There is nothing worse than dealing with random crackling and static noises when you just want to enjoy music.
There can be several possible reasons that your Amazon Echo speakers are giving out distorted sounds while you’re playing the audio.
If your Amazon Echo is making random distorted noises, then do continue reading this article as it will provide you with various reasons for the noises and the solution to fixing them.
Further reading: What Is The Amazon Echo Dot? Everything You Need To Know About Amazon’s Compact Smart Speaker
Since there can be many reasons as to why the Amazon Echo device is making crackling sounds the first step is to determine the source of the problem.
Is the problem with the device itself or with various other external factors such as audio source or connectivity issues?
Here are some steps you can try if you feel like the connectivity is the reason for the crackling sounds being emitted from your Amazon Echo
Option 1: Using an Auxiliary Cable
To determine whether the distortion sound is being caused due to connection issues, you can use an auxiliary wire and the Line-in option that the Amazon Echo offers.
Simply plug in an Aux cable to your speakers and the audio source and play your music.
- STEP 1: Connect a 3.5 Auxiliary cable to the auxiliary port of your Amazon Echo
- STEP 2: Connect the other end of the cable to the audio source such as your phone, tablet laptop, or computer.
- STEP 3: On the Amazon Alexa application, select the Echo & Alexa tab and go to speakers, and scroll to the general settings section. Once users open the general settings click on the AUX option and select Line In.
If this method eliminates the crackling sound, there is a possibility that the wireless Bluetooth connection is the root cause for the distorted sound and not the speakers.
Option 2: Reducing The Distance Between Your Devices
Once you have figured out that the device is not faulty, you can go ahead and check whether the disturbance is being caused due to an obstruction in the path of the speaker and the source of audio.
You need to make sure that the distance between the audio source and the speakers is not massive.
The larger the distance between the two devices, the weaker will be the Bluetooth signal and there are changes of frequencies from other radio signals interfering with your music and causing distorted sounds.
Try moving the speaker closer to your audio device and see if the quality of the sound improves.
Make sure that both your devices should be less than 30ft away from each other as most Bluetooth devices have a limited range.
Further reading: How To Play Music On Multiple Echo Device
Option 3: Unpairing And Pairing The Audio Device Again
If the Amazon Echo is still producing crackling noises despite moving it closer to the audio source, you should try unpairing the device and then pairing it again to the audio source and see if the problem can be resolved by this method.
Option 4: Low Battery
Check the battery level of both your devices and make sure they are not low.
Low battery levels could be a possible reason for crackling noises too as it can weaken the Bluetooth signal strength.
Option 5: Check Whether The Audio Device Is The Problem
Sometimes it so happens that a particular audio device that you’re playing from is the reason your Amazon Echo is producing weird distorted sounds.
To check whether this is the reason, the easiest way to do this is to connect other audio devices such as a laptop, tablet, or a friend’s phone and play music.
If there are no distorted sounds and the audio quality is very clear, chances are that the Amazon Echo is perfectly fine but it is a particular audio device that is causing the disruption.
Option 6: Connect Audio Device With Another Speaker
If your Amazon Echo speakers are still producing a crackling sound despite having followed all the options mentioned above, chances are that there is a problem with your speakers themselves.
The best way to determine whether the speaker is faulty is to simply connect your audio device with another speaker and see if the same audio problem persists.
If the audio is playing without any disturbances there could be an issue with the speakers themselves.
If none of the steps help eliminate the distortion in your audio, the problem is either with the software of your Amazon Echo or the hardware.
You may also like: The Best Wired Speaker For Echo Dot
How To Detect A Faulty Speaker
Here are a few steps to determine whether it is the software at fault.
Option 1: Restarting the device
One of the easiest ways to fix any problem is to restart your device.
You can restart your Amazon Echo by simply unplugging the speakers from the power source and then plugging it back in and turning the power on.
A simple restart should help you fix minor issues on your Amazon Echo.
Option 2: Updating The Software
Another possible reason for distorted crackling sounds being emitted from your Amazon echo is outdated software.
To ensure that this is not the problem, make sure your Amazon Echo device is using the latest software. If not then open your Amazon Alexa application find the latest updated version and then update your software.
Once updated restart your device and see if the problem still persists.
Option 3: Factory Reset
If both restarting and updating the software of your Amazon Echo does not work, you can try resetting their Amazon Echo settings to see if that helps solve the problem.
Keep pressing and holding the action button for at least 25 seconds until the light ring turns orange and then turns off. Once off, wait until the light ring is back on and turn orange again.
Once the device’s light ring turns orange, you can set up your device again. This should help with the crackling sounds in case the problem was due to some settings.
Further reading: What Is The Amazon Echo Dot? Everything You Need To Know About Amazon’s Compact Smart Speaker
In the unfortunate event where none of the steps mentioned in the article help you get rid of the crackling noises from your Amazon Echo, there must be a problem with the hardware of your speakers.
There is nothing you can do to fix hardware problems at home, so the only solution is to get your device fixed or exchanged at the service center if it is under the warranty period or simply get your Amazon Echo replaced.