Fitbit Ionic Bluetooth headphone problems?

[Tunah85]

I just purchased a set of HBQ-i7s Bluetooth earbuds (knock off air pods).  They work great with my phone's bluetooth, and the sound quality is fine, but when I sync them with my Fitbit IONIC I get horribly crackly music, and the earbuds are out of sync - even playing at different rates!

I know it isn't the earbuds themselves as they play fine on every other device I connect to.

Is this a common problem with Fitbit Ionic's Bluetooth?

[Glennsfit]

I have a similar problem but I get more dropouts/ music loses connection for 1/2 sec every 2 to 3 sec or randomly every 30sec 40sec. I do find it’s worse with GPS enabled. I’m still doing some testing 

[fishaire]

I have the same issue. I went to the gym and used my headphones with no issue. When I went for a run this morning and had the GPS enabled, it kept cutting out unless i held my Ionic closer to the BT receiver. This set of headphones has the receiver on the right and my Ionic is on my left wrist.

[Badrobot]

I'm having the same issue, seems like the Bluetooth connection isn't strong enough. When the ionic is closer to the headphones it works great. 

[fishaire]

My headphones have the receiver on the right side and I wear my watch on left. I switch to having my Ionic on my right wrist when running and haven't had issues since. Thanks!

[Badrobot]

Mine too, and that does work, but I shouldn't have to switch wrists just to make the music work, it's not very smart, and it isn't an issue for other devices! Hopefully they will fix it, until then I'll likely keep switching wrists or just use the phone (strapped to my left arm!)

[estela_edelle]

I have the same issue. My Fitbit Flyer headphones work perfectly well with my iphone but terribly bad with my Ionic. Music all chopped and crackly when I move. If this works only when standing still.... there is no point to have music in the Ionic. At first I thought it was only while tracking my walk (which again what is the point of all the features if you cannot use them together....) but now is every time when I walk or move around. I reset the ionic, charged it full, also full charge in flyer and still working poorly...

[Freedawg72]

I have the exact same problem.  Thought it was the cheaper headphones, but it’s obviously not the headphones. 

Fitbit, these are $300!!!  Fix this!!!!

[estela_edelle]

Nobody seems to care much in Fitbit about the problem

Sent from my iPhone

[DrVenkman]

The same here...

I tried my Airpods - crackling sound plus you can't even change volume with Airpods.

Beats x - crackling sound

It's really getting frustrating to find a working Smartwatch with good fitness features...

[Shazbot75]

 Same problem here, very very disappointing. I even returned a new Bluetooth headset as I thought they were the problem. Same issue with the replacement pair and have now discovered that the crackle goes away when I put my wrist closer to my buds (which is rediculous, I'm not going to run/cycle with one hand next to my head). 

[Tara0137]

Yes, I am having same issue.  Extremely frustrating!  I have a pr of Bluetooth headphones that I can wear in the pool.  I can set my iPod on the pool deck and go halfway across the pool and still has great sound-doesn't cut out at all.  I use the same headphones with my Ionic and can't even have my hands at my side without the music cutting out with every swing of my hand.  

I really can't believe how bad of a Bluetooth connection this watch has. 

Moderator Edit: Format

[SunsetRunner]

Does the same with Jaybird x3 and JBL Reflect those are nice quality BT headphones and works well with a basic AGPTEK mp3 player and not on a 300$ smartwatch, so many issues Fitbit it is getting ridiculous

Moderator Edit: Format

[Ryan13]

Curious about this too.  I posted before and didn't get anything.  I have the new JBL Reflect Contour 2's.  Great headphones all around.  10 hour battery life, great sound, etc.  They work perfectly with my Galaxy.  But on my Ionic, I get crackling all the time.  More when i'm active but sometimes even while just sitting.

I have the bluetooth connection on the same side as my Ionic.  I've tried re-starting, etc.  Is this isolated or is this a regular issue?  I'm wondering if it's just my Ionic or if this really is an ongoing problem.

[Naomijoy83]

This ridiculous!! 

We pay $500 for this fitbit because its sports and has the biggest feature of storing music to use with BT headphones but then doesn't bloody work! ! 

I also took back my Plantronics BT headphones as I thought they were the problem. New set had same issues with music crackling,  breaking up.  Even if I was standing still!

Moderator Edit: Word Choice

[SantiR · Accepted solution]

@SunsetRunner @Ryan13 @Naomijoy83 It's great to see you in the Fitbit Community! Thanks for reporting the situation you are experiencing with connectivity between Bluetooth headphones and Ionic.

I'd recommend trying the following:

• Unpair headphones from Ionic.
• Restart Ionic.
• Pair headphones back. 

This has helped other users in the past. If after doing that you keep experiencing the same; please try wearing Ionic on the other wrist while listening to music. Sometimes, the Bluetooth signal will get interrupted by some factors like range, other Bluetooth devices around and environment. Changing Ionic from wrists has helped other users in the past. 

Try this out and let me know how it goes! 

[Badrobot]

Seriously? Bluetooth works with my phone over a much further distance than one side of my body to the other, and it works works through walls, are you really suggesting that wearing the watch on another wrist is the way to go?? It's an issue that needs to be fixed. Restarting and repairing doesn't work .

This will likely be the last Fitbit I own, especially as I'm now waiting for a replacement because I went for a swim with the supposedly waterproof watch. Product quality is a joke, are these even tested?!

[SantiR]

@Badrobot Welcome to the Fitbit family! Thanks for your reply and for sharing your feedback. It's unfortunate to hear that situation with Ionic, but I'm glad to hear you are getting a replacement unit.

Yes, I am recommending that as I've seen users having this sorted by doing that. You should try that out and let me know how it goes! Hopefully, the new unit won't have any trouble with Bluetooth connection with your headphones.

Also, once you receive the new unit, please follow these replacement set up steps for you to not loose any of your previous data. 

Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes with your new unit! 

[Naomijoy83]

So I guess I'll have to replace my Iconic as well then to even see if the problem will be fixed 😡

Replaced my BT headphones, followed the instructions above and you know where I got a decent signal to listen to music using the Fitbit Iconic??!!

Tied to my singlet strap on my shoulder! 

Even still only got about 80% signal, still cutting in and out!

Absolutely useless for the whole point of the Fitbit Iconic of listening to music while jogging/ working out AND tracking my heart rate. 

I hope you guys are fixing this problem and there will be a full replacement for everyone who bought this faulty item.

[EwaT.]

I followed your advise. I restartet my Ionic, unpaired the Flyer from my Android, so the Flyer is only connected to my Ionic now. It helped for the quality of Bluetooth connection. Before that I couldn´t even turn my hand without losing the signal and music cracking. So... thanks 🙂

On the other hand, my Android cant "se" my Flyer, but it´s just a minor problem.