I had a problem downloading all of my songs and I sent an email to Finis. A human responded w/in 24 hours with directions of how to solve the problem and it worked! Thanks for the prompt and thorough response.

I love swimming with my Duo, BUT - and this is a really big BUT - they are extremely frustrating to charge and to load with music. There are dozens of these complaints on the web, and they often have to do with faulty connections. I have those problems, but even when it does connect (ie, the light goes on), I find it diffiicult to get the computer to recognize it to put more music on. It's really hit-or-miss. All in all, great idea, but the technology needs a lot of work.

This is the 3rd model of finis MP3 player I have owned and I am happy to say that I am very satisfied with its functionality. I will admit that the Fiinis SwiMP3 has been my favorite rendition due to the incorporated USB charging adapter, that said, the Duo is a marked improvement over the Neptune. The the new goggle clips hold the unit in place so that you need not adjust the position of the unit every use. The larger surface area of the pads make for a more comfortable fit. The return to a sleeker design allows you to push of the wall at full velocity without dislodging the position of the unit. If are looking to reduce the monotony of your swim workouts you cannot find a better underwater music player than the Finis Duo.

I swim out of necessity. Lap training in the pool is not something I cherish. My waterborne activities of choice are outrigger paddling, freedive spearfishing and surfing. All of which require a strong ability swim. So I swim...... I am embarrassed say that my favorite part of swim training is when I can stop and get out of the pool. Enter the Finis Duo mp3 player. My initial impression of the Duo was that it seemed like old technology. I stream my music to my mobile devices. With the Duo I had to download music from iTunes, which reduces my library. Another downside is the quality of the sound. Don't expect Bose noise canceling quality with the Duo. However, after a month of use over 8 or so sessions, I have come to view the music provided by the Duo with appreciation and gratitude. I listen to music all day at work in my shop. I listen in the weight room, at the climbing gym, and now in the pool. My experience while swimming has been transformed. Thank you Finis.

Have been using finis headphones for many years. Tricks to keep them working. After every 6 hours of swimming recharge. Wipe contacts with medical alcohol swipe and dry with a towel before charging. When downloading new music make sure you have only mp3 files and trash bin is empty. Should work great if you do this. Best headphones!

Earbuds never stay in your ears in the water and sound.. not great. Don't have to worry about that anymore! For those long sets having music you can actually hear is amazing to pass the time. I'm very impressed with not just the volume, but the quality of sound, too!

These are amazing! I have tried several different waterproof Mp3's but most times I don't like the earplugs or the connections quickly become faulty. Now I don't have to put anything in my ears if i don't want to. The sound radiates great! (I had reserves thinking the sound quality might be less but they are better as you don't have to worry about water leakage) The sound works well no matter where on your head you place them.
Comfortable and easy to wear. About 1 month in and swam in a chlorinated pool almost every day. They live on my googles and i just rinse them off after each use and charge every 3rd time. The magnetic connection connects easily to the computer and i have no trouble adding/deleting songs.
I contacted finis for support (re. registration - not technical) and they replied prompty.
They came recommended and i would also highly recommend!

A lot better now that they fixed the charging issue. U could find it cheaper at other sites.

The Duo is the best swimming invention ever. I used to count tiles to pass time - now it’s music music music. The sound is fantastic - battery lasts a long time and so easy to load music from my Mac. Used it everyday to train for Ironman. Oh yeah - customer service? The absolute BEST. They solve problems. Genius idea yeah?

Pro:
P1. Great, because it never mutes because of water leakage to the ear channel. Best from the point of view of reliable listening performance in long swimming exercises.

Against:
A1. Has an old battery transistor radio quality: I prefer to use it for podcasts rather then music. Aggressive around 3000 Hz band.
A2. Does not able to handle playlists.
A3. Playing order is not documented, sometimes seems to be random. No way to organize playing order: by filename, by creation date, by copying order? It is a mystery.
A4. Does not have a audio feedback of button operation result: you newer know if you pushed the right button when you operate it in water. For example if you change to random mode, no feedback which mode are you in. No audio warning on battery level.

This is a wonderful product. I've enjoyed now for 10 months. Customer service was prompt and helpful when I had a few questions on how to load MP3 songs.
Works great, easy to use, and durable. Thanks for creating this product that allows me to enjoy doing laps in the pool.

I can't get earbuds to fit so am very happy with this. My first one stopped charging after a few months and it was promptly replaced. My second one has been going strong for a year, maybe two. I just make sure I don't leave it in my swim bag and bring it in the house every time I use it to dry the connections and charge it. I am online now to order a second one, since this one has been going for so long I can't expect it to last forever and don't want to be without one!

I recently received one of these mp3 players and they are a fantastic piece of technology. The bone conduction is not a gimmick - with nothing physically in my ears, it feels like the music is coming from everywhere, surrounding me and providing a backdrop for my workout. The effect they have is a markedly different experience from in-ear buds, and is worth a try for anyone that regularly swims with music.

Moreover, I asked my training partner one lane over to drop underwater and try to hear it; they couldn't, which was amazing because it was quite loud and immersive for me. Not only is the sound rich, the experience is also private.

Finally, it is worth noting that the process of getting music on the thing is just as simple as putting files on a USB drive. Just drag and drop relevant mp3s.

Honestly, I really love the Duo. I can't keep going back and forth in the pool without it. But unfortunately, about every 4-6 months it will no longer communicate with my computer. The one I have now is completely out of charge. I've been working on it for the last hour trying all my usual tricks to get it working. I just requested a replacement. I think this will be my 5th one. As long as Finis keeps replacing them for me, I will keep on ordering and using.

This Finis is good WHEN it's working and stays on. The new model has less to recommend it than the former one--the yellow model with the separate display/control. Bone conduction better for sound under water than earplugs.
Problems with new green DUO:
Slot for goggle straps too narrow for my Aqua Spheres or my Dacor mask. The yellow one clipped onto a variety of straps.
Yellow model display had visible ON and off, what song is playing, volume control, charge status. Handy and easier to reach
New green light is erratic, hard to see in sunlight, and doesn't seem to match what the instructions say it should. The side buttons left and right often don't work.
The charge may last longer.
This Finis model seems to go backwards. Please take some review suggestions to heart for the next model.

PROS
Sound is not exceptional but quite enough for practicing in a swimming-pool.
It gives good motivation and makes us swim longer !

Easy to set-up physically and software wise.
Easy and fast to charge.
Very light.

CON
BUT overmolded connectors not resistant at all ! I just used them 8 times in normal conditions in a swimming pool and the cable detached itself from both sides, leaving the electrical wires nude. Water goes on the wires obviously. Sound quality dropped and I assume if I keep using them the wires will break !!
Could you please use a stronger version of overmolded connectors ?
This equipment can't be waterproof IPX8 and have its connectors that weak !
Are they strained tested (in normal use) ?

It's really frustrating when it gives you a link in the quickstart manual and says to register the device there - and then the link doesn't work.
Also, I would have expected such a pricey product to come with some kind of bag or box. Carrying it around like this, it is only a matter of time until it gets caught somewhere and breaks.
It doesn't say anything about whether or not you need to fully charge it before first use. I'll have to take the risk because I'm running late.
Last but not least, "clean with rubbing alcohol". I don't happen to have that. Just put a small bottle of the friggin stuff in the box.

I just got this new version of the swimp3. This thing is SLICK! It’s my third version since my first one about 10-12 years ago. I’m not upset that my old ones bit the dust, they did their time. This newest version is such an upgrade! I’m delighted.
Took me a couple hours to convert the music I wanted on it to MP3’s. That was annoying, but I’m all set now with about 40 hours of music and there’s still way more room for more. Also, the sound is better than ever. And not having the port and control on a separate piece at the back of my goggles is nice.

The Duo is effectively ensuring my good health, by eliminating the boredom from swimming. 20 years after giving up, I bought one last summer and was doing a 10k competition by the autumn. Thanks Finis!

I've owned two of these and on the plus side they are the best way to listen to music while swimming laps aggressively. The sound is great. The sound quality is great. I don’t have to fuss with them. I charge the device once a week. Never had an issue with the charger. Lots of songs, set to shuffle. I had a little trouble at first with my goggles fitting properly with the Duo, but I finally got a pair that worked well with them and it’s been smooth sailing ever since.
The problem is the cable to the right piece frays and breaks after about 6 months of use. It breaks right after the strain relief boot. Once that happens the device is toast.
At first I thought it was because occasionally the wire would get caught under my goggle strap and got stressed while swimming. With my 2nd Duo I made sure that never happened, and it still broke. My current theory - putting the Duo in a plastic bag with my swim suit and goggles and putting that in my gym bag stressed the connection out.

Tried my Duo for the first time today. They work great! Have tried three other brands with mixed results. The Duo has the best sound and I can wear earplugs when I wear them which is a big plus for me. The stay in place the best with flip turns and the othes had ear buds and the water woud get in the bud and intefere with the sound. They were easy to load music and charge, ordered a second pair for my wife. We swim 3x week, mile distance and the music is a big plus.

Set your expectations realistically. All of these underwater mp3 devices, Duo and others included, have a limited life of at the most a couple of years. I tried others after the Duo charger connector broke and wires cracked. Now on the, cheaper by half, Syryn. Problems with this Syryn: earplugs seperate and have to be dug out of ear canal, though initially loud and clear now earphones are of low volume and muted, the clip needs a backup, since it can easily unclip and float away (bad in open water swim) . So I may come back to Duo, but the price puts me off.

This is an amazing device, and I love swimming with it. BUT, only when it works!
You have to be very careful of the contacts, as they very quickly make it so the computer doesn't recognize the device. The wire between the parts is extremely flimsy. I've had an earlier version break away on me, from normal use. And I am currently having an issue with turning it on at all.
Customer service is very quick.

Nice underwater sound solution but very poor quality in device manufacturing

It's funny this is advertised as 'bone conduction mp3 player', because the functionality it offers is bare bones, too. I bought Duo to listen to audio books while I swim. I gave this device one extra star above the bare minimum because the innovative concept kind of works. I managed to swim and actually listen to an audio book.

But in general the entire apparatus feels like a prototype that Finis put on the market by accident. While the build quality is sturdy and so convincingly waterproof it would probably survive in the Mariana Trench, on the finer technical fronts the device is nowhere close to contemporary standards: Controls are limited (e.g. no seek?), the buttons are hard to press, the sound quality is poor and the functionality generally is the absolute rock bottom bare minimum by 1990s standards.

So an alright prototype - sold for over $100.

I have just had such EXCELLENT customer service from Mary at FINIS.
My Duo MP3 stopped charging and was still under warranty. After a few basic question and email exchanges Mary replaces my Duo MP3 . It arrived at my house in England a week later. What brilliant service . Thank you so much. I have no hesitation in recommending this company.

I am so happy with my FINIS Duo! The music quality is awesome. I initially had trouble loading the songs on, but customer service really helped me. Also, over time I had a wire fray. Again, customer service to the rescue. They sent a new one! I am very happy with the product and the service.

I am using these headphones for 3 years swimming 3-4 times a week , Very comestible in use but they do not last . The cable connection wears out in a few month , its the third unit I purchased with same problem , last one I received in May and already have problem in both sides on the cable connection to the earphones , it’s not covered by warrantee seemed a production problem .

I swim for about an hour 3 times a week and these have the BEST sound of the three brands I've tried. But, the insulation of the wire between the 'ear' pieces hardened and cracked in 5 months. I purchased them on Amazon and don't know if I can exchange them under warranty...anyone?

It makes swimming much more fun and I enjoying swimming while listening to music. The sound of music is much better under the water than in the air. I did encounter the same issue other people mentioned, the recognition by a computer. However, the customer support is great and stand behind it. The Customer support Dana responded to me quickly and they send me a new Finis duo :p

Very disappointed with Finis Duo product. In August I've bought Finis Duo bone conductor player for my wife. She loves to listen music while swimming, it helps her to relax and enjoy being in the pool. However this player didn't even last 2 months. Handled with much care and followed all the manual instructions for keeping it in good condition. She used it probably 4-5 times, after couple of weeks I noticed that left side cable connection has cracked already (within 2 weeks), today I decided to add few more songs to it to try it out myself. First had some issues with connecting to .y macbook (connection issues) unsatisfactory connections and I gave up this idea of downloading more songs. Then two hours later came to the pool very excited to try and listen music while swim. Well this was very disappointing moment, I couldn't even ON that thing.
Please remove this product from retail or fix the issues before sales. Later read reviews and understood that this is not uncommon feedback.

Wonderful. Best way to have long lap time pass faster.
Have had four finis duo or earlier models. With earlier models, some problems. But current version has worked for years without a problem. Clear sound. Easy to use. Usually easy to transfer music.

I'm using finis Mp3 since Swimp3 (2013), so i see the improvement when bought DUO 2018 but also there is still a lot of room for improvement. I swim 2-3 Times a week so i really use it frequently and the good thing is it realy has a good sound for medium speed swimming its fine. If you really speed up the water resistence is to big and it start moving.
During swimming its hard to find and push the right button. The first year it worked perfect but now the yellow stickers start moving and also sometimes it just stop playing without noticable reason.
Also to load it fully is a 50/50 chance, usually it needs two tries to load it one time but then its working for weeks with one charge.
The random function is a bit to less random for me as some songs are very frequently and other so seldom that they are almost seems new again, when they finally come.. maybe thats a feature

I rarely review but i bought their mp3 at least 6 years ago...has the player connected to duo..it continus to play and recharges no problems...makes lap swim exciting, not watching clock. It has been serving me in pools, lakes, and salt water swims...highly recommend their product.

It's better than nothing, which is to say that, although there are a host of improvements that could be made to make this product more user friendly, in spite of its shortcomings, it is better than having no music at all. But this does come with compromises. The sound quality is what you would imagine a good set of ear buds to be like if you turned the bass off. I guess there's no good way to solve for the full audio range. Besides that, there is no display on the device and there is no 'app' to use, so you should feel comfortable with moving files manually. A major shortcoming is the inability to see where in the playlist you are or to manage music files so that an album will play together for example. It takes an amount of under the hood tinkering to get things the way you want them. I would put this well beyond the average user's ability or tolerance to take on. But this is a swim company, not a tech company. Someone else might figure it out.

Bought 2 pair 2 years ago. Still going strong. USB connect to laptop. Drag and drop music loading. 180-240 min play time. Best swim training device ever made. If you have issues charging or loading music on these it is a personal problem not a device problem (saying it nicely)

I have used 5 months, 4x/week, with CVS disposable silicone earplugs--which improve the sound.
Is MP3 player, since Bluetooth does not work under water. Very good email help. Charge the lithium-ion battery for 24 hours before first use. Can use a fast wall charger safely. I charge mine every 2 or 3 uses (half hour swims).
I suggest looping just one of the 2 straps of your goggles to the unit if your goggles have an overlap in the front. I had to fiddle with this carefully for several weeks before deciding the best connection to avoid the device from lifting goggles off my eyes, while allowing the speakers to fit just in front of the ear over the cheekbone.
I leave the unit attached to my goggles permanently to avoid breaking the clips.
I noted an Amazon review suggested soaking corroded contacts in CLR- calcium, lime and rust remover instead of wiping with alcohol on a Qtip, so I bought some, but have not needed it yet. Would use with caution if needed.

I've been using these since 2006, I believe, and it's made a world of difference in my recreational swims, which doubled in time/length. I think they sound great (especially if you also wear inner earplugs, which you should anyway). Occasionally there is a device that doesn't connect as well as others, but Finis has always replaced these or sent new chargers if that was the problem, so all things considered, I don't think it could really be much better than it is.

I have been using the finis swimp3 player since the first generation version. This is the best option out there if you want to listen to music while swimming. I found both models have lasted long. The only reason I upgraded was for more storage. The old one still worked. It takes some getting used to if you’re used to earbuds, but it’s worth it.

I've had about 10 of these, dating back to their clunky model T swimp3 model. Some last a month, some 6 months, some 3 years. It's a bit of a crapshoot.
The complaints listed online are valid, but I can live with all that because the sound quality is outstanding and swimming laps without tunes sucks.
A tip that will change your life if you use these: After using, rinse goggles and device, then dry, then store in a small box (anything hardened to protect the cords, such as the small box the device gets mailed in). Otherwise, the cord connection to the duo will ALWAYS fray over time and eventually break. It is the Achilles heel of the device. Yes, the company should fix it, but for now it is what it is. Protect that connection and device will last 2-3 x longer.

I am on my second version of the bone induction MP3 player. The first still worked when I gave it to a friend. I have used these almost daily for 15 years. They were the first that I found worked perfectly when swimming!

I don’t really have the words to describe how my lap experience was changed with the Duo. I LOVE them and my swim is never complete without them. Absolutely incredible!

I have been using this unit since 2019 with no problems. Before this I had the Neptune and before that, several earlier renditions. I just keep them attached to my goggles and rinse them and goggles with clear water after each workout. Good sound quality. Great customer service on previous models. Haven't needed any with this one!

I have been using these (I have gone thru about 3) for at least 7-8 years. They are the best version so far of this device. Earlier DUO's have had their teething pains, but this model has solved almost every problem. You do have to be particular about cleaning the interlock between the DUO and your PC/mac to download mp3's but I have never been close to filling it up. If you are meticulous with cleaning and maintenance of the interface, the software is great. The battery life is excellent giving me about 4-6 hours before needed recharge. Volume is great and music is well reproduced. The only problems I have had is related to the previous model interface and my lack of care of the contacts. I have had a gradual increase in rigidity of the covering of the interconnecting cable, probably due to the really high chlorine content of the pool. I rotate them so that there is always one fully charged. I am thankful to all the engineering that continues to improve each model.

The sound is very clear when swimming. I have not had the loading issues. My problem is that I can not tell when they are turned on or off and charging. Best scenario would be much like my H20 headsets, it say "Headphones on" "Headphones off" so we would not have to take the goggles off to see the lights. Plus could use more lights as in a solid green light that it is on, no light when it is really off, and the blinking light when it is charging and another light when it is fully charged. But Again, mine work great and I like the sound in the water.

The DUO provides excellent sound but for the best sound use earplugs. This eliminates all water sounds. I have used these for 12 years but over time the wires connecting the two sides become brittle and break. Mean time between failure is 1.5 years. I have even tried to tie the wires really close to the goggle straps with no better result. The good news is if you purchase direct from Finis they will replace them for $75. I wish they would do a redesign with a solid connection between the ear pieces. Ad for charging just use a pencil eraser on the contacts if they do not charge. They start charging with a solid light then go to blinking when they are charging and then the light goes solid when fully charged. As for turning on and off. Hold the button for 5 sec to turn on and the same to turn off. When you turn off look at the lights and there will be a fast flicker on the lights when the DUO is actually turning off. A single charge is good for about 5 one hour swims

Better than expected

Been using them for several years, and they are just great! A year ago I couldn't load songs but after a light cleaning with alcohol they returned to full function.

I m on my 4 or 5 th Duo I think. This one purchased in early 2023. Unfortunately it has suddenly just stopped charging. The light came on steadily as it does but no charge retained in the unit. It is now completely drained of any power. It’s a shame I ve really looked after it. There are no frayed wires just it won’t charge. These units generally only last 2 years just after the guarantee ends. I m in France on hols with a pool for 3 weeks. can’t get a replacement until I get back to uk. It’s a bore. Any advice to get the thing to charge? I ve tried the eraser on the terminals. I d love to get them going again. I ve been using for nearly 15 years I think!

I've had the Duo set for about 2 months, exclusively for swimming (3-4 times a week, 40 min sessions).
I like that you can clip it to the goggles, so it is hard to lose them. They also don't budge when diving from the side of the pool.
In terms of sound quality: it is ok. Honestly, I don't expect incredible sound from water resistant media players. Sound is a lot better underwater or while wearing earplugs but don't expect much. On "random" mode, the player tends to repeat songs, that's a bummer but not a huge dealbreaker for me.
The price is really good compared to other bone conduction players. I'm not a fan of the design but the price tag convinced me. I was sceptical about bone conduction gadgets, I didn't want to spend a lot of money to try out something I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy (and I was nicely surprised!)
I've read that the cable may weaken over time. After 2 months, there's no deterioration.