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AirPods sound quality issue

Hello. Today I received AirPods. I have issue with them and everyone who get it too. When I’m listening music sound is good, but when I’m calling or talking to Siri sound(not my voice, I mean sound of Siri or person with who I’m talking) is very very poor and laggy. It happens only when microphone is active. AirPods are working, but when mic is active sound became very bad quality, but then after mic is turn off (after call or talk to Siri) sound became good again. When micAll my friends have same issue. I tried to reproduce it on my MacBook, all the same issue with iPhone, MacBook and Apple Watch. Its mean that its not depend of iOS and macOS version and king of device. It needs to be fixed ASAP. Because its really bad… All my friends have the same with their AirPods.

iPhone 6, iOS 10.2

Posted on Dec 19, 2016 6:57 PM

Top-ranking reply

Jason McLeod

Level 1

39 points

Posted on Jan 12, 2017 10:26 AM

Bit of helpful information when looking at this issue.

If you hold down Option while clicking the bluetooth menu bar icon, you'll get more details about your bluetooth connection.

When the sound is terrible, it's using the codec SCO. With good audio playback, you'll find it is ACC.

The iPhone doesn't seem to drop down the codec. I'm not sure if there is a way to force ACC. I find sometimes, closing out other applications using audio clears the issue, without re-connecting the AirPods. I've also experienced this same problem with other bluetooth headphones with microphones.

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160 replies

Dec 19, 2016 7:48 PM in response to Stan_Zabroda56

Added to original post

On MacBook you can reproduce it for example when you’re listening to music you can go to setting and try to change AirPods mic volume(it will activate mic) and music sound will be very very poor quality, after maybe 20 sec mic will be turned off and sound will be good again. I think its hardware issue, because a lot of peoples have the same issue on any versions of OS and devices. Also its some faint scratchy popping noise at random times when its in my ears with no music on.

Jonathan UK

Level 10

163,901 points

Dec 20, 2016 12:43 AM in response to Stan_Zabroda56

As you are concerned about a potential hardware issue, I suggest that you contact Apple Support (mail-in service may be available), make a Genius Bar reservation or visit an Apple Authorised Service Provider with a view to having your AirPods checked and, if recommended, serviced or replaced under warranty:

(Note that you are not talking to Apple here - this is a user-based technical support community).

fenno1

Level 1

4 points

Dec 20, 2016 2:36 PM in response to Stan_Zabroda56

i'm having the same issue. I've contacted apple support and so dar they are recommending me to return to get checked at a store.

Dec 20, 2016 2:46 PM in response to fenno1

will you exchange them? apple support said me that ETA for exchange 3-6 weeks

fenno1

Level 1

4 points

Dec 20, 2016 2:52 PM in response to Stan_Zabroda56

They are sending me to a premium retailer as we've no apple stores here but yes I'm going to try get them checked and exchanged if possible. It could just be a software issue as music or podcasts play perfectly but calls are terrible. Very hard to listen too so I'll return them if they won't exchange.

Dec 20, 2016 2:55 PM in response to fenno1

Yeah, looks like the same issue as mine. Very disappointed.

deschnl

Level 1

4 points

Dec 20, 2016 5:49 PM in response to Stan_Zabroda56

I have the exact same issue. I will try contacting apple support tomorrow and report back with what they say. Given the few replies here I'm hoping that this is a rare defect and not simply a limitation of the product that we have to live with.

Dec 20, 2016 8:04 PM in response to deschnl

Waiting for your reply😉

fenno1

Level 1

4 points

Dec 21, 2016 4:16 AM in response to Stanislav_Zabroda

My local service centre is closed so they are being couriered back to apple for a replacement. I called and it seems like a HW issue. They said that the 6 weeks estimate will drop significantly once they receive the original pair back. It's an automated shipping date. Hopefully mid to late Jan.

Dec 21, 2016 4:19 AM in response to fenno1

Oh. 6 weeks really long time :( I think that a lot of pairs affected with that issue

fenno1

Level 1

4 points

Dec 21, 2016 5:22 AM in response to Stanislav_Zabroda

Hoping it will be closer to 3 weeks but considers the cost of them I'm happy to wait for ones that work correctly.

Dec 21, 2016 5:54 AM in response to fenno1

Did you do at Retail Store request or mail-in?

fenno1

Level 1

4 points

Dec 21, 2016 5:59 AM in response to Stanislav_Zabroda

They'll be mailed in. No retail store where I live.

thcpx

Level 1

4 points

Dec 21, 2016 9:30 AM in response to Stan_Zabroda56

I am having the same issue on my devices. Personally I do not find it to be too bad on my iPhone. Siri does sound a little off and the quality during calls actually seems to be far from normal music playback, but considering they now do also have to transmit my voice the other way, I can relate to them not being identical.

However, on my Mac the issue is really bad. Siri here sounds worst than ISDN in my opinion. Music playback however, again is really well.

I tested what Stan_Zabroda56 added here and can confirm it.

fenno1

Level 1

4 points

Dec 21, 2016 10:06 AM in response to thcpx

For me, for the price, they should work as well as other wireless headsets- which do not have the same issue. I'll update if my replacement set perform better.

AirPods sound quality issue