H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport: Two-minute analysis
There is probably not a higher set of headphones for triathletes than the H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport. Their lightweight physique, versatile assemble, and host of choices, considerably the Playlist+ attribute that lets you doc a playlist from a provide on to the headset, make it increased than the best open earbuds or the best wi-fi earbuds for use throughout the water. There’s moreover a case to be made for considering these over the best working headphones within the occasion you’re in quest of one factor significantly for races, marathons, or maybe a protracted jog.
Being bone conduction headphones, the H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport aren’t going to be the perfect sounding alternative available on the market,nevertheless they sound increased than most bone conduction headphones I’ve used. And having completely uncovered ears is important if it is important hear your atmosphere when on the trail or working alongside guests.
That acknowledged, there’s nonetheless some room for growth, as I’ll go into in a bit, and the value is on the higher aspect for this sort situation. Nonetheless, triathletes, swimmers, and anyone that hates plugging up their ears all through a train (they work correctly throughout the gymnasium as correctly) will get masses out of the H2O Audio Tri 2 Multi-Sport.
The Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport, at 3.2 grams, could also be very lightweight. It wraps throughout the once more the top with a physique which may be twisted this way and that, to not level out has a great deal of clearance throughout the once more to swimsuit all forms of head shapes and sizes (and as well as cope with a great deal of abuse). It’s terribly regular and doesn’t switch the least bit even with speedy head actions.
Its matte black rubberized masking offers an principally waterproof IPX8 rating, which is probably going one of many points that makes it so good for use throughout the water. Its charging port is a singular proprietary one, virtually undoubtedly to keep up the headset completely waterproof.
The draw again of the thick masking comes when attempting to control the controls, of which there are three: amount down, vitality, and amount up. The headphones are significantly gradual to answer, significantly when attempting to utilize secondary options, which are triggered by each a double press or a protracted press. On excessive of that, if the double press isn’t quick adequate, it merely registers as two successive single presses.
That’s considerably irritating when attempting to switch from Bluetooth to on-board memory in the middle of a run, or when attempting to utilize the Playlist+ attribute. I ended up having only a few moments of silence that I didn’t suggest to doc along with the beginning of 1 different observe when testing this attribute on account of my presses weren’t always registering.
On the extraordinary aspect, the H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport comes with 8GB of storage and a built-in MP3 participant that allows about 2,000 songs to be loaded for use when it’s possible you’ll’t or don’t want to carry your phone, just like throughout the water the place Bluetooth connectivity doesn’t work correctly. That’s all bolstered by the Playlist+ attribute, which principally reside data irrespective of you play by the use of the Bluetooth connection as quickly as engaged and turns it into an MP3 loaded onto the headphones.
In any case, within the occasion you run a complete playlist whereas doing this, it primarily registers it as one observe, so in the event you want to skip from observe to trace, you’ll have to begin out and stop for each observe. Nonetheless, it’s a welcome method in order so as to add music to the onboard storage with out looking for MP3s.
Since using the buttons may very well be problematic, partaking the Playlist+ attribute and getting exactly what I needed was slightly little bit of a chore as I ended with the beginning components of the ultimate observe reduce off whereas I was attempting to stop the attribute with out preliminary success.
Doing that by the use of the app the place I would administration by pressing on the app was loads less complicated. On the entire, the app was easy to navigate. My solely gripe with the app is that I’ve to switch from Bluetooth mode to memory mode to see what’s saved on the headphones after which once more as soon as extra to utilize the Playlist+ attribute.
Sooner than I dig into the final sound prime quality of the H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport, I want to talk about regarding the vibrations of it and bone-conduction headphones principally. All these headphones transmit sound by principally vibrating the frequencies by the use of the extreme cheek bones. The advantage of that’s that it leaves your ear completely untouched so it’s possible you’ll hear each half spherical you – even transparency mode on wi-fi earbuds aren’t just about nearly as good. Check out our data to how bone conduction headphones work for additional particulars. The draw back is that at elevated volumes, the vibrations might trigger discomfort, typically even to the aim of nausea. It’s the precept trigger that I typically don’t use bone-conduction headphones as my every single day driver (I’m moreover solely doing spherical three-mile runs, typically).
Nonetheless, H2O Audio has indirectly managed to vastly lower this influence to the aim the place I solely get a extremely slight discomfort on the best settings, and even then it’s additional annoying than something. Regarding the sound prime quality itself, it’s good nevertheless don’t anticipate hi-res audio. When using them all through a run and even merely spherical the house, they’re not going to have the component and readability of high-end earbuds. Nonetheless, they do reproduce each half correctly adequate.
There’s amount of bass, though not an unlimited amount (it almost definitely would create the discomfort factors I mentioned above). The midrange is sweet and full, whereas the high-end is considerably rolled off nevertheless doesn’t sound veiled. As is normally the case with bone-conduction headphones, it’s good for the form situation and that’s okay.
Apparently adequate, they sound increased underwater when used with the provided earplugs. As soon as I put the earplugs in sooner than submerging, the audio will get boomy and significantly obscure, nevertheless as shortly as I’m going beneath, each half sounds clear as day with tight bass and balanced mids and extreme end. It’s truly pretty one factor to experience.
While you may take calls with the H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport, they’re not preferrred for it as you’ll sound quiet and a bit distant. It’s not an unlimited deal breaker to me merely as a result of space of curiosity purpose of these headphones (and the reality that almost all earbuds are nonetheless merely okay on this division).
Lastly, I want to level out the battery life as a result of it offers 9 hours of use (18 entire within the occasion you spring for the charging case). Though one factor similar to the Shokz OpenRun Skilled 2 offers 12 hours on a single value, that’s pretty good compared with what many wi-fi earbuds provide and is adequate for a marathon, to not level out you gained’t should handle discomfort of sweaty earbuds.
H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport: Specs
Drivers | Not specified |
Energetic noise cancellation | No |
Battery life | As a lot as 9 hours (18 entire with charging case) |
Weight | 3.2g |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
Frequency range | 20Hz – 20kHz |
Waterproofing | IPX8 |
Totally different choices | Playlist+ attribute, MP3 participant (8GB of storage), included earplugs |
H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport: Worth and availability
- How loads does it worth? $199.99 / £155.68 (about AU$310)
- When is it on the market? On the market now
- The place can you get it? On the market throughout the US and UK
The H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport’s worth stage of $199.99 / £155.68 is a bit costly for a pair of bone-conduction headphones, nevertheless its worth is smart if you focus on the reality that the distinctive mannequin of this tri-athlete-focused headset started at $149.99 (£128.00, AU$225.00) and the introduction of the Playlist+ attribute added about $20/£20 to the value tag.
Bumping the value up due to some design upgrades is smart as correctly, though I may need appreciated to see the Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport keep the equivalent worth stage as a result of the Playlist+ enabled mannequin 1 it modified. When you will have considerably additional money to spend, there’s moreover a charging case on the market for an extra $49.99 (about £40 / AU$80).
Spending spherical $200 on bone conduction headphones is simply not distinctive. For example, the Suunto Wing has an identical worth stage at $199 / £169 / AUS $319. In any case, it doesn’t have the Playlist+ attribute and its sound prime quality is underwhelming. Nonetheless, it does provide as a lot as 30 hours of battery life with its charging case. You rise as much as 18 with the H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport supplied that you simply pay additional for the charging case.
H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport: Scorecard
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
Price | It’s on the premium aspect of the bone conduction market, so it’s undoubtedly not a steal even when it’s properly definitely worth the price tag. | 4 / 5 |
Design | It’s lightweight and regular, to not level out comes with choices that make it preferrred for every water and land. | 4.5 / 5 |
Effectivity | It sounds good, significantly beneath water, and has higher than adequate battery life. | 4.5 / 5 |
Frequent rating | For its purpose – getting used on land and water – it’s virtually good, significantly with its distinctive attribute set. | 4.5 / 5 |
Must I buy the H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport?
Buy it if…
Don’t purchase it if…
Moreover take into consideration
How I examined
- Examined over a month
- Listened to completely different types of media
- Examined the entire completely totally different choices
I spent a month using the H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport as my train headphones. Whereas using them, I listened to all forms of genres from digital and hip-hop to rock and acoustic music to get an considered how they sound. I used them in quite a few settings just like on a run and even beneath water. Check out our data to how bone conduction headphones work for additional particulars.
After testing, it’s clear that they serve their purpose correctly as they’re, per the title, for triathletes, swimmers, and athletes principally who want to hear their atmosphere whereas listening to music.
I’ve spent the previous few years reviewing audio instruments and have spent even longer using my important ear as a listener and musician to know what does and doesn’t sound good.
- First reviewed November 2024