airpods 5 with ANC on making pulsing hum, or wavering or throbbing

airpods 5 ANC making pulsing hum

I got my first 5s pair on Monday, it had that pulsing hum in complete silence in the right bud with transparency/anc on , I went back to Best Buy and made an exchange, the second pair does the same but with the left earbud. I’m desperate now, because I don’t want to make another exchange and have the same thing, and I don’t want Pros with the silicon tip, and I traded in my 4s ANC model which worked perfectly….

Posted on Oct 28, 2026 12:02 PM

1 reply

WheelieNick

Level 9 (74,110 points)

Nov 1, 2026 8:00 AM in response to yevhen260

hi there

please try this

Check Noise Control Settings:

- Turn noise control off completely (set to "Off") to see if the pulsing stops.
- Make sure Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness are disabled, as they can cause the microphones to dynamically shift processing levels and create a wavering or pumping sensation.

Clean the External Microphones & Grills:

- Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth or a clean, dry soft-bristled brush to gently clean the black mic vents and speaker meshes. Debris, skin oils, or earwax partially covering a microphone can trick the ANC system into generating a feedback hum.