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

160 replies

Sep 12, 2017 6:36 PM in response to deggie

Yep, its including Pros and Airs. I did feedback a lot of time, also did bugrepors, called to support. Nobody cares about that codec issue. Everyone have this issue since AirPods release. It wasn't fixed in any updates.

andyf

Level 1

16 points

Oct 7, 2017 12:00 PM in response to Xeno60

That's good to hear. From looking at this board it seems that when the AirPods have problems connecting to a phone it is usually resolved by a change of hardware. When the complaint is that the AirPods use the lower quality SCO codec rather than the AAC codec, replacing the AirPods doesn't seem to help. In this latter case, my experience has been that the choice of codec depends on the application whose output is going to the AirPods. On the three different Mac computers that I use, a 2012 Mac Pro, a 2013 MacBook Pro and and 2017 iMac, all running OS 10.12 Sierra, Skype connects to my AirPods through the SCO codec while Bluejeans (a teleconferencing solution used by many organizations, though less so by individuals) connects through the AAC codec. So the complaints may need to go to Skype and less so, in this case, to Apple.

matfill

Level 1

4 points

Dec 19, 2016 6:59 PM in response to Stan_Zabroda56

I have exactly the same issue

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

164,015 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?

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AirPods sound quality issue