Discover how to keep your noise-cancelling headphones working perfectly. You might face problems like distorted audio, poor noise cancellation, or annoying sounds. Whether you use AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, or Hesh® ANC headphones, fixing these will make listening much better.

Find easy fixes for Active Noise Cancellation problems here. This guide helps you grasp how noise-cancelling works, why keeping your headphones updated matters, and choosing the right charger. Learn how to solve Bluetooth connection issues for non-stop music with your ANC headphones.

Common Causes of Noise Cancelling Problems

Knowing why your ANC headphones aren’t working well is key to fixing them. Problems can arise from the ANC battery, headphone compatibility, or environmental challenges. Pinpointing the issue is the first step to better performance.

Battery Issues

Poor ANC battery life is a common issue. It can lead to headphones not turning on or weak noise cancellation. To keep the battery healthy, charge regularly and use the right charger. Also, brands like Srhythm suggest turning off headphones when not in use. This helps save battery and extends their life.

Compatibility Problems

How well your headphones work with different devices matters a lot. Compatibility issues may occur, lessening noise cancellation or causing connection problems. To avoid these, make sure your device works well with your ANC headphones. For example, Srhythm headphones offer updates and have detachable cables. This makes fixing damaged cables easy, keeping sound quality high.

Environmental Interference

Places with lots of noise can make ANC headphones less effective. This includes crowded areas, public transport, and noisy spots. The level of ambient noise can weaken noise cancellation. Choosing the right settings for the noise around you is key. Also, ensuring ear tips fit well and doing regular maintenance, like updating AirPods Pro, helps keep ANC working well.

Distorted or Muffled Sound

Having distorted or muffled sounds can spoil your enjoyment. It’s vital to take good care of your headphones for the best sound. Regular maintenance is crucial.

Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

Start with a soft cloth to clean your ear pads often. Dust and wear can mess with noise isolation, leading to bad sound. Clean ear pads gently for clear sound.

For wired headphones, always check the cables. Look for any damage or wrong connections that might hurt sound quality.

Inspecting and Replacing Ear Pads

Checking your ear pads is key. They can wear out, changing how comfortable and how good the sound is. Changing old ear pads betters comfort and sound.

Making time for regular care, like checking and changing ear pads, ensures top-notch audio. Your headphones will keep giving you immersive, high-quality sound.

Why Is My Noise Cancelling Not Working

When your noise cancelling tech stops working right, there could be many reasons. Finding the root of the issue is key.

Understanding the Technology

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) uses microphones to pick up outside sounds. Then, it creates sound waves to silence the noise. If your headphones don’t cut out sound well, loud places or being in Aware Mode, which lets in more sound, could be why.

Keep your headphones clean for the best ANC experience. Use the correct StayHear+ eartips and keep the openings clear. This helps stop blockages that mess with noise cancelling.

Checking ANC Settings

Not adjusting ANC settings is a common mistake. You can change these settings to match where you are. Make sure they’re set right for an easy fix. Also, a low battery can weaken ANC. Check your battery light to make sure your device has enough power.

When setting changes don’t fix the problem, your headphones might need a repair. Companies like Sony, Bose, and Apple have good customer service for help. Stay on top of updates and clean your headphones for the best performance.

Buzzing or Hissing Sounds

Finding unexplained buzzing or hissing in your headphones can be annoying, especially with noise-cancelling on. It’s important to figure out where it’s coming from and how to fix it. Doing so lets you enjoy your music without interruption.

Identifying Interference Sources

Headphone interference could be causing the noise. Devices like phones and laptops might be the culprits. To deal with this:

• Move your devices closer or farther from your headphones to see if the noise changes.
• Try turning off Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on devices close to you to see if it helps.
• Stay away from places with lots of electronics, like subways or busy offices.

Taking these steps can help you find and lessen interference, improving your listening experience.

Firmware Updates and Fixes

Updating your noise-cancelling (ANC) firmware is key. Brands like Bose and Sony update their software to fix buzzing and hissing. Here’s what to do:

• Always look for new ANC firmware updates from your headphone’s maker. These can fix common sound problems.
• Install any new updates right away. For example, Soundcore’s version 1.90 might fix reported sound issues.
• Check out forums or support pages for help. You can learn if your problem is due to hardware or other device’s interference.

Regularly updating your firmware and checking for interference can keep your headphones sounding great. Updates not only boost performance but also ensure your headphones last longer, giving you a better listening experience.

Intermittent Bluetooth Connectivity

Having Bluetooth connectivity issues often upsets many people. Over half of the users faced such problems after the iOS 17.2 update. The issues didn’t get better for 87% of folks even after the iOS 17.4.1 update. Dealing with these troubles wisely improves your wireless headphones stability. It also stops any interruption when you’re using them.

One usual reason for these issues is signal blocks from other gadgets. About 23% found that devices like AirPlay or other Bluetooth items could interfere. Wi-Fi routers messing with the 2.4 GHz band can also trouble Bluetooth. Turning off Wi-Fi on these items or staying ten meters away might make your connection better.

Blocks between your Bluetooth pairing items can weaken their link. To fix this, change how they’re positioned and remove any cases. This ensures they’re close enough to connect well. Sadly, 42% tried to fix their devices by resetting but didn’t see quick results. So, putting your gadgets right is key.

Too many Bluetooth gadgets nearby can mess up the connection. Turning off Bluetooth on these can cut down on issues. A big 78% of users had trouble with various Bluetooth items like AirPods and speakers. This shows that a space with less Bluetooth traffic is best for a good connection.

Keeping your Bluetooth headphones or speakers close to the source is wise. This helps avoid weak connections. Also, removing thick cases or metal near your device keeps the connection strong. These steps really help boost wireless headphones stability.

Big files or high-resolution audio can also cause problems. Setting your device to “Prioritize Stable Connection” can reduce these troubles. For about 29% of users, these connectivity issues interfered with their daily life, like listening to music or connecting in the car.

When fixing intermittent Bluetooth issues, watching your running apps is critical. Too many open apps can disrupt your Bluetooth. Closing the ones you don’t need helps keep the connection smooth. By tackling these areas, your Bluetooth audio will be much better. It will let you use it without stops or issues.

Voice Assistant Activation Issues

Is your voice assistant not working on your headphones? That can be annoying. We have tips to fix your settings for better use, even in loud places.

Troubleshooting Voice Assistants

To fix voice assistant issues, first, make sure Bluetooth is on. Your headphones need to support Voice Match to use Google Assistant with a “Hey Google.” Also, a strong internet connection is necessary to get notifications.

If Google Assistant doesn’t hear you, try teaching it your voice again. Turn on spoken notifications to get messages and alerts. If it’s still not working, resetting your headphones might help.

Adjusting Microphone Settings

Getting your mic right is important for talking to your voice assistant. Check that it’s not blocked and correctly placed. A windscreen might help reduce unwanted noise.

Adjust the microphone sensitivity in your device settings. This helps with speech recognition. Make sure your device isn’t on “Do not disturb” mode to avoid missing alerts. In loud places, keep voice commands short and clear.

Uncomfortable Pressure Sensation

Users often find Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) headphones can cause discomfort. Symptoms include ear pain, the need for ears to pop, dizziness, headaches, or nausea. In a survey with 70 Wirecutter staffers, 34 used ANC headphones. Of those, 52% reported discomfort. Long flights make this issue worse.

To feel better, try adjusting the ANC feature. Models like the Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 can help. Users found setting ANC levels between 4 to 8 eased the pressure. Lowering ANC intensity helps with the “eardrum suck” feeling.

Wearing your headphones right is also important. Over-ear headphones, like some from Bose, might not be as comfy as in-ear types. Earbuds such as the 1More Dual-Driver BT ANC and Apple AirPods Pro are less likely to cause discomfort.

The design and fit of ear tips matter too. Foam tips from brands like Comply can make in-ear headphones more comfortable. Phiaton’s CURVE BT 120 NC offers various sizes of silicon ear tips. A good fit helps lessen pressure feelings.

Remember to take breaks from your ANC headphones, especially if listening for a long time. Try different settings and ensure your headphones fit well. This way, you can enjoy music without ANC discomfort.

Conclusion

Looking into noise-cancelling headphones might seem tricky, but it’s doable with some know-how. If you know about common issues like battery life, interference, or fuzzy sound, you’re well on your way. This knowledge is key to better sound.

ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) can have issues, such as AirPods Max losing their edge after updates or Bluetooth connection problems. But, keeping your firmware up to date and taking good care of your headphones helps a lot. This way, they’ll last longer.

Good noise-cancelling headphones cost around $300, but they’re worth it. They can change how you hear music or podcasts. By fixing ANC settings, keeping firmware fresh, or reducing interference, you can enjoy clear sound. Embrace these tips for a great listening experience.