Compare H2O Audio Tri Run vs H2O Audio Sonar 2 Pro

Spoken audio, vocals, and lighter pop can sound clear enough, but most listeners found music quality only average for the price. Bass-heavy and layered tracks often turn muddy or thin, while one assessment was far more positive about clarity.

Underwater sound is the headline strength: every reviewer found it clear or enjoyable in the pool, with several calling it excellent or top-tier. It is not audiophile-neutral, though, and one test placed it behind Shokz for balance and clarity.

One intensive sweat test produced no connection dropouts. Audio stayed stable even as moisture ran down the wearer’s head and face.

Watch-based underwater streaming is usable but not perfectly stable. One reviewer experienced occasional dropouts during turns and found reliability better when the head stayed submerged.

Low-end performance is the clearest audio weakness: bass is usually described as light, muddy, or missing impact. A few tracks retained audible bass lines, but dense music and windy conditions exposed the limitation.

Bass has plenty of impact underwater, which some testers loved for energetic swimming. Others found the low end too dominant, with kick drums capable of overpowering the rest of the mix.

There is no onboard storage, so playback depends on a phone or connected watch. That prevents underwater listening and true phone-free use, though it matters less for athletes who already carry a connected device.

Phone-free playback is a major advantage for swimming. Reviewers liked the onboard player and Playlist+ for keeping music and podcasts available underwater, but several complained that getting streaming content onto the headset takes too much time.

Overall opinion is split between a capable, simple entry-level workout headset and an underperforming alternative to stronger rivals. Secure fit and awareness earn praise, but sound, calls, battery, and charging keep enthusiasm in check.

Overall sentiment is strongly positive when the headset is used for lap swimming: reviewers repeatedly call it excellent, easy to recommend, or outstanding in that niche. Enthusiasm drops sharply when judged as an all-purpose headset.

Output is adequate on quiet paths and can sound loud indoors, but wind and traffic often overpower it. One account found it capable of cutting through ambient noise, making this strongly environment-dependent.

There is ample underwater volume, and two testers actually found the output strong enough to turn down. One comparison still judged its power below the Shokz OpenSwim Pro.

A silicone tightening accessory is included for smaller heads. It produced a perfect fit for one wearer but failed to resolve another wearer’s fit concerns.

The included waterproof earplugs are more than filler accessories; testers found they improve intelligibility and make the bone-conduction presentation sound richer underwater.

Stability is excellent for most runners and cyclists, including uneven trails and intense sessions. Head shape and high collars can still affect how securely the neckband sits.

Secure fit is one of the product’s clearest strengths. Multiple reviewers could not knock the headset loose through flips, fins, butterfly, or vigorous laps, although one tester raised concerns about cable and strap stability.

High frequencies drew conflicting reactions, ranging from clear and distortion-free to grainy. Simpler pop and spoken content fare better than demanding music.

Treble drew mixed reactions: two reviewers said the highs stayed crisp or clear underwater, while another heard a grainy edge.

Vocals, podcasts, and other mid-focused content are a consistent strength. Voices sit forward and remain easy to understand even when the rest of the mix sounds clouded.

Mids are generally easy to follow underwater, with vocals and spoken-word content coming through clearly. One reviewer found the midrange less smooth than ideal.

Open-ear awareness is a standout strength. Traffic, other people, and surrounding activity remain audible, making the headset especially suitable for outdoor running and cycling.

The open-ear design preserves awareness in the pool, letting swimmers hear coaches or people around them while still listening to audio.

IPX8 protection is one of the strongest features, giving broad confidence against heavy sweat, rain, and rinsing. The rating does not make Bluetooth playback usable underwater.

Water protection is a major strength. Reviewers repeatedly praised the IPX8 rating and treated the headset as fully suited to sustained swimming at its stated depth limit.

Daily use is mostly simple: power on, connect, and start the workout. One reviewer found the initial two-button pairing method confusing, but most considered setup effortless.

Setup is the most persistent friction point. Playlist+ can require real-time recording, the optional watch clip can make fitting awkward, and one tester called music setup challenging, although direct file transfer was straightforward in another test.

Pairing is usually quick and reliable across everyday devices. One tester found the two-button connection process unintuitive, but the others reported seamless or trouble-free Bluetooth use.

Underwater Bluetooth streaming worked better than one reviewer expected when the watch was positioned close to the headset, but occasional dropouts remained during turns and certain strokes.

The sound is fixed out of the box because no EQ tools are provided. Listeners who dislike the stock tuning have no way to correct the weak bass or grainy treble.

There is no useful onboard EQ for memory playback, a notable limitation because several reviewers found the default tuning bass-heavy. More app-based EQ control was specifically requested.

There is no companion app. That keeps operation refreshingly simple, but it also removes control remapping, extra features, and software-based personalization.

The companion app covers battery status, stored tracks, updates, and Playlist+, but opinions are mixed. One reviewer called it simple, while several found the Playlist+ workflow old-fashioned, slow, or clunky.

Physical buttons are widely preferred for workouts and are often easy to reach without breaking stride. Experiences were not uniform: some volume controls felt finicky or sticky, and one wearer could not find a reliable track-skip command.

The physical buttons are tactile and generally workable in the water, with some testers finding them simple and intuitive. Others found the layout crowded, the command combinations clunky, or experienced accidental changes from strap contact.

Real-world battery life centers on roughly five to six hours, and the product generally meets that rating. Several competitors run substantially longer, though one tester considered six hours reasonable for such a light headset.

Battery life is generally considered strong for swimming, with reviewers citing roughly 9–10 hours in some modes and calling that enough for serious sessions. One test saw shorter endurance from the onboard player.

Charging works, but the proprietary four-pin cable, USB-A connection, and lack of quick charging are frequent frustrations. Losing the cable can create an inconvenient replacement problem.

Charging drew a specific complaint about the proprietary cable, which adds another dedicated lead to keep track of.

Replacement support can become expensive outside the home market. One UK tester found the shipping cost for a low-priced replacement charging cable unreasonably high.

One reviewer warned that buyers importing the headset may not have local warranty servicing, creating a support risk outside officially served markets.

Value depends heavily on a firm $99 budget ceiling. Some see a strong entry point with excellent weather protection, while others argue that spending only a little more brings much better sound, battery life, controls, and fit options.

For dedicated swimmers, the price is generally viewed as reasonable or justified by the secure fit and underwater performance. Import costs and optional accessories can weaken the value in some markets.

The slim wraparound form is familiar, flexible, and unobtrusive during exercise. It creates a secure athletic fit, but the neckband style itself remains a matter of personal preference.

The goggle-clip design is highly effective for its intended job and was even called game-changing for pool use. The tradeoff is severe specialization: several reviewers found the form factor awkward to put on and poor for running, cycling, or everyday listening.

Most wearers found the headset extremely light and comfortable for long runs, rides, and hour-plus sessions. The neckband and cheek transducers remain subjective, especially with certain head shapes, hair, collars, or piercings.

Once fitted under goggle straps or a swim cap, the headset can all but disappear during a workout. Two testers said it became effectively unnoticeable.

High volume can create the characteristic bone-conduction tickle along the cheeks or jaw. For some it stays mild, but others found the vibration distracting or intense enough to stop listening.

At louder levels, one reviewer noticed the familiar bone-conduction vibration tickle, making high-volume listening less comfortable.

Pairing with a Samsung Galaxy phone worked without issues in the available Android test. No broader Android-specific problems were reported.

One tester wanted the flexible cable between the two sides to feel more stable, especially because the headset depends on goggles or another strap for support.

The soft-shell case is compact, but it does not provide extra charging. One reviewer called out that missing function when comparing the headset’s battery package with wireless earbuds.

The wraparound frame works comfortably with glasses, hats, helmet straps, and eyewear arms. These accessories did not make the fit feel crowded in the tests that covered them.

The silicone tightening band can transform the fit for a smaller head, but it did not solve the problem for everyone. Fit adjustment is useful yet not universally effective.

Layered guitars and rhythm sections can collapse into a cloudy mix. The headphones struggle to keep instruments distinct when tracks become dense.

Maximum-volume performance varies sharply. Some upper frequencies stay clear without distortion, while another listener encountered tinny rattling and severe vibration at full output.

The headset paired successfully with iPhone, Samsung, Garmin, and Amazfit devices. That broad compatibility makes it practical across phones and fitness watches.

The smaller profile was praised as streamlined for swimming, making the headset less bulky than its predecessor.

Standard USB-C charging is missing. The proprietary cable and USB-A end feel dated and add another accessory to keep track of.

The flexible silicone and rubberized construction feels light yet sturdy rather than cheap. Coatings held up during testing, and the frame was repeatedly described as dependable for active use.

The frame generally rests gently without pinching or excessive pressure. The cheek drivers also avoid pressing hard enough to cause normal-use discomfort.

The low weight is a major advantage, with several wearers barely noticing the headset once it was on. Evenly distributed weight helps it stay comfortable during extended exercise.

The tuning is not especially neutral. Multiple reviewers heard an elevated low end, and one said the overall balance trails the Shokz OpenSwim Pro.

Wind handling is weak. Outdoor callers may hear wind and footstep noise more clearly than the wearer’s voice.

One reviewer found that the open bone-conduction design leaks audio noticeably, especially when listening louder.

One reviewer found that the soundstage opens up nicely underwater, giving the presentation more space than expected from this swim-focused bone-conduction design.

Call performance is inconsistent and often poor outdoors. Two callers heard fuzzy, distant, or underwater-sounding speech, although another listener considered the headset suitable for calls and spoken voices.

Simultaneous connection to two devices could not be established. One tester viewed the missing multipoint function as a minor limitation rather than a deal-breaker.