Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)As of february 4, 2010, there are nine reviews on this Amphibx large Armband on Amazon, three out of those nine people damaged their iPod in this Armband, and H2O Audio replaced the iPod of only one out of those three people. Assuming these reviews representative,your probability of losing your expensive iPod or cell phone or MP3 payer to water damage in this Amphibx Armband are one in three and chances of H2O Audio replacing that one in nine. So, there is more than in one in five probability of your completely losing your iPod in this Amphibx Armband
According to the literature for this product, H2O Audio assures you that they will cover the loss of iPod to water damage. But here is what H2O Audio told me when I sent my water damaged classic iPod along with the Armband to the company:
"During the examination and testing the engineering team did notice some dispersed indentation on the seal (black door frame to the lid). This is indicative of some object(s) or debris being caught between the door and the seal. This type of obstruction can lead to leak as the water-tight seal is never actually formed between the lid and the bladder...So unfortunately, this is a situation where it appears that the door was not closed properly or that it was accidently opened during use."
Fortunate for H2O Audio because they got more than hundred bucks from you. Unfortunate for you because you just lost several hundred dollars!
My iPod Classic, inside this H2O Audio Amphibx Waterproof Armband for Large MP3 Players and Phones, while swimming, suddenly stopped playing! The arm band leaked and water damaged the iPod, which H2O Audio refused to replace.
For 14 years, I used Speedo FM radio, which has no screen and fits on the goggles. It worked well, the earphones rarely came out of the ear. But I wanted to listen to podcasts on my iPod while swimming.
I reviewed all the choices for listening to MP3 audio while swimming. If you look at the Amazon reviews, the most popular is FINIS SwiMP3 v2 Waterproof MP3 Player. There are 124 reviews on Amazon as of February 4, 2010 and I scanned 80 of those reviews and no one complains of water damage to the MP3 player. The newer 1 Gb version of version of FINIS SwiMP3.1G Waterproof MP3 Player has 16 reviews and again not a single reviewer complaining of water damage. Compared to one in 3 users of this Armband damaging their iPod.
But I wanted to use my iPod while swimming,especially listen to the podcasts and audiobooks on my iPod and belived H2O Audio when they said they stand behind their product and will replace the iPod if it gets water damaged inside their Amphibx Armband. After losing several hundred dollars I realized that they were not truthful. SwiMP3 is jus a basic MP3 player and lacks the sophistication of iPod.
After losing iPod in this large Amphibx Armaband, I did buy SwiMp3. Although it does not have the user interface of iPod, it truly is waterproof. Based on my and others experience, I believe thatSwiMP3 is really the only truly waterproof MP3 player - which is the most essential prerequisite for MP3 player to be used while swimming. As I learnt painfully, every thing else is irrelevant if the MP3 player is not waterproof.
But here are all the choices I found for listening to music or audiobooks or podcasts wile swimming:
1. Aquapac Waterproof Case Fits iPhone and Droid but is not very good quality and it is hard to water proof with headphones. Again there is potential of leak and water damage to your expensive MP3 player.
2. H2O Audio Amphibx Waterproof Armband for Large MP3 Players and Phones: Within 6 weeks it leaked and damaged my expensive iPod. Big loss. This Armband is also not easy to use. Not to say that H2O Audio Surge Waterproof Headphones constantly keep coming out of the ear, cause drag and have poor audio quality.
3 Then there are goggle based solutions like H2O Audio ISH4-5A1 Interval 3G Waterproof Headphone System for iPod Shuffle 3rd Gen, Speedo LZR Aquabeat MP3 Player and Freestyle Audio 200SPT Soundwave Waterproof 2GB Blue MP3 Player Blue Bundle With Aquapac 916 Waterproof Headphones. But the reviews of all these products on Amazon are not very good.
4. SwimMan makes waterproof 2nd and 3rd generation iPod shuffles. But they do not have screens and do not last long. Lot of users have complained that iPod Shuffles get damaged after few uses.
5. FINIS SwiMP3.1G Waterproof MP3 Player is based on a completely different technology of listening through the bone. Everybody raves about the underwater sound quality of FINIS SwiMP3 v2 Waterproof MP3 Player. After damaging my iPod Classic in this Amphibx Arm Band I purchased SwiMP3 player. The audio quality is very good under water but outside the water you need ear plugs. Most important, there does not appear to be anything that can be damaged by the water. The player is small, low profile and does not cause drag. The main downside is that it has minimal controls with no screen. iTunes does not work with the SwiMP3 player but the free DoubleTwist software can make transfer playliststo SwiMP3 seamless like iTunes. Podcastshave to be transferred manually by drag and drop. For some podcasts, where the audio volume is not loud enough, you may have to use a free software called MP3 Gain to increase the volume. FINIS also makes a screen less unit with arm band FINIS SwiMP3 Surf.
We all know that iPod is the best MP3 player and we would like to use it while swimming but I do not think it is yet technically feasible to make iPod water proof, notwithstanding the claims of companies like H2O Audio. Although I miss the screen, I believe that FINIS SwiMP3.1G Waterproof MP3 Player really the only water proof MP3 player, just like my old Speedo FM radio, and the audio quality is good. Based on my personal experience that is what I would recommend to a swimmer who wants to listen to MP3 audio while swimming. And definitely do not waste your money on this Amphibx arm band - you will even lose your expensive MP3 player.
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Product Description:
H2O Audio's Amphibx Waterproof Armband is the ultimate hybrid of waterproof case and sports armband. It's unique shape and specialized materials comfortably grip your arm whether your swimming, surfing, or training for your next triathlon.Complete your waterproof music experience with H2O Audio Waterproof Headphones (sold separately).
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