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?

[mestrec]

Started happening here around 1-2 weeks ago.. I thought it was a fault in the device.

[tickfa]

Same here, with close by good signal wifi

[marcolopes]

I ask for everyone to COMMENT on these articles about the Google Home / Audio / Nest ecosystem!

https://www.androidpolice.com/google-audio-wishlist-2024/
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-google-nest-speakers/
https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/29/24167316/google-home-assistant-group-volume-control-speakers-sono...

They all have a COMMENTS section, and you should post about the current issues rendering the whole ecosystem almost useless!

Main issues are:

POPPING NOISE when streaming ALL TYPES of AUDIO on the GOOGLE NEST MINI: https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Strange-popping-sound-in-my-nest-mini/m...
Problems configuring and using the SPEAKER GROUPS feature : https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Having-trouble-with-Speaker-groups-Read...
Problems configuring and using the STEREO PAIR feature: https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Google-Nest-Mini-firmware-384934-NOT-li...

[rickjforbes]

Done Marco

[Neuber]

So I guess my nest audios are just going to always do this. I wish I hadn’t upgraded from my older devices.

[marcolopes]

Well, at this point everyone should assume that this is NOT FIXABLE (or won't be fixed) and return all their devices to Google

If this was fixable we should have known by now.

[tsengf]

My opinion on this is that this is still related to firmware. All my Nest Mini devices were pop-free for a year. Then the pops started happening on all of them. I agree that we need to make this issue more well-known. Although the "workaround" has temporarily resolved the problem for me, I'm still pushing for Google to do something about this.

[marcolopes]

What "workaround"??? 🙄🙄🙄

There is no "workaround"!!! (please, don't say "Ultrasonic Sensing"! that is NOT a workaround! I have it disabled on my devices and they all POP - depending on the day, they POP HARD!)

For exposure, comment here!

https://www.androidpolice.com/google-audio-wishlist-2024/
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-google-nest-speakers/
https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/29/24167316/google-home-assistant-group-volume-control-speakers-sono...

[tsengf]

The workaround appears to help only a subset of the users. I am one of them and I have no pops. As I said previously, this workaround not satisfactory and Google should fix this issue.

[marcolopes]

I'm pulling my hair out trying to explain why the popping "stopped" (or is now inaudible) in your Google Nest Mini 2nd GEN Devices because you disabled the Ultrasonic Sensing feature!

This was (is?) a workaround for SOME devices (https://www.reddit.com/r/googlehome/comments/evv9e4/solution_found_for_google_home_hub_popping_sound...) but NOT for the Google Nest Mini 2nd GEN!!! (and then again, the popping eventually came back!)

(and, AFAIK, you are the only one reporting this "workaround" on such devices)

[tsengf]

We had corresponded a couple of times on this. I have multiple Nest Mini (Model: H2C). Yes, disabling the Ultrasound Sensing feature stops the pops. When I enable the Ultrasound Sensing feature, the pops return. I listen with a volume level of 1 "Hey Google, set the volume to one". I stream internet music for several hours a day. I've been using the workaround for several months and have not encountered a pop. I'm located in the US. I've been through one firmware update since joining this forum. My current firmware is 384934.

[marcolopes]

Still pulling my hair out! 🙉

And Google could easily EXPLAIN this kind of behaviour... yet they do nothing! (if they can't explain that, well, ALL hope is LOST in Google)

[techtim]

Any updates on this?  Mine has continually gotten worse and worse.  Is a new power supply the fix Google?  Give us some kind of update!?!

[marcolopes]

"new power supply"?

Do you know something that "we" don't??

[techtim]

I read on a reddit form someone else suggesting that.  I'm hesitant to try another non-google one but heck if it fixes this annoying issue may be worth it.  But waiting for Google to give a solution my never come to fruition. 

[marcolopes]

I don't believe it's the power supply, but there is a good way to test it, if SOMEONE here has the 1st GEN and 2nd GEN nest mini, they could swap the power supply.

The 1st GEN does NOT pop.

[pluri]

Google Home Nest Mini 1st gen had a 5V micro USB connector, the 2nd gen has a 14V barrel connector so they are not compatible. I'm pretty confident that the power supply is not the cause of the popping issue.

[marcolopes]

Thanks. I didn't check on the "web" about the compatibility of the power supply between the 1st and 2nd GEN Nest Mini.

Looking at the specs there is one that "pops" out (no pun intended!), the Ultrasound Sensing was not available on Gen 1: https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7072284

[techtim]

I've had Ultrasound Sensing off since day one with mine.  The issue for me happens on both my Gen2 Mini's and larger Nest Audio Speaker.

[marcolopes]

@tsengf said several times that the POPPING has "stopped" on his Nest Mini 2nd GEN devices since he disabled the Ultrasound Sensing feature... i puzzle myself over this!

I only noticed a lower frequency on popping over the FIRST day after disabling the Ultrasound Sensing, and then it comes back to "normal" popping.

Why are some (few??) users not experiencing the POPPING when this feature is disabled?

[tsengf]

I am also puzzled at this. I had guessed that the inconsistent behavior may be due to the country in which the device is located. But this is just a wild guess at this point.

[pluri]

It could be the country, the weather, the color of your eyes or whatever. At least for me the popping is quite inconsistent, there are days where I don't notice it and then I may have 3 or four pops in 10 minutes.

It would be a nice experiment to place a Nest Mini in a box together with a microphone and record it for several days and then see how the pops are distributed in time with and without the ultrasound ...

The real questions are: what is Google doing to solve the problem? Do they care? Probably not much.

[marcolopes]

Monitoring the poppings should be something that GOOGLE LABS should do! Not US!

I was able to record a few of them to show GOOGLE the problem, but that's about it!

We have more to do than create a statistics lab to monitor this problem.

We give valuable information to GOOGLE, and they should know (many months ago!) what the problem IS! (taking into consideration that this was already reported 3 or 4 years ago, it's a recurring issue...)

[Tarpii]

Come on google, it's time you gave us a meaningful update on this. I'm getting fed up with speakers that are struggling to deliver on their primary function.

[Hmm_8888]

@Tarpii  I pop in now and then for a laugh, seeing all the bogus comments about how this or that supposedly fixes the issue. It's like some folks are hoping for a resolution as futile as the flat Earth movement hoping NASA and scientists will suddenly agree with them. 🤣

[DH313]

Turning off Ultrasound Sensing fixed my popping!!

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9509981?hl=en - thanks reddit!! 

[marcolopes]

As said MANY times here, turning off the Ultrasound Sensing fixes the issue for a FEW hours (1/2 days tops!)

Except for @tsengf (that is the only one here that reports that this workaround fixed the popping permanently)

And you didn't need to search Reddit, reading this thread should be enough, because this was discussed here several times (and the reports about this workaround i read in reddit are NOT for the Google Nest Mini!!!)

So... If you really don't hear the popping on your Google Nest Mini 2nd GEN after disabling the Ultrasound Sensing feature, please REPORT BACK in a few days to confirm it.

BTW, what is your "region"? (I'm in europe, and my 3 Google Nest Mini POP in all their glory with or without Ultrasound Sensing off! - currently OFF and Popping all day!!!)

[Hmm_8888]

Haha. The sophist fooled you @marcolopes 

[tsengf]

@DH313 Please report back if this has fixed the issue for you permanently. Which country are you located?

[Hmm_8888]

Bruh, do you actually believe this issue will be fixed?

[Remo045]

i have the same issue, really annoying.....

[marcolopes]

Any changes with the NEW firmware? 3.73.420420: https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7365257

When will you resolve the firmware update BUG on the STEREO PAIR DEVICES? https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Google-Nest-Mini-firmware-384934-NOT-li...

[tsengf]

@marcolopes I waited several days because I wanted to do some testing. Of course, I have no idea if any of what I'm observing is due to the new firmware release. Since last Friday, when you posted about the new firmware, I've re-enabled the Ultrasound sensing on all my devices, and I have not heard any pops. I will keep observing it.

[marcolopes]

I have noticed less or no popping... but I mainly listen to music on a STEREO PAIR, and one of the devices refuses to update the firmware! Still remains in the original official non preview firmware! 

How does this affect the device performance, I don't know, Google doesn't know either!

Even separating the stereo pair for few days, or swap the left and right devices solves nothing... Unfortunately, there is no way to force a firmware update

[tsengf]

Just curious, for the Nest Mini which is not updating firmware, have you subscribed to the "Preview program"?

[marcolopes]

Dear friend, you underestimate me! 😄 https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Google-Nest-Mini-firmware-384934-NOT-li...

Yes... ALL devices are under the "preview" program and have the Firmware update option ON!

And this is what i tried over the past few months!

1) Since the previous firmware update to version 384934 was made on the LEFT STEREO PAIR device only, i decided to "SWAP" the devices (i reconfigured both devices, so that LEFT would be RIGHT and vice-versa), just to test if the update is being made ONLY on the LEFT (main?) STEREO PAIR DEVICE

2) The recent firmware update to version 420420 was, strangely enough, made on the RIGHT STEREO PAIR device only!!!

3) UNPAIRING and rebooting, resetting, remove from PREVIEW program and ADD again, disable and enable again the firmware update option, has absolutely NO EFFECT on the firmware update! As confirmed by google, NONE of these operations will TRIGGER an update...

So... i have one device STUCK in the "production" firmware version 375114.

I have another "standalone" device that was updated (as usual) and i could PAIR it with the one that has been also updated as part of the STEREO PAIR... but because they have different color, and not so consecutive serial numbers, i don't want to do so... The devices on the STEREO PAIR were bought on the same day and have almost consecutive productions numbers.

Anyway... if someone knows a reason why some devices are NOT being updated, i would love to know...

Why Google does not implement an option to "force" an update is beyond me... and these are the ONLY devices i came across that don't give the user any control on this matter, which is really another "bogus" drawback, among many others that Google throws at the Google Home users :\\\

BTW, this is a recurrent problem known to Google, and has NO SOLUTION!!! https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Speakers-and-Displays/Firmware-does-not-update-automatically-...

[marcolopes]

I now have all the devices updated! 

I opened a new ticket.,, maybe it was that...??

Anyway, no popping for the last few days...

[Extreme_One]

me too!

[marcolopes]

Finally!! ALL my devices updated to the most recent PREVIEW firmware, that fixes several BUGS related to device GROUPS.

I now have all devices with ultrasound sensing ON, and have not noticed any pops in the last few days...

This does not mean that the popping issue was solved in the most recent preview firmware... because this problem is a stubborn one and sometimes comes back after few days of peace! 

Also, contrary to the Speaker Groups BUG Fixes (officialy announced), Google said absolutely nothing about the fix of the popping issue...

[cawauk]

I suspect the popping and crackling sounds are due to these 2nd gen mini CPUs overheating. This would explain why 1) disabling ultrasound sensor may have worked for some as I suspect this would reduce CPU utilisation and heat 2) why different software updates may have had an impact, e.g. poor coding causing a process to become locked at 100% CPU 3) why my nest mini, after a reboot, seems to not pop and crackle for a period of time and 4) why crackling and popping is almost non-existent during cooler mornings whilst very present during warmer evenings.

This is all just a theory of course. So I took the mini apart and reapplied a bunch of thermal paste over the CPU. Let's see if that helps...