Swimming Headphones Get Better - Bone Conduction Technology Improves

What we think of typically as sound consists of vibrations in the air reaching our ears. But there are a couple of obstacles that get in the way when we want to make headphones that work underwater.

You would think that just using waterproofing material to made a set of ear buds would work. But the way we hear is actually more complicated.

There are two ways in which we hear things in the open air. The main method is that the sound waves in the air vibrate on our eardrums and the inner ear and the brain converts these signals to what we think of as sound. But we also 'feel' the sound wave vibrations in our bones. Especially the bones in our skull. And these also add to the quality of sound we hear.

When we are in the water, the first method of hearing doesn't work very well, if at all. The water in our ears stops the eardrum and inner ear from being able to vibrate the same way it does in the air. If we could keep our inner ear and ear canal dry then we w ould have a way to hear like we do normally. Some swimming headphones use this method with special gaskets that keep all the water out. This is quite effective, but usually a bit cumbersome to wear.

Many waterproof headphone manufacturers use a new upcoming method called bone conduction to enable us to hear while underwater.

Bone conduction technology type swimming headphones can work exceptionally well for listening to music or podcasts while you are in the water. But like all good things, there are still a few problems.

Hearing, either in the air or in the water, through bone conduction is quite a bit less efficient than normal hearing in the air. While bone conduction is still a very workable method of hearing while in the water, there may be problems with getting adequate volume from your waterproof mp3 player.

Many report that they enjoy the ability to use their underwater mp3 player anywhere in or under the water and are happy with the sound qua lity of bone conducting headphones. But there are also some who report that they must have their player at the highest volume which in turn reduces battery time. Since hearing by bone conduction is less efficient, more volume is required.

Bone conduction technology will continue to improve. The selection of products that work very well and give high quality sound is increasing almost daily. And these will undoubtedly improve through time.

By doing some checking and keeping up to date on the latest offerings and models, you'll find that you will be able to find a very affordable and workable solution that will enable you to jump in the pool with your waterproof mp3 player and your swimming headphones blissfully listening to your favorite tunes without giving it a thought.