H2O Audio Sonar 2 Pro Feature Scores
Explore all 30 feature scores for H2O Audio Sonar 2 Pro, organized into pros and cons.
Scores by Feature
Summary
30 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.09 (30%)
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Positive 3.5-4.49 (30%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.410 (33%)
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Negative 1.5-2.42 (7%)
Pros
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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.
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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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The included waterproof earplugs are more than filler accessories; testers found they improve intelligibility and make the bone-conduction presentation sound richer underwater.
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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.
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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.
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The open-ear design preserves awareness in the pool, letting swimmers hear coaches or people around them while still listening to audio.
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Treble drew mixed reactions: two reviewers said the highs stayed crisp or clear underwater, while another heard a grainy edge.
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The smaller profile was praised as streamlined for swimming, making the headset less bulky than its predecessor.
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One reviewer found that the soundstage opens up nicely underwater, giving the presentation more space than expected from this swim-focused bone-conduction design.
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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.
Cons
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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.
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One reviewer found that the open bone-conduction design leaks audio noticeably, especially when listening louder.
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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 tuning is not especially neutral. Multiple reviewers heard an elevated low end, and one said the overall balance trails the Shokz OpenSwim Pro.
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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.
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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.
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Charging drew a specific complaint about the proprietary cable, which adds another dedicated lead to keep track of.
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One reviewer warned that buyers importing the headset may not have local warranty servicing, creating a support risk outside officially served markets.
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At louder levels, one reviewer noticed the familiar bone-conduction vibration tickle, making high-volume listening less comfortable.
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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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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.
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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.