Customer Reviews

H2O Audio H3 Waterproof Headphones

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

I was a little concerned after reading the reviews for the other H2O Audio headphones. People said the sound got muffled when water got in your ears. I have not found that at all with these. The sound is great. They help keep water out of my ears and are very comfortable. I recommend these for sure. I use them with the Otterbox waterproof iPod case and I love that too.

I am very happy with these. I have re-started swimming for triathlon training (after almost a 20-year layoff), and these have made the workouts tolerable. (I love biking and running - just not swimming.)
The sound is nothing to rave about, but it's certainly enough as your head is in and out of the water. Sometimes the sound is tinny. Sometimes you get enough water in your ear to completely block it out; then you just clear your ear and the sound comes back.
I highly recommend these for water sports if you must have tunes. Don't expect high-dollar, high-quality sound; that doesn't exist in the water, unless you're a humpback whale. You can expect to enjoy your tunes in an environment for which they were never created, and I applaud that.

I was very excited to get my waterproof headphones and Otterbox case for my iPod to make my long swims a little more entertaining. I was very disappointed at the fit and comfort of these headphones, however. I have smaller than average ears, and quickly became very frustrated with trying to fit these headphones. I tried them several times, several ways (with the silicon attachments and without, attached to the head band and unattached) and I finally gave up. They kept falling out and they were so uncomfortable. I even tried to tuck them in my swimming cap, but that did not help at all. I plan to return them and try a different brand. If you have small ears, I would pass on these headphones.

They work as advertised, couple with my Otterbox for iPod Nano. Would give five stars except the headphone speakers tend to pivot just a bit while swimming, requiring an occasional readjustment. The harness stays secure on my ears while I am doing freestyle laps and they are in no danger at all of coming off. I clip the Otterbox onto the back of my shorts, and the coiled wire from the headphones trails down my back to the Nano. Wires are out of the way and won't get tangled at all. The seal seems to work for me, though sometimes it works a little loose--a small amount of water can get in the ear, but not very much. Again, a readustment seems to do the trick. Above water sound quality is tinny; when in the water, the water seems to make a seal on your ear and the quality is quite good, plenty enough to enjoy your music. I recommend this product.

First, a quick description of how I use the product: I swim every morning for about 30 minutes (at an average pace) with 10 minutes of sprint intervals at the conclusion of my workout. I also do some training using a kickboard.

The initial problem you will find with the headphones is getting a snug/waterproof fit. The first couple days I was somewhat frustrated until I figured out a way that worked for me. I chose not to use the brace/headband that comes with it, I found it to move as my body moved, which pulled the earplugs out of my ears. Also, at first I tried ramming the plugs deep in my ear thinking this would create a better waterproof barrier. I was wrong. I then, stuck them lightly in my ears creating a slight suction, which worked well. Another thing I found helpful was to tuck the wire/clip from the headphones into the band of my goggles (on the backside of my head) so it wouldnt lay on my back/neck causing the wire to pull the headphones out when I turned my head. The bottom line, when fitting your headphones, is to remember that everyones head, ears, swimming style/stroke is different and it may take a little while to find what works for you. But, please take the time to figure it out, you will be glad you did.

Once you get the fitting figured out, you must be reasonable in your expectations of the product. The sound is suprisingly good, but dont try to compare it with top of the line Bose headphones. Also, I found that on average I adjust/re-fit my headphones about 1-2 times during my workout. This might sound like a pain, but its really not. It only takes seconds to get it done.

In the end, I am so glad I decided to purchase these headphones. We all know how boring swimming can be, and to finally be able to listen to music while your swimming is the best thing since.....

UPDATED REVIEW: I JUST PURCHASED H2O AUDIO'S NEW SURGE HEADPHONES AND THEY ARE BY FAR BETTER THAN THESE!!!!!! SPEND THE EXTRA 15 DOLLARS AND YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!!!!

This is the third set of waterproof headphones I have used for my exercise lap swimming. I thought these were the ones that would work. They were much improved over the H2 earphones I had used earlier. The H3 earphones fit, I could hear the music while swimming, the coiled cord reached my iPod on my waistband but did not move around while swimming. However, after about six months of use the left ear began cutting out, a few weeks later the right ear also failed. The warranty is 3 months. This was the same type of failure I have with a set of H2O audio h2 headphones a year ago.

Being curious I dissected the headphones. The wires are very thin and have lacquer type insulation. The motion of my head while swimming wore through the insulation shorting out the earphone. This was the same failure as I had with the H2 earphones.

One other item, when the H2 earphones failed I sent emails to H20 Audio to tell about the insulation problem. I never received a reply from H20 Audio.

Based on two failed products the next set of swimming earphone I purchase will not be from H20 audio.

The effectiveness of the unit totally depends on your head shape/size. I could individually get each earpiece to seal in my ear canal, but as soon as I let go the configuration of the device would break the seal. It is hard to explain, but in order for the earpiece to be deeply sealed in the ear, the top of the connector has to be angled out, away from the head. This is not possible whether attached to the supplied headband or attached to your goggles. Without being able to seal the earpieces, the device is worthless. Other than that, the idea and the case are great for Ipod Shuffle. Unfortunately, the earpieces are the most critical element and were poorly designed.

In order to get them to create the needed seal, be comfortable with your goggles on, and get good uninterrupted sound, you want to wear them under the ear instead of over it. They are ten times better this way, and they actually feel much more natural and less awkward. It is almost as if this is what the engineers had in mind, but someone in marketing must have nixed it. The sound is decent. I don't know if anything better exists. I use it with the Otterbox for Nano 3G. I thought it would be too bulky using the arm strap and swimming, but when you attach it to the the back of your arm, it really doesn't get in the way at all or create any noticeable drag for the average swimmer.

I'm a 6'2'' adult male, and by no means of giant proportions. Yet the H3 headphones kept slipping out of one ear or the other (or both), as the headset is clearly meant for smaller heads. The ear pieces made a decent seal over my ears when they were in, but the size problem kept breaking the seal, flooding my ear canal with water, and eliminating sound from that ear. I am thus far not at all pleased with my experience with them. Can't the H20 Audio folks make the earpiece extensions a little longer?

I am going to try removing the ear pieces from the plastic mantle, plugging them in my ears, and trying to hold them in place with a neoprene headband I just ordered -- this arrangement seems to work with the waterproof earbud design. If that works, great. Otherwise, these are going back. Hopefully, the headband will also help with the enormous noise problem caused when rhythmically lifting and submerging my head during any stroke but backstroke (and kickboarding). I listen to podcasts, and even for the few seconds in which both ear pieces stayed in before popping out from the size issue, it is extremely difficult to hear during these strokes.

I bought this as an upgrade from the H2 headsets (the white ones) - just as the previous generation these work well and appear solid (I use these kitesurfing and they stay firmly in place). The headset is comfortable overall.

The sound quality is better than the H2 (more depth), but it is still not comparable to the Apple headphones. There is a somewhat hall-like effect in it, that depending on your activity changes (sounds very different submerged).
Overall a good product that does the job.