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Poor sound quality from product | QuietComfort® 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headphones— Apple devices
Do you hear static or distorted audio while in noisy environments?
In very loud settings—such as airplane takeoffs, concerts, emergency sirens, or construction zones—your headphones' noise-cancelling microphones can become overwhelmed, which may cause brief crackling or distortion. This can happen even in Quiet or Aware mode.
It’s similar to when someone talks too loudly into a phone—the sound gets distorted until they lower their voice. Your headphones react in the same way to intense external noise.
This is normal and doesn’t damage the product. To reduce it, try moving away from the loud source when possible. For example, on a plane, sitting farther from the engines can help.
Try a different app.
If the issue only occurs with a particular app, it is likely related to the app or app settings.
Try connecting a different audio device.
If available, connect another audio device using the same cables and connections to determine if the issue is related to the first device or its settings.
If connected, bypass any adapters or extension cables.
If your product connects to the device using an extension cable or adapter, disconnect the extension cable or adapter to determine if the issue is related to it.
Unplug and reconnect the audio cable in the connected device.
On the connected device, disconnect the cable that connects your headset. Then, reconnect it to be sure it is fully connected and secure. (Tip: While connected, if you rotate the plug in the jack and hear crackling or intermittent sound, there might be debris or an issue with a contact inside the jack.)
Make sure you are using StayHear+ eartips.
These headphones are designed specifically for use with StayHear+ eartips. Use of any other eartips, including original StayHear tips, will result in low audio, poor sound quality and/or reduced noise cancellation.
Your StayHear+ Tips should look like this:

Your StayHear+ Tips should look like this:
Plug in a different pair of headphones.
Connect another pair of headphones to the audio device to determine if the issue is with the device or its settings.