HomePod 2nd Gen distorted sound after 2 days

Hi,

since a couple of days I experience some issue with 2 HomePods 2nd Gen. Both are in a stereo pair and having iOS 18 installed. After approx. 2 days, both are starting to create a distorted sound during audio playback. Stopping and starting the playback does not solve the issue. Only restarting the HomePods stops the audio distortion, until they start again after 2 days.

The distorted audio is produced from both of them. Sometimes the distortion jumps back and forth between both, or they are doing it in parallel.

If I use AirPlay with other HomePods, then it usually starts the way, that a delay in the audio playback between the HomePods is starting. Shortly after this, the distorted sound happens.

I did not experienced the "popping sound", where a couple of HomePod Gen 1 were affected in the past.

Has someone experienced a similar issue, or is there maybe already a community thread about this issue which I missed?

Unfortunately, I cannot attach the audio capture I have.

Thanks a lot in advance for feedback/ideas.