AirPods hiss/white noise underneath audio.

I just got me AirPods and this was the first thing I noticed. Initially was not sure if was anything from the surrounds, but seems to be pretty consistent even when there is no audio played and the iPhone is locked. I have the ringer of my iPhone turned off, but still notice the slight hiss in background.

Currently on iPhone 7.

I'm having the same issue... I got my AirPods last weekend and initially only used them for music, where the issue isn't happening. But once I started making phone calls (FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp calls, Facebook Messenger calls...) there is a very obvious hiss / buzz / static / white noise that makes it very uncomfortable to use the AirPods to the point where I fall back to the EarPods (3.5mm ones) when making phone calls.

My assumption is that when playing music or watching videos etc, the AirPods are using the Bluetooth profile A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) which is higher quality. Then when making phone calls or anything else that uses the microphone, the AirPods switch to using HSP (Headset Profile) which is much lower quality. That's just my assumption though...I've also tested this with my MacBook Air, and it's the same result (good quality with music etc, and hissing noise when using FaceTime and other VoIP apps).

I'm also finding that the hissing stops when the other person is quiet, and then starts again when they are speaking or making noise.

I've called Apple Support UK and was advised to return my AirPods to buy new ones, however the lady lacked technical knowledge (she wasn't aware of bluetooth profiles etc.) so we didn't get very far in our conversation as her advice was things such as making sure I was close to my phone...

I received my AirPods on December 30th and immediately began noticing the same hissing noise described here in this thread. The hissing noise isn't noticeable while music is playing or sound is being constantly transmitted to the AirPods, but in a quiet environment, especially in the iMessage app, the hiss is distinctly noticeable and replicable while typing with intermediate pauses. It sounds almost as if the AirPods are hissing while powering on to receive the sound transmitted from the Bluetooth connected device. Once the sound is no longer being transmitted, the hiss stops. I am using my AirPods with an iPhone 7 Plus.

Went to Apple Support Store today. Got a replacement shipped in. Still occurring. I think this issue is normal and is because of the radio waves. Anyone else notice that when using Siri the audio quality diminishes quite a lot?

I hear a hiss when i am on a telephone call not while listening to music. I do a lot of conf calls and was really hoping for earpod to provide good call quality with decent microphone. Looks like i need to return these and keep looking 😟

I mainly notice the hissing noise when using AirPods for calls. The noise is fairly distracting. When listening to music the sound seems to be pretty good. Hoping a soon-to-come software release will fix the problem.

I am having similar issue, iPhone 7 Plus. Whenever I'm on a call there is crackling in the background every time the other person talks. I assumed it was the bluetooth devices, etc. But it turns out that when I get on a conference call, using AirPods for audio, but my Mac's microphone, the issue goes away. As soon as I turn on the AirPods' microphone for the call, *even if it's muted*, the interference is back when anyone on the call talks.

I made a stop at apple store and was told by a tech that he is also experiencing the same thing when on a call over AT&T, which I am not really convinced me.

I tried a Face Time audio call and it was way better. May be a firmware update will fix it

Whenever they detect possibile sound incoming they activate and start to hiss... then stop after few seconds. For example while focusing a test field the hiss starts then stops if no input is given in seconds.

Yeah same. I got mine two days ago on the 28th. I didn't have this issue until today the 30th. It's just as you described. You can really hear the cut off too it cuts off. On iPhone 6S and happens on my MacBook Pro 2016 and iPad Air 2 as well.

The issue reported seems not so painful in every day use. It's there but it's noticeable only in a context of nearly perfect silence. Hope for a fix anyway.

I have the same.. it's so pronounced that I can only assume that either ours are defective or people who claim not to hear it are partially deaf

Pretty sure ours aren't defective

Hi, did you get any resolution to this? I have the same hissing when on phone calls only, I use an iPhone 7 plus on ATT. Thanks