Enthusiast II

Sonos Sub Gen 3 crackling/static sound

246 replies
29142 views

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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E

Echo4Hotel

Lyricist I

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.

This solved my issue. I’ve had the Arc and Sub3 from release date. My issue was a little different as any deep bass in 5.1 or greater would result in a tinny rattling sound from the sub. The ARC replaced the role on my network that my old zone player had as the hardwired device to my router. Everything else was WiFi and I used Channel 6 and 11 to keep it separated. Since the Arc and Sub have no distance issues to my router I connected the Sub via Ethernet and shut off WiFi. Problem solved. No more annoying, intermittent rattle.

Thank you!

D

D a v i d

Contributor I

I too have had these issues with the Sub Gen 3. Purchased end of November. The noises are as described above. Most clearly heard when I pause the TV. But could be heard quite clearly when the tv sound is on and from a couple of meters away when the tv is actually off. A constant noise, somewhat ironically, perhaps most like the noise of a CD loading up. I purchased from John Lewis but phoned Sonos, they asked me to send them a video and within a day issued a replacement. Given everything above I was a bit dubious as to the value of getting a new one. I would recommend it though. There is a very faint noise (electric/digital) from the new one but you have to have your head virtually in the Sub to hear it. Whilst I guess there should be no noise, it isn’t going to affect anyone at the level it is now. Definitely a huge improvement on the first one I got.

L

Livius21

Lyricist III

Any update on this one? I too have a Sonos Sub Gen 3 bought in Germany and returned the first sub to my dealer. The second Sub makes the same crackling sounds …

Anybody without any noise so far?

L

Livius21

Lyricist III

Guys, no progress on this one? Can’t believe it takes Sonos so long?

What about the replacement subs? :-)

A

Ancodia

Lyricist III

My first replacement is a little quieter, but the noise is still there. It’s bearable as you have to be pretty close to the sub to hear it but there shouldn’t be any noise in my opinion. At this point in time I’m hesitant to try another replacement in case it’s worse than the one I have now!

G

ghflow

Trending Lyricist I

I have requested 4 replacements and finally received one with only minor issues (very faint clicking noise). I can live with it since who knows if the next replacement will better or worse. I am not going to request more replacements until Sonos finish the so-called investigation with the gen3 sub. What annoys me the most is that sonos never made a statement recognizing the problem, which is clearly very wide-spread from a lot of people’s experiences. The customer service people are pretty helpful, but sonos really should take up some responsibility and admit they have either developed/produced a faulty product and provide a true solution to the users.

J

J914P

Lyricist I

Received my first gen 3 sub today and I can confirm I have all the above issues. Probably not to the same level as some said but I can hear the creaking, crackling, as well as hard drive / fireplace flame flickering type of sounds and issues.

I’m planning on sitting with it for a few days and see how it goes before reaching out to Sonos.

J

John Linto

Lyricist I

I had one without the sound issue and I asked for a replacement (Original had white scratches on the piano black 5-6 cm long).

Any update on the sound? I've had my sub since Christmas and no idea why, I never noticed it before. 4-5 loud cracks happened tonight and now I can only hear this cracking/hissing sound.

I’ll try to plug it over ethernet tomorrow to diagnose the problem. But my router is in another room (40ft away), so it can’t stay wired.

J

John Linto

Lyricist I

@TapDatApp

Of course, my case number is Case #: 018*****

It’s great that you also arranged a call with them so that we can put this under their radar!

Moderator note: Censored for privacy reasons.

Since it is censored, I can’t refer to your case number for my problem...

S

skovsen

Lyricist II

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.

I have the same issue with a noise like a harddrive. I switched my Beam and the Sub to wired and disabled the wireless on the sub. It did the trick - now the noice is gone.

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