I know the question of headphones for swimming has been brought up a couple of times and the threads usually contain comments that bluetooth don’t transmit well underwater. However, I can’t figure from the comments if anyone has actually tried bluetooth headphones for swimming, or if it is just a general remark of the technical/physical limitations of bluetooth.
I will use a music player that will be strapped to the back of my head and wonder if anyone with actual experience can tell me if it is any idea to get a pair of wireless bluetooth headphones (which I would prefer) - or if I should get a pair of wired headphones?
You have to get wired headphones. Bluetooth won’t transmit through water.
You have to get wired headphones. Bluetooth won’t transmit through water.
Have you tried or is the comment based on how it supposedly works? (Not saying that you’re wrong, just want someone with actual experience to comment.)
I know the question of headphones for swimming has been brought up a couple of times and the threads usually contain comments that bluetooth don’t transmit well underwater. However, I can’t figure from the comments if anyone has actually tried bluetooth headphones for swimming, or if it is just a general remark of the technical/physical limitations of bluetooth.
I will use a music player that will be strapped to the back of my head and wonder if anyone with actual experience can tell me if it is any idea to get a pair of wireless bluetooth headphones (which I would prefer) - or if I should get a pair of wired headphones?
What is the use case you are looking for bluetooth versus products that have been on the market for over 15 years like the Swim MP3 by Finis???
What is the use case you are looking for bluetooth versus products that have been on the market for over 15 years like the Swim MP3 by Finis???
First, mp3 is not an option since I consider it outdated technology that I’m not willing to go back to. That problem is however solved by this spectacular invention: https://www.underwateraudio.com/products/delphin-waterproof-streaming-media-player
The rationale for buying BT headphones is that I would use them also outside the pool - which I wouldn’t do if I get a pair of wired swimming headphones.
Also, I like gadgets and think that wireless is much more convenient than wired and would prefer it from a personal standpoint.
You have to get wired headphones. Bluetooth won’t transmit through water.
Have you tried or is the comment based on how it supposedly works? (Not saying that you’re wrong, just want someone with actual experience to comment.)
Sure, I’ve taken a salt bath listening to the music off of my watch on my Plantronics Backbeat FIT and if I put my wrist under the water, the music just cuts out.
Finis Amnis Stream.
Although if you own the MP3 files (i.e. not streaming via Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) the Duo might work better. With only one device, it’s less fiddly. I use the Duo and it works fine.
AfterShokz makes a set you can upload mp3/podcasts to (but like everyone else has said, not Bluetooth)
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Finis Amnis Stream.
Although if you own the MP3 files (i.e. not streaming via Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) the Duo might work better. With only one device, it’s less fiddly. I use the Duo and it works fine.
The Finis Amnis Stream requires a watch with offline music capability, so it is not an option.
It does however use BT to stream the music from the watch to the headphones - underwater. As they write in the manual, the watch shall be clipped onto the holder of the headphones and not be worn on the wrist since the BT signal does not travel that far underwater.
In my case I won’t have the transmitter (Delphin micro-tablet) quite as close to the receiver (the headphones) as you would with the Finis Amnis. But a lot closer than if I had the transmitter on my wrist.
From what I understand it is possible for the BT signal to travel a short distance (a couple of inches) underwater. So, is there anyone who as actually tried the setup that I’m asking about and tried to use BT headphones while swimming when the transmitter is clipped onto the back of your head?
The Finis Amnis Stream requires a watch with offline music capability, so it is not an option.
Any music player that supports Bluetooth headphones will work. It’s just that they only provide clips for a few popular watch brands. You’ve already got a clip
The Finis Amnis Stream requires a watch with offline music capability, so it is not an option.
Any music player that supports Bluetooth headphones will work. It’s just that they only provide clips for a few popular watch brands. You’ve already got a clip
They are bone conducting headphones with a wire, that require another unit for playing music, priced at 290 EUR. Not really standing out as a great purchase imo.
You have to get wired headphones. Bluetooth won’t transmit through water.
Have you tried or is the comment based on how it supposedly works? (Not saying that you’re wrong, just want someone with actual experience to comment.)
Sure, I’ve taken a salt bath listening to the music off of my watch on my Plantronics Backbeat FIT and if I put my wrist under the water, the music just cuts out.
This is a completely different setup than what I’m asking about and I hardly think it translates to the setup I am considering. Unless you’ve tried it with your watch and headphones both underwater, keeping them close to one another?
I’ve experimented with this quite a bit. In short, every waterproof bluetooth earbuds/headphones I have tried simply don’t work while swimming. I’ve put my phone on the edge of the deck like my kickboard and as soon as I get 5 yards away with my head in the water it just gets garbly.
I ended up getting Aftershokz swimming bone conducting headphones. Works perfect every time. I just have to buy music… I used it as a motivator and earned myself music points. $1 in music for every 10,000 yards swam. That way I kept my music fresh. I have a lot of music on there now…
plant_based’s answer is correct, maybe try learning to focus on swimming since you’re unwilling to use MP3’s. I had the finis and I quit using them - it’s too much of a distraction. I just decided to enjoy swimming rather than thinking of it as a ‘necessary’ evil of triathlon.
I’ve experimented with this quite a bit. In short, every waterproof bluetooth earbuds/headphones I have tried simply don’t work while swimming. I’ve put my phone on the edge of the deck like my kickboard and as soon as I get 5 yards away with my head in the water it just gets garbly.
I ended up getting Aftershokz swimming bone conducting headphones. Works perfect every time. I just have to buy music… I used it as a motivator and earned myself music points. $1 in music for every 10,000 yards swam. That way I kept my music fresh. I have a lot of music on there now…
As I will have the transmitter on the back of my head, the distance to the transmitter on the pool deck won’t be an issue.
plant_based’s answer is correct, maybe try learning to focus on swimming since you’re unwilling to use MP3’s. I had the finis and I quit using them - it’s too much of a distraction. I just decided to enjoy swimming rather than thinking of it as a ‘necessary’ evil of triathlon.
Ok. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on an unrelated matter.
I’ve experimented with this quite a bit. In short, every waterproof bluetooth earbuds/headphones I have tried simply don’t work while swimming. I’ve put my phone on the edge of the deck like my kickboard and as soon as I get 5 yards away with my head in the water it just gets garbly.
I ended up getting Aftershokz swimming bone conducting headphones. Works perfect every time. I just have to buy music… I used it as a motivator and earned myself music points. $1 in music for every 10,000 yards swam. That way I kept my music fresh. I have a lot of music on there now…
As I will have the transmitter on the back of my head, the distance to the transmitter on the pool deck won’t be an issue.
So, then what is the question?
I guess you will be swimming waterpolo style? Water goes over my head a lot. I breath to the side with half my face in the water so the device would go into the water. And I flip turn, completely submerging the device. And I streamline off the wall, again completely submerged. I guess if I had tried swimming waterpolo style then it would be a simple distance problem. But, I actually want to swim. So, bluetooth doesn’t work. The bluetooth connection starts to drop as water goes over the device and then it eventually drops completely as you get further away and the water is going over the device and it is hella annoying when it is trying to reconnect.
Why don’t you just try it?
I’ve experimented with this quite a bit. In short, every waterproof bluetooth earbuds/headphones I have tried simply don’t work while swimming. I’ve put my phone on the edge of the deck like my kickboard and as soon as I get 5 yards away with my head in the water it just gets garbly.
I ended up getting Aftershokz swimming bone conducting headphones. Works perfect every time. I just have to buy music… I used it as a motivator and earned myself music points. $1 in music for every 10,000 yards swam. That way I kept my music fresh. I have a lot of music on there now…
As I will have the transmitter on the back of my head, the distance to the transmitter on the pool deck won’t be an issue.
So, then what is the question?
I guess you will be swimming waterpolo style? Water goes over my head a lot. I breath to the side with half my face in the water so the device would go into the water. And I flip turn, completely submerging the device. And I streamline off the wall, again completely submerged. I guess if I had tried swimming waterpolo style then it would be a simple distance problem. But, I actually want to swim. So, bluetooth doesn’t work. The bluetooth connection starts to drop as water goes over the device and then it eventually drops completely as you get further away and the water is going over the device and it is hella annoying when it is trying to reconnect.
Why don’t you just try it?
I will do regular kind of swimming, no waterpolo. And before buying headphones for ~120 EUR that I might not be able to use for their main purpose (swimming) I’d like to know if someone had tried it and knows if it works or not.
So far it appears as no one has done just that (i.e. having a BT music player/transmitter on the back of their head, using BT headphones).
I’ve experimented with this quite a bit. In short, every waterproof bluetooth earbuds/headphones I have tried simply don’t work while swimming. I’ve put my phone on the edge of the deck like my kickboard and as soon as I get 5 yards away with my head in the water it just gets garbly.
I ended up getting Aftershokz swimming bone conducting headphones. Works perfect every time. I just have to buy music… I used it as a motivator and earned myself music points. $1 in music for every 10,000 yards swam. That way I kept my music fresh. I have a lot of music on there now…
As I will have the transmitter on the back of my head, the distance to the transmitter on the pool deck won’t be an issue.
So, then what is the question?
I guess you will be swimming waterpolo style? Water goes over my head a lot. I breath to the side with half my face in the water so the device would go into the water. And I flip turn, completely submerging the device. And I streamline off the wall, again completely submerged. I guess if I had tried swimming waterpolo style then it would be a simple distance problem. But, I actually want to swim. So, bluetooth doesn’t work. The bluetooth connection starts to drop as water goes over the device and then it eventually drops completely as you get further away and the water is going over the device and it is hella annoying when it is trying to reconnect.
Why don’t you just try it?
I will do regular kind of swimming, no waterpolo. And before buying headphones for ~120 EUR that I might not be able to use for their main purpose (swimming) I’d like to know if someone had tried it and knows if it works or not.
So far it appears as no one has done just that (i.e. having a BT music player/transmitter on the back of their head, using BT headphones).
Yup. Clearly you are the very first person on planet earth to have that idea. Wish I had thought of that. {eye roll}. Good luck to you.