Q: iPad air 2 pop noise

Mine's starting to pop more often.  When I first got my Air 2 the first week of December it didn't pop.   After a few weeks it popped occasionally.  Now it's popping several times a day.  The last 2 pops were in 10 minutes of each other.  First time when I plugged it in and second when I tapped the text box to post here (ironically).  There was another one about 2 hours prior.  It seems to pop on average ever 30 to 60 minutes of "usage".

I wonder if the pops are caused by the speaker vibrations, after all the vibrations can't be good for the device.

After talking to support and getting a call back a day later they now believe it to be a software issue at this time, and to await a update, hopefully that's all that needs to be done, maybe its for some but not all iPad Air 2's but after contacting support that was what I was told and there was no need to swap my ipad Air 2 out at this time. I have a perfect screen and no other issue and the pop is very random. Geekbench scores are all good, so ill wait it out and see if this transpires but I have no reason to doubt support as they are aware of this issue I was told

HI killhippie, Can you explain your pop noise sound issue in detail ?

And what answer makes you think that is hardware issue?

I also have the pop noise issue when I trigger the keyboard. But when I told apple support, they say that cannot be reproduced in their device.

and they never heard about that problem !

So, I really want to know about your case . Because I also got a perfect display and benchmark score as you.

HI killhippie,

Sorry for typo.

Can you explain your pop noise sound issue in detail? (text box or...?)

And what answer makesyou think that is a software issue?

I also have the pop noise issue when I trigger the keyboard. But when I told apple support, they say that cannot be reproduced in their device.

And they never heard about that problem!

So, I really want to know about your case. Because I also got a perfect display and benchmark score as you.

All I can say is I was told that there have been a few reports and it was being looked into and at this time they believe it is software related. They sent an email with a test to grab data from my ipad and I had a call back and the tech who had heard from the people looking at this fault on the iPad side of things and thats what was relayed to me. As I said I have no reason to disbelieve them, and will wait and see if its corrected. The pop noise is intermittent seems to come from the speakers, as its more muffled if it goes off and my hand is blocking them. It happens randomly nearer 100% charge but can happen at 70% for instance its quite loud like static when you touch the screen. Pretty much what most have on this thread Hope that helps. I cant reproduce on safari, but it seems to happen with Skype or sometimes when I close the cover, or sometimes when I accept something in airdrop and have to touch a text box with a message for instance and it is meant to make a noise, pretty much when the audio circuit is kicking in as well.

I believe as somone else stated it is the warming of the processor. It would make sence added core, added RAM = heat. reduction in battery and chasis more likely to hear the noise. As far as Apple goes I am pretty sure they are aware of this issue this one thread has over 74,000 views.

HI, i am here to tell u that Late Night is a apple feature compressor mode that boost quite part and lower lowder parts. This pop sound is when you change from any normal eq to Late night mode vice versa only, it soubds like pop because it actually not an equalizer. You can google more about late night mode to see better explanation. This late night mode is the only EQ that overrides all sounds in all 3rd party apps and system apps globally. There is no need to go to apple because every device u change, it will reproduce the same sounds. If you dont believe me you can try your friends iphone or ipad. It will pop like that. It is not a pop it is just compressor kicking in when u turn it on and out when you turn it off.

Hansen.

Ok I just reproduced the pop twice in 10 seconds by using the "tap the location/search bar in Safari" method.  I can tell you 2 things:

1. The pop is definitely coming from the speaker.  I was holding the iPad in landscape mode and had my hand over the speaker "grill" and I could feel the forced air coming out of the speaker (same as when it makes sound).

2. When doing the test with noise canceling ear-buds with the volume maxed out.  I can hear a very light "snap" any time the onscreen keyboard displays/hides coming from the ear-buds.  It sounds like a much lower volume version of the "pop".   The same thing happens if I click on the search text box at google.com.  Basically anything that causes the keyboard to hide/show causes the "snap".

This sounds very much like a software problem since the iPad is always making a noise when showing/hiding the keyboard and occasionally instead of a soft click, it outputs a loud pop.   I'm not sure why it sometimes does it when unlocking the iPad with the home button or plugging it in, but both generate sounds so that could be why.

The reason I'm nearly certain the sound is not coming from the CPU or RAM, is that neither of those is capable of producing sound.  The only way to produce sound from the CPU or RAM is to have a static discharge and any static discharge loud enough to be heard would cause the CPU/RAM to freak out and the iPad to crash.  CPU/RAM is very susceptible to static charge which is why chips are shipped in static protection cases.

The pop could be generated by the display, but I highly doubt that since I don't normally hear popping when watching videos or playing graphic intensive games.  Every time I've heard the pop, I've been interacting with the iPad in one way or another.

Basically it seems like a software issue or at least an issue that could be fixed in software.

I know that Late Night turns on dynamic compression.
In one of my older posts I tried to explain that I'm able to reproduce the random loud popping noise that way. I too get the normal snap/crackle/pop everbody gets when playing with the equalizer presets.

We were only discussing ways to trigger the random loud popping noise on purpose.

Besides, our problem bugged some iPad 4 users as well. Too bad the thread ended before somebody explained the magical software solution mentioned by the tech support: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4960603?tstart=0

Morac wrote:

 

1. The pop is definitely coming from the speaker.  I was holding the iPad in landscape mode and had my hand over the speaker "grill" and I could feel the forced air coming out of the speaker (same as when it makes sound).

 

The reason I'm nearly certain the sound is not coming from the CPU or RAM, is that neither of those is capable of producing sound.  The only way to produce sound from the CPU or RAM is to have a static discharge and any static discharge loud enough to be heard would cause the CPU/RAM to freak out and the iPad to crash.  CPU/RAM is very susceptible to static charge which is why chips are shipped in static protection cases.

 

Basically it seems like a software issue or at least an issue that could be fixed in software.

1. Exactly.

A real static discharge needs high voltage to be heard. That would either damage the internal components permanently or cause a crash at least.

A software issue won't explain why many people never had a popping noise.

As to why some people didn't have the noise its possible some never noticed it due to their environment, some didn't have it due to different components, every gadget has minor revisions ongoing along its way, and but firmware can patch previous issues not present in all units.

BAD SPEAKERS is all the problem is. Take it or send it back to Apple for an exchange or repair if Apple is even going to bother repairing them. It is not an EQ problem or software issue. It is just that simple bad speakers. They did not deny it nor did they tell me they would not replace my iPad Air 2. They even ran a diagnostic on my new replacement before I left the store. Told me if anything "pops" up with in 1 year just bring back to them for repairs or a replacement.

iPad Air 2, 64 GB, Cellular. October week 31, is my replacement of a December week 51.

I Hope this helps and Apple is as kind to you as they have always been to me.  All the best.

NOOOOOOOO,!!!

Just when I thought it was all behind me nearly two months into having my replacement iPad air 2 64Gig wireless - I press send on an email reply and get crack sound......  But ton me sounds like it did one my first one, coming from the top left of the screen....

otherwise function is floorless. 

Rice Krispies anyone ? 

TThe Apple support and fan boys will tell you nothing is wrong the sound is rare and just live with it.

The speakers are the culprit. A software fix would be great but I have a sneaky suspicion Apple has

changed the speakers but will say nothing. They don't want the returns.

I also  have a Surface Pro with rich perfect stereo sound. I guess good speakers is too much to ask

from Apple. 

I wont mind if I used the speakers... They are never louder than a whisper...... And it was on mute when it popped!

IPad Air One here I come..

small is not always best !