Issue with Popping Sound on ASUS ROG Cetra SpeedNova

[BorderEagle]

Dear ASUS Support,

I purchased the ASUS ROG Cetra SpeedNova a week ago. I am using it with my Windows 11 PC via a 2.4GHz connection. While audio is playing, everything works fine, but as soon as I stop the audio, I hear a "pop" sound about one second later.

The sound is similar to the feeling when your ear is clogged and then suddenly pops open when you yawn. Sometimes, the pop sound comes from the right earbud, sometimes from the left, and sometimes from both. It only happens once after stopping the audio, but if I start another sound and then stop it again, the pop sound happens again. This is very annoying.

My Armoury Crate version is 6.1.13.0, and I updated the earbuds' firmware to the latest version on April 1, 2025, via Armoury Crate. However, this issue has been present since the day I bought the earbuds.

Troubleshooting Steps I Have Tried:

I have attempted the following troubleshooting steps, but the issue persists:

• Tried different USB-C ports on my PC.

• Used a USB-A adapter to connect it via both a USB hub and directly to the motherboard’s USB ports.

• Disconnected Bluetooth to ensure no interference.

• Changed multiple settings in Armoury Crate, including:

  • Toggling Surround, Dirac, and other audio enhancements/optimizations on and off.

  • Switching between 16-bit/24-bit and 48kHz/96kHz sample rates.

  • Changing between Flat, Game, and other modes.

  • Enabling and disabling ANC (Active Noise Cancellation).

• Disabled all other audio devices in Windows.

• Toggled Windows audio enhancements on and off.

• Tried enabling/disabling Windows Sonic for Headphones.

Despite trying all these steps, the issue persists. Could you please assist me in resolving this problem?

Best regards.

[BorderEagle]

I also tested the earbuds with a Bluetooth connection, and the issue does NOT occur in Bluetooth mode. The popping sound only happens when using the 2.4GHz connection.

[MEDICROID]

I am also having this issue. I was really hoping these expensive gaming headphones would be better for gaming, but I've been having issues with the audio not being as good as I was hoping, and this popping noise might be my "Wait hold on nevermind" for ASUS products tbh. 

[BorderEagle]

ASUS Support told me that I've tried all the steps they can recommend to me and they suggested me to send it to the repair service. However, I believe it's a software issue according to my new findings; this issue does not occur in "Flat" and "Communication" modes.

Another thing; if Windows sound format is set to 24-bit, regardless of whether it is 48 kHz or 96 kHz, the issue occurs in all modes except "Flat" and "Communication". BUT, when I switch to 16-bit, 48 kHz or 96 kHz, the popping sound does not occur in any profile, even the ones where it usually happens (Game, Music, etc.).

This strongly suggests that the issue is related to how 24-bit audio processing is handled by the firmware or drivers when using 2.4 GHz wireless mode with Armoury Crate profiles.

I hope this helps narrow down the cause for the technical team and i hope they can release an update ASAP.

[BorderEagle]

I had to change 24-bit to 16-bit from Windows Sound Settings, changing it inside Armoury Crate doesn't work.

[MEDICROID]

Does this affect the audio quality?

[BorderEagle]

Not really.

[BorderEagle]

A small update: even when using the 16-bit audio format, the 'pop' sound still occasionally occurs, but this time it doesn't require the audio to stop. It sometimes happens even during playback. I will be sending the earbuds to the authorized ASUS service center to request a repair or replacement.

[BorderEagle · Accepted solution]

An update: I sent the earbuds to the service center, and within just 2 days, they sent me a brand-new unit. Big thanks to Penta Teknoloji for taking such fast action.

I also updated the firmware on the new pair, but unfortunately, the same issue still exists. This suggests that the problem is likely a recurring (possibly widespread) one. I still believe it’s software-related. When you manually select the “Communication” mode in Armoury Crate and enable features like 7.1 surround to match the exact settings of the “Game” mode—even with a 24-bit audio format—the popping issue does not occur. However, if you switch directly to the “Game” mode, the issue reappears.

With this workaround, the earbuds are still usable. I hope my experience helps others who are facing the same issue, and that ASUS eventually resolves it with a software update.

One final note: This might be something specific to my ears, but the earbuds become quite uncomfortable and even painful after about an hour of use. Those planning to use them for extended periods and who prioritize comfort may want to approach with caution. That said, as far as I know, there aren’t many earbuds on the market offering this many features with 7.1 support, so it’s still a rare find.