If you want better Charging
Choose H2O Audio TRI 2 PRO Headphones. It scores 4.2 vs 2.5 for Charging, with a 3.6 overall score.
H2O Audio Sonar 2 Pro Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for dedicated lap swimming if secure goggle-mounted fit, clear underwater audio, and onboard playback matter most. Skip it if you want versatile everyday headphones or a frictionless streaming and setup experience.
Best for
Best for dedicated lap swimmers who want a headset that stays locked to goggles, sounds clear underwater, and can play stored music or podcasts without keeping a phone nearby.
Not for
Not ideal for runners, cyclists, or everyday headphone users, nor for anyone who wants effortless streaming, broad EQ control, or a conventional wear-anywhere design.
Verdict
The H2O Audio Sonar 2 Pro is exceptionally well matched to dedicated swimmers. Reviewers consistently praise its rock-solid goggle-mounted stability, clear underwater sound, strong waterproofing, and useful phone-free playback, while battery life is generally more than adequate for long pool sessions. The main compromises are equally consistent: loading streaming content through Playlist+ can be slow and awkward, the form factor is poor for running or everyday listening, and some testers found the tuning too bass-heavy. Bluetooth streaming from a watch can work underwater when the source is kept close, but it is not completely dropout-free. For swimmers who value a secure fit and dependable underwater audio over versatility, the specialized design makes sense.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
30 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.09 (30%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.49 (30%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.410 (33%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.42 (7%)
Pros highlights
-
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.
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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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Cons highlights
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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.
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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.
-
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.
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The tuning is not especially neutral. Multiple reviewers heard an elevated low end, and one said the overall balance trails the Shokz OpenSwim Pro.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Open-Ear Headphones, this product is above average in Offline playback and onboard storage, Portability/foldability, Volume output, near average in Button control usability, Cable quality, below average in Equalizer customization, Charging, Software/setup simplicity.
Comparison summary
30 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher8 (27%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts11 (37%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower11 (37%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equalizer customization | 2.0 | 3.9 | -1.9 |
| Charging | 2.5 | 4.2 | -1.7 |
| Software/setup simplicity | 2.8 | 4.3 | -1.6 |
| Sound leakage | 2.0 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
| Offline playback and onboard storage | 4.3 | 3.0 | +1.2 |
| Customer support | 2.5 | 3.7 | -1.2 |
| Portability/foldability | 4.5 | 3.3 | +1.2 |
| Carry case quality | 2.5 | 3.6 | -1.1 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Firmware/audio stability
Choose H2O Audio Tri Run. It scores 5.0 vs 3.0 for Firmware/audio stability, with a 3.6 overall score.
If you want better Customer support
Choose Shokz OpenRun. It scores 5.0 vs 2.5 for Customer support, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Equalizer customization
Choose Cleer ARC 5. It scores 4.8 vs 2.0 for Equalizer customization, with a 4.5 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Compared: design versatility The Tri 2 Pro is contrasted as a more conventional design for swimming and dry-land use.
Shokz OpenSwim Pro
- Compared: offline playback features The Shokz OpenSwim Pro costs more and lacks the Sonar's Playlist+ recording feature.
- Better: sound quality The Sonar 2 Pro does not match the Shokz OpenSwim Pro for balance, power, and clarity.
- More expensive: price The Sonar 2 Pro is positioned as less expensive than the Shokz OpenSwim Pro.
H20 Audio Tri 2 Pro
- Better: multi-sport versatility For running or other land use, the reviewer prefers the Tri 2 Pro.
FAQ
Is the Sonar 2 Pro good for swimming?
Yes. Across the reviews, its clearest strengths are secure goggle-mounted stability, strong IPX8 water protection, and clear underwater audio.
Does it stay in place during hard laps and flip turns?
Usually very well. Multiple testers reported that it did not budge through flips, fins, butterfly, and vigorous swimming, though one reviewer raised cable and strap-stability concerns.
Can Bluetooth work underwater?
It can work when the source is kept very close, such as a watch mounted near the headset. One reviewer found it better than expected but still experienced occasional dropouts, especially during turns or changing head position.
How easy is it to load music?
Direct file transfer can be straightforward, but Playlist+ is the bigger friction point because recording streaming content can take real time. Several reviewers called the process awkward, slow, or clunky.
How is the battery life?
Reviewers generally found it sufficient for serious swim sessions, commonly citing roughly 9–10 hours in some modes. One test reported shorter endurance when playing from onboard storage.
How does it sound underwater?
Most reviewers found the sound clear to excellent in the pool. Bass is strong and motivating for some listeners, but others found it too dominant, and one reviewer heard grainy treble.
Is it a good choice for running or everyday use?
Mostly no. The clip-on form factor is built around goggles or another strap, and several reviewers said it is far less versatile than conventional bone-conduction headphones away from the pool.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
architeg-prints.com
Experience unmatched underwater sound quality and secure fit with H2O Audio Sonar 2 Pro, designed specifically for swimming enthusiasts.
- Review score
- 4.1
techradar.com
Between the form factor and features, this is one of the best for the pool
- Review score
- 3.7
trustedreviews.com
The H20 Audio Sonar 2 Pro offers good underwater sound, plus a way to stream music over Bluetooth in the water
- Review score
- 3.2
gearjunkie.com
Excellent underwater sound and a secure goggle connection make H2O Audio's Sonar 2 Pro bone conduction headphones a great swim partner.
- Review score
- 4.3
the-gadgeteer.com
REVIEW - When I was a competitive swimmer, training my drifting thoughts while swimming endless laps was part of the process, but now, I only...
- Review score
- 3.0
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