Hello I’ve had several Google nest speakers for years now and they’ve always popped and crackled. The only solution was to unplug the device and start over but the problem would arise again within minutes. I just stopped casting music. The odd part was assistant commands came through clear but the music always popped and crackled.
well the other day my Nest WiFi (H2D) started acting up like it always does providing an inconsistent experience with internet. I’ve factory reset my internet multiple times and nothing ever helped the router or the nest audio problem.
frustrated I factory reset the whole network and dug out my old google WiFi pucks and setup my network with those. Well lo and behold the internet is reliable now and all my speaker problems have been resolved.
To make sure this wasn’t a fluke I deleted my network again and added the Nest router back. Within an hour the audio was crackling on nest speakers and my security cameras would cut out.
conclusion google WiFi > Nest WiFi. On paper nest WiFi is better but in execution it just doesn’t work. This now makes both the main nest router and its access port garbage they have both failed me in a matter of two years but yet my old Google WiFi routers work flawlessly. Speeds are a tad slower but everything works now and no hiccups.
I will never buy another nest or google product from this point forward. I’ve never seen such a large company not be able to release fixes for their multiple product failures. I’ve tried to get my nest WiFi access point replaced when it failed a year ago and Google stonewalled every effort making me go through multiple factory resets and rain dances.
my advice stay away from their products. They’re unreliable and they simply don’t fix the problems at hand. I wonder how long my google WiFi will hold up now.
so if you’re having crackling audio issues with nest speakers. Try ditching your router especially if it’s a Nest WiFi router. Theo older Google WiFi’s work better especially if hardwired. Defective products, poor support, conglomerate syndrome I suppose.
best of luck.
