How do you listen to music underwater?

Quick Overview

Listening to music underwater is possible using specialized bone conduction headphones like the Shokz OpenSwim Pro, which transmit sound through the cheekbones, bypassing the eardrum, allowing for clear audio even when submerged, unlike traditional waterproof speakers which struggle with sound propagation in water.

Key Points: The primary method for listening to music underwater involves bone conduction headphones, such as the Shokz OpenSwim Pro, which vibrate the bones in the face to transmit sound directly to the cochlea, bypassing the eardrum. Waterproof Bluetooth speakers tested, like the Monster S620, provided poor sound quality underwater due to sound waves reflecting off the surface and being muffled by the water. The Shokz OpenSwim Pro utilizes Bluetooth 5.4 and has 4GB of MP3 storage, allowing users to load music directly onto the device for use underwater, as Bluetooth signals are disrupted by water. The underwater speaker tested, the Oceaneers DRS-8, uses a piezoelectric flexural disc transducer encased in epoxy resin, designed to transmit sound effectively through water. The Oceaneers DRS-8 underwater speaker setup requires an external amplifier/power source and is designed for applications like diver recall systems and synchronized swimming. The sound quality from the Shokz OpenSwim Pro underwater was surprisingly clear, although the bass response was noted as too heavy when compared to the speaker's performance above water.

Context: The video explores different methods for listening to music while swimming underwater, contrasting the performance of standard waterproof Bluetooth speakers with specialized bone conduction headphones designed for in-water use. The host demonstrates the limitations of conventional waterproof audio devices in water and tests the superior clarity offered by bone conduction technology, specifically featuring the Shokz OpenSwim Pro headphones and an Oceaneers DRS-8 underwater speaker system.

Detailed Analysis

The video investigates how to listen to music underwater, concluding that bone conduction headphones are significantly superior to standard waterproof speakers for this application. The host first tests a waterproof Bluetooth speaker (Monster S620, IPX8 rated) submerged in a pool (03:40), noting that the sound is muffled and distorted, with low frequencies not traveling well, and reflections off the surface causing poor quality. He then introduces the Oceaneers DRS-8 underwater speaker system (03:54), a professional setup using a piezoelectric flexural disc transducer that transmits sound by vibrating the entire mass of the speaker, requiring an external amplifier. The host also tests the Shokz OpenSwim Pro bone conduction headphones (11:06), which transmit sound directly to the cochlea by vibrating the bones near the ear, bypassing the eardrum. When tested underwater, the Shokz headphones provided surprisingly clear audio, even though the bass was noted as being too pronounced compared to above-water performance. The key advantage of bone conduction is that the sound path does not rely on air or water interfaces near the eardrum, making it highly effective underwater, unlike standard speakers where sound transmission into the water is inefficient and reflective.