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andrewchiu1st
andrewchiu1st
Enthusiast II
June 15, 2020

Sonos Sub Gen 3 crackling/static sound

Hi guys,

 

I just bought the Sonos Arc and the new Sub Gen 3 and I paired them with 2 Sonos One (Gen 1) speakers for the surround setup.

Yesterday I noticed that while idling and playing, there are some tiny constant crackling/static/electric current sounds coming from the brand new Sub and I found it quite irritating. So what I did first was to make sure that the connection with the power cord is secure, which it was. Then I tried to remove the Sub from the group, factory reset it and added it back to the system. But the same issue persists.

I don’t suppose this is normal, right? Does anyone has a similar issue with the new Sub?

I’ve checked my Sonos Arc, One and Beam and none of them has this issue.

Since I just bought it from Best Buy last week, should I return it and get a new one to see if it’s something wrong with the one I’ve got? 

It’s not a cheap device and I don’t want to compromise on its quality.

 

Thank you all!

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    246 replies

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    sennai
    Lyricist I
    November 25, 2020

    I got my Sub yesterday, in Canada, the same noice as described by many here. 

    serial number: 54-2A-1B

    hardware version: 1.32.1.4-1.2

    Just might have to return it, or I can hold on if Sonos guarantees a replacement when problem is fixed. I will wait for two days for any Sonos reply with a conformation on the, if not it’s going back to the store in two day.

     

    Cheers.

     

      SweBob
      Lyricist II
      November 26, 2020

      I did go through 4 Sub = 3 replacements

       

      Sub #1 and #2 sounded equally bad

      Sub # 3 was even worse 

      = all 3 of these I could hear a high pitch hissing and crackling noise from more than 3 meters away!

       

      Sub #4 was ALOT better, but not perfect.

      I can still hear the noise, but only from about 10-20 cm away.

      Still, I am awaiting a permanent solution and hope that I will get a fully working replacement once  the fix is in place

        Marc goudappel
        Lyricist II
        November 26, 2020

        I have the same issue. Last week ordered the sub gen 3 and arc. When the sub is Connecting with the arc the static noise starts. Hopefully Sonos Gets it solved.

        Yesterday my sub has been replaced. The static  sound is still there but not as loud and anoying as my first sub. So happy for now, hopefully sonos can fix the last bits via software.

        dufreyne
        Lyricist II
        November 27, 2020

        I’m in the same boat, Belgium

        SN: A200 2009CP 54-2A-1B-21-5C-6C-5

        I can hear this noise even when no music is playing (by putting my year to the sub), when watching TV (with the Beam via HDMI arc)  the sound is more intensive, I can hear it well from 1m. 

        Replacements won’t help as far as I understand here.

        Unbelievable, no official response, nothing. What should we do all? I believe the number of actual faulty units is huge.

          TwoBiteBrownies
          Lyricist III
          November 28, 2020

          @Krishma M can you please answer my previous question? I got my replacement and same issue.

            Tralapo
            Lyricist I
            November 28, 2020

            Received mine today (Netherlands) and can confirm the issue is indeed still very much there. I'm still testing but would call it deafening in some cases.

             

            Serial 54-2A-1B

              ZeTo
              Lyricist I
              November 28, 2020

              Received my Sonos Sub 3 Gen yesterday. I can confirm the cracking noise as well. Very disappointing.

              In case that only music is played you can hear a constant sum noise like a harddrive. If sound is coming from TV over the Sonos ARC you can hear a cracking noise in regular intervals that is louder.

              i will get in base touch with the Support on Monday.

              At the moment I am not sure how to proceed. It seems that replacements do have the same error. 

                dufreyne
                Lyricist II
                November 28, 2020

                Received mine today (Netherlands) and can confirm the issue is indeed still very much there. I'm still testing but would call it deafening in some cases.

                 

                Serial 54-2A-1B

                I bought mine from bol.com (NL), not sure what to do if all units are the same.

                R5PNY
                Lyricist II
                November 29, 2020

                Hmmm - Gutted to say that my new Sub Gen 3 is doing the same. This is the my first Sonos system having finally taken the plunge last week. Thanks for the ongoing support of this thread. Will contact Sonos support on Monday. Despite the Sub issue I’m absolutely blown away by the Arc. Ready Player One with the Dolby Atmos sound track was ridiculous! I just cranked up the volume and the humming Sub issue went away (as in drowned out 😂)

                  ZeTo
                  Lyricist I
                  December 1, 2020

                  Received my Sonos Sub 3 Gen yesterday. I can confirm the cracking noise as well. Very disappointing.

                  In case that only music is played you can hear a constant sum noise like a harddrive. If sound is coming from TV over the Sonos ARC you can hear a cracking noise in regular intervals that is louder.

                  i will get in base touch with the Support on Monday.

                  At the moment I am not sure how to proceed. It seems that replacements do have the same error. 

                  Did some more tests. Connected all speakers (ARC, Sub, 2x One SL) using Ethernet to a switch. Disabled WiFI on each speaker.

                  The cracking noise is gone! In a LAN-Setup the system works as expected.

                  I am using a FrithBox 7590 as Router in the basement. In the ground floor and upper floor there is a FRITZ!WLAN Repeater 1750E each. The FritzBox 7590 and both FRITZ!WLAN Repeater 1750E build a Fritz Mesh. WiFi is repeated WiFi-to-WiFi on the FRITZ!WLAN Repeaters. At the moment I assume that the annoying noise at the Sonos Sub is caused by this WiFi-Mesh configuration.

                  Has anyone had this experience too?

                  What can I change on the Fritz Mesh so that it works with the Sonos system without background noise?

                  When the going gets tough I replace the Fritz Mesh.But what would you recommend? The WiFi must work on three floors. Preferably with just one WiFi SSID.

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