The ION Audio ExplorerTM Express is a portable, water-resistant
Bluetooth speaker designed for outdoor use. It has a rechargeable
battery that provides up to 30 hours of playtime. In this user
guide, you will find information on how to set up and use your
ExplorerTM Express.

Box Contents

When you purchase the ION Audio ExplorerTM Express, you will
find the following items in the box:

ExplorerTM Express speaker
Power adapter
Auxiliary cable
User guide

Support

If you need technical support or have questions about your
product, visit ionaudio.com/support for documentation, technical
specifications, compatibility information, and product
registration. You can also find additional product support on this
website.

SETUP

Charging and Battery Information

Before using your ION Audio ExplorerTM Express, it is
recommended that you fully charge the battery. The internal battery
is maintenance-free and lasts longest when operating between 30%
and 80% charged. Avoid fully discharging the battery if
possible.

Do not use the product while charging the battery. For best
product longevity, store the product with a 50% battery charge. If
you leave the battery level low and do not charge it for 6 months,
it may permanently lose capacity. If the battery fails to charge,
contact ION Audio at ionaudio.com. To dispose of the unit, bring it
to a recycling center or dispose of it in accordance with local
ordinances.

Outdoor Use and Care

The ION Audio ExplorerTM Express is water-resistant and can
tolerate splashing water. To get the best performance from your
speaker, avoid exposing it to excessive moisture or immersing it in
water. Store it in a dry place when not in use.

FEATURES

Front Panel

The front panel of the ION Audio ExplorerTM Express features the
following controls:

Power/Pair button: Press and hold to turn the speaker on or
off. Press once to enter pairing mode.
Volume up/down buttons: Press to adjust the volume.
Bluetooth button: Press to enter Bluetooth mode.
Auxiliary input: Connect an external audio device using the
included auxiliary cable.
USB charging port: Charge your mobile device using the
speaker’s battery.

Rear Panel

The rear panel of the ION Audio ExplorerTM Express features the
following controls:

Battery level indicator: Displays the current battery
level.
Microphone input: Connect a microphone using a 1/4″ cable for
karaoke or announcements.
Audio output: Connect an external speaker using a 1/8″ cable
for additional sound reinforcement.

OPERATION

To turn on your ION Audio ExplorerTM Express, press and hold the
power/pair button until the indicator light turns on. Press the
Bluetooth button to enter Bluetooth mode and pair your device. Use
the volume up/down buttons to adjust the volume. Use the auxiliary
input to connect an external audio device, or use the USB charging
port to charge your mobile device.

TROUBLESHOOTING

If you experience any issues with your ION Audio ExplorerTM
Express, consult the troubleshooting section of the user guide or
contact ION Audio support at ionaudio.com/support.

APPENDIX

Technical Specifications

The ION Audio ExplorerTM Express has the following technical
specifications:

Bluetooth range: 100 feet
Battery life: Up to 30 hours
Power output: 20 watts
Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
Dimensions: 7.75″ x 12.25″ x 9.5″

Trademarks & Licenses

The ION Audio ExplorerTM Express is a trademark of ION Audio
LLC. Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. All
other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

View Fullscreen

EXPLORERTM EXPRESS

User Guide
English

Tap or click for technical
support.
ionaudio.com/support

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………… 4
Box Contents ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 Support …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
SETUP ……………………………………………………………………………..5
Charging and Battery Information …………………………………………………………… 5 Outdoor Use and Care ……………………………………………………………………………….. 6
FEATURES ……………………………………………………………………….7
Front Panel …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7 Rear Panel …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
OPERATION …………………………………………………………………… 10
App Control………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 Pairing a Bluetooth® Device ………………………………………………………………………. 11 Linking Two Speakers ……………………………………………………………………………….. 12 Using the Radio……………………………………………………………………………………………14 USB Playback Mode …………………………………………………………………………………… 15 Using the USB Charge Port……………………………………………………………………….16
TROUBLESHOOTING ……………………………………………………… 17

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

APPENDIX……………………………………………………………………… 19
Technical Specifications…………………………………………………………………………….19 Trademarks & Licenses ……………………………………………………………………………. 20

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the ExplorerTM Express. At ION, your entertainment is as important to us as it is to you. That’s why we design our products with one thing in mind–to make your life more fun and more convenient. Note: Before you first use the product, please fully charge the batteries. Your unit was purposely shipped with a reduced battery charge to ensure safe transit. For optimal charging, power o the speaker while charging. Use the included USB-A to USB-C® cable to connect the unit to a 5V, 2A power adapter (not included) connected to a power outlet and let it charge for up to 3 hours (depending on the specifications of your adapter). This helps ensure the longest life for your battery.
Box Contents
ExplorerTM Express USB-A to USB-C® Charging Cable (3.28 ft. / 1 m) Quickstart Guide
Support
For the latest information about this product (documentation, technical specifications, system
requirements, compatibility information, etc.) and product registration, visit ionaudio.com. For additional product support, visit ionaudio.com/support.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

SETUP
Charging and Battery Information
For the quickest charging time, power ExplorerTM Express and use the included USB-A to USB-C® cable to connect the USB-C® charging port on the rear panel of the speaker to a USB power adapter (DC 5V 2A, not included) connected to a power outlet, or your computer (powered on). A full charge can take up to 3 hours, depending on the specifications of your 5V, 2A adapter. The lightning bolt icon on the display will light up when ExplorerTM Express is connected to a power source and charging. The battery icon will fill to display the battery life percentage. When charging is complete, the lightning bolt icon will disappear, and the battery icon will be completely filled. If no audio is played through the ExplorerTM Express speaker for 15 minutes, the unit will enter a standby mode to conserve battery life. This may mean the Bluetooth signal is paused, no audio is coming through a device connected to the aux port, or the volume is set to 0. To wake the unit, simply resume audio signal or press any button. When the ExplorerTM Express speaker is connected to a Bluetooth audio output device and no audio is playing from any source, the speaker will automatically power o after 60 minutes have passed.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

Here are some other recommendations for getting the longest life from the internal battery.

General Usage

Fully charge the battery before using it.
Avoid full discharge of the battery if possible. Li-Ion batteries are maintenancefree, and the battery will last longest when operating between 30 and 80 percent charged.
Do not use the product while charging the battery.
Do not charge the battery in exceedingly hot (greater than 90°F/32°C) or exceedingly cold (less than 32°F/0°C) temperatures.

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.
For best product longevity, store product with a 50% battery charge.
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, 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 ExplorerTM Express is water-resistant and able to tolerate splashing water, please review the tips below to get the best performance from your ExplorerTM Express:
· Bring ExplorerTM Express indoors during extreme weather.
· Please do not place ExplorerTM Express in standing water.
· Please do not connect the power adapter to an ExplorerTM Express in a wet environment. Make sure the power input, power adapter, 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 a ected by water and cause a risk of electric shock.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

FEATURES
Front Panel
Click a control below to jump to that section.

41 2 3

567 8 9

1. Power Button

Press and hold this button to turn ExplorerTM Express

2. Display This screen shows information relevant to the current operation on ExplorerTM Express.

Note: The Display comes with a plastic protector on it. Remove this for optimal viewing.
3. BOOM ButtonTM Press to simultaneously enhance the bass EQ and volume.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

4. Bluetooth® Button
Press this button to enter Bluetooth pairing mode. When connected to a Bluetooth device, double-press this button to disconnect a paired device and re-enter pairing mode, or single-press to disconnect a paired device and enter Aux mode. See Operation > Pairing a Bluetooth® Device to learn how to connect a Bluetooth device.
Press and hold this button to enable or disable voice prompts.

5. Source Button Press this button to cycle between FM, USB, and Aux modes.

6. Stereo-LinkTM / Repeat Button
See Operation > Linking Two Speakers to learn more about linking two ExplorerTM Express speakers together using this button.
In USB playback mode, press this button to cycle between repeat modes. See Operation > USB Playback Mode to learn more.

7. Previous / Next Buttons
In FM mode, press these buttons briefly to go to the previous or next station. Press and hold these buttons to seek the previous or next strong station.
In Bluetooth and USB modes, press the Previous or Next button to go to the beginning of the current track or skip to the following track, respectively. Press the Previous button again within one second to skip to the previous track.

8. Play/Pause / Presets Button
Press this button to start and stop Bluetooth or USB audio. In FM mode, use this button to save and recall radio presets. See Operation > Using the Radio to learn more.

9. EQ Button
Press this button to cycle through the Low, Mid, and Hi EQ frequencies. Then press the VOL +/ buttons to adjust the EQ frequency settings. If no changes are made within five seconds, ExplorerTM Express will exit EQ adjustment.

10. Volume Up/Down Buttons
Press these buttons to adjust the speaker’s volume. Press and hold VOL + or to navigate Bluetooth tracks.
Press and hold both VOL + and buttons for 5 seconds to reset the speaker to factory settings.

11. Mic Up/Down Buttons

Press these buttons to adjust the microphone volume.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

Rear Panel
Click a control below to jump to that section.
12 3 4

Note: Pull the tab on the protective rubber panel to release it and access the rear panel ports.
1. USB-A Charge/Playback Port
You can use this port for charging the USB device, such as a tablet or smartphone. To charge a device that is streaming music via Bluetooth, pause the music first and then wait for it to reconnect after the USB cable (not included) is inserted. See Operation > Using the USB Charge Port for more information. You can also connect a USB flash drive here to play music. See Operation > USB Playback Mode for more information.
2. Aux In
Connect a CD player, MP3 player, or other audio source to this 1/8″ (3.5 mm) input.
3. USB-C® Charging Port
Connect the USB-C® end of the included cable to ExplorerTM Express here. Then connect the USB-A end to a 5V, 2A USB power adapter (sold separately) and plug it into a power outlet, or your computer (powered on). See Setup > Charging and Battery Information for more information.
4. Mic In
Connect a microphone (not included) to this input using a 1/4″ (6.35 mm) cable. Press the MIC +/- buttons to control the mic volume.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

OPERATION
App Control
IMPORTANT: To ensure the best possible experience with the app, use the most current Android OS or iOS on your device. Follow these steps to download the free app on your device: 1. Open the Apple App Store or Google Play on your device. Then, search for the ION Sound
ControlTM app. 2. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the app. Once downloaded, the
ION Sound ControlTM app will appear on your device’s home screen. 3. Connect your device to ExplorerTM Express via Bluetooth. See Operation > Pairing a
Bluetooth® Device to learn how to do this. 4. Open the ION Sound ControlTM app. If prompted, allow the app to access your device’s
Bluetooth and Location Services. 5. Follow the steps on screen to find and connect to your ExplorerTM Express. Once connected,
you can control various functions of the speaker, such as: · Source Selection: Select the source to use (Bluetooth, USB, FM or Aux). · Volume: Adjust the speaker’s volume. · Mic Volume: Adjust the volume of the Mic input. · EQ: Adjust the speaker’s equalization. · Voice Prompts: Enable or disable the voice prompts. · Battery Life: Check the speaker’s battery life status. · Over-The-Air Firmware Updates: Stay up to date with the latest firmware installation. Press and hold the Source button on ExplorerTM Express to view the firmware version. · Support: Visit ionaudio.com, contact Technical Support, and view Warranty information and Frequently Asked Questions.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

Pairing a Bluetooth® Device 1 – PRESS

EXPLORERTM EXPRESS
2

3
1. Turn on your Bluetooth device.
2. Power on ExplorerTM Express by holding down the Power button for 2 seconds. When the unit is first turned on, it will automatically enter Bluetooth pairing mode. If necessary, press the Source button to select Bluetooth mode. The Bluetooth icon on the display will flash to indicate the speaker is ready to pair and if voice prompts are enabled, you will hear “Bluetooth Pairing.”
3. Navigate to your device’s Bluetooth setup screen, find EXPLORER EXPRESS, and connect. The Bluetooth icon will appear in the display, and if voice prompts are enabled, you will hear “Bluetooth Connected”. Note: If your Bluetooth device prompts for a pairing code, enter “0000”.

To disconnect a paired device, do any of the following:

· Turn

Bluetooth from your device’s Bluetooth settings. The speaker will enter

Bluetooth pairing mode to make it available for another device.

· Double-press the Bluetooth button to disconnect and re-enter pairing mode.

· Briefly press the Bluetooth button to disconnect and enter Aux mode.

Once you have disconnected, the Bluetooth icon will return to flashing, and you will hear “Bluetooth Disconnected” if voice prompts are enabled.

Tip: Press and hold the Bluetooth button to turn voice prompts on or o

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

Linking Two Speakers
If you would like to play music from a Bluetooth device, you can first “link” two ExplorerTM Express speakers together in order to listen to your music in stereo. One ExplorerTM Express will serve as the left speaker and the other will serve as the right speaker.

1 – DOUBLE PRESS
(on each speaker)

2 – PRESS & HOLD
(on each speaker)
EXPLORERTM EXPRESS

3 – PRESS AND RELEASE

(on each Primary speaker)

To link two ExplorerTM Express speakers together:
Note: When you begin the Stereo-LinkTM process, any connected Bluetooth devices will be automatically disconnected. You can also disconnect your device prior to beginning by double-pressing the Bluetooth button.
1. Press and hold the Stereo-LinkTM / Repeat button on both speakers to enter Stereo-LinkTM mode. You will hear a tone and the Stereo-LinkTM and Bluetooth icons on each speaker’s Display will begin flashing while they search for each other.
Note: The linking process can take up to 30 seconds to complete. The closer the two speakers are to each other, the quicker the link is established.
2. Press and release the Bluetooth button on either speaker to select Bluetooth mode and begin the Bluetooth pairing process. The speaker you use for Bluetooth pairing will serve as the primary speaker.
3. Navigate to your Bluetooth device’s setup screen, find EXPLORER EXPRESS, and connect. The Bluetooth icon on the primary speaker will flash to indicate it is searching for a Bluetooth device to pair with.
When the connection is successful, you will hear “Bluetooth Connected” from the primary speaker (if voice prompts are enabled). When audio playback begins, you should hear it through both speakers. The primary speaker will play the left channel while the secondary speaker plays the right channel. Playback controls are active on both speakers.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

To disconnect two speakers or cancel linking between the two, double press the StereoLinkTM / Repeat button on either speaker.
Note: Pressing and holding the Power button on the primary speaker while in Stereo-LinkTM mode will power o all connected speakers. ExplorerTM Express speakers powered o in Stereo-LinkTM mode will automatically enter Stereo-LinkTM mode the next time they are powered on and begin searching for secondary speakers to connect to.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

Using the Radio

PRESS

PRESS – Previous / Next Station HOLD – Seek

To use the radio, press the Source button so that FM is selected and shown on the display.
While in FM mode, briefly press the Previous and Next buttons (</>) to move to the previous or next station. Press and hold the </> buttons to seek for the next strongest station in that direction.

1 – HOLD

2 – PRESS – Select Preset

3 – PRESS
To save a radio station as a preset: 1. Press and hold the Play/Pause / Presets button. 2. Use the </> buttons to select a preset number, 112, shown on the display. 3. When you have selected the desired preset number, quickly press and release the
Play/Pause / Presets button again to save it. To recall a previously saved preset, briefly press the Play/Pause / Presets button to cycle between the 12 presets.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

USB Playback Mode

1 – CONNECT

2 – PRESS
(Play/Pause Playback)

3 – PRESS
(Previous/Next Track)

4 – PRESS TO CYCLE
(ALL, FOLDER, ONE RANDOM)

When a USB drive with compatible files is inserted into the USB Charge/Playback Port, ExplorerTM Express will automatically switch to USB mode. If the USB drive has already been inserted and you are using another mode, press the Source button until USB mode is selected.
ExplorerTM Express will automatically play the first compatible MP3 file. Files are played in alphabetical order of what is on the root level, then alphabetical by folder, and then alphabetical by track name. Media playback will stop when all media has been played on the USB drive.
Note: The USB drive must have playable MP3 files for it to appear on the media panel’s display.

Press the Next and Previous (</>) buttons to go to the next or previous track. Press and hold these buttons to fast forward or rewind within the track.

Press the Stereo-LinkTM / Repeat button to cycle through the (abbreviations will show on the display):

options

· Play the current USB track on repeat (OnE). This is the default mode when powered on.

· Play the tracks in random order (rAn).

· Play all the tracks on the USB drive on repeat (ALL).

· Play the current folder’s tracklist on repeat (FOLd). The folder used is based on what song is playing when it is activated. For instance, if a song playing is on the root level, selecting FOLd will repeat only songs at the root level. If a song is in folder “A”, then only songs in folder “A” will be repeated.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

Using the USB Charge Port
To use the USB charge port: 1. Connect a USB type-A cable to the USB Charge Port on the rear panel of your ExplorerTM
Express speaker (see image). 2. Connect the other end of the cable to the charging input on your smartphone, tablet, or
other compatible device.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

TROUBLESHOOTING
If the unit is not charging: Make sure the USB-C® cable is properly connected to the power input, the power adapter, and the power outlet.
If the sound is distorted: Try lowering the volume control of your sound source.
I hear a hum when cables are connected: · Disconnect cables from the input jacks to see if it’s a faulty cable. · Make sure the signal cables are not placed near power cables. · Connect all audio equipment power cables to outlets which share a common ground.
If there is a high-pitched whistling noise when using microphones: This is probably feedback. Point the microphone away from the speaker.
If you can’t hear the microphone over the music volume: Turn down the music volume from your source.
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. You can also check to see if the BOOM function is enabled, and disable it by pressing the BOOM buttonTM to disable it.
If you cannot connect your audio device to ExplorerTM Express via Bluetooth: · Have your audio device (e.g., smartphone or tablet) and ExplorerTM Express as close
together as possible while trying to connect. Make sure both the audio device and ExplorerTM Express are unobstructed by walls, furniture, etc. · Double-press the Bluetooth button to disconnect ExplorerTM Express from any other audio device and restart the search process. If this does not work right away, power ExplorerTM Express and then power it back on. See Operation > Pairing a Bluetooth® Device for more information. · Reset the Bluetooth connection on your audio device by turning Bluetooth and back on. You can find this under the Bluetooth menu in the Settings for your phone or other audio device.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

If this does not work, and you have connected to ExplorerTM Express before, find ExplorerTM Express in the list of available or previously connected devices in your audio device’s Bluetooth menu, tap the “gear” or “i” icon located next to it and then select Unpair or Forget. Turn ExplorerTM Express and back on and try pairing again once it reappears in your available devices list.
Note: If ExplorerTM Express has been paired to another audio device recently that is still within range, you may need to repeat this process with that audio device to fully disconnect.
If you experience audio dropouts while playing music from a Bluetooth device, this may be happening because your unit is trying to link to another speaker. This can occur if you power
a speaker that was linked to your unit or if you have just turned on your unit and it is in Stereo-LinkTM mode. To stop the audio dropouts, exit Stereo-LinkTM mode by double-pressing the Stereo-LinkTM / Repeat button. Alternatively, you can wait for your unit to link to another speaker if there is one within range.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

APPENDIX

Technical Specifications

Output Power Speakers Frequency Response Bluetooth
USB
Battery
Power Dimensions
(width x depth x height)
Weight

65 W (peak) Low Frequency: 6.5″ (165.1 mm) woofer High Frequency: (2) 2.5″ (63.5 mm) tweeters 65 Hz 16 kHz (-3 dB) Profile: A2DP, AVRCP Bluetooth Version: 5.0 Range: Up to 100 ft. (30.5 m) * Stereo-LinkTM Range: Up to 100 ft. (30.5 m) between speakers Audio: Music playback from USB drive Supported File System: FAT32 Supported File Type: MP3 Maximum File Size: 4 GB Maximum USB Drive Size: 16 GB Capacity: 2000mAh/11.1V, 22.2Wh Battery Life: Up to 10 hours ** Charge Time: Up to 3 hours Cable: USB-A to USB-C® Charging Cable Input Voltage: 5V DC, 2A 13.48″ x 6.50″ x 13.23″ 343 mm x 165 mm x 336 mm 7.65 lbs. 3.47 kg

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

* Bluetooth and wireless reception and range are a ected by walls, obstructions, and

movement. For optimal performance, place the product so it is unobstructed by walls or

furniture and is rais

ground.

** Battery life may vary based on temperature, age, and volume usage of product.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

Trademarks & Licenses
ION Audio is a trademark of inMusic Brands, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by ION Audio is under license. App Store is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android and Google Play are registered trademarks of Google Inc. All other product names, company names, trademarks, or trade names are those of their respective owners.

ION Audio ExplorerTM Express User Guide

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