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Headphones keeps disconnecting

teibaz
over 2 years ago

It's a super frustrating issue and the solution must be included into future updates.

Situation - headphones keeps disconnecting from Epix Gen 2 (had same situation when I was using Fenix 6 Pro before).

During last 12 months I kept changing my headphones because I thought it's a headphone issue. Since then I tested with:

  • Beats Powerbeats Pro (sold, can't test anymore)
  • Jabra 75t
  • Jabra Elite 7 Pro
  • Apple Airpods Pro (2nd gen)
  • Beats Fit Pro - bought just recently a month ago.

All of them working flawlessly with any phone and computer. ONLY they keep disconnecting when I connect them with my Watch. I tried (i think) everything:

  • connect headphones before activity start and only then start running
  • connect headphones during activity
  • disconnect phone, wait a bit, connect headphones before activity
  • disconnect phone, wait a bit, connect headphones during activity
  • connect only left in-ear bud
  • connect only right in-ear bud
  • connect only left in-ear bud and only when I was already running
  • ....

You name it. I tried everything. I can't understand how the *** this issue is not solved by now. BTW, all the time I use Spotify app and download Spotify playlists, so the music I'm trying to play is downloaded from Spotify.

I can enable ANY logging for developers. I am tech guy and would be able to install any non official release, be a beta tester, do whatever it takes but PLEASE solve this issue. Headphones just keeps disconnecting. Sometimes after 10 seconds, sometimes after 15 mins, sometimes after 1 min.. No repeatability. But they are disconnecting ONLY when I am doing outside workout with GPS on. If I'm not doing any activity simply listening to the music - it's working.

It's NOT headphones - that is for sure. I asked my friends if I could use their watches, so I used another Epix Gen 2 and Fenix 7 - same situation. So it's either a HUGE hardware issue (which I doubt because on that case my phone would disconnect as well, but no - it's connected all the time) or it's some sort of software bug.

My guesses (as an ex developer) would be these:

  • Whenever Garmin watch is trying to reach gps + glonass and some accuracy problems occur it tries to somehow restart connectivity services and because of that it disconnects headphones
  • If any of Garmin inner services fail - trying to keep only mandatory services so any additional like headphones simply disconnects
  • Garmin thinks that the headphone is too far away and decides to disconnect (because it tries to save battery - but on my devices battery saving is not enabled)
  • Garmin faces Bluetooth connectivity issues with headphones (maybe headphones changing which ear-bud is the primary one) and don't know how to act so it disconnects. Doubt about that because I wouldn't have any issues if I'm using only one in-ear-bud.

PLEASE, Garmin, reach me out here, directly or in any other way - I will do any testing you want me to do, I will install any debugging tools you want me to install, but let's solve this issue. Thanks

Oh yeah. Forgot to mention. I keep updating my watch firmware. My have beta enrolled. Current version is 13.22. If Garmin team wants, I could provide all the serial numbers for all my devices including this one.

P.S. Contacted support (8th June), chatted for a long time and registered it as a bug. Tried to add all the info about this issue so Garmin could really dig deep into it.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    I received my Epix Pro Saphire 42mm one week ago. Noticed the headphone disconnection issue on the first run. After trying the basic stuff like deleting and re-installing Spotify (did not help) I simply returned the watch and bought a new one. New one does not have the issue at all. It’s the same watch, same software, same headphones (jabra elite 85t), same running track, same playlist and three days apart and the issue just is not there anymore. Which lets me conclude that it is some sort of hardware issue with a bad batch of these watches.

    Having paid roughly 900€ for the watch I just could not be bothered to go deeper into the analysis. Don’t know about your jurisdiction but here in Germany I can send back any online purchase within 14 days without giving a reason and receive full refund. If you experience the Bluetooth Headphone disconnection problems with your Garmin watch, I strongly advise to just return it to Garmin and insist on a replacement watch. For 1000 bucks, suggestions like „wear it on the other wrist“ are unacceptable. I would not even accept this on a 200€ Fitbit. Bluetooth headphone connectivity has been around for a while and any children’s toy has it by now.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Hendrik

    Make sense. I think it's time for me to return the device because after a million times I tried something new I still have this issue and it really pisses me off.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Ok. So today I decided to bring my watch to the warranty service. Will see what they will say to me. I'm super afraid since it's so random that they will give it back saying "it's fine".. But maybe they will detect an issue. Will inform you how it proceeded.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Jeez, this is still a problem on these damn things?  I first experienced this on a Marq and the F6.  Had no problems with the Epix, not really sure about the Pro.

    And I agree on all the half-baked solutions like wearing it on the other wrist.  Not many of us here are going to be 7' tall, the damn thing should work.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    If you search the forums you will unfortunately see this has been a problem for quite some time.  Most believe it has to due with the smaller Bluetooth antenna in the watch or that Garmin makes the transmit rate low to save battery.  I know I’ve had the issue with the some of the same headphones you listed (Beats Fit Pro, AirPod Pro Gen 1 and 2) with my F7, Epix 2 and my Epix Pro.  The best headphones I’ve found that work reliably without a hitch are the Shokz.  Both the Open Run (or Pro) and the new OpenShokz have worked flawlessly for me on many runs.  I know it’s not the answer most folks want of “Garmin fix it” but until they do it’s what has worked for me.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Chuck

    Xiaomi buds kept disconnecting when running. I read somewhere to first connect the bud on the side where you wear the watch, so that it becomes "master" and only then the other bud. Much better after that, but still not perfect.

    On the other hand I have zero issues with cheap Anker headphones and Jabra Active 4.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Hey,
    so a quick update on the issue.

    1. Garmin support did not gave any update on registered issue so far (contacted 8th June, writing this 7th September - 3 months later);
    2. Tried even more scenarios (from beta versions to installing older firmware)
    3. Decided to write full information about an issue and give it to a warranty service on the 26th August;
    4. They decided to replace my epix to a new one on the 5th September.

    Let's make it clear - the only solution is to replace your device. There is no way how to solve it by using it differently, changing headphones or using other firmware versions (trust me - spent A LOT OF time with this issue).

    Only two short runs (up to 40mins) so far but seems that it's working as it should be. For these runs I used same Beats Fit Pro that I bought earlier this year. Seems ok so far. I had several skipped beats, but these where MINOR issues.

    Whats next? Well, seems like the replacement does the job. But will run through all of my headphones and will try to use all of them at least 2 hours during run/ bicycle workouts.

    Not sure if this information would be helpful for anyone but I might post it somewhere, because even myself - I like independent (not sponsored) reviews and it usually impacts my decisions. Since I spent my own money for Epix as well as for a lot of headphones, at least somebody else wouldn't have to do so :) I'm gonna try these:

    • Apple Airpods Pro (2nd gen)
    • Beats Fit Pro
    • Beats Powerbeats Pro
    • Jabra Elite 7 Pro
    • Shokz OpenFit
    • Shokz OpenRun Pro
    • Soundcore Sport X10

    Not sure if I will be able to use Jabra 75T but if I will be able to get them back to life will test them as well.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to teibaz

    It's hard to believe that every device is different on the line. Electronics don't work that way. It either works or it doesn't. My thinking is that it's a software issue.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Skordilovich

    Yet there are gazillion people who post here/elsewhere using the exact same Garmin watch with exact same headphones with vastly different results. And I have personally experienced this myself. Just last year, Garmin replaced my EPIX with another (identical model #) and the second one worked fine with exact same headphones.

    As an engineer, I believe the explanation comes down to the tolerances in manufacturing and of individual electronic components (computer chips). Garmin's design heavily optimized to maximize battery life which puts everything just so "close to the line" that a few fractional tolerance points here or there can be enough to work vs not work.

    My solution?  I use Shokz and have NEVER had ANY issues (except with that EPIX that got replaced) and I currently own EPIX, EPIX Pro, multiple ForeRunners, and other Garmins. Besides the Shokz, I have tried many other wireless buds (Jabra, Apple, Samsung) and all of those had issues (with same Garmin watch that works fine with Shokz).