You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

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.

View in context

160 replies

fenno1

Level 1

4 points

Jan 7, 2017 11:17 AM in response to martinc82

I received my replacements yesterday. Big difference in the voice quality during calls. Still not amazing but overall happy I got them replaced.

fenno1

Level 1

4 points

Jan 8, 2017 5:05 AM in response to Thomas Mirnig

Can I ask how bad was the battery drain? My charger case is losing around 20-25% over a 24 hour period. Thought it might be a bit high.

jojost1

Level 1

12 points

Jan 10, 2017 8:39 AM in response to peshay

A workaround for for example Skype, yes. For gaming my MBP fans make too much noise to use the MacBook mics, so still waiting for a macOS update from Apple, if that even turns out to be possible..

Jan 10, 2017 8:41 AM in response to jojost1

What about the iPhone? No issues while calling?

Jan 10, 2017 8:44 AM in response to martinc82

Yes, there is a background rumor, mostly noticeable in silent places.

Jan 10, 2017 8:46 AM in response to francescofromroma

Okay, but there is no workaround for this! I guess I have to wait for my 2nd replacement, so my 3rd AirPods.

jojost1

Level 1

12 points

Jan 10, 2017 8:46 AM in response to martinc82

iPhone is all okay, no problems there.

Ethnick

Level 1

8 points

Jan 10, 2017 10:50 AM in response to jojost1

There is a problem with the iPhone. The sound is scratchy when activating Siri. May not be as bad as on Macs (I don't have a Mac so can't say), but it's there on iPhones too.

Jan 10, 2017 12:36 PM in response to Ethnick

That's why I retur my AirPods to Apple.

They have no clue how to fix it.

I've ordered a new pair hoping that those will be ok.

As I've heard from other forums the issue seems to occur rather seldom.

jojost1

Level 1

12 points

Jan 10, 2017 2:36 PM in response to Ethnick

Yes, but not even half as bad as on macOS. Very acceptable quality on iPhone.

Jan 12, 2017 12:25 PM in response to jojost1

Well, seems my issue is different. Its not about low quality of the voice while having a call, I have really crazy noise like from robocop, I hope you know him ;-)