Great Sound; No Headphones
Winner of a 2013 Red Dot Design Award, Finis' Neptune MP3 Player boasts revolutionary sound technology in a waterproof music device. Instead of relying on clumsy ear buds, which rarely stay put during flip turns and garble your Katy Perry tunes, the Finis Neptune employs bone conduction technology. Two transmitters attach to your goggle's strap and rest on your cheekbones. The Neptune sends vibrations through the cheekbone, and delivers crystal clear music directly to the inner ear. It's this bone conduction technology which allows it to work great while fully submerged in water. Finis' previous model, the SwiMP3, also used the technology to deliver high quality sound, but lacks an LED screen.
Music, Books, Podcasts, and More!
While most other waterproof MP3 players typically hold about 1-2GB maximum, the Neptune MP3 Player is able to hold up to 4GB of data. This means that you can upload hours of music, audio books, podcasts and anything else available as a supported audio file. The player is compatible with iTunes and can play AAC, MP3, and WMA files. Finis includes a USB cable that allows you to charge the device and upload more data simultaneously. One charge on its lithium-ion battery provides 8 hours of play time. The player also comes standard with a drawstring bag for safe storage.
Sleek, Non-Obstructive Design
The Neptune was designed to fit comfortably around the head without creating drag. The 3-piece design consists of two speakers and a control screen. The speakers easily clip to any standard goggle or mask strap and rest parallel against the cheekbones. The design is deliberately sleek to minimize drag around the head and the control panel - which sits on the back of the head - features a high contrast OLED screen. The screen displays the song, artist, and play status of each song, and offers playback options including: play, pause, and skip.
In addition to it's great audio performance, the Neptune was the recipient of the Red Dot design award in 2013. This international product design prize is presented to new products for their innovative qualities, aesthetics, and, of course, functionality.
The AquaGear Opinion
The Finis Neptune MP3 Player was a real treat to test in the AquaGear pool. Swimmers were blown away by the sound quality. Keep in mind that fully submerging the device allows you to experience the best sound quality. Because of this, breaststrokers and flyers may not have as clear an experience as a freestyle swimmer. Due to its substantial 4GB of storage (that's over 1000 songs!), testers thought this device would be fun for long distance swims and endurance sets. And, because the Neptune rests on the cheeks rather than in the ears, swimmers are still able to hear lifeguard warnings, approaching boats, and their coach's instructions.
The Bottom Line
If you're training session desperately needs a motivation boost, you need to get your hands on a Finis Neptune. Easy loading, waterproof to 3 meters, and gold-plated connections make for the perfect underwater workout companion.