Music on my Versa sounds distorted through headphones

[JessicaMayGates]

Ok I have looked at various threads on this topic but not managed to fix mine with any of the “solutions” on them. 

I have a fitbit versa SE and the music quality through my Bluetooth headphones is absolutely appalling! The pitch is wrong and it’s fussy like a bad radio signal. 

This was a new set of headphones so first I though it must be the headphones so I tested with my phone but they worked perfect with my phone. I then got my phone to forget the headphones and tried repeatedly reset and unpairing and repairing my versa and headphones. I’ve tried having the receiver and watch on the same side and different sides. NOTHING I have read so far as a solution is working. I’ve even read on one thread that Fitbit were saying it wasn’t a watch problem it was just one of those things with Bluetooth. Which considering these headphones work perfect with my phone my son’s phone and my tablet it most certainly IS at Fitbit versa problem. Has anyone got any other fixes for this please?

Moderator edit: Subject for clarity 

[Noddyboy]

Fitbit surely has tested various earbuds with the Versa. This problem is
going to push a lot of people over to the Apple watch.

[JessicaMayGates]

I certainly wouldn’t recommend a Versa to anyone right now that’s for sure! My mum was asking me about mine the other day as I have the rose gold SE version which she thought looked really nice and I told her not to waste her money because it’s not fully functional.

[JuanJoFitbit]

@Cerulebutterfly @JessicaMayGates @Westerly @Noddyboy Thank you for getting back! I'm sorry to hear that you are still experiencing this issue.

I'd like you to perform one more workaround, which consists in doing a factory reset. To do so, on your device open the Settings app > About > Factory Reset or Clear User Data. Once you've done this, set up your trackers as new devices.

Our team is aware of this and are actively working on a fix. I appreciate your patience and let me know if you have any doubts.

[Noddyboy]

Won’t a factory reset or clear user data erase all of the music I loaded
onto my Versa?

[JessicaMayGates]

This is not a work around at all. I just spent nearly an hour erasing and then completely setting up my Versa from scratch and transferring music to it only for what a surprise I pair my headphone and the music quality is still terrible! It doesn’t fix it! Once again I have wasted my time trying a “fix” that isn’t a fix! Please Fitbit get this sorted because it’s been months and my Versa still can’t do the things it is advertised to do! 

[Westerly]

Hi JuanJoFitbit, in my post I shared that my Versa Watch music can play perfectly with other Earphones (not the ones I bought). My Earphones work perfectly on iOS, MacOS and Android. So, the advice to reset the watch is surprising to me. Is it not a Bluetooth compatibility issue between the versions of Bluetooth Classic/BLE on Versa (4.0) and my Earphones (4.2)? Technically this should be a straightforward problem to test and isolate. Has this been done?

[JessicaMayGates]

It would be very useful to know if a certain Bluetooth version is more reliable than others. Fitbit flyer headphones seem to be 4.2. (One of my headphone sets appear to be 4.1 and another 4.2 so in theory the 4.2 should work if we are to assume the Fitbit flyer headphones work with the Versa). I haven’t tested any 4.0 headphones with my Versa yet but I don’t really want to buy a third set of headphones unless it will actually fix the issue which I’m starting to think will just never be fixed. 

[Noddyboy]

I did a factory reset and set up my versa again. I then reloaded my music on to the Versa. I also updated to OS 3.0 which I think is the latest. The sound is still the same. Choppy and garbled. Bluetooth should work with any earbuds. If I could I would return this and get my money back. Frustrated!

[Westerly]

I returned my Audiofly earbuds and managed to get credit for what I paid and bought Plantronics BackBeat Fit2100. They work perfectly. The new earbuds are Bluetooth v5.0. 7 hours listen time. They fit better and have a more robust design and the earbuds stay in the ears. So, I had to pay more for these, but think it will be worth it. They pair easily as well on my Android phone, iPad and MacBook. The assistant in the shop said they have had a few returns of Bluetooth earbuds that don't work with Versa....

[Noddyboy]

These are all expensive earbuds. Aren’t there any inexpensive earbuds that
work with the Versa?

[Westerly]

I've returned the Plantronics BackBeat FIT 2100. They had a charging issue that renders them unusable. So, yes, further expense sees me now with Bose Soundsport. New but two year old Bluetooth v4.0. They play music from Versa beautifullly. Better bass and more comfortable than the others. However, bocks out ambient sound. The feature of the Plantronics was that you could hear a car before it hit you! Anyhow, for what it is worth, I am posting this on my expensive Bluetooth journey, where the earphones have now cost more than the Fitbit Versa Pay Watch itself!

[JessicaMayGates]

And even when I contacted Fitbit customer services directly about the issue and went through all the steps they requested, they just say it’s being looked into thanks for my patience. Which isn’t really the sort of help you expect for a fitness tracker that costs over £100 

[JuanJoFitbit]

@Noddyboy @JessicaMayGates @Westerly Thank you guys for troubleshooting this issue. I know how frustrating this is for you. However, our team is currently looking and working on this issue. Once a solution is released, we'll make sure to post it in the Community.

[JessicaMayGates]

I think we’d all be less frustrated if it hadn’t already been months with this issue without a solution or clarification on compatible headphones from Fitbit. 

[JuanJoFitbit]

@JessicaMayGates I understand how you feel about this and I really appreciate your feedback since this helps us to keep improving.

[SunsetRunner]

Has fitbit come up with a solution to this problem yet? Purchased my Versa the other day, only to find out that the music is distorted and unclear through my bluetooth headphones. Have tried everything that is recommended in this thread. Thanks 

[JessicaMayGates]

No they haven’t. It’s disgusting that they continue to sell them without offering solutions or exchanges etc. They can’t even offer a list of compatible headphones. So people are either buying several and trying them until they get lucky or being unable to use the music feature. I’ve even logged an actually support request and just got told that they were looking into it and sorry for the inconvenience. I’ve been telling people not to buy them. 

[Pmubata]

It's nearing the end of July and I just bought this watch, disappointed since this was the feature I needed most. This issue should have been fixed since it popped up a year and a half ago, yet even with the software updates there is no solution?

Edit: Someone reviewed that these headphones worked with the Versa watch, haven't tried them yet but they're $19.98 on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DXQTCQL/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

It's just as Wesley mentioned before: the Versa will only work with certain Bluetooth versions. Bluetooth 4.0 and above is a confirmed yes for me after trying a different pair of headphones. The link above is a cheap alternative to what you guys might be using right now.

[JessicaMayGates]

Honestly the fact that they can't address this issue and haven't fixed it yet is horrific and I won't be buying a fitbit again. I think I will be getting an apple watch or similar instead because I've been so disappointed by the versa. I've owned fitbits for years and years and they've always been great. Until now. The versa is just a massive let down.

[Picus]

I have some Anker SoundBuds Slim+ with my Versa. They sound OK. Only $30 at Amazon. Not the best but they do the job.