The ION Pathfinder Bluetooth Portable Speaker is a versatile audio device that delivers exceptional sound quality and performance. This user guide provides comprehensive instructions on how to use the speaker and maximize its features. The package includes the Pathfinder speaker, a microphone with cable, a 1/8” stereo aux cable, a power cable, a quick start guide, and a safety and warranty manual. The guide covers topics such as battery usage and care, outdoor use and care, quick setup, connection diagram, features, and troubleshooting. Users can visit ionaudio.com for the latest information about the product, including system requirements and compatibility information. The guide also includes step-by-step instructions on how to pair a Bluetooth device using NFC, and how to troubleshoot common issues such as distorted sound and poor reception. With proper usage and treatment, the rechargeable lead-acid battery can last for years. The ION Pathfinder Bluetooth Portable Speaker is an ideal choice for music enthusiasts who seek a high-quality audio experience both indoors and outdoors.
ION Pathfinder Bluetooth Portable Speaker
Introduction
Box Contents
- Pathfinder
- Microphone with Cable
- 1/8” (3.5 mm) Stereo Aux Cable
- Power Cable
- Quickstart Guide
- Safety & Warranty Manual
Support
For the latest information about this product (system requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and product registration, visit ionaudio.com.
Rechargeable Batteries
Rechargeable lead-acid batteries are the same type used in automobiles. As with your car battery, how you use this battery has a significant impact on its lifespan. With proper use and treatment, a lead-acid battery can last for years. Here are some recommendations for getting the longest life from the internal battery.
General Usage: Fully charge the battery before using it.
Charge the battery completely after each use.
Storage: For best product longevity, do not store at exceedingly hot (greater than 90°F/32°C) or exceedingly cold (less than 32°F/0°C) temperatures.
It is acceptable to leave your sound system plugged in. This will not overcharge the battery.
If you leave the battery level low and do not charge it for 6 months, it may permanently lose capacity.
Repair: If the battery fails to charge, check your fuse near the power cable input. If your fuse is intact and it still will not charge, contact ION Audio at ionaudio.com.
Disposal: Bring the unit to a recycling center or dispose of in accordance with local ordinances.
Outdoor Use and Care
Though Pathfinder is water-resistant and able to tolerate splashing water, please
review the tips below to get the best performance from Pathfinder:
- Pathfinder must only be used outdoors with power outlets or extension cords that are rated for outdoor use.
- Bring Pathfinder indoors during extreme weather.
- Please do not place Pathfinder in standing water.
- Please do not connect the power cable to Pathfinder in a wet environment. Make sure the power input, power cable, and power outlet are all completely dry before making any connections.
- WARNING: Keep any non-water-resistant devices (phones, music players, etc.) in a dry place where they will not be affected by water and cause a risk of electric shock.
Quick Setup
- Make sure all items listed in the are included in the box.
- Read the Safety & Warranty Manual before using the product.
- Make sure the battery is completely charged prior to first use for maximum battery life.
- Study the
- Ensure the Master Volume on Pathfinder is at zero.
- Connect your devices.
- Raise the volume to a comfortable level.
- Return the Master Volume to zero when you are finished using Pathfinder.
Connection Diagram
Items not listed under are sold separately.
Features
- Power Button: Turns Pathfinder on or Please note that while Pathfinder is connected to a power source, it does not need to be powered on to charge the battery. When the power is on, the display will show the power indicator.
- Bluetooth Button: Press the Bluetooth button to disconnect a paired Bluetooth device.
- Light Mode Button: Press this button to select how the lights on the front panel function:
- White: The lights are lit solidly
- Color Cycle: The lights slowly glow and cycle through Press and hold the light mode button to freeze the lights on one color.
- Beat Sync: The lights react to the beat of the
- Off: The lights turn This is the default mode when Pathfinder is first powered on.
- Radio Selector: This button sets the Radio to AM, FM, or turns the radio
- AM/FM Presets: Store a favorite radio station and quickly tune to a preset radio station. There are 6 numeric positions to store AM band presets and 6 numeric positions to store FM band To add a preset:
- Select either the AM or FM band and then use the Tune/Track Buttons buttons to select the desired radio station.
- Press and hold a numeric preset button to assign the current station to that preset The display will show “SAVE” to show the station has been saved. To use an added preset, tap a preset number once lightly to go to the stored radio station.
- Tune/Track Buttons: Tap these buttons to tune in a radio station or go to the previous/next track on a Bluetooth connected device. To “seek” (jump to the next available station), hold either button down for a few seconds until it starts to seek a station. The unit will remember the last station it was on and start at that station when powered off and on
- Play/Pause: Press to play or pause a track from a connected Bluetooth
- Display: Displays the current radio station, battery status, and Bluetooth
- Charging Indicator: When the power cable is connected, movement of the top battery segment shows the battery is When fully charged, all battery segments will be lit without blinking. When the power cable is disconnected, the battery segment shows the level of the battery.
- Lightning Bolt Icon: The lightning bolt icon will illuminate when the IEC power cable is connected to wall power.
- Bluetooth Icon: The Bluetooth icon will not be lit when Pathfinder is first powered on (unless it was previously paired with a device). The Bluetooth icon will be lit solid when a device is paired to
- Power Indicator: The power indicator (radio display decimal point) will be lit when Pathfinder is powered The power indicator will not be lit when Pathfinder is powered off.
- Master Volume Control: This adjusts the speaker’s main mix volume, which includes the Microphone Input, Auxiliary Input, Radio, and the audio of a paired Bluetooth device.
- Microphone Input with Volume Control (1/4”): This mono input accepts a 1/4” (6.35 mm) input such as a microphone, guitar, or other musical instrument.
- Auxiliary Input: This stereo 1/8” (3.5 mm) input can be used to connect a CD player, MP3 player, or other audio
- USB Charging Ports: Connect your device’s charge cable here to charge it. USB charging only functions when the unit’s power is turned
- Power Cable Input (Back Panel): Insert the included power cable here to charge the unit. Note that the Pathfinder can be used with the power cable while it simultaneously charges the
Pairing a Bluetooth Device
- Turn on your Bluetooth device.
- Power on Pathfinder. If you have previously connected to another Bluetooth device, Pathfinder will reconnect. To disconnect pairing if the Bluetooth icon is lit solid, press and release the Bluetooth button.
- Navigate to your Bluetooth device’s setup screen, find “Pathfinder” and connect.
- To disconnect pairing while the Bluetooth icon is lit solid, press and release the Bluetooth button.
- To connect to another Bluetooth device, repeat step 3.
Pairing a Bluetooth Device Using NFC
NFC (near-field communication) allows data exchange from devices, such as pairing, by gently bumping them together. Check in your device’s manual to see if this feature is supported.
To use NFC to pair with Pathfinder:
- In order to use NFC, your device must be turned on and unlocked.
- Enter your device’s Settings menu and check that NFC is turned On (one time step).
- Power on Pathfinder.
- Touch and briefly hold your device to the NFC logo.
- Follow the pairing instructions that appear on your phone. If a passcode is required, enter “0000”.
- To unpair, gently bump your device against the NFC logo located on Pathfinder’s top panel.
Troubleshooting
If the sound is distorted: Try lowering the volume control of your sound source, musical instrument, or microphone. Also, try to reduce the overall volume of Pathfinder using the Master Volume knob.
If there is too much bass: Try adjusting the tone or EQ control on your sound source to lower the bass level. This will allow you to play the music louder before clipping (distortion) occurs.
If there is a high-pitched whistling noise when using microphones: This is probably feedback. Point the microphone away from the speaker.
If there is poor AM reception: To adjust AM reception, move entire unit.
If you can’t hear the microphone over the music volume: Turn down the music volume from your source.
If you can’t play music from a flash drive: The USB port is only for charging USB devices
SPECIFICATION
| Product | ION Pathfinder Bluetooth Portable Speaker |
|---|---|
| Box Contents | Pathfinder, Microphone with Cable, 1/8” (3.5 mm) Stereo Aux Cable, Power Cable, Quickstart Guide, Safety & Warranty Manual |
| Support | Visit ionaudio.com for the latest information about the product (system requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and product registration. |
| Rechargeable Batteries | Rechargeable lead-acid batteries |
| General Usage | Fully charge the battery before using it. Charge the battery completely after each use. |
| Storage | Do not store at exceedingly hot (greater than 90°F/32°C) or exceedingly cold (less than 32°F/0°C) temperatures. It is acceptable to leave your sound system plugged in. If you leave the battery level low and do not charge it for 6 months, it may permanently lose capacity. |
| Repair | If the battery fails to charge, check your fuse near the power cable input. If your fuse is intact and it still will not charge, contact ION Audio at ionaudio.com. |
| Disposal | Bring the unit to a recycling center or dispose of in accordance with local ordinances. |
| Outdoor Use and Care | Pathfinder must only be used outdoors with power outlets or extension cords that are rated for outdoor use. Bring Pathfinder indoors during extreme weather. Please do not place Pathfinder in standing water. Please do not connect the power cable to Pathfinder in a wet environment. Keep any non-water-resistant devices (phones, music players, etc.) in a dry place where they will not be affected by water and cause a risk of electric shock. |
| Quick Setup | Make sure all items listed in the Box Contents are included in the box. Read the Safety & Warranty Manual before using the product. Make sure the battery is completely charged prior to first use for maximum battery life. Study the Connection Diagram. Ensure the Master Volume on Pathfinder is at zero. Connect your devices. Raise the volume to a comfortable level. Return the Master Volume to zero when you are finished using Pathfinder. |
| Features | Power Button, Bluetooth Button, Light Mode Button, Radio Selector, AM/FM Presets, Tune/Track Buttons, Play/Pause, Display, Charging Indicator, Lightning Bolt Icon, Bluetooth Icon, Power Indicator, Master Volume Control, Microphone Input with Volume Control (1/4”), Auxiliary Input, USB Charging Ports, Power Cable Input (Back Panel) |
| Pairing a Bluetooth Device | Turn on your Bluetooth device. Power on Pathfinder. Navigate to your Bluetooth device’s setup screen, find “Pathfinder” and connect. If your Bluetooth device prompts for a pairing code, enter “0000”. Maximum range will be achieved when using devices with Bluetooth 4.0 or higher. |
| Pairing a Bluetooth Device Using NFC | Enter your device’s Settings menu and check that NFC is turned On. Power on Pathfinder. Touch and briefly hold your device to the NFC logo. Follow the pairing instructions that appear on your phone. If a passcode is required, enter “0000”. To unpair, gently bump your device against the NFC logo located on Pathfinder’s top panel. |
| Troubleshooting | If the sound is distorted, try lowering the volume control of your sound source, musical instrument, or microphone. If there is too much bass, try adjusting the tone or EQ control on your sound source to lower the bass level. If there is a high-pitched whistling noise when using microphones, point the microphone away from the speaker. If there is poor AM reception, move entire unit. If you can’t hear the microphone over the music volume, turn down the music volume from your source. If you can’t play music from a flash drive, the USB port is only for charging USB devices. |
FAQS
Can I charge USB devices using the ION Pathfinder Bluetooth Portable Speaker?
Yes, you can charge USB devices by connecting your device’s charge cable to the USB charging ports on the speaker. However, note that the USB port is only for charging USB devices and cannot play music from a flash drive.
How can I troubleshoot poor AM reception on the ION Pathfinder Bluetooth Portable Speaker?
To adjust AM reception, move entire unit.
What should I do if the sound is distorted on the ION Pathfinder Bluetooth Portable Speaker?
Try lowering the volume control of your sound source, musical instrument, or microphone. Also, try to reduce the overall volume of Pathfinder using the Master Volume knob.
How do I pair a Bluetooth device with the ION Pathfinder Bluetooth Portable Speaker?
Turn on your Bluetooth device. Power on Pathfinder. If you have previously connected to another Bluetooth device, Pathfinder will reconnect. To disconnect pairing if the Bluetooth icon is lit solid, press and release the Bluetooth button. Navigate to your Bluetooth device’s setup screen, find “Pathfinder” and connect. Note: If your Bluetooth device prompts for a pairing code, enter “0000”. To disconnect pairing while the Bluetooth icon is lit solid, press and release the Bluetooth button. To connect to another Bluetooth device, repeat step 3.
Can the ION Pathfinder Bluetooth Portable Speaker be used outdoors?
Yes, it can be used outdoors. However, it must only be used outdoors with power outlets or extension cords that are rated for outdoor use. Bring Pathfinder indoors during extreme weather. Please do not place Pathfinder in standing water. Please do not connect the power cable to Pathfinder in a wet environment. Make sure the power input, power cable, and power outlet are all completely dry before making any connections.
How can I get the longest life from the internal battery of the ION Pathfinder Bluetooth Portable Speaker?
Fully charge the battery before using it. Charge the battery completely after each use. For best product longevity, do not store at exceedingly hot (greater than 90°F/32°C) or exceedingly cold (less than 32°F/0°C) temperatures. It is acceptable to leave your sound system plugged in. This will not overcharge the battery. If you leave the battery level low and do not charge it for 6 months, it may permanently lose capacity.
What is included in the box of the ION Pathfinder Bluetooth Portable Speaker?
The box includes the Pathfinder speaker, a microphone with cable, a 1/8” stereo aux cable, a power cable, a quick start guide, and a safety and warranty manual.
