H2O Audio Amphibx Armband

The two newest products from H2O Audio, the SURGE Waterproof headphones and the Amphibx Waterproof Armband, now allow you to listen to your favorite tunes wherever there is water; whether in the shower, bath, swimming pool or sea. They are also priced at a reasonable £49.95 ($60 USD) for the headphones and £54.95 ($70 USD) for the armband (£64.95 for the large size version). For active music listeners who want to protect their MP3 player from water damage and listen while on-the-go, read on for our take on this unique water-proof armband case.

Design and Functionality

The case does its job and is definitely waterproof, so you don’t need to worry about potentially damaging your MP3 player, iPhone or other portable music device! However, what I really liked about the armband was the fact that the case has a clear plastic front which allows the touchscreen of my iPhone to be used perfectly well. In fact, it would be perfectly possible to play a game on my iPhone whilst, for example, having a bath. One minor issue I noticed was that when the armband was applied all the air was compressed which puffed up the case, resulting in not being able to use the device’s controls. I assume that this was intentionally done as part of the design so that the armband will float. It was simple to get rid of the air simply by opening the clamp and closing it again.

Amphibx Top View		Back View

Features

• LatchTight™ Locking Closure - Provides a 100% watertight and secure seal up to 12ft/3.6m underwater
• ClearTouch Window™ - Enables full operation of touch and click wheel controls
• SealTight™ Connector - Compatible with standard 3.5mm headphone plugs
• Dual Flex Rings - Adjustable strap fits practically any arm size
• Designed to float even with a device inside
• Fits most iPods, MP3 Players, & Phones

Drawbacks

There were two things that I found to be an issue with the armband. First, I found once strapped to my arm it felt quite heavy and bulky. In fairness, I am slim and on a larger person the armband would probably not seem quite so big. Also, the weight came mainly from the iPhone rather than the armband itself. Additionally, I expect after wearing it a few times, you’d probably get used to it; I only used the actual armband a couple of times when testing it.

Second, it wasn’t particularly easy to insert my iPhone into the waterproof case, as it involved sliding it through the space under the clamp. I found it was a lot easier if the waterproof case was removed from the armband first, and after doing it a couple of times had developed a technique which made it quite simple to insert the phone, but it’s not ideal having to remove the case every time, and then having to attach it back to the armband. But, with a smaller device it would not be so much of an issue and the more you do it, the easier it becomes. However, I do wish there could be an easier way to insert and remove your device from the case.

Amphibx Close-up		Case with iPhone and headphones

H2O Audio Amphibx Water-Proof Armband

Overall, the armband did its job perfectly. However, I do feel H2O Audio could make the armband slightly less bulky. I didn’t get a chance to test to smaller version, but my guess would be that it would feel a lot less bulky. For that reason, I think if you’re planning to swim with the armband, it’d work best using a smaller iPod, such as the Nano, with the medium sized case.

If you’re planning to use the case for activities involving less movement, such as in the bath or a jacuzzi, the larger armband would be fine. I like the fact that the waterproof case can be removed from the armband section, so if you decide you don’t want to use the armband for something but still want to protect your device from water, you can do this. If you’re looking for something to use while doing an activity which involves a lot of movement, I recommend you go for the smaller case and use a smaller device. But whatever its use, you can be safe in the knowledge that using one of H2O Audio’s waterproof cases will protect your device.

Pros: Usable in nearly any water activity, fits most MP3 players, fits tightly on your arm, case can be separated from the armband.

Cons: Fairly bulky, not inexpensive.

Rating: 4.0 out of 5

www.h2oaudio.co.uk