I have had the same issue. Problem is, the Verizon Wireless provider I bought the phone from says they don't accept returns or exchanges of Apple products. What is this? If you buy Apple you are stuck with it period. No returns. I've been a MAC product consumer for some time now, but this iphone 5 was mistake. I too have the ear popping sensations and thought I was nuts. My wife then described something similar. Additionally, our service is not clear, as I was expecting when switching from AT&T iphone 4 to Verizon. It is somewhat static like and sharp, even muffled at times. The overall voice quality on the call is downright annoying and unpleasing to the ear, nevermind the physical discomfort caused by the supposed noise cancelling issue, which I've experienced multiple times per day now. I didn't want to migrate away from the seamless nature of all MAC products, but this iphone 5 is a huge disappointment. My imessage works only intermittently. My voicemails duplicate randomly. The voice quality is horrendous over my AT&T iphone 4, and the disorienting sensation is absolutely unacceptable. I'm looking for Apple and Verizon to pony up and do the right thing from a customer service standpoint and accept a return of the phones as well as voiding my Verizon contract that just started at the end of September. I can then do my due diligence on some of the newer Android devices and compare to the quality I was experiencing on the iphone 4 (not 4s). As an airline pilot, my primary concern is quality sound on phone calls as well as a solid platform. This is not cutting it at all. Hugely disappointed and frustrated that I am having to dedicate so much personal time to this turd that Apple has touted. I expected so much more from them. Again, all MAC family (imac, Macbook Pro, 2 ipod touches, ipad 2, and 2 iphone 5's (previous 4)).