H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport: Two-minute overview
There is probably not a better 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+ operate that lets you file a playlist from a provide on to the headset, make it greater than the most interesting open earbuds or the most interesting wi-fi earbuds for use inside the water. There’s moreover a case to be made for considering these over the most interesting working headphones in case you’re looking out for one factor notably for races, marathons, or maybe a chronic jog.
Being bone conduction headphones, the H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport aren’t going to be the simplest sounding risk available on the market,nevertheless they sound greater than most bone conduction headphones I’ve used. And having absolutely uncovered ears is important if it is good to listen to your atmosphere when on the trail or working alongside web site guests.
That said, there’s nonetheless some room for growth, as I’ll go into in a bit, and the value is on the higher side for this way difficulty. Nonetheless, triathletes, swimmers, and anyone that hates plugging up their ears all through a train (they work correctly inside the health heart as correctly) will get quite quite a bit out of the H2O Audio Tri 2 Multi-Sport.
The Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport, at 3.2 grams, may very well be very lightweight. It wraps throughout the once more the head with a physique that could be twisted this trend and that, to not level out has a great deal of clearance inside the once more to go well with all kinds of head shapes and sizes (and as well as cope with a great deal of abuse). It’s terribly safe and doesn’t switch the least bit even with quick head actions.
Its matte black rubberized defending provides an primarily waterproof IPX8 rating, which is doubtless one of many points that makes it so good for use inside the water. Its charging port is a singular proprietary one, nearly undoubtedly to take care of the headset completely waterproof.
The draw again of the thick defending comes when attempting to manage the controls, of which there are three: amount down, vitality, and amount up. The headphones are significantly sluggish to answer, notably when attempting to utilize secondary capabilities, which might be triggered by each a double press or a protracted press. On prime of that, if the double press isn’t quick enough, it merely registers as two successive single presses.
That’s considerably irritating when attempting to alter from Bluetooth to on-board memory within the midst of a run, or when attempting to utilize the Playlist+ operate. I ended up having various moments of silence that I didn’t indicate to file along with the beginning of 1 different tune when testing this operate because of my presses weren’t always registering.
On the sensible side, 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 whenever you probably can’t or don’t want to convey your phone, equal to inside the water the place Bluetooth connectivity doesn’t work correctly. That’s all bolstered by the Playlist+ operate, which primarily keep knowledge irrespective of you play by way of the Bluetooth connection as quickly as engaged and turns it into an MP3 loaded onto the headphones.
In any case, in case you run a whole playlist whereas doing this, it primarily registers it as one tune, so in the event you want to skip from tune to tune, you’ll have to start and stop for each tune. 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 is likely to be problematic, taking part the Playlist+ operate and getting exactly what I needed was a bit little bit of a chore as I ended with the beginning elements of the ultimate tune cut back off whereas I was attempting to stop the operate with out preliminary success.
Doing that by way of the app the place I’d administration by pressing on the app was quite a bit easier. On the entire, the app was easy to navigate. My solely gripe with the app is that I’ve to alter 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+ operate.
Sooner than I dig into the final sound prime quality of the H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport, I want to focus on regarding the vibrations of it and bone-conduction headphones sometimes. These sorts of headphones transmit sound by primarily vibrating the frequencies by way of the extreme cheek bones. The benefit of that’s that it leaves your ear absolutely untouched so that you probably can hear all of the items spherical you – even transparency mode on wi-fi earbuds aren’t just about nearly as good. Strive our info to how bone conduction headphones work for additional particulars. The drawback is that at better volumes, the vibrations may trigger discomfort, usually even to the aim of nausea. It’s the precept motive that I typically don’t use bone-conduction headphones as my day by day driver (I’m moreover solely doing spherical three-mile runs, typically).
Nonetheless, H2O Audio has someway managed to drastically lower this influence to the aim the place I solely get a very 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 aspect and readability of top of the range earbuds. Nonetheless, they do reproduce all of the items correctly enough.
There’s a superb amount of bass, though not an unlimited amount (it most probably would create the discomfort factors I mentioned above). The midrange is nice and full, whereas the high-end is a little bit of rolled off nevertheless doesn’t sound veiled. As is often the case with bone-conduction headphones, it’s good for the form difficulty and that’s okay.
Apparently enough, they sound greater underwater when used with the provided earplugs. After I put the earplugs in sooner than submerging, the audio will get boomy and significantly obscure, nevertheless as rapidly as I’m going beneath, all of the items sounds clear as day with tight bass and balanced mids and extreme end. It’s truly pretty one factor to experience.
When you possibly can take calls with the H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport, they’re not best possible for it as you’ll sound quiet and a bit distant. It’s not an unlimited deal breaker to me merely because of the space of curiosity operate 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 provides 9 hours of use (18 complete in case you spring for the charging case). Though one factor identical to the Shokz OpenRun Skilled 2 provides 12 hours on a single price, that’s pretty good compared with what many wi-fi earbuds present and is enough for a marathon, to not level out you obtained’t should address discomfort of sweaty earbuds.
H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport: Specs
Drivers | Not specified |
Full of life noise cancellation | No |
Battery life | As a lot as 9 hours (18 complete with charging case) |
Weight | 3.2g |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
Frequency differ | 20Hz – 20kHz |
Waterproofing | IPX8 |
Totally different choices | Playlist+ operate, MP3 participant (8GB of storage), included earplugs |
H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport: Value and availability
- How quite a bit does it worth? $199.99 / £155.68 (about AU$310)
- When is it on the market? Obtainable now
- The place can you get it? Obtainable inside the US and UK
The H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport’s price stage of $199.99 / £155.68 is a bit pricey for a pair of bone-conduction headphones, nevertheless its price is wise whenever you think about 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+ operate added about $20/£20 to the value tag.
Bumping the value up as a consequence of some design upgrades is wise as correctly, though I might need favored to see the Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport maintain the similar price stage as a result of the Playlist+ enabled mannequin 1 it modified. In case you’ve a bit of 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 won’t be unparalleled. As an example, the Suunto Wing has the identical price stage at $199 / £169 / AUS $319. In any case, it doesn’t have the Playlist+ operate and its sound prime quality is underwhelming. Nonetheless, it does present 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 just pay additional for the charging case.
H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport: Scorecard
Attributes | Notes | Rating |
Value | It’s on the premium side of the bone conduction market, so it’s truly not a steal even when it’s undoubtedly definitely worth the price tag. | 4 / 5 |
Design | It’s lightweight and safe, to not level out comes with choices that make it best possible for every water and land. | 4.5 / 5 |
Effectivity | It sounds good, notably beneath water, and has better than enough battery life. | 4.5 / 5 |
Widespread rating | For its operate – getting used on land and water – it’s virtually glorious, notably with its distinctive operate set. | 4.5 / 5 |
Should I buy the H2O Audio Tri 2 Skilled Multi-Sport?
Buy it if…
Don’t purchase it if…
Moreover ponder
How I examined
- Examined over a month
- Listened to completely different types of media
- Examined all the 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 kinds of genres from digital and hip-hop to rock and acoustic music to get an idea of how they sound. I used them in different settings equal to on a run and even beneath water. Strive our info to how bone conduction headphones work for additional particulars.
After testing, it’s clear that they serve their operate correctly as they’re, per the title, for triathletes, swimmers, and athletes sometimes who want to hear their atmosphere whereas listening to music.
I’ve spent the previous couple of years reviewing audio instruments and have spent even longer using my important ear as a listener and musician to understand what does and doesn’t sound good.
- First reviewed November 2024