Input for decent waterproof headphones.

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tomerp
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Re: Input for decent waterproof headphones.

Post by tomerp » Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:32 pm

joemount2004 wrote:how do you run the headphones through the case?
yeah I had the wrong link there originally. The link is now pointing to the right case that does have a wire coming out of it in a water proof way.
Check with Rebecca @ boardsports she knows what needs to be rigged up for whatever smartphone you have

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Re: Input for decent waterproof headphones.

Post by kitenaked » Sun Apr 08, 2012 8:06 pm

Arm Case for Nano and blue wrap surge. On my 2nd set of headphones..

Started listening to music on the water last year. Won't go without it now.
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Re: Input for decent waterproof headphones.

Post by windhorny » Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:04 pm

I use the otterbox cases and they are solid. It's the headphones that are the problem as stated, once water gets in at all the sound stops, the bass sucks and normally only 1 side decides to still work after the first splash. I'm not expecting perfect audio, but these are crap! To be called waterproof should mean they still work once they get splashed. I have the aquapac, fox tech, modified Koss modified sony's, and a pair that say "fa." Hoping some of the new technology has made an improvement. If someone wants to buy my whole box of gear you can have it all for $100 with the original ipod and all.
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Re: Input for decent waterproof headphones.

Post by kief » Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:28 pm

Very happy with my 4th gen. IPOD 2GB shuffle waterproofed from the inside out by Waterfi,
Love after using cases,nice just throwing it IN my wetsuit,done
http://waterfi.com/

You're totally right,earbuds with good bass drivers fail in water
Best i ever used were some skullcandy ear buds (not water-proofed)
Lasted for a season on the water,then one side when out.
So i got these pioneer buds,good overall sound,great fit & water resistance
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/06/ ... g-machine/
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Aloha
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Re: Input for decent waterproof headphones.

Post by Aloha » Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:56 am

I'm diggin' Kief's setup. I've tried the iPad in the waterproof case set to speaker mode but I think it was too distracting to other kiters...

No but seriously I've tried iPod touch in waterproof arm band & the headphones (h20 were the ones I went with) failed like 2-3 times in 1 season. That and the sound for some reason only worked 50% of the time.

Here is what I noticed:

1) Waterproof specific headphones tend to suck for sound quality - they seem to be giving you full audio about half the time while on water
2) The connection point b/w the waterproof bag and the headphones is a definite achilles in the setup. If anything disturbs that connection it's game over and you have to fumble with it to resolve

I like Kief's idea for 3 reasons:

1) There is no bag involved to mediate the connection b/w iPod & headphone set. So you know the connection is either made or it's not
2) The shuffle is securely held in your wetsuit collar and you can preserve the connection in there without significantly disturbing the unit during riding (armband etc.)
3) The headphones seem to be more or less normal headphones otherwise

My favorite line from the Gadget Lab article is: "You might not want to swim with them (your MP3 player is still not waterproof, remember?)"

Well technically.... XZSD

Thanks Kief for the suggestion I am going to give it a shot

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Re: Input for decent waterproof headphones.

Post by windhorny » Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:42 am

You are giving me an idea I might have to try. Make a mini water proof boom box that bolts to the board. that way there is nothing to worry about in terms of wires and headphones. Sound can easily travel through a waterproof bag. I used to do this at our swimming pool as a kid. I would take the mylar used for covering model airplane wings and shrink it over the speakers. The rest was a sealed box. I would put them under the ladder rungs in the pool and the buoyancy would hold them in place. Worked amazingly well. of course that is under water and sound does travel pretty well. especially the higher frequencies. bass, not so much. Then again whales communicate with low freq. for miles. Dolphins seem to use high pitch noises. Maybe it all travels well, who knows.

Maybe Jason Fass can donate a Jambox to try out? :)

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Re: Input for decent waterproof headphones.

Post by jbirdmarin » Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:52 am

Borrow someone's Blue Surge - you might like it. There's got to be someone at Alameda who can loan you some.

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Post by jwest21 » Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:05 am

What about a setup that uses Bluetooth so you eliminate that Achilles heel headphone jack problem? I rock a cyfi water resistant Bluetooth speaker for snowboarding and imagine there has to be something similar that's full waterproof. I love the idea of strapping it onto your board and blasting tunes out to everyone nearby.

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Re: Input for decent waterproof headphones.

Post by joemount2004 » Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:07 am

I'm gonna try this one out in conjunction with the Blue Surge headphones...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003O9 ... HUPKC8K4HS

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Re: Input for decent waterproof headphones.

Post by windhorny » Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:40 am

I guess 1 perk to having your iphone is you could use it in an emergency if there was reception.

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