Waterproof MP3 player

Oddly enough, I just posted on this yesterday - may be a good starting point:

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/12/great-swimming-mp3-player-shootout.html

The comments also have some good suggestions as well.

The SwiMP3 from Finis has worked well since October when I received it as an anniversary present.  I haven't used any of the other competitor's products so I can't provide a comprehensive review, but the sound quality and fuss-factor makes the device a winner.  

When I first started using it, I wondered if others in the next lane could hear my music blasting.  I asked a couple of fellow swimmers and they all reported they could not hear a thing.  

I'll be the dissenting opinion on the SwiMP3. While I think I'm far from an audiophile, I thought the sound quality was unlistenable. Far too "tinny" for my taste. I also disliked the fact that you had to have the volume up so loud to hear it over the sound of your bubbles underwater. Not a problem at all when you are submerged (nobody else can hear the music) but I thought it was loud enough for people to easily hear me 1-2 lanes over when your head is above water (at the end of a set etc.)

I sold mine after only 3-4 uses and purchased a water proof iPod instead. I am much happier w/ that one. As noted, the headphones can be a pain, but I found that wearing a swim cap in the pool fixed the problem.

 there is a US company that does this also underwateraudio.com for around $175. or 150 if you already own a shuffle.   I like this option better since there no case that can leak, crack or etc.   when reading the reviews for the other kind that have water proof cases I read too many poor reviews of the cases failing, which scared me off.

I have used the Swimp3 in every iteration that it has existed and to me I always come back to it.  Simply put I don't want to mess around with mp3 mid-set so it is the only one I know that is going to be secure at stay put.  The ear-bud type ones can always wiggle lose and that is not acceptable.  Granted I only use my swimp3 for recovery swims or an hour long-time trial I do about once a week.  

The one problem I have with this device is durability - so far they have been good about replacing them but it is a PITA to do so.  Right now mine is at Finis waiting to come back and they upgrading it to the new 2g version.  If I was purchasing one I would purchase new for the warranty and also put it on an American Express card.  Despite the durability issue I always come back to this device.

One recommendation though is not to get to accustomed to swimming  with an MP3.  Don't get me wrong I love music more than most and have to bike and run with it but swimming I find is all about the structured workout and I find with an MP3 player that swim workouts get to unstructured.