Home > Consumer Reviews > Speedo Aquabeat 1GB Waterproof MP3 Player

Some specifics: The box itself is very light, easy to operate, and about the size of a box of matches, or the video screen of an iPod Classic. It's also really light.
The headphones are robust, with three sizes of earplug, which is useful.
This machine works - I have to say, it's great to be able to swim with audio. But you're reading this trying to find out what the downside is, so I'll tell you - you will spend time fiddling with the earphones. I have reasonably large ears - not freakshow, but I'm a tall guy and they are in proportion to my head, and they took three swims to get in properly. And in so doing, were a little uncomfortable. Now I'm used to them, and have the correct ear plug size on them, I am loving the sound, which is a little better than radio - you won't be getting amazing bass response here unless you ram those suckers so far in the tips come off (this happened to me at one point - tweezers and a lot of calm!)
With all this said, those are the only downside. Light, easy to use, and a lot of fun. And, once you're practiced at using them, great to show off in the pool with. I have already had two people ask me where I got them from, and it's only been a week or so. Recommended.

Please do not make the same mistake I made when choosing this product. I did all my research, reading all the reviews and studying all of the pictures both on Amazon and on the Speedo site and came to the conclusion that this product, and in particular the earphone design (which look like they will stay in your ears while swimming), was the one to choose. Imagine my disappointment when I opened the box to find that they have completely redesigned the earphones; they now resemble any standard headphones, with rounded rubberised ear buds (not the ridged ones pictured) and remain in your ears for exactly zero seconds in or out of the water...
I am returning this item to eCom Cameras who have been very helpful and understanding of the issue (a true measure of a retailer); I have also complained directly to Speedo who said these headphones were replaced due to people complaining that the old (still pictured) version got stuck in their ears (lucky them!!). Steer clear if you actually want to hear any music when swimming!!
Speedo AquaBeat Waterproof MP3 Player (3meters, 1GB Hard Drive) BLACKSPEEDO - Speedo Aquabeat 1 GB MP3 Player in pinkSpeedo Aquabeat

I bought this with some trepidation as it was hard to find a review from someone who had actually bought and tried out this great sounding product. However, rest easy, as it does exactly what it promises. I went swimming with it on today and enjoyed listening to my favourite podcast as I ploughed up and down the pool doing my laps. It made training far less boring than it can be and also motivated me to actually go to the pool in the first place. My only problem is I must now learn how to laugh at the same time as swimming as I like to listen to comedy. You can also swap the waterproof earphones for your own regular ones in order to use it outside of the pool, and it pops in my pocket easily when I want to go for a run. It is easy to put your mp3 files onto the aquabeat as you can just drag and drop from your itunes library into the aquabeat window that opens on your PC when you connect it via the supplied USB cable. I haven't been disappointed, it's a great bit of kit.

Found out about this little gadget after seeing it worn by another swimmer, a few clicks on google and there it was. I was a little hesitant about buying it after reading the inconsistent reviews on Amazon. Especially the scathing one, from the guy that sent it back disgustedly due to the headphones falling out all the time. Well I ordered it, and tried it out the second it arrived. Being somewhat retarded when it comes to computers, I was dissapointed that I simply couldn't drag music from iTunes and drop it into desktop icon of aquabeat. However a non-retard looked at it and simply converted tracks I wanted to export into Mp3 version (Advanced then create Mp3 version - as easy as that)the files just flew over. To be honest when I first used it I almost drowned. I found it a bizzare experience, I felt a bit disoriented, found it wierd I couldn't hear myself breathing and wasn't impressed by the sound quality, especially underwater (Dhur) Anyhow I gave it another go the following day, I made sure that the headphones were properly in the old ears and set off. I had a whale of a time (though not sized like a whale an expression you'll understand, I'm quite lithe actually) the sound quality was great the experience was fantastic, I think I swam double the lengths that I do usually, I had to make myself get out of the pool, after an hour and a half, when I did I got straight back in as a track I love came back on. Buy this thing and give it a chance. I am not entirely sure how the headphones fell out of the other guys ears, they seem to fit in there perfectly, and they have that earframe for extra security. BUY IT!

I was so excited that after over 20 years of swim training that I might finally be able to listen to music whilst I do my laps that I had to get one of these!!
I am beyond disappointed with this!! If you are a very gentle swimmer then I am sure it is fine, but I swim quite fast and this obviously causes drag as you push through the water. I swam up and down trying to fit the earphone correctly so they simply didn't fall off!! No ammount of moving adjusting or pushing into my ears helped; any signifigant speed and off they came again! Rubbish! Then there is the unit itself, this is better, but attached to your goggle strap it can cause the strap to roll down due to its weight.. so one decent tumble turn or some speed again and your eyes are full of water. Rubbish!
I brought the Speedo version of this thinking they might have allowed for, and tested this product with some pro-swimmers who train hard!! You must be joking!! If you swim even medium fast - this product is NOT for you! Feel absolutely ripped off by a seriously flawed product. Returned the day after I got it!