I have been a regular lap swimmer for over 15 years (also a former US Navy service member). At a minimum I am in the pool twice a week for 35 laps or more. Prior to purchasing the SYRYN, I had a first generation NuDolphin (purchased around 2005) that up and died on me a month and some ago, so I am no stranger to waterproof mp3 and what to expect from them.
SYRYN and Swimbuds have both far exceeded my expectations. The sound quality is as optimal as I could hope, and is hugely exceptional for the cost. The instruction booklet was very clear and concise and easy to follow. I use Amazon Music as my go-to after ditching iTunes some years ago (very long story), and every song I have ever purchased through Amazon was very easy to transfer over to my Music folder on my computer (download the desktop Amazon Music app to make it super easy), then it was just drag and drop into the folder for the SYRYN.
The device itself is even lighter than my NuDolphin was, and I like that the clip is wide, long, but lies very close to the device. I hook-slide it onto my swim cap and it doesn't budge! The ear buds are phenomenal. They keep all the water out of my ears and keep the sound quality clear and true through flip turns and depths up to 10ft (that's as deep as our pool is).
As to the other reviews, I'm not sure why they've had such a hard time with the functions, especially since it's spelled out so easily in the booklet (like, 5th grader would say "duh").
To shuffle songs, simply press and hold the forward and reverse buttons simultaneously until the light indicator switches from red to purple/blue back to red again. To turn off shuffle, repeat.
Volume: Press and hold the up/down button (co-located with the reverse/forward buttons... up and reverse, down and forward... up and down are in relation to the audio jack placement) until you achieve the desired sound level.
Play/pause: self explanatory
Turn on/off: press and hold the play/pause button until the indicator light turns on or off.
Seriously, you cannot beat this player for the simplicity, functionality, quality of sound, craftsmanship, etc.
I'm definitely glad I went with this player instead of the Diver or the costlier options. Plus, the company who stocks this is a home-run, family-run business.
And no, I got absolutely nothing in return for this review.
I have used customized water-proof iPod Shuffles in the past so I'm going to compare this with iPod Shuffle.
PROs:
- 8 GB storage (as opposed to 2 GB on iPod Shuffle).
- Half of the price of the cheapest water-proof iPod Shuffle.
- Much louder volume.
- Long battery life.
- Superior ear buds. They came with a short cable which makes it tangle-free (can be extend if needed).
- Good clip. Very easy to attach to my goggles and can be rotated.
- No iTunes needed. To upload just drag and drop the MP3 files.
CONs:
- No AAC support so it can't play old music files I bought from iTunes. Nowadays I buy my digital music either from Amazon or Google so most of my
library are MP3 but still it would be nice if it has AAC support.
- It comes with a pretty bad goggles. I wish they have a cheaper option without the goggles.
I swim 3 days a week and have been using the WaterFi iPod until it was stolen and I needed a replacement. Even though I was happy with the Waterfi I decided to give the SYRYN a try, primarily due to it costing 1/4 of the WaterFi-iPod..
After 2 sessions, I'm very happy with the product. All 4 strokes, flip turns and even starts are no problem. While the iPod is notorious for flipping around when going fast, the Syryn stayed put, likely due to the design of the clip attachment. The Syryn is larger and doesn't look as sleek but I noticed less drag vs. the iPod (which is usually flipped around 90 degrees after a turn, so it's dragging).
The most interesting difference between the two products is that the SYRYN appears to have been designed from the ground up as a waterproof MP3 player, while the WaterFi iPod is an aftermarket retrofit. From years of experience as an engineer, retrofits always have some design flaw.
Case in point the buttons. The iPod has 6 separate buttons (play/pause, vol up, vol down, forward track, back track, and mode) and 1 switch (on/off/shuffle), each exposing a different place for water to enter. The Waterfi retrofit is done via injecting silicon which creates the waterproofing. This makes it difficult to push the buttons and with each push of the buttons the silicone is moved around. What I noticed, after 2 years of use, is that water drops come out of the iPod when the center button is pushed leaving me to suspect that it has started to loose its waterproofing.
Conversely, Syryn has chosen to address the waterproofing by limiting it to 3 buttons (the 3 have duplicate functionality depending on length of press), covered by a single waterproof cover. Some people complained that buttons with shared functionality is a problem because it is not intuitive. It might not be intuitive, but it is smart engineering as it reduces entry points for water. In addition, since the Syryn uses a single cover there is no silicone degradation issue and the buttons are easy to press.
My guess is that, even though the Syryn warranty is only 1 year (vs. 2 for Waterfi), it will last longer than the iPod. If it does not, I will come back and update this comment.
EDIT3: Nearly a year later and the Syren MP3 player is still holding it's own. Still only needs a weekly recharge and gets through 10+ hours in the pool. I have noticed that turning the unit on/off and adjusting the volume is starting to get a bit finicky. The switches don't always register when clicked, but it hasn't gotten bad enough yet for me to ditch the unit. I always unplug the earbuds and rinse and dry the connector, which really helps keep the corrosion down. The earbuds are starting to show their age as the rubber piece is starting to regularly pull off the earbud, leaving the rubber piece in my ear. Very inconvenient, but a little spot of superglue on each bud solved that issue. As they are nearly a year old with almost daily usage, I think they are doing pretty well, but probably will need to be replaced after a year. As for the buttons not always working, not sure if that can be fixed, but for the price of a new unit when it quits working I will probably just buy a new one. This has been easily one of the best aquatics purchases I have made and I recommend them if you are looking for a good lap swimming MP3 player. END EDIT3
EDIT2: After 6 months of daily usage the Syren MP3 player is still going strong. I charge it once a week and it's good for a weeks worth of training sessions (about 10 hours). They can keep the cheap goggles, but the player is worth every penny for me. END EDIT2.
EDIT: The headsets that came with the player are touted (Swim buds) as the best water sports buds available. Well, after 2 weeks I was only getting audio from one ear. Check with another set of buds and it wasn't the player. In fact after 3 months of nearly daily swimming, the player has performed flawlessly. I contacted Amazon, and was a little put off that they wanted to replace the swim buds with another brand, AGPTEK SE11 IPX8 Waterproof In-Ear Earphones, Coiled Swimming Earbuds. They rebated part of the cost when I protested, but I finally gave in. The new buds arrived a few days later, and have been perfect ever since! Honestly, they sound better than the Swimbuds did, and the fit is better for my ears. The coiled cord is genius. With the Swimbuds you have to wrap the extra cord up but with these AGPTek ones, you just stretch them out, tuck under your goggle strap, and go. As with the Swimbuds, you need to use some FitGoo to get a good water tight seal. I have also found that f=after each swim you should unplug the buds from the player and clean the plug. At first I just left them plugged in and after a couple weeks the sound was getting weak. Pulled the plug out and noticed that it looked a little corroded. Cleaned with a little alcohol and a scrub pad and back in business. The player has never given me a problem with the buttons. Only problem now is I can't imagine having to swim without them! And bonus if you swim at a crowded pull with a bunch of talkative swimmers, you can't hear them and when they see you rocking out they quit trying to bother you!
End EDIT
Was a little hesitant at first after reading mixed reviews. I was an age group/HS/college swimmer and now masters with about 45 years of competitive swimming background. Was worried that without wearing a cap these wouldn't make it through a full workout with sprints, multiple strokes, and flip turns. But all those years of singing the last song you heard before hitting the pool finally got the better of me. The goggles are nothing special, just a generic Speedo/Arena/Tyr knockoff, but are comfortable enough for 2 hour pool sessions and definitely more comfortable than my old swedes. The first thing to keep in mind is to follow the recommendation to run the cords under the strap, it makes a difference. The second is that fit is everything. You need the largest earbud adapters that comfortable fit. Too small and they leak which ends up in no audio. Too large and they tend to work their way out. Once you determine which size buds to use make sure you use the fit goo (or vaseline/petroleum jelly) on the buds prior to inserting them. It helps to seal them in and keep the water out.
Once the fit has been figured out then it's on to actually using them. I found that they weren't even noticeable attached to the back of my goggles (no cap). Operation of the unit is simplistic which is exactly what I want in a pool accessory. Contrary to what most reviews state, you don't need to pull just audio files to the device. You can pull folders of audio files and it will play them, but does so in alphabetical order by default. If you set it to shuffle mode it will play audio files in random order from multiple folders. After a week's worth of training sessions (1-1.5 hours each) I had to recharge, which works out to about 7 hours of play time. I will update this review after a month, but for now I would say if you are looking to get out of your head in the pool, do it!
I started swimming again when I moved into an apartment building that has a lap pool. While I enjoyed swimming again I really missed being able to listen to podcasts while I worked out. At first I looked for waterproof Bluetooth headphones but only saw water resistant ones which weren't built specifically for swimming and didn't have the rubber ear plug design. I liked that these were designed for swimming. I was initially skeptical about having to buy an mp3 player to go with them and didn't want to use a wire again, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that was the only thing that would really work. Bluetooth has a limited range to begin with, so if I left my phone in my backpack next to the pool and swam with Bluetooth headphones I'd likely lose the signal for part of each lap or at least get skips. I also wasn't sure how well the signal could carry in water. Just keeping the phone in my backpack noticeably affects the signal strength. Water could be worse. And so I decided I needed this player. The only competition appears to a water proof iPod shuffle, which at $190 is completely out of the question for a player I'm only going to use when swimming. $60 was more than I would have liked, but it wasn't outlandish, so I went with it. I do wish they didn't package it with goggles to bring the price down a little. I thought maybe the player attached to their goggles better or something but they're just standard swim goggles. The player attaches to my regular goggles just as well.
In any case, here's what you need to know about how it works. You connect it to your computer usb port, drag and drop mp3 files, turn it on, plug in headphones and press play. It will play files in the order in which they were loaded on it. There are two other buttons for skipping between files. It's about a simple a system as you can get, but that's kind of what's so great about it. I think my only complaint is if you move to a different file and then come back to one you were listening to it will play the file from the beginning. Other than that is perfect. Loading stuff is super simple. Didn't have to install anything. Just drag and drop. Works with Linux too. I use Ubuntu Mate on the computer I loaded it from and it worked fine.
The player itself is small, though not nearly as small as an iPod shuffle. It is, however, extremely light and works fine clipped to the back of your swim goggles. The headphones have an extra sort cord so there's little slack when you do this.
Feature Product
- Purchase includes: Swimbuds ORIGINAL headphones and SYRYN waterproof MP3 player (with complimentary goggles, FitGoo, and 1 oz AquaGuard Pre-Swim Hair Defense)
- Listen without interruption: Swimbuds hassle-free, extra-short cord doesn't get caught or snagged
- SYRYN MP3 player is 100% waterproof. Meets IPX8 waterproofing standards.
- Optional shuffle feature keeps your music in a mix
- Supports MP3 and WMA audio formats
Description
Swimbuds headphones and SYRYN waterproof MP3 player bundle.
Designed to be efficient and effective, the SYRYN pairs with best-selling Swimbuds waterproof headphones to relieve your lap swimming blues.
The SYRYN player meets IPX-8 standards and withstands submersion to 10ft. 8 GB of memory holds approximately 2,000 songs and has an optional shuffle feature. It features simple USB plug-and-play technology no drivers required! SYRYN Supports MP3 and WMA audio formats. Compatible with Mac and Windows Systems.
Swimbuds original waterproof headphones are designed for flip-turns and their extra-short cord never gets tangled or difficult to manage. Each headphone comes with 4 sizes of earbud tips to get your best fit. With Swimbuds headphones, you'll spend more time swimming and less time adjusting.
Purchase includes (1) SYRYN Waterproof MP3 player /1-yr Warranty, and (1) Swimbuds waterproof short cord earbuds with 1 m extension cable and multiple sizes of earbud tips / 1 year warranty.
Complimentary with your purchase you will also receive a FREE pair of goggles, a FREE 0.5 oz tube of FitGoo (to help you get a watertight fit with your Swimbuds), and a FREE travel-size container of AquaGuard Pre-Swim Hair Defense.
Pros-
1.) lightweight, and clamps securely to goggles. (Its every bit as comfortable and secure as people say it is. Never once felt like it would unclip while swimming laps. If your diving, thats another story.
2.) The clamp rotates 360 degrees
3.) 1hr charge time that lasts 7 hrs
4.) The waterproof earbuds that come with this are the same ones sold with the "Underwater Audio Ipod Shuffle". They are called "swimbuds" (swimbudsheadphones.com)
5.) 8gb of storage
6.) Half the cost of an Underwater Audio Ipod Shuffle.
Cons -
1.) No fast forward or rewind function (deal breaker for me)
2.) Doesnt support lossless formats like FLAC or ALAC. Which means your audio wont be the greatest (but you'll probably never notice because you're not me)(This is also a deal breaker for me)
Some things to keep in mind....
Summary: I bought this to listen to audiobooks while sitting in the sauna for 30min at a time and to listen to music while swimming laps. Unfortunately, I am now learning that it doesnt have the ability to fast forward or rewind, which means I cant use it to listen to my audiobooks. I will have to continue looking for a suitable mp3 player that can handle this. The Ipod shuffle does do fast forward, but it only holds 2gb, doesnt support FLAC or ALAC and Id rather not be enslaved by Apples software anyway. I may end up keeping the SYRYN to swim laps using 320kbps music and find a water "resistant" MP3 player for audiobooks in the sauna.
This item lasted just over a month and died! I swim 3 times a week. so 15 uses. It is not eligible for return after 30 days. it never worked right but at least it kind of worked. now it is frozen and dead :(
NOW for the happy side. I called the company and they are replacing it! No problem, really nice and helpful. Amazon was no help but the company was a great help.. one star saddens went to four stars happiness. Thanks Underwater Audio.
Underwater Audio
Customer Service Department
877-849-0750
02/04/2018
Anyone who swims laps knows it can get pretty boring. I found this system and thought I'd give it a try. It had good reviews and was in my budget. I was wondering if the audio would be good and if it would keep water our of my ears. The kit comes with a gel to put around the earbuds to create a seal. Surprising the gel works pretty good. Also the sound is pretty decent. The MP3 playing is pretty easy to use. The manufacturer posted a YouTube video on how to operate it, if you find the product manual a little brief. The googles are also pretty good and create a nice seal so you don't have to stop periodically and dump water out of them. Th nice thing about this kit is that it comes with everything you need. I highly recommend it.
Fabulous product! Improved over prior version in every way. Can't swim without these, and they will last for several swims. Easy to use, love it! I find I swim longer and put more into it with music.
UPDATE a year later: STILL incredible! Lap swimming and water aerobics, used two to three times a week. These rock!!! And far more functional and durable than the first version (differently shaped). Thx for a great product and even better service!
I got this recently as a Christmas gift. I have started swimming to help in the rehab of my left shoulder (rotator cuff). I'm not crazy about the back-and-forth of lap swimming, so I wanted something to "entertain" me while I did my laps. Initially, I had problems with transferring my music to the player. Some songs would load while most wouldn't. I got super frustrated, so I finally called the seller. Most of my downloads are on my iTunes. The fellow I talked to informed me that they needed to be converted to MP3. He sent me a link. It took a while, but eventually I got it figured out.
Now, to the player itself, I have to say that I really like it. It shuffles the music, which I prefer, but you are also able to play it in order, as well. Works great under water. If not for the frustration early on, I would give this five stars.
0 comments:
Post a Comment