Pool notes: Spotify underwater via a deck box (not phone Bluetooth)

Tayogo T6 + W25 Stream Swim Combo bone conduction headphones

I wanted Spotify underwater without Sunday MP3 dumps and without pretending waterproof Bluetooth buds would hold a mid-lap stream. After a few failed “phone in a tow float” weeks, the setup that stuck was a dry underwater music transmitter on deck plus bone-conduction swim headphones on my head.

What actually plays mid-lap

Phone stays on the bench, Bluetooth-paired to a Tayogo T6. The T6 rebroadcasts by FM. On my head I wear a compact W25 bone-conduction receiver — under the cap is my default — with the supplied earplugs so water noise does not wash out the track. Same channel both ends, antenna fully up, transmitter elevated and open (not behind a metal rack). Flip turns still dip for a second when you go deep; that is depth, not a dead battery.

W25 bone conduction under swim cap with deck transmitter

Why this beat onboard storage for me

Live Spotify / Audible / podcasts from the phone means I change the queue between sets without opening the headset. Coach mic on the same box is optional — I mostly run music mode. The category split stays clear: stream kit vs voice-only coach communicator.

Soft checklist before you trust any kit:

  1. Keep the transmitter dry and high.
  2. Match channels; try another channel if you get static.
  3. Bone conduction + earplugs usually beats open water noise.
  4. Do not expect phone-in-a-tow-float Bluetooth to survive a real submerge.

Kit page I used as a starting point: https://tayogo.com/products/tayogo-t6-w25-sport-swim-combo

Peer notes only — your pool layout will matter more than the sticker on the box. Happy to compare placement notes.