Bluetooth Skipping.

[teglow]

Is anyone having problems when running with the Apple Watch (without the phone), using Bluetooth Headphones and the music constantly skips?

I'm on my 3rd pair of Bluetooth headphones (current the 66Audio brand) and whenever I start to run, the music skips in and out.

Once I stop running or am stationary, there is no problem?

Just came back from the Genius bar and they wanted to send the watch back to Corporate for diagnostic testing without giving me a temporary replacement?

Thanks.

 

[gppittjk]

Is anyone having problems when running with the Apple Watch (without the phone), using Bluetooth Headphones and the music constantly skips?

I'm on my 3rd pair of Bluetooth headphones (current the 66Audio brand) and whenever I start to run, the music skips in and out.

Once I stop running or am stationary, there is no problem?

Just came back from the Genius bar and they wanted to send the watch back to Corporate for diagnostic testing without giving me a temporary replacement?

Thanks.

I've encountered the same thing. I have only run once, but my music skipped pretty much the whole time. I'm also interested to see if other people are encountering the skipping.

 

[Givmeabrek]

Skips during walking.
Not cool....

 

[Julien]

Skipping???? Is it suing a spinning hard drive or is there a small CD player in there? This is one weird phenomenon to be skipping while moving but fine when standing still.

 

[papbot]

I'm on my 3rd pair of Bluetooth headphones (current the 66Audio brand) and whenever I start to run, the music skips in and out.

Once I stop running or am stationary, there is no problem?


Thanks.

I've tried several different headphones with mine. Some cheap ones and one more expensive one. The cheap ones skip/cut out badly. I do brisk walks out doors when I'm using them. What happens with them walking or running is that ( if you wear the watch on your left wrist ) when your arm comes to the side and even behind your torso your body is actually blocking some of the signal to the headphones. Most headphones have the bluetooth receiver/radio on the right side or earpiece.

My more expensive pair work pretty well but there are still occasional "skips". I haven't tried it but it might be worth it for some of you, if you're not already wearing the watch on the right wrist, to try wearing it there to see if there is any difference. Even using these headphones with phones or iPod type devices many manufactures state the distance between the devices shouldn't be more than two feet and recommend an arm band to keep the device closer to the headphones.

Looking at many reviews of different headphones, some very expensive ones, I haven't found any that had no complaints of skipping when using them with the watch. Some have no issues and some do. There doesn't seem to be anyway to know until you buy a set and try them.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Maybe I was lucky with my first purchase, but I ran on the treadmill with my Jabra Rox yesterday and had no issues. Even on the stair master, I move my arms in big motions and no issues. This is my first ever BT headset of any type and I was expecting to be disappointed (which is why I chose to buy them locally vs online), like ten years ago when wireless headphones were crap and were not ready for market, but this has been a great trial so far. If only the battery life were longer, I'd be saying goodbye to cords altogether.

 

[jmh286]

I don't have a skipping problem, but my music will randomly cut out and I'll have to go in and press play again to restart it. Not sure what could be causing it. It's happened while running and even when I'm doing something simple like mowing the lawn.

 

[papbot]

Maybe I was lucky with my first purchase, but I ran on the treadmill with my Jabra Rox yesterday and had no issues. Even on the stair master, I move my arms in big motions and no issues. This is my first ever BT headset of any type and I was expecting to be disappointed If only the battery life were longer, I'd be saying goodbye to cords altogether.

You'll rarely have a problem with bluetooth headphones indoors. Even my el cheapos worked fine paired to my watch during indoor spin cycle workouts. They have to really be poor ones to give you a problem in a gym. But outdoors the signal gets scattered and arm movements with the watch can cause problems.

Outdoors one of my cheap ones had problems with dropouts from my phone that was in a pocket of a pair of baggy shorts. My better ones haven't had any issues when used with my phone but do occasionally cut out when paired to my watch.

Unfortunately it looks as if it's going to be a matter of trial and error when testing a pair with the watch outdoors. Two of the better, more expensive ones I've read reviews for - Jaybirds Bluebuds X and Powerbeats 2 - get great reviews but I still see some complaints about dropouts. The watch just has a weaker bluetooth radio than the phones and will impact the use of some devices more than others. My phone is almost always with me outdoors so my plan is to just use my headphones paired to it outdoors. Indoors most any headphones will work acceptably with the watch.

 

[gppittjk]

You'll rarely have a problem with bluetooth headphones indoors. Even my el cheapos worked fine paired to my watch during indoor spin cycle workouts. They have to really be poor ones to give you a problem in a gym. But outdoors the signal gets scattered and arm movements with the watch can cause problems.

Outdoors one of my cheap ones had problems with dropouts from my phone that was in a pocket of a pair of baggy shorts. My better ones haven't had any issues when used with my phone but do occasionally cut out when paired to my watch.

Unfortunately it looks as if it's going to be a matter of trial and error when testing a pair with the watch outdoors. Two of the better, more expensive ones I've read reviews for - Jaybirds Bluebuds X and Powerbeats 2 - get great reviews but I still see some complaints about dropouts. The watch just has a weaker bluetooth radio than the phones and will impact the use of some devices more than others. My phone is almost always with me outdoors so my plan is to just use my headphones paired to it outdoors. Indoors most any headphones will work acceptably with the watch.

I figured the Bluetooth transmitter in the watch was to blame. I use a pair of Ares that I got on Amazon last year. I've never had any trouble with the phone - sound doesn't start cutting out until I'm 50 ft or so away re-racking my weights. Running with the watch outdoors, I have had some trouble. But the receiver is likely in the right earpiece, and my watch is on my left wrist. I'll give the right wrist a shot to see if it helps.

If anyone wants a nice, cheap pair (~$45) of Bluetooth headphones, I definitely recommend the Ares. Light as a feather, never fall out, and the shape is similar to that of Apple's EarPods. I can't use the ones that seal into the ear because they always fall out. I've loved these so far. I generally get 4-5 hour-long lifts in before needing to recharge them as well.

 

[Jfc212]

Is anyone having problems when running with the Apple Watch (without the phone), using Bluetooth Headphones and the music constantly skips?

I'm on my 3rd pair of Bluetooth headphones (current the 66Audio brand) and whenever I start to run, the music skips in and out.

Once I stop running or am stationary, there is no problem?

Just came back from the Genius bar and they wanted to send the watch back to Corporate for diagnostic testing without giving me a temporary replacement?

Thanks.

I've had the same problems and as everyone has mentioned on this forum, Bluetooth passing through the body is mainly to blame (big issue with wireless earbud startups)

So my solution was to buy an old iPod nano running armband and put it in it. It's in my arm now right near the earbud Bluetooth transmitter AND I don't have to look dumb wearing two watches now (Garmin for gps). Skipping has stopped.

 

[papbot]

"So my solution was to buy an old iPod nano running armband and put it in it. It's in my arm now right near the earbud Bluetooth transmitter AND I don't have to look dumb wearing two watches now (Garmin for gps). Skipping has stopped."

That's the best solution. In fact many headset manufacturers recommend this in their instruction manuals. If you read closely some actually state there shouldn't be more than 2 feet between the devices out of doors.

Concerning the watch some have resolved the problem by wearing the watch on the wrist that's on the side of the body that the headphone's radio is. Usually the right. But that won't work with all of them. I gave up and just carry my phone outdoors. Indoors I haven't had a problem using the watch.

 

[coorspate]

The Bluetooth radio in the watch is weak. You need headphones with the antenna on the left if that's where you wear your watch. Lg tone pro and powerbeats 2 are two that I have found that work. Apple needs to fix this problem in Apple Watch 2.

 

[papbot]

I don't know about the LGs but the power beats didn't work for me with the watch, it depends on the environment you're in but they definitely aren't worth the money for a 50-50 chance. I found their sound to be poor as well.

I use the Plantronics Backbeat Fit which I've found to have the best sound but outdoors they don't work well with the watch either. So I just use my phone and have no problems. The watch I'm afraid is only going to be acceptable indoors as far as Bluetooth headphones.

 

[jeddouglas]

I have just had my first run using my watch (with no phone) and a set of £15 blue tooth headphones and experienced the skipping problem. Watch is on left wrist, and headphone receiver on right ear so will try wearing watch on right wrist next time. This thread has been very useful for me, thanks to all who have contributed.

 

[paulmeyers42]

Is anyone having problems when running with the Apple Watch (without the phone), using Bluetooth Headphones and the music constantly skips?

I have Jaybird X headphones and have the same problem. The only thing that seems to help is to turn on the headphones after I get out of Bluetooth range from the phone, meaning the Apple Watch is disconnected from the iPhone. I'm not sure why, but this improves the signal reliability significantly for me.

 

[bschora]

Same problem here. New Sport, bought in April 2016. Tried two pair of inexpensive bt headsets, Motorola earphones, and no-brand earbuds. The minute I go outside and walk down the street, music starts stuttering, with watch, playlist loaded on watch, leaving the phone behind. Wear watch on left wrist, the head phones appear to have controls on the right ear. Will play around with this more over coming week.
[doublepost=1470953130][/doublepost]I wish they'd put a wired outlet into the watch.

 

[Torpin]

Is anyone having problems when running with the Apple Watch (without the phone), using Bluetooth Headphones and the music constantly skips?

I'm on my 3rd pair of Bluetooth headphones (current the 66Audio brand) and whenever I start to run, the music skips in and out.

Once I stop running or am stationary, there is no problem?

Just came back from the Genius bar and they wanted to send the watch back to Corporate for diagnostic testing without giving me a temporary replacement?

Thanks.

[doublepost=1480783962][/doublepost]I have the same issue and would love assistance with a solution if anyone has advice. I am using new JayBird freedom earbuds with an AppleWatch 2

 

[TxWatch]

[doublepost=1480783962][/doublepost]I have the same issue and would love assistance with a solution if anyone has advice. I am using new JayBird freedom earbuds with an AppleWatch 2

I have the Plantronics Backbeat Fit BT headset and I had the same problem when I used them on my run. I solved it by wearing my Watch on my right wrist because the receiver on the headset is on the right side of my head. There were several threads on this a while back (mine was one of them) and the theory at the time was the mass of our body/head was too much for the relatively low powered BT radio in the Watch.

After moving my Watch to the same side as the BT receiver on the headset, I am able to run for an entire hour with only an occasional drop out. Most days, I have zero problems.

 

[dgdosen]

Yes...

Skipping or just cutting out? I seem to have the problem mostly in the gym - maybe it's a Bluetooth traffic/interference problem?

One other issue - the battery on my watch and earphones drains like a seive when using them... If I wear my headphones paired to the watch - The battery will hit reserve mode before the day is thru.

This solution is not ideal.
[doublepost=1480788354][/doublepost]

I have Jaybird X headphones and have the same problem. The only thing that seems to help is to turn on the headphones after I get out of Bluetooth range from the phone, meaning the Apple Watch is disconnected from the iPhone. I'm not sure why, but this improves the signal reliability significantly for me.

I usually turn off BT on my phone when I want to use my watch to drive headphones....

 

[SMonroe]

Does it matter which version of Bluetooth you're headphones are using? I have the avantree running headphones with BT V4.1. They seem to work fine with the watch sans iPhone, but I've only used it indoors in that configuration while working out.

When I run I like to have my phone with me. I carry the phone (rather than use an armband) and it's flawless no matter which hand I'm using.

 

[paulmeyers42]

Anyone try the new PowerBeats 3 with the new W1 chip? I've read that it eliminates most skipping but I don't want to spend $200 just to try it out.

 

[dgdosen]

Anyone try the new PowerBeats 3 with the new W1 chip? I've read that it eliminates most skipping but I don't want to spend $200 just to try it out.

I don't know - there's something inside me that will never buy anything from beats. I've seen too much d-baggary from everything in the beats history.

 

[Torpin]

I have an AppleWatch 2 and JayBird Freedom wireless BT earbuds and I do not run with my iPhone - using the music storage on the AppleWatch. I had the same problem with music skipping every 15-20 seconds. Issue is that I wear my watch on the left wrist as is normal for a right-handed person. Normal location for the Jaybird controller/receiver is on the right side of my body and as I typically wear the earbuds over ear the controller is also directly adjacent to me skull. Bluetooth does not work well through any liquids or your body so the solution was to change the JayBird controller location and place it behind my left ear. This way there is no obstruction from the AppleWatch to the JayBird BT receiver. After doing this I have been on several long runs without any skipping . I do wish that Apple and JayBird both provided this information to customer as it would have saved a lot of time and frustration.

 

[TxWatch]

@Torpin

I was not aware you could move the receiver location on the Jaybird headset from one side to the other. It is not possible to move it on the Backbeat Fit, so the easiest solution was to move my Watch to the other wrist. Not ideal, but it works.

 

[Godan02]

Is there any way of finding out which headphones have BT receiver on the LHS?