AirPods 4 — Distortion/Crackling on Bass

Question

Level 1

12 points

AirPods 4 — Distortion/Crackling on Bass

Hello

I recently purchased a pair of AirPods 4 ANC, and immediately noticed distortion and crackling sounds on bass frequencies in certain songs.

To make sure it wasn’t just my unit, I went back to the store where I bought them. We tested three more brand-new pairs (one was unpacked right in front of me), and all of them produced the exact same distortion at the exact same spots in music tracks.

The issue happens:

with both Noise Cancellation on and off, at medium to high volume levels,

and is especially noticeable between 40–120 Hz (bass frequencies).

This seems to be a widespread problem, not an isolated defect. Replacement doesn’t help because every unit has the same issue.

I’d like to ask:

Is Apple aware of this issue with AirPods 4?

Will there be a firmware update or a replacement program, similar to what happened with AirPods Pro (1st gen crackling issue)?

Please confirm that this has been reported to engineering.

Thank you.

AirPods 4

Posted on Sep 1, 2025 3:21 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Ingo2711

Level 9

78,489 points

Sep 2, 2025 1:50 AM in response to Silzee

Sorry, but the official Apple Support can not be reached by posting in these user to user communities.

However, if you use the Feedback link, you can tell them directly about this issue:

Feedback - AirPods - Apple

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Answer 2

Ingo2711

Level 9

78,489 points

Sep 2, 2025 11:41 PM in response to Silzee

If there is no official Apple Support in your country, using the Feedback link is the only way. If enough users do that, the issue will be recognised by Apple Techs and hopefully corrected in an upcoming firmware update.

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

214,836 points

Sep 10, 2025 10:33 AM in response to Silzee

At this point I would make an appointment and take the AirPods into the nearest Apple Genius Bar or Apple Authorized Service Provider for a free diagnostic test.

NOTE: the diagnosis is free at an Apple Genius Bar but you will probably be charged for the diagnosis at an Authorized Service Provider with the diagnostic fee waived if you have them do the repairs. If you're still under warranty or AppleCare repairs will be free.

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Answer 4

Old Toad

Level 10

214,836 points

Sep 3, 2025 3:04 PM in response to Silzee

Give this a try: How to reset your AirPods and AirPods Pro - Apple Support

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Answer 5

Silzee Author

Level 1

12 points

Sep 2, 2025 12:17 PM in response to krakje

The "sound normalization" function in Spotify helped me a little, which makes all the music quieter, but otherwise I will hope that this problem will be solved with the update of the headphone firmware version.

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Answer 6

krakje

Level 1

8 points

Sep 2, 2025 6:37 AM in response to Silzee

Yep, same. I have it too on my airpods 4 anc. I think if apple see it, they fix it in next firmware update.

But, I don't have such a problem when music works through applications, such as spotify. Basically, this manifests itself when I listen to shooting (mostly human speech) through low-quality equipment, etc., then the crackle goes, even with the functions turned off, which suggests that cleaning the net will not help.

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Answer 7

Silzee Author

Level 1

12 points

Sep 2, 2025 12:20 PM in response to Ingo2711

I can't contact Apple support in my country about device support, so I have to write on the forum.

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Answer 8

Silzee Author

Level 1

12 points

Sep 10, 2025 5:27 AM in response to Old Toad

I was resetting my AirPods, it didn't help

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