Sena and Cardo aren’t the only Bluetooth headset brands out there. While their products are probably the most well-known out there in the community, other cheaper brands are worth mentioning. One such brand is Fodsports. Their headsets excel in intercom functionality, but some other features offer lower quality to hit the affordable price tag. In our Fodsports FX6 review, learn all that is right and wrong with this affordable Bluetooth headset!”
Table of Contents
Fodsports FX6 Review – Main Features
If you are in a rush, here is a breakdown of all the main features of the Fodsports FX6 headset!
- Weighs 40g
- Bluetooth 5.0 technology
- Intercom support for 6 people
- 0,62 miles (1 kilometer) of range
- IPX5 waterproof rating
- Noise cancellation
- Built-in FM radio
- 10 hours of talk time
- 200 hours of standby
Without further ado, let’s begin our Fodsports FX6 review!
Design & Installation
At 40g of weight, the Fodsports FX6 Bluetooth headset is designed to feel light. The unit weighs so as it is made entirely of plastic. Some people have reported that it can break when mounting on the helmet, but thankfully, that didn’t happen to us.
The Bluetooth unit itself has a jog dial that dominates its design. It is designed so that you can use it with a gloved hand, a welcome addition for all serious motorcyclists. Other than that, there is an On/Off button, which, other than its obvious purpose, serves as a pair mode toggle.
What else do you get in the Fodsports FX6 packaging? You get:
- Clamp
- Velcro clamp
- Soft and hard microphone
- 40mm speakers
- Velcro for headphones
- USB cable
- Screwdriver for clamp
You can mount the headset either with the plastic clamp or with the Velcro clamp. We advise you to use the plastic clamp, as the Velcro clamp is quite unreliable. Setting up the headset is easy enough. Just keep in mind that the plastic clamp isn’t securely built like Cardo or Sena headsets.
Bluetooth Pairing
Fodsports FX6 motorcycle helmet Bluetooth headset is powered by Bluetooth 5.0 technology, making data transfer faster than before. This translates into high compatibility with non-Fodsports brands, making the FX6 a universal motorcycle communication system.
Still, there are issues when trying to connect to non-Fodsports Bluetooth headsets. Sometimes, pairing will work like a charm, and sometimes it will struggle to connect after repeated tries.
When pairing with other Bluetooth communication systems, ensure that the Fodsports FX6 Bluetooth communication system should initiate the pairing to have fewer problems. The procedure is quite simple:
- First, press the On/Off button for at least 7 seconds to trigger the search for other headsets (you will see blue and red LED lights blinking).
- Once connected, you will hear the “Intercom Connected” voice prompt.
Pairing with smartphones is quite simple with the Fodsports FX6 motorcycle Bluetooth headset:
- Press and hold the On/Off button for 6 seconds
- You will hear the “Pairing” sound prompt and blue and red LED flashes
- On your phone’s Bluetooth settings, find the FX6 headset and pair with it
When paired with your smartphone, you can use several functions, such as:
- Play music, adjust volume and switch songs
- Answer and hang up calls
- Do automatic call answer
- Reject calls
- Use voice dial functions
Connection Range
Fodsports FX6 supports a maximum of 6 riders in one intercom session. Keep in mind that this means all users in one Bluetooth intercom session can talk simultaneously.
First of all, the maximum intercom range between six riders is 0,62 miles (1 kilometer). This translates into 0,12 miles (200 meters) of range in one-to-one intercom.
If looking for double the intercom range for a budget price, check out our Fodsports M1S Pro Bluetooth headset review!
The good thing is that you can automatically reconnect into the intercom group if you get out of range within 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, just press the intercom button once to reconnect.
It’s not the best when it comes to the intercom connection range, but it’s still decent, especially when you consider the low price of this Bluetooth headset.
Sound Quality
In this section of our Fodsports FX6 review, we will talk about the speakers and microphone sound quality.
When it comes to its 40mm speakers, they provide okay audio quality but leave something to be desired. This is mainly due to the lackluster bass of these speakers, which is practically non-existent. The good thing is that the sound will be audible up to 120 km/h (75 mph) speeds, which will mostly depend on your helmet’s sound isolation properties.
One great thing about FX6’s speakers is the utilization of the CVC noise cancellation technology. It helps block out ambient and background noise so you can hear your companions or your music with crystal clear clarity.
Sadly, the included speakers don’t feature audio multitasking. That means phone calls will take you out of intercom sessions, and the same will happen when listening to music.
At least the microphone is high-quality, with wind isolation to provide more audio clarity for your intercom companions.
Voice Control
Let’s get one thing straight – the Fodsports FX6 has no dedicated voice command system. The only way to utilize voice commands with this Bluetooth headset is by connecting to your smartphone assistant.
When you try connecting to your phone assistant, the problem occurs as you need to double-press the jog dial button to trigger the phone voice assistant (Siri or Google Assistant). This can be overridden with the FM radio toggle function, making things a bit complicated.
To solve the above problem, make sure that you turn on the voice assistant by the double-tap right after you pair it with your phone.
Additional Features
In this part of our Fodsports FX6 review, we will discuss some of its additional features!
FM Radio
Like most other Bluetooth headsets, the Fodsports FX6 Bluetooth headset features an integrated FM radio. It’s fairly basic and doesn’t provide you with the ability to save stations, as there is no integrated voice command feature.
Water Resistant or Waterproof?
At least Fodsport cares about the durability of its FX6 Bluetooth unit. It has the IPX5 waterproof rating, which means it was tested under low-pressure water spray and passes the test.
So, if you are looking for a durable motorcycle Bluetooth headset for heavy rain conditions, you can use the Fodsports FX6 confidently in such conditions.
Battery Life
Fodsports FX6 headset comes with a 500 mAh Lithium-Polymer battery. One charge can withstand 10 hours of usage, which implies talking on the intercom or streaming music. Also, one battery charge can withstand 200 hours of standby time.
It’s relatively good battery life, considering the low price tag of this Bluetooth headset. Keep in mind that you can charge it as you ride, which is a welcome feature.
Price
As this is not a Bluetooth headset made by well-known companies like Sena or Cardo, we expected a lower price tag. And we definitely got it, as the Fodsports FX6 headset costs $80/€66/£79, which is quite a small price to pay. For a double pack, expect to pay $150/€123/£153.
Yes, it may have some flaws, but at least the price tag is realistic when you consider the flaws have to do with sound quality and the lack of real voice control functionality.
Summing Up
Now that we are at the end of our Fodsports FX6 review, what do we think of this highly affordable Bluetooth headset?
First of all, the main selling factor of this Bluetooth headset is definitely its low price. You can easily get a double pack for the price of one premium Bluetooth headset. But is it worth getting over 2-3 times more expensive headsets? It depends on what you are looking for in a motorcycle Bluetooth headset.
If looking for high-quality audio or robust voice control features, avoid this headset, as the speaker sound quality is average, and there is no dedicated voice control system.
But, if you want a reliable intercom, this headset has got you covered with support for six riders in one group, universal headset support, and a maximum range of 0,62 miles (1 kilometer). Yes, there are some connectivity issues, but nothing that can’t get solved with some patience.
Also, this Bluetooth headset passes waterproof ratings, something that Sena headsets don’t have the luxury of showing.
Overall, for a sub-$100 price, the Fodsports FX6 is quite a good headset, if you can overlook some of its faults.
Look into our Bluetooth headsets review section for more in-depth reviews of the various motorcycle Bluetooth communicators!
It supports voice command.