Neptune Underwater MP3 Player

Product Description

Features

• Bone Conduction Audio Transmission MP3 player with Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
• 4GB of Storage
• High Contrast OLED Screen
• Hydrodynamic Clips
• Please refer the User Manual under product description

Top Reviews

Don't throw the box away
by Denise Scarboro (1 out of 5 stars)
March 17, 2015

Finally sent back the third set and gave up purchasing any more. The bone conduction technology is the absolute best way to go and the Finis Swimp3 1G (blue and white) was great, lasted 18 months. Got another just like it and it lasted over a year. Then the 'New' 2G (black and yellow) came out from Finis. It lasted about a year, one ear piece quit working. So, fall 2014 I got the Finis newest Swimp3, worked for about 2 weeks then the computer stopped recognizing it when I plugged it in. Got my second one through Amazon, no problem. That one lasted about a month before it started doing the same thing. I was pretty frustrated. I actually tried to communicate with Finis but they blew me off. So, I tried ear buds and an IPod, which did not work for me. I tried one last Finis Swimp3, when it started acting up after about a month I did some research and found a blog where other people were having the same kinds of issues with the USB connection. I followed the recommendations of bending it prongs which helped for a few times but even that didn't help after another few weeks. I have filed a complaint with Amazon that this product should not be sold until Finis figures out why the connections stop working after a few weeks. I have not been able to find any other product that has bone induction technology.
↭ 🍁 ↭
it works wonderfully. It has made my swim time great
by Patrick H. Nguyen (2 out of 5 stars)
September 2, 2014

First off, I will state that I've owned 2 of these devices now. The reason is because it when it works, it works wonderfully. It has made my swim time great. I can swim endless laps without getting bored. If I'm judging just purely off of functionality, I would've rated it 5 stars. The audio is good enough, it's easy to load songs, etc. I swim daily for about an hour each session.

However, I'm downgrading my previous review after 2 failed devices. They will not stay functional for long periods of time. My first machine lasted from middle of January 2014 to April 2014. My second machine lasted from middle of May 2014 until middle of August. Both failed for the same reason (water eventually gets into the main unit) though the exact reason is unclear. The first time, somehow the wire got exposed even though I carefully use the device. The second time, there was no apparent exposure but somehow water got in. There is a packaging design that I feel contributes to the wearing out of the wire. When you first open the box, you'll see the wire tightly pulled and crimped so that it'll fit into the relatively small box. Anyway that uses any wires (like earphones or audio cables) know that you can't stress the cable or crimp the wire or it'll damage it.

Note, there is no warranty on these devices. I submitted a request to Finis and they responded by sending me a bill for $172 for a new unit which I promptly refused as you can buy a new device through Amazon or anywhere else for much cheaper!

I'm praying that someone else releases a bone-conducting MP3 player as I can't trust Finis. I don't like wearing more traditional earphones with waterproof bags and caps.
↭ 🍁 ↭
DO NOT BUY...Lasted only a year and customer service was worse than worthless
by MGD (1 out of 5 stars)
July 25, 2016

I purchased these headphones a year ago and was initially very happy with them (I would have ranked it 4-5 stars out of the box). I was willing to deal with the somewhat cumbersome download, MP3 conversion, upload process as the bone conduction sound was appealing to avoid the in the ear headphones. It worked well for about 13 months and then the waterproof device was no longer waterproof. Condensation developed in the device and it stopped working. When I contacted customer service they offered their Duo ($89 on Amazon) for $75. Are they kidding me? They really want me to spend more money on their products that clearly make it up to the warranty period and then die? Read the reviews on people who have used the device for an appropriate period, listen to them and save yourself some money. I would have ranked this 4-5 stars out of the box also.
↭ 🍁 ↭
Fair at best
by waterdog (2 out of 5 stars)
December 20, 2013

Swimming is like watching paint dry, only more mind numbing. I bought this on the recommendation of two other swimmers who owned the previous model. They were very positive on it. I have a problem with ear buds so did not look into competitors that use ear bud setups.

Pros:

It plays music in the water.

Cons:

Poor sound quality, think transistor radio.

Based on the way it uses water to transfer sound to your ear drums, the sound clarity and volume drastically change every time you rotate your head (every stroke).

The mp3 part comes off often when pushing off the wall.

Cost, considering sound quality, etc... too expensive.

Bottom line:

To even approach decent sound you would have to buy ear plugs and stay underwater the entire time. I did not expect mp3 quality music but also did not expect this poor of sound and the high level of variability in sound volume/quality from second to second. If you do not have issues with ear buds I would research the products that use apple mp3's and ear buds. If so , and swimming brings time to a scratching halt, you might consider these. To be honest, they fall off so often and the sound is all over the place, I might abandon these all together. I am going to try ear plugs and try to figure a way to better secure it to my goggles.
Would rate higher if cheaper but for this price I'd expect sound quality signficantly better than this. Not standard mp3 sound quality but these are pretty bad.
↭ 🍁 ↭
Brand Comparision - FINIS Neptunes vs. Waterproof iPod by Underwater Audio
by Juliet (2 out of 5 stars)
June 8, 2014

My husband and I have owned 9 pairs of Finis underwater MP3 players since the first generation (each set usually lasted about a year and a half with daily use), and for years, they were the best thing out there. But this is clearly no longer true. We have tried / compared many systems over the years, and The Waterproof iPod Shuffle by Underwater Audio now seems to be the best product. We know the earlier iPods were not of high quality, but things have clearly changed. When my new FINIS Neptunes kept dying, even after sending them back, I broke loyalty and tried the iPod product (my review is below). First, if you're wondering whether it's worth it to buy SOME sort of underwater MP3 system, it absolutely is if you're a regular lap-swimmer--a fantastic experience to have music to swim to.

PROS OF WATERPROOF IPOD SHUFFLE (by Underwater Audio)

First, if you buy a waterproof iPod, note that there are many manufacturers out there--not all of them good. However, the Underwater Audio company gets outstanding reviews, which is why we went with them. The unit has:
- Outstanding sound (far better than FINIS bone conduction system)
- Easy wear (clip the iPod on your suit or goggles instead of having a bulky system sit on the back of your head, as the Neptune does)
- Easy Use (the iPod is just easier to navigate than the new Neptune interface)
- Comfortable Fit (ear pieces come in various sizes)
- Effective Seal (even with flip-turns)
- Plays audio books! (and anything iPods can play--in contrast to Neptune, which can't play audio books)
- Attractive and comes in many different colors (in contrast to Neptunes)
- No need to clip it to your goggles where it can interfere with your goggle seal
- Completely water tight (in comparison to Neptunes, which tends to let water in)
- Far better customer service (in comparison to FINIS, who initially didn't want to honor my warranty)

PROS OF NEPTUNES (in comparison to the iPod)

The only pro of Neptunes over the iPod that I can see is that the bone conduction system, which renders poor sound (and inconsistent sound when the head is above water vs. below water) at least does not require ear pieces that can irritate swimmers' ears. I personally have had a lot of trouble with ear plugs causing swimmer's ear, etc. However, I use alcohol on the iPod ear pieces each time and so far have not had a problem.

CONS OF NEPTUNES
- Poor sound. The bone conduction system makes sound muffled, in general, and inconsistent when your head is above water vs. below water. Don't get me wrong--it's great if it's all you have, but the iPod sound is far superior.
- Bulky and awkward to wear (a bulky unit sits on the back of your head). In contrast, the smaller iPod clips to your suit or goggles. The OLD FINIS underwater players were much better in this regard--there was no bulky unit, just the ear pieces.
- Audio pieces can interfere with googles seal, because they are large and clip to goggles (whereas iPod ear pieces go directly into your ears)
- Hard to use (the new Neptune buttons are just harder to press correctly than iPod buttons are).
- You cannot play audio books on a Neptune
- Not water tight. Moisture has seeped into all 3 Neptunes we have owned.
- Difficult customer service
__________

Just for the record, here's my story with this last pair of Neptunes I had, which caused me to try the iPod in the first place: The sound on my new Neptunes was skipping right off the bat before we even immersed them in water for the first time, and then they quit working altogether after that. First, I called the customer service number but had to leave a message (they apparently don't answer their phone or at least their brief voicemail did not indicate that there's a time that they do). Then I emailed and they emailed back telling me to log onto their site and open a job ticket. I'm not even a member of their site--I purchased through Amazon. So, I was frustrated after the phone message and email dead ends. Finally I left a frustrated message and received an email from someone who really did respond. But it took about 5 emails back and forth and a lot of pressure for me to convince them to make good on their warranty. First they said well, I must have gotten water inside the headset. I said well, if so, it's not due to user error because there's no error I can make to let water in (their old models did have that possible user error because they had a cap to pop on and off to protect the outlet from the water, so users could conceivably forget to put the cap on--and that's how Finis would try to dodge their warranty). These weren't working well right out of the box. I pointed out that this is the 8th set of these I have owned over the years, so I know how to use them, and other Amazon reviewers have had the same issue, saying that there is apparently a bad "batch." So they took my serial number and said they would get back with me, but they were still questioning it. Finally, I received a new pair in exchange for my old pair. It just shouldn't take so much effort. In the olden days, Finis was known for NOT making good on their warranties (though we had no reason to test that); more recently reviewers have said they are much better--that they can be contacted now and do respond. I think they still have a ways to go for quality service, and they clearly need a better product if they plan to compete with the underwater iPod.
↭ 🍁 ↭
FINIS SWIMP3 WILL NOT LAST.... LIKE THE IDEA - BUT IT WON'T LAST AS LONG AS IT SHOULD
by Swimmer (2 out of 5 stars)
March 24, 2015

I like the overall design but this product just doesn't last. I have had several Finis SWIMP3 devices over the years and you can guarantee the wires will break between the MP3 and the (ear) cheek pads. This product is good for only one year, one and a half years at the very best. If you don't mind spending $120 every year for a new SWIMP3 then you will like this product.

NOTE TO FINIS: Upgrade the design and allow for replacing the wires - there is going to be stress on the wires as swimmers put on and take off goggles. Be smart and anticipate this, design the product so that the wires can be easily replaced and send the product with an extra pair of wires - this isn't rocket science. Then again, engineered obsolescence is always a possibility....
↭ 🍁 ↭
reviews from 2014, 2015 and 2016.
by melwest (1 out of 5 stars)
February 22, 2015

july 13, 2015 -- I originally reviewed this product in February, after owning it for a month. I gave it 4 stars at the time, because of superior sound and apparent ease of use compared to the unit it replaced. I am lowering that rating to 1 star and warning anyone out there about the terrible customer service experience. I hasten to add that for three decades I was in retail and understand that customer expectations may be unrealistic. But the delaying tactics, the steps and solutions offered by Finis defy solid customer service. It places most of the burden on the customer and offers little in return.

After five months of ownership, the neptune unit stopped functioning. I could not turn it on, period. Curiously, when I plugged it into the USB charging cable, the unit appeared to go through its routine, and charged. I could add and remove music files. However, unplugged it was dead, morte, toit, DOA, etc.

I contacted Finis support and was pleasantly surprised when they responded quickly. I explained the problem at length. They asked for the lot number of the unit and proof of purchase -- very reasonable requests. I provided it within 20 minutes of getting their email.

Then they asked that I try resetting the unit. I did. It didn't work. I reported back to Finis. Again I told them the unit was DOA -- couldn't be turned on. I also noted that when I unplugged the unit, it continued to show "USB Connected" on the LED screen, and I couldn't turn it off. It stayed that way until the battery ran down. I told this to Finis, too.

Then, two days later, they asked for me to make sure only MP3 songs were loaded. I did. I advised Finish of this.

Another day, and now they offer to send me a USB cable or for me to send the unit back to them for "further testing." Really? By the time this is all done the summer will have passed. What Finis should do is what Amazon, Verizon and other reputable companies do: get my credit card information, send me a new unit ASAP, and charge my credit card if the defective unit is not returned within a reasonable period of time. This is the opposite of what good customer service should be about. So beware, should you have problems, expect a run-around from Finish customer support.
---

Below is my original 4* review.
---

the unit it replaced Have been using this for about a month, several times a week in an indoor pool. It replaced the earlier Finis2 model, which I had for about 3 years. On the old one, the wire attached to one of the ear pieces pulled out over time and eventually cracked. The problem may have been caused because the older version, bought at a sporting goods store, did not come with a mesh pouch, so it would get snagged on other stuff in the my bag. This version, the neptune, comes with a nice mesh bag that I strongly recommend you use.

That aside, the quality of the sound is much better than the earlier finis. I was skeptical about the size and weight of the control panel, but it really doesn't cause any problems when doing laps (crawl). Also, the controls are more responsive than in the earlier finis2 version. Not sure of the need for an LCD screen to show me which song is being played -- it is attached to the back of your goggle strap while swimming -- but I guess it doesn't hurt. The way the 'speakers' attach to the swim goggle seem better and more comfortable, too.

Overall, a worthwhile improvement -- as long as it doesn't fall apart too soon. Just remember to store the Neptune in its bag and you'll minimize damage to the unit.
--

Sept. 4, 2016 -- I bought the replacement to the Finis 2, the Finis Neptune, in January 2015. It stopped working in the last week, first sporadically, now permanently. Spending more than $100 for a device should mean it will last. This is my second Finis device for listening to music while swimming laps. It is also my last.
↭ 🍁 ↭
Worked for two months, replacement won't turn on
by SciFiFan (2 out of 5 stars)
March 19, 2014

My first unit worked fine for two months, then stopped being recognized by computers. Still charges when plugged into computer but with the wall-charger icon, not the "usb connected" icon it's supposed to have. So I can still listen to the songs I initially loaded,but can't change them. It's not a computer problem as I've tried it on three different computers with the same result.

The Finis site is very frustrating; it says I have to open a support ticket but won't let me actually do it: keeps demanding I register, which I did, then log in, which I do, then says invalid username/password in the support section even though the main site recognizes me. Same result on multiple attempts.

So it's usable but can't change songs, and I can't get any help from Finis. Not a very satisfying experience.

Update (April 2): I was finally able to contact someone at Finis. After trying and failing everything they suggested to make it work, they had me send it in for replacement at my expense ($9.80).

The new unit arrived yesterday. The computer recognized it and songs loaded. However the power button does not work. The screen stays blank no matter how long the button is held (supposed to turn on after 3-4 seconds holding the button.)

I again had the exact same problem trying to open another support ticket on Finis' website. It would let me log in to the site, but not to a support ticket; kept saying username and password not recognized even though I was logged into the main site.

I have sent an email to my previous contact, now awaiting a reply.

This makes two defective units in a row, and I am out the shipping money for the first and probably will be out the same amount for the second. This unit was obviously not tested prior to package and shipping. Finis' quality control process is obviously deficient.

I would give up on it entirely were it not for the fact that my first unit did work well for two months and I continue to hope (against the evidence) that I will get a good unit that will work for years. Still, given my experience, I cannot recommmend this product.
↭ 🍁 ↭
A terrible tease!
by 666k9s (1 out of 5 stars)
December 2, 2015

Worked for one hour long work out. Sounded really great, transformed my swim. I was super happy. Then it stopped working when I pushed the back button, the upload folder disappeared and I wasn't able to safely eject the device from my computer, nor was I able to upload any more music. When the back button was pushed, the 'charging' display came on and stayed on, preventing any other functionality of the device. I started my return 'ticket' on the Finis website. Two days later they suggested the new, more expensive Duo as a replacement. Frankly, I found that to be very distasteful. I will be returning the device to Amazon for a site gift card. I may try another unit, because my first swim with the device was SO awesome. I just really wish that it worked consistently and right out of the box of course. That first swim turned out to be a terrible tease!
↭ 🍁 ↭
The old swimp3 was better...
by Melissa Goldman (2 out of 5 stars)
November 2, 2014

I am not new to Finis--I had the original blue/white Swimp3. Aside from the fact that I found some of the Mac compatibility issues annoying, I was basically happy with it. I actually bought it several years ago but only began using it regularly about five months ago. It died last week--hence my review of this new product.

I find myself in a difficult position because I am finding this thing so irritating I want to throw it into a wall; however, for reasons unrelated to this review, I can't use earbuds (which seem like they would fall out anyway), so basically, this is my only option if I want to swim with music. So in spite of how much I am hating on this device at the moment, I am likely to keep it.

First, you can't access all the fancy new controls when it's charging. But hey, I'm patient. So I waited three hours for it to charge so I could finally play with it.

Personally, I think the old design was better. I don't know about everybody else, but I really don't care about the screen and advanced controls. Since the screen is at the back of my head while I'm swimming, it's not like I can do anything in the moment. I could control my old Swimp3 easily without looking at it--not gonna happen here. Also, it's huge. I realize this might be necessary after quadrupling the storage of my original device, but really--what is the point of 60 hours of playback when it only holds a charge for eight? It's not like an iPod where you're listening to it while it's charging--you can't, even if you wanted to. And why would you want to--it only sounds good in the water. I swim a mile every day, and this takes me about 10 or 12 songs max. I like to switch up my playlists every few weeks, and I take some care in putting them together--starting off slower, some faster stuff in the middle, slower at the end to cool down. I also make them a set length of time so I don't have to count laps.

This brings me to major annoyance #2. On my old device, I just dragged the playlist from iTunes and voila, it appeared on my Swimp3 in order. Not with the Neptune. The manual says you must drag your songs in a folder if you want them in order. Since you can't drag playlist folders from iTunes, I accomplished this by creating a folder on my desktop and dragging the whole thing onto the Neptune. Did it work? Nope. So I tried to trick it by labeling the tracks 1-12. Still played in random order. I still haven't figured out how it decides.

And then there's the matter of the crazy Chinese-looking characters that show up instead of the song title. So even if I gave a rat about the screen, it's mostly useless anyway.

Being a stubborn type, and not a technophobe, I did finally get the playlist in order by adding the songs to Favorites--one at a time. This was not intuitive. And you couldn't re-order the songs after adding, so when I thought I was done and realized I had missed track 4, well--I had to delete 5-12 and start over. This involved scrolling through the random list and pushing at least three buttons to add the song. This was a ridiculously horsey process. Honestly, if I wanted to put more than a dozen songs on the thing, I would return it. I actually considered doing just that when I found an older model on eBay--not as old as my original, but the same style. But then I started reading about its Mac compatibility issues, and well, that sounds infinitely worse. Besides, I've invested hours getting this one set up the way I want it.

Now to be honest, I've written this before even taking this monstrosity into the pool. But I really don't even care how much better it's supposed to sound. The old one met my needs. It stored 250 songs, which should be enough for anybody, at least for this purpose. If I could create different playlists and store them on the device, that would be great. But unless there's some trick that isn't in the manual, no can do.

I guess I won't be switching my playlists very often, since it's not just a simple drag-and-drop affair anymore. But anyway, I'll update my review if I get in the pool tomorrow and find myself wowed. But I'm already unenthusiastic about the prospect of swimming a mile with this huge thing on the back of my head. And after reading all the reviews, I'm kind of annoyed that my old device kicked it after just months of use. On principle, I didn't even want to buy the Neptune. But swimming with music is like any new technology. It's not something you actually need, but once you get used to it...

I will say that I think the bone conduction technology is great. Unlike other players that involve earphones, this one is much more likely to stay put. For those who complain about sound quality, what do you really expect under water? The old one sounded fine to me, so if this one is improved in that regard, great. Because the other "upgrades" did little to improve it in my estimation. I suppose I can hope that Finis will take everyone's feedback and take the best of everything for the next generation. Since it seems I'm not the only one to have a Finis device that broke prematurely, I'll likely be ordering another within the year. Going by the reviews and comments here, it does seem that the company takes an interest in making things right.

*If this is not the "Neptune Underwater MP3 Player" product you were looking for, you can check the other results by clicking this link.  Details were last updated on Oct 3, 2024 08:25 +08.