4 with 32 gb. I've owned it since last june and so far I am thrilled with it as it allows me to have the features of both a tablet and a smartphone in pocket size.

However, I recently bought a home theater system which can take USB devices and decode the music directly from it (which sounds WAY better than using the 3.5 mm audio jack).

When I first plugged my ipod, I quickly noticed the faintly popping sounds. I thought my home theater was defective and tried to troubleshoot it, including power cycling the ipod. Nothing helped ...

So I dug up my old mp3 player (a cheap but trustworthy COBY), plugged it in the USB.... and boom... no more popping ....

I do not know if its a iOS 5 issue or 4 or if its a hardware problem altogether...

Edit : My 5+ year old USB key also works like a charm ... I wonder if Apple's infamous protected technology is getting in the way of car / home theater's decoders ...

May 8, 2012 5:23 PM in response to peroxyd

Greetings:

You will first need to check the iOS version; go to Settings, General then About, you will see the Version listed and it should be iOS 5.1 if not, you really should update to the latest iOS. This was an important release as it fixed many items including charging and battery issues (also advisable to keep iTunes updated as they work hand in hand with each other). As far as I can tell at the moment, the USB issue appears remedied with this update. If anyone out there can confirm, please reply. I am continuing to test this further. Keep in mind the issue reported on here is very specific, so be sure to read through the post.

Do the iOS 5.1 update and please report back on the results.

Thanks

May 15, 2012 9:29 AM in response to Mac-Win Harmony

I came across this post while searching for remedies. I have a 4th gen iPod Touch (32gb) which just updated to 5.1.1, and I'm experiencing the popping noise; very distinct, like an old record. It happens through USB connection to my car stereo (Kenwood KDC-BT848U). Regular playback through the stereo jack is ok, as is playback through iTunes. I also need to test it on my receiver.

That said, the issue seems to still exist with 5.1.1 and for me only started after I'd updated. Add me to the list of those looking for an answer.

May 17, 2012 5:56 AM in response to egotripping

There has been some good advice in the forum regarding iOS updates and I would concur; when performing iOS updates, first do a complete backup (always advisable) then after the iOS update, fully reset and restore the device (this should only be necessary on major revisions) . This helps to reset and allow the update to be applied fully within all options, app’s and the like.

Please be sure to do that and a comment back on the results would be appreciated.

Hope that is helpful.

May 22, 2012 2:51 PM in response to Mac-Win Harmony

Thanks for the help. I'm going to give this a try, and I'll post my results here tonight or tomorrow. I was hesitant to restore because I believe I'll have to re-add all my music, but as it stands it's pretty much unlistenable. Hopefully I have good news to report.

getstew

Level 1

10 points

May 22, 2012 4:00 PM in response to egotripping

I've had the issue go away, then come back, and have what seems to be a fix for me...If I close all other apps running in the background and even turn off wifi, I don't seem to have the issue. Perhaps this isssue is due to the processor not being able to keep up, or RAM use?

May 22, 2012 4:12 PM in response to Mac-Win Harmony

So I just restored my iPod Touch (I had auto-backup turned on, so all my apps and settings remain) and the popping noise has gone away. Sound quality is perfect again too, so now comes the arduous task of adding back all my music (I have over 60 gigs to wade through).

Getstew, I'm really hoping this issue doesn't creep back up, as I originally closed all other apps, restarted Music, tried restarting the iPod etc. It does seem to be a glaring issue that Apple needs to address, as it completely ruined the sound quality, and a regular auxilary connection is nowhere near as clear as my car and stereo's direct connection.

In the meantime, thanks for the advice Mac-Win Harmony. I'll post an update sometime in the future if the issue comes back, or if it seems to be ok after the next iOS update. Regards,

ebensen

Level 1

4 points

Jul 1, 2012 11:28 PM in response to Mac-Win Harmony

I am having this problem as well with a 32GB iPod 4g running USB through Ford's SYNC system in a 2012 Mustang GT. Very annoying!! I wish they would figure it out and fix it, I love my iPod/iPhone and it works brilliantly with SYNC, but the sound popping is BIG deal. Step up and fix it Apple!!

Jul 5, 2012 9:40 AM in response to Mac-Win Harmony

I just bought a new car Kenwood car stereo and had it installed at Best Buy. When I plug my ipod touch 4th gen. into the Aux input it sounds great, but I am getting the popping noises when I plug in via USB. I haven't tried any of these random fixes yet but will try them today. I guess plugging into the aux in is alright, but I'd really like the convenience of plugging in via USB since that way it can charge at the same time without any extra cords.

Jul 5, 2012 9:55 AM in response to polyontology

I also have a Kenwood stereo, and experienced the same issue. Same thing on my Pioneer receiver. As I mentioned above I had restored the iPod, and the issue went away, however now it has come back not even 2 months later. I can't isolate any one cause; I didn't update iOS, which is what seemed to cause it the first time.

Now I'm completely at a loss, since I don't want to restore my iPod every couple of months, and re-add 30gb of music just to have the popping noise return. Looks like I'll be going Android when it comes time to upgrade my phone, as the experience with the iPod Touch has put me off sticking with Apple hardware.

Popping Sound with USB