Closed Bug 1945889 Opened 18 days ago Closed 4 days ago

Audio stutter static noise when using bluetooth earbuds

Categories

(Fenix :: Media, defect)

Product:
Fenix
Component:
Media
Version:
Firefox 135
Platform:
All
Android
Type:
defect

Tracking

(Not tracked)

Status:
RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 1947917

People

(Reporter: andyyoung724, Unassigned)

Details

User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Android 14; Mobile; rv:135.0) Gecko/135.0 Firefox/135.0

Steps to reproduce:

When using CMF buds pro2 by Nothing, there is a static stutter noise when playing audio in firefox. The audio stutter is only present when playing audio from within the Firefox browser. For example, when playing audio from a YouTube video within firefox browser, there is a very frequent audio stutter every 1 second or so, but when playing from within the YouTube app, there is no audio stutter.

This seems to have been caused by an overnight update for mozilla firefox for android. On Jan 30 2025, Mozilla released an update for firefox on Android. According to the update log on my phone, the Firefox app didn't update until Feb 2 on an overnight update. The audio stutter had started the next day, Feb 3. Prior to the update, there was no audio stutter.

The CMF earbuds do have their own software app, called the Nothing X. It is possible that the update to firefox on Jan 30 2025 caused some software compatibility issues. I don't believe that the audio stutter is caused by bad Bluetooth connection because they work exceedingly well when playing audio from other apps, such as YouTube or Spotify.

UPDATE:

I reverted to Firefox for Android Version 134, which is the prior version to the bug listed above. There is no more static noise, as mentioned before.

I have another confirmation of the problem here: https://app.conversocial.com/queues/inbox/67a3ccb46049388d8c34d8c3

As in this case going back to Firefox 134 solves the problem. It would appear to be a bug related to Firefox 135.

(In reply to nathan95 from comment #2)

I have another confirmation of the problem here: https://app.conversocial.com/queues/inbox/67a3ccb46049388d8c34d8c3

As in this case going back to Firefox 134 solves the problem. It would appear to be a bug related to Firefox 135.

Thanks Nathan for the confirmation. Glad to see I wasn't the only person with this issue.

I haven't been able to confirm whether or not this bug is only affecting CMF bluetooth earbuds, or if this bug is more widespread and affects all Bluetooth earbuds. I have only tested this using the earbuds I own, and I only have 1 pair of earbuds.

Also, I can't open your link. It requires me to make an account for conversocial, but I'd rather not make an account for an app I don't use. Send screenshots if you can.

I got exactly the same issue on 135 (with different bluetooth earbuds). After downgrading to 134.0.2 it is gone, so it is a regression.
Thank god I am not the only person.

(In reply to Andre from comment #4)

I got exactly the same issue on 135 (with different bluetooth earbuds). After downgrading to 134.0.2 it is gone, so it is a regression.
Thank god I am not the only person.

Andre, thanks for the reply

Which model earbuds are you using? It would seem this bug affects multiple brands and models. Thanks!

(In reply to andyyoung724 from comment #5)

Which model earbuds are you using? It would seem this bug affects multiple brands and models. Thanks!

I use the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4. But I don't think the brand matters as the Android system creates an abstraction layer so that apps can send their sound in a uninform way.

I have the same issue connecting to a soundbar via Bluetooth. When I play a Youtube video, I hear clicks, glitches and pops reminiscent of a damaged audio CD. I've tested and reproduced the bug in regular, beta and nightly latest versions on two Android devices, a Samsung smartphone and tablet. No issue when using either Chrome or the YouTube app. Perhaps Firefox doesn't use the same media API as Google Chrome does, or it doesn't use it correctly. The audio disruption is very noticeable.

Hi, I'm also having same problem when updated to 135, there's significant periodic distortion of audio played on YouTube on my headphones (Sony wh-1000xm4), when I play same video on other browser (eg brave) video plays smoothly. This is more noticable on 1.5x speed.

I can confirm that this problem is not present on 134.0.2 - I downgrade to this version and can confirm that there is no issue

(In reply to Kacper from comment #8)

Hi, I'm also having same problem when updated to 135, there's significant periodic distortion of audio played on YouTube on my headphones (Sony wh-1000xm4), when I play same video on other browser (eg brave) video plays smoothly. This is more noticable on 1.5x speed.

I can confirm that this problem is not present on 134.0.2 - I downgrade to this version and can confirm that there is no issue

Same issue, same headphones (WH-1000xm4), tested the same way (Brave, VLC, others) and solved it the same way (uninstalling and installing 134.0.2 arm64 v8a on Samsung Tab S9).

It would be nice to get a response at this point. Many users are likely affected.

See also:

Media, WebRTC, and Web Audio

The mid and rid properties of the RTCOutboundRtpStreamStats interface, and themid property of the RTCInboundRtpStreamStats interface are now supported. (Firefox bug 1643001).

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Firefox/Releases/135#changes_for_web_developers

Looks like a possible regression introduced as an attempt to fix a bug.

Same issue. I have bluetooth Panasonic RZ-S500W earbuds.

Experiencing the same audio quality issue and attempted similar fixes by:

  • Removing all extensions
  • Testing out with multiple Bluetooth audio devices: Airpods Pro 2, some $15 cheapies from a gift shop (I tossed the box so I don't have the model)
  • Testing out with multiple websites: I played the same song on youtube as well as on vimeo and the problem was the same
  • Testing out with multiple apps: Chrome, Brave, VLC had no audio issues

Firefox version: 135.0 (Build #2016070975)
Android version: 14
Phone: Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

Haven't gone back to 134 yet, just wanted to add to the existing report.

Same issue, phone Samsung A34, Headphones audio technica ATH-SQ1TW2. Happening on all websites. This issue actually started a while ago on nightly, I tried fiddling with about:config e.g. audio sink threshold on nightly but nothing worked.

I also have this problem on my Samsung Galaxy S22.

I found this bug report from a Reddit thread where a lot of people are experiencing the same problem. 29 upvotes and 19 comments as of writing, since it was created 5 days ago.

Also happening for me using a Lenovo tab m11 with or without using Bluetooth earbuds (ATH-SQ1TW). Only noticed it on YouTube so far.

I have the same problem on my S10 Lite, on all websites incl. youtube. I noticed this artifacting on firefox nightly about 2-5 weeks ago, then it went to firefox beta => firefox. Iceraven on andoird doesnt have this problem yet.

Just wanted to point out that this is not limited to bluetooth audio earbuds. I'm usually listening to youtube videos at accelerated speed (1.5) using my built-in phone speaker, and the audio stutters are very noticeable on Firefox for android 135.

Reverted back to 134.0.2 where the issue is not present.

It seems that someone in a duplicate issue has found a workaround. I haven't tested it yet though.

(In reply to Andre from comment #18)

It seems that someone in a duplicate issue has found a workaround. I haven't tested it yet though.

Andre, that's fantastic, if only for the re-discovered access to the config page which was unreasonably disabled.

I've just tested it, the workaround works. Somebody also proposed a fix en needs testers.

So, should this be marked as a duplicate of bug 1947917?

Status: UNCONFIRMED → RESOLVED
Closed: 4 days ago
Duplicate of bug: 1947917
Resolution: --- → DUPLICATE
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