The Freestyle Audio 512DMP is a confusing mixture of atrocious design and useful waterproof functionality. The housing of the Freestyle Audio 512 is made of cheap-feeling plastic that conjures memories of bargain-basement MP3 players made in the late ‘90s. Freestyle Audio makes their MP3 players in 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB sizes (even though their included product documentation cites 128MB, 256MB, and 512MB options).
The Freestyle Audio 512 I got came with two sets of headphones: waterproof and standard. The standard earbuds are ultra cheap and sound like garbage for everything but recordings of static-laden AM radio broadcasts and Bueller-esque class lectures. The waterproof headphones felt fine and comfortable, but the output was tiny and hollow — worse than the land lubber set. The waterproof headphones come with three sizes of earbuds. The smallest set seemed to fit me best. Changing the earbuds was painfully annoying. The earbuds pop off quickly, but getting the new set back on took a fair amount of patience and some swearing.
The Freestyle Audio 512 can be used with other headphones; however, due to the waterproofing design of the Freestyle Audio housing, headsets need to be able to push down into the headphone jack far enough to complete the waterproof seal. Not all headphones will fit that mold, so you'll have to find a workable headset by good ole' trial and error.
The Freestyle Audio 512 comes with a mini CD with MP3 management software for Windows users. It also comes with a neoprene armband for use while running, biking, or swimming. The Freestyle Audio 512 also has a built-in lanyard hook, so it can be worn around the neck.
The frequency range is 20Hz to 20KHz, which is not that bad. Output is 27mW and 90dB. Battery life is roughly 35 hours, which could be the most impressive feature of this MP3 player, aside from the waterproof housing.
It'll work with Windows Me, 2000, and XP, as well as OS 9.6 and above.
If your music is in any other format than MP3, you'll have to convert everything to MP3 for use on the Freestyle Audio 512.
The Freestyle Audio 512DMP w/ waterproof headphones
My wife had one of these. She only used it in the pool for water aerobics. When it worked, sound quality was poor & the interface was awkward & temperamental. It would repeatedly get wet inside. We dried it out in front of a fan and it worked again. But, it didn't last 6 months before it totally died. Since it was out of it's short warranty anyway, I took it apart. It was completely corroded inside. And, it looked like the battery had leaked from being shorted by water. I'd never buy another one.
"No quality"
Massimo Novello at May 16th, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Score: 2
There is no quality on this mp3. When it arrived, just looking on it's structure and headphone you can have a bad impression. After 4 or 5 times used, it stopped working. No sound at all in or out of the watter. Waste of money, but maybe the problem is that I used it out of the water!!!!
Freestyle Audio Fusion DMP 512
Backcountry Outlet.com: $59.94
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