The H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport are a singular pair of headphones from a reasonably distinctive firm. Only some producers on the market supply waterproof headphones for swimming and even fewer concentrate on bone conduction choices for the water. Effectively, H2O Audio is one among them and the Tri Multi-Sport are bone conduction headphones that may spend as a lot time within the water as on land as they’re absolutely waterproof. In actual fact, because the identify suggests, these headphones are meant for the actions concerned in a triathlon, which means you’ll be able to run and bike with them after which take them into the water.
As we’ll see, the H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport are fairly nice for his or her function, even should you solely need to use them for a kind of actions. Nonetheless, they’re fairly area of interest. Loads of exercise earbuds are simply as succesful with extra options should you’re on the lookout for one thing to go for a jog in. However, triathletes will likely be hard-pressed to seek out one thing higher for his or her wants than these, however newer choices from H2O Audio.
Not many earbuds make equally compelling companions for swimming, biking, and working. In spite of everything, it’s within the identify. That’s as a result of these waterproof bone-conduction headphones are light-weight and comfy, have an 8GB MP3 participant for when its Bluetooth connectivity received’t work (as Bluetooth doesn’t work in water), and sound fairly respectable for his or her type issue. After all, they’re not excellent because the on-unit controls have points registering sure presses, the decision high quality is subpar, and also you’ll must re-pair their Bluetooth connection each time. That mentioned, triathletes received’t discover significantly better on the market for his or her wants.
- Connectivity Know-how: Bluetooth
- Energy Supply: USB
- Particular Function: Constructed-in 8GB MP3 participant
- Speaker Know-how: Bone-Conduction
- Waterproof Score: IPX8
- Music Supply: Bluetooth, MP3 participant
- Battery Life: 6 hours
- Merchandise Weight: 32 grams(1.13 oz)
- Colour: black and blue
- Light-weight and comfy
- Included 8GB MP3 participant and earplugs for the water
- First rate sound high quality for bone conduction headphones
- Controls are tough to make use of
- Must pair Bluetooth each time
- Name high quality is lackluster
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport
Value and availability
Whereas the H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport often retail for $150, obtainable straight by way of H2O Audio’s web site and Amazon, there’s a more moderen model referred to as the H2O Audio Tri Professional Multi-Sport with Playlist+, launched in late March 2023, that retails for just a bit extra at $180. The Tri Multi-Sport reviewed listed below are discounted to $100 on the time of writing and will proceed to see both a lower cost or common gross sales.
Design and match
Supply: H2O Audio
For the reason that H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport makes use of bone conduction transducers, carrying these black and child blue headphones is a singular expertise. To start out, they’re very light-weight, clocking in at simply 32 grams / 1.13 oz. Whereas earbuds are usually mild as properly, placing these on is extra akin to placing on a pair of sun shades as an alternative of stuffing one thing in your ears as they don’t go within the ears. As a substitute, the transducers sit in entrance of the ears sending vibrations by way of the bones which might be located there (primarily the again of the cheekbones).
For the reason that headphones are so mild, they’re additionally fairly comfy to put on. I’ve already in contrast them to sun shades, however anybody who’s tried on totally different pairs is aware of that some could be a bit too tight or a bit too unfastened. Effectively, the H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport appear to sit down good.
The Tri Multi-Sport loop over the ears and across the again of the pinnacle and are tight sufficient in order to remain firmly in place when transferring the pinnacle, even violently. This may appear unusual as these are one-size-fits-all, however they’re made to sit down away from the again of the pinnacle to regulate for various sizes. This consolation and weight, to not point out that bone conduction know-how, make the Tri Multi-Sport fairly ultimate for his or her said purpose.
To that finish, these are 100% waterproof with an IPX8 score as they’re meant for use simply as a lot within the water as on a motorcycle or whereas working. In actual fact, you’ll be able to submerge them as much as 12 ft underwater. After all, the sound high quality modifications when underwater so H2O has included a pair of tri-tipped earplugs to make use of when within the water. Additionally included is a rubber leash to attach the headphones to sun shades, wetsuit, or different locations, so that you don’t lose them.
The controls on the headphones supply quite a lot of performance by way of using three buttons all located side-by-side on the precise facet of the unit. However, they’re arduous to make use of — actually. Possibly it’s to maintain the headphones waterproof, however I’ve to use quite a lot of strain to register a press, and typically I’ve to strive a couple of occasions to get the Tri Multi-Sport to do what I need.
That is notably true when doing one thing that requires a number of presses, resembling switching between Bluetooth and Reminiscence Mode (aka the headphones’ built-in MP3 participant). Additionally, the amount down button requires additional strain and typically a stabilizing finger behind it to register because it’s located on part of the headphones which might be now not flush with my head. Think about having to cope with that whereas in the midst of a marathon.
Options
As a result of the H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport are meant to be used in water, they not solely include Bluetooth, however an onboard MP3 participant with 8GB of storage. That’s about 2,000 songs. There’s an excellent cause for that: Bluetooth works abysmally in water. You primarily must maintain your Bluetooth supply inside a pair inches of any headphones when in water, making utilizing most true wi-fi headphones unimaginable no matter how waterproof they’re. So, that MP3 participant, which additionally helps .M4A, turns out to be useful.
So far as including MP3s to the Tri Multi-Sport, it’s really fairly straightforward. You do have to make use of the proprietary cable the corporate consists of for charging, however exterior of that, it’s primarily like transferring recordsdata to an exterior arduous drive. You may even separate music by folders, which will be navigated by way of the on-unit controls.
One be aware concerning Bluetooth mode: I did must re-pair the Tri Multi-Sport greater than as soon as after I put it into Bluetooth mode, which is considerably irritating.
Efficiency and audio high quality
Sound high quality in bone conduction headphones, a minimum of for the time being, doesn’t actually attain the identical heights nearly as good high quality earbuds, so it’s essential to regulate expectations. These are, in spite of everything, meant to provide you entry to music whereas working, biking, and swimming. They usually’re meant to maintain your ears free, whether or not that’s to listen to your environment or as a result of carrying earbuds whereas working a marathon will get fairly gross fairly shortly.
With that in thoughts, the sound high quality on the H2O Tri Multi-Sport is fairly good. Once more, you don’t get the immersion you’d from earbuds, however, there’s an honest quantity of bass and a mid-range that’s full sufficient to maintain audio pleasant whereas not getting muddy. These will not be very brilliant or detailed headphones because you’re listening to their sound as vibrations touring by way of your bones, however they’re brilliant sufficient. That’s the easiest way to explain the Tri Multi-Sport: adequate for his or her function.
The H2O Tri Multi-Sport work properly within the water. They could not sound audiophile-level, however when utilizing the included earplugs, the sound high quality is sweet sufficient to maintain you motivated. When not utilizing the earplugs, they sound such as you would think about – blown out and muffled, the best way one thing sounds in a film when the primary character falls underwater.
However, when utilizing the earplugs, the sound will get a lot tighter. The low finish, whereas nonetheless a bit vague, is sweet and full, and the mid-range is surprisingly clear. The high-end sounds a tiny bit veiled, however remains to be lots current to get pleasure from no matter you’re listening to. Songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s sounded largely the identical, for example, whereas extra trendy music appeared to sound a bit extra like these older tracks. Utilizing the earplugs additionally helps swimmers from large sound modifications when going out and in of water, although you’ll nonetheless expertise some modifications.
Lastly, you’ll be able to take calls on the H2O Tri Multi-Sport, although you most likely received’t need to. Once I examined this, my voice didn’t come by way of that clearly. I sounded far-off and never very crisp. Now think about how one would sound in the midst of a run. These are higher not used for taking calls.
Battery
When testing the battery, I ran the H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport at 80% quantity enjoying music from its “Reminiscence Mode,” aka MP3 participant. H2O Audio advertises a battery lifetime of between 4 to 6 hours primarily based on utilization. It lasted a stable 6 hours and 20 minutes. That’s comparable with superb true wi-fi earbuds (and not using a charging case for additional battery, after all).
Simply remember that you just received’t benefit from the final half hour of utilization should you’re listening to music, because the headphones will remind you each minute or in order that the battery is low although it received’t inform you particularly how low.
Competitors
When you’re not going to seek out many different headphones concentrating on triathletes, there are many bone conduction headphones on the market that may go within the water. The Shokz OpenSwim, for example, is totally waterproof and likewise comes with a built-in MP3 participant (4GB on this occasion) and likewise goes for $150. After all, they’re simply meant for the water. Shokz’ choices for runners just like the OpenRun and the OpenRun Professional, $130 and $180 respectively, are each succesful choices for runners however have an IP55 score so will not be fitted to triathlon-type occasions.
Ought to You Purchase It?
At $150, the H2O Tri Multi-Sport are cheap if not low cost for his or her meant function. So, if you need one thing multifunctional that may go within the water in addition to be used on lengthy runs, then they’re greater than price it, particularly with the included MP3 participant. The Tri Multi-Sport (and its newer, pricier brother) are most likely the best choice for triathletes and anybody who wants one pair for each water and non-water use.
There’s actually little to fault should you’re comfy with the bone conduction type issue, exterior of the wonky controls. Whereas that may be a reasonably annoying situation as you most likely don’t need to fiddle with the headphones in the midst of an exercise, it’s the one actual disadvantage.
