Strange popping sound in my nest mini

[limuremu]

Hello, I’ve just got my best mini about a month ago, and it’s been great so far. That being said, in the past week I’ve been hearing this sort or popping or cracking sound, similar to what you would hear if you had dust on a vinyl record and tried to play it. I haven’t heard it happen when the assistant is responding to me, but they don’t happen on a schedule or anything, more randomly. I’ve unplugged it and plugged it back in, rebooted it through the Home app, and tried plugging it into a different outlet. I’m pretty sure it’s not my wifi, and I’d like to avoid a factory reset if possible but I’m running out of options. Any help?

[Juni · Accepted solution]

Hi folks,

Our team is already aware of this and currently investigating this issue. Since this is the same discussion, we'll move this conversation to the main thread and we'll continue to update it as soon as we have some news to share.

Please note that once done this thread will be locked.

Regards,

Juni

[crysty0612]

What a frikkin **bleep** show..

I was thinking: "there must be a solution by now". Latelly I couldn't use them for sleep music..

The only thing that I've found helping was reboot / unplug.

I can't find a way to reboot them from Google Home automations.

I'm thinking of putting them on a smart plug for scheduled power off/on  before bedtime..a stupid workaround for not throwing them away

[marcolopes]

Yes... that "hurts" users the most...

When i use the devices late at night the popping is SO LOUD and repetitive, it wakes me when I'm falling asleep...

This BUG / problem is reaching a ridiculous point!

If Google does not have the technical expertise to FIX this, how can we trust any other hardware sold under the Google Brand??

(NOTE: I love Google, BTW... this company gave "us" SO MUCH, but this is really nonsense, and it's been dragging for SO long now...)

[BobSurunkle]

You're right about the noise.

The popping had initially reduced in level and frequency after reenabling ultrasonic sensors and rebooting. 

However, as you predicted, it's back with a vengeance.

I noticed yesterday that it's independent of volume setting and so I can appreciate how annoying it must be whilst playing sleep music.

I turned the volume to zero, in order to make a phone call, and the popping seemed even louder.

I guess that eliminates the amplification circuit as being the culprit!

[marcolopes]

Yes! That's my experience too.

And i do think that a problem related with the AMP stage is not likely to be the culprit... but that depends on the interpretation of the results! Because the AMP is digital, a hardware fault could introduce the noise without any regard to the defined volume...

[Tarpii]

Long thread! I've had this problem for a long time on my Google nest speaker pair. With ultrasound sensing on, the right speaker pops, and with ultrasound sensing off, the left speaker pops. I don't believe it's a hardware issue, as I have swapped speakers around and can still reproduce the issue. What's the latest from Google on this?

[marcolopes]

There is no feedback from Google whatsoever!

Not even from the opened support tickets!

[marcolopes]

@Muddi Any news from Google Nest core team?

Still don't understand why not all devices were updated to the "latest" firmware, and why this firmware is NOT listed officially!! https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Google-Nest-Mini-firmware-384934-NOT-li...

[Metoo132323]

We are on @Muddi 's"ignored" list. I wonder if these "mods" are actually paid by Google or are Google cheerleaders who signed-on as volunteers.

[Metoo132323]

Has anyone tried to "report" the mod's comments in this thread for inappropriate content? It's one way to get another mod to look at it. 😇😈

[marcolopes]

Done!

[marcolopes]

BWARE!!!

Moderators are CLOSING a lot of threads! Ex: https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Google-Nest-Mini-charcoal-Gen-2-frequen...

DON'T let this thread die!

[Metoo132323]

Trumpism at its best. I love the unhingeness of our culture these days. 

[anthonyco]

I noticed this recently on a mini I have. The speaker used to be in one room, and I don't remember ever hearing the noise. I moved it to a different room, but used an adapter from a new mini. So I have an old mini using a new adapter, and a new mini using old adapter. I'm wondering if the new adapter is the cause of the sound, I'm also curious if it could be EM interference like the sound speaker phones used to have when a cell phone was next to it, the signal can induce current/noise in the speaker circuit. I'll have to do some experimentation with adapters and possible interference from other devices. 

[NaomiT]

I've just started having this issue on speakers that haven't been moved or even unplugged in months, so it certainly seems like a firmware issue.

[marcolopes]

Just started?? Or "just noticed"?

Did you have an OLD firmware that was recently updated?

[NaomiT]

Recently started, and I highly suspect it's related to the update that one of a speaker pair has had (but not the other). Had these particular speakers for a year and a half, plus others that are older and have never had any issues before.

Listen to music with these paired speakers most often though, so can't be sure if I've noticed it on the others or not.

[marcolopes]

This is great news... it points to a firmware problem...

I saw that you posted in this topic i created: https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Google-Nest-Mini-firmware-384934-NOT-li...

Do you know what was the previous firmware??

[NaomiT]

Not for certain, but I am fairly sure the popping only comes from the speaker on the 384934 update and not the other one, which is on 375114.

I also noticed the popping on a different speaker today, very quietly but definitely there (the volume was pretty low anyway). Just checked and that has also been updated to 384934.

[mejiacruz]

Hi @NaomiT 

I'm really sorry that you are having this type of situation with your Nest Speakers. I need some additional information from you that would be best shared privately. To help us investigate further, I'm sharing a link to a secure form for you to fill out.

Please let us know when you've completed the form.

All the best,

Josh

[pluri]

Hello @mejiacruz you can see about 66 pages in this thread reporting the "pop noise" issue with the Google Nest.

Google is aware of the issue since long time because other Community Specialists replied here, several months ago:

"Our team is already aware of this and currently investigating this issue."

"A quick update. Our team is aware of this behavior on the Nest Mini. "

"Quick update here! We're already on top of this, hang tight."

But after that no more communication and especially no solution at all.
May you please give us an update on the current situation ? Is somebody working on this ?

Thanks.

[NaomiT]

Hi, 

I already filled a form out yesterday for paired speakers not getting firmware updates at the same time, and did mention the popping, but after being asked provide the serial numbers of my devices - and not having gotten round to providing those details yet - I had a further email today with a fairly stock response about updates rolling out gradually, and nothing on the popping.

[marcolopes]

I filed the form about the firmware not updating on paired devices, but this will all be a waste of time! Why? Because I have an open case about the popping, and after providing serial numbers, AUDIO FILES, etc, the only solution was to swap the devices!!! Swap for what??? Another device with the same problem?? Some users have already gone through that shenanigans, to no avail! 

More.... at some point the support STOPPED responding... because they have nothing to say... strange thing is, even if we try to collaborate, sending clues and facts about this problem, they just don't keep us up to date about anything! Is the info reaching the core team? Is anyone trying to solve this? Why isn't there a hint about anything???

[mejiacruz]

Hi @NaomiT

Thank you for filling out the form. A specialist from our advanced support team will contact you by email to provide further assistance.

We appreciate you sharing your feedback about the speakers popping after the firmware update. You and other community members can share your experiences directly with our engineering team through this form: Feedback Form.

We hope to have a resolution for this issue as soon as possible.

All the best,

Josh

[marcolopes]

Nopes. The problem is there with both firmwares. 

Please read this topic...

It's very very strange that you only noticed now... after firmware upgrade.

I noticed the popping ever since I got the devices with firmware 375114, and the problem remains with new unlisted firmware 384934.

Also, it's VOLUME independent!!! Even with NO VOLUME, there's popping!!

[pluri]

I confirm 100%, the pop is volume independent and it happens with fw. 375114 too.
I have two minis with 375114 and they both pop.

I can't say if the issue started with fw. 375114 or if it caused by a completely different thing like a change on the Google server side.

[NaomiT]

I have read the topic, but I'm sure you're aware that if something is a bug, it doesn't necessarily affect everyone, so it evidently didn't affect any of my devices on the previous firmware, and has only been introduced for me, personally, with this update. I haven't experienced any popping when nothing is streaming, and, for me, how loud it is does vary with the overall volume.

[marcolopes]

The popping only happens when streaming... BUT remember... almost everything is streaming!!! Even the assistant reeponses!! Yes, it pops when the assistant is speaking!!

Also, it's volume independent! Put the volume at zero and keep streaming! It will eventually pop!!

[marcolopes]

Today i was listening to the NEWS (after i said "Good Morning" do the assistant) and the device POPPED when streaming REUTERS news!

So this problem is related to STREAMING in general (not just Spotify or YouTube Music)

[Metoo132323]

I noticed the popping is a little less loud these days. 

[marcolopes]

I agree...

Noticed the usual popping but not so noticeable...

Please report back in a few days!

[marcolopes]

No!!!

All is the same!

Today the devices were popping as usual, with LOUD volume!

Nothing changed...

[Metoo132323]

Yeah, it was temporary. It happened last night when it wasn't playing at all.

[pluri]

The problem is in the speaker, it is not in the streaming service or data transmission (internet, wifi).
The  proof is that the pop noise is present with all the streaming sources (Spotify, YouTube Music, TuneIn, BBC ...), with many ISP around the world and the pop noise can be heard also when the volume is set to zero so it is not due to corrupted streamed audio data but generated locally into the speaker.

Another proof is that if the mini is paired with an external Bluetooth speaker the pop noise is still generated by the mini speaker while the streaming music on the Bluetooth speaker is flawless.

That said, clearly Google decided to invest no more money and time in developing and supporting this line of products so we will never have a solution.

There are many others issues related to stupid answers, and the lack of understanding of simple questions by the assistant (like setting up an alarm) that demonstrates how the development of such products is dead.
If Google was willing to develop the assistant they would have improved it with the latest AI capabilities but they did nothing.

[Metoo132323]

---

@pluri wrote:

There are many others issues related to stupid answers, and the lack of understanding of simple questions by the assistant (like setting up an alarm) that demonstrates how the development of such products is dead.

If Google was willing to develop the assistant they would have improved it with the latest AI capabilities but they did nothing.

---

Google seems to be moving away from these smart appliances so do yourself a big favor and stop having hope. 

[marcolopes]

Agree! There are so many BUGS and broken features...

I found so so many...

It's almost a MIRACLE when the devices trigger an ALARM set at the correct time!

Everything else is just a BONUS! 😄

[Wadadli]

I have the same issue casting BBC Sounds to a Nest Mini from my Samsung S21 Ultra. Get the pop sound evert two minutes.

[marcolopes]

I can't believe I'm saying this (because i like Google a LOT, this company gave the world so much) BUT, this problem plus the Google complete radio silence, is screaming class action lawsuit!

[Metoo132323]

Hey @marcolopes ,  let's delve deeper into the Google "phenomenon", shall we?

Sure, Google has left its mark on the world. We've got the search engine, maps, and a whole lot of advertising thrown into the mix. But before we start praising them, let's take a moment to ponder the not-so-rosy aspects.

First off, let's talk about that search engine. It's a lifesaver when you're hunting down information, but it comes at a cost. Google's tracking our every move, hoarding our personal info like it's going out of style. It's like having a nosy neighbor who knows more about you than you do yourself.

Now, onto Google Maps. It's a navigational godsend, right? Well, not quite. While it's handy for finding your way, it's built on user-generated content. Ever noticed how those directions can sometimes lead you astray? Blame it on the crowd-sourced content.

But here's where it hits close to home: us, the users. Google Maps relies heavily on our input, but do we really have a say in how it operates? Sure, we can report issues and suggest edits, but do they always get addressed? Google allows malicious placemarks (points of interest) to be added, Like every mailbox on each corner and other useless info. There are parks that don't exist and a lot, lot more issues. 

With Google, it feels like we're shouting into the void, with no real impact on the accuracy of the maps we rely on.

And let's not overlook the elephant in the room: advertising. Google's bread and butter. It bombards us with ads tailored so precisely it's almost creepy. Ever searched for a product, only to have ads for it haunting you on every website you visit thereafter? Yeah, that's Google's doing.

So, before we start singing Google's praises for all it's supposedly given the world, let's take a step back and acknowledge the not-so-glamorous side. Sure, it's shaped the world, but maybe not always for the better, especially for us, the users.

[marcolopes]

I'm aware of all that!

Yet... I still maintain what I said... and I just don't care how much information Google has about me! I just don't! 

You know what the problem in Europe is? Governments implemented hyped data protection policy, but it's not for public benefit!! It makes everyone's life miserable!!

As of yesterday, Worldcoin registration was HALTED in Portugal, and in the past few weeks in Spain! Why? Because the regulators know nothing about nothing, and just protect the government interests!! They must know everything, control everything and everyone (specially the money), and don't let anyone else interfere in the progress, in the name of public interest!! We are all going to die anonymous, but stupid and isolated!!

So, about Google... I just don't care that they know everything about me! What they have given to the human race is beyond anything they could take from me!

YET... they suck big time when it comes to the Nest ecosystem...

They should not sell hardware and focus on what they do best... maybe they should SELL the whole Nest division to another company that knows what it's doing (perhaps SONOS??? 😀)

[Metoo132323]

I get where you're coming from.

I had family over in the EU who were into some strange ideas, like pseudoscience and alternative facts. They didn't really care much about privacy until one of them got hit by identity theft. It was then that they started taking it seriously. They used to also say things like, "I don't care what 'they' know about me."

But it's not just Google; it's lots of big corporations, conglomerates, and companies. They've got this mindset that can mess things up for everyone. They often act in ways that aren't ethical (morally and business), fair or right. And underneath it all, they're the ones really in charge, not the governments.

And to add to all that, my family in the EU got hit hard by COVID. We lost a bunch of relatives to it for having this mindset. It's been a **bleep**ty time, with corporate greed and unethical behavior making things even crappier.  Things will get much worse before it ever gets better.