I Swapped My Shokz With These Bass-heavy Bone Conduction Headphones

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The H20 Tri 2 headphones are disposable now connected Amazon for $149
• With sound superior to different bone-conducting headphones, nan Tri 2 makes exercising a treat
• However, nan controls of these headphones tin beryllium a spot awkward, and nan Memory mode does person a spot of a learning curve.

If you're looking for 1 of nan best-sounding bone-conducting headphones available, look nary further than nan H20 Audio Tri 2.

I've utilized bone-conducting headphones for exercising -- running, rowing, and cycling -- for years. I made nan move chiefly because this type of headphone isn't astir arsenic prone to sweat harm arsenic in-ear types. In fact, successful astir a decade, I've ne'er had a azygous brace neglect because of sweat. 

The 1 caveat: Bone-conducting headphones simply don't sound arsenic bully arsenic their in-ear counterparts. Most bone-conducting headphones -- by creation -- sound tinny and deficiency immoderate benignant of bass. The champion measurement to amended nan sound of astir bone-conducting headphones is to usage earplugs astatine nan aforesaid time. This makes immoderate you're listening to easier to perceive and moreover emphasizes a spot of bass.

Also: The champion bony conduction headphones you tin buy: Expert tested

Or, you could spell pinch nan H20 Audio Tri 2 multi-sport bid headphones, which nutrient a overmuch richer sound than immoderate bone-conducting headphones I've ever used. 

But that's not all. These headphones person a instrumentality up their sleeve that will beryllium of typical liking to those who participate successful activities wherever it's not imaginable to usage a telephone -- specified arsenic swimming. I'll explicate this characteristic successful a bit. But first…

The specs

• Waterproof up to 12 ft for an unlimited time
• Bluetooth 5.3
  
• Up to 9 hours of Bluetooth playtime and 6 hours successful representation mode (more connected this successful a bit)
  
• Open receptor design
  
• Silicon decorativeness for comfortableness and to forestall slippage
  
• 8GB of section representation pinch support for M4A, MP3, WMA, FLAC, and APE formats
  
• Price - $149 connected Amazon (for nan Black/Blue version)
  

The only cardinal specs I'm incapable to find are wave consequence and driver size, but astir users aren't going to beryllium concerned astir that information.

My experience

First, let's talk astir nan sound. The H20 Tri 2 bone-conducting headphones nutrient nan champion sound of immoderate bone-conducting headphones I've ever tried. With these headphones, you get existent bass!

I know, right? Up until nan H2O Tri 2, I conscionable assumed bone-conducting headphones would ne'er beryllium capable to present thing adjacent to punchy bass. I'm not saying you're going to consciousness nan footwear drum successful your chest, but you'll surely perceive it pinch much clarity than your different bone-conducting headphones.

Also: Take these Nothing earbuds to nan gym and convey maine later

OK, truthful what astir nan aforementioned instrumentality these headphones person up their sleeve? The H20 Tri 2 headphones tin load euphony to memory, truthful you don't request your telephone pinch you to bask nan music. That intends you tin put them on, move to Memory mode, dive into nan water, and bask your workout. As I'm not a swimmer, this characteristic isn't each that important to me. However, I could foresee times erstwhile I want to spell for a tally and would alternatively not fuss carrying my telephone pinch me.

I did find switching to Memory mode a spot challenging astatine first, arsenic nan accompanying H20 app makes nan process alternatively confusing. But there's a overmuch easier measurement to move modes: First, make judge nan headphones are turned off; past link them to your machine via nan included USB cable. Open your record manager, and you should spot TRI 2 PRO listed. 

Copy immoderate euphony files into either nan guidelines files aliases create folders for each genre aliases artist. Once you've copied each nan euphony you want, safely disconnect nan headphones from your PC, and you're bully to go. You tin past property nan mode fastener connected nan headphones (the halfway fastener betwixt measurement up and down) to move betwixt Bluetooth and Memory modes.

Also: Why I urge these Shokz headphones complete nan AirPods Pro for outdoor listening

After switching to Bluetooth mode, I ran into a one-off glitch. I couldn't get nan instrumentality backmost into Memory mode (even aft having my Pixel 9 Pro hide nan instrumentality from nan Connected Devices conception successful Settings aliases shutting down nan instrumentality altogether). It took a fewer tries (double-pressing nan Mode button) but I did yet get nan headphones switched to Memory mode and everything was groovy.  

Given that I wouldn't usage Memory mode often, I switched backmost to Bluetooth mode, and each was well. Using Spotify, I cranked done my accustomed testing playlist and nan vexation eased away, to beryllium replaced by a smile, knowing these headphones would service maine good during my runs.

Also: I replaced my Bose Ultra Open pinch these Shokz headphones - they're amended for little money

I took nan H20 Tri 2 retired for a seven-mile tally and came distant pinch a fewer conclusions:

These headphones tin beryllium heard -- moreover successful traffic. I had a train travel barreling done during my run, which usually intends I can't perceive thing from nan headphones. That was not nan lawsuit pinch nan H20 Tri 2; I heard everything large and clear (while still being capable to perceive my surroundings).

If you're a changeless "song skipper" for illustration I am, you'll find nan interface to beryllium a spot awkward. Instead of nan accustomed double-press of nan measurement buttons to either spell guardant aliases backward, you person to clasp down nan fastener successful mobility -- for astir 2 seconds -- to skip to nan adjacent track. That's good for erstwhile you're stepping aliases sitting, but tin beryllium challenging erstwhile you're moving -- particularly astatine a faster pace. 

However, that doesn't detract from nan sound produced by nan headphones. Although these mightiness not fulfill an audiophile, nan H20 Tri 2 surely will please those who usage headphones for runs, cycling, aliases different outdoor activities -- because we tin yet perceive nan euphony pinch a clarity antecedently chartless successful nan bone-conducting space.

ZDNET's buying advice

Even pinch nan complications I experienced, if you're a swimmer, nan H20 Tri 2 headphones could beryllium cleanable for your needs. Not only do they let you to bask your euphony without having to transportation your telephone pinch you (which could beryllium disastrous successful a pool), but they nutrient immoderate of nan champion sound I've heard from bone-conducting headphones. If you're not a swimmer, you tin guarantee these headphones will not person immoderate problems pinch sweat, aliases moreover if you get caught retired successful a downpour.

Also: These Bose clip-on earbuds sound astonishing and look moreover cooler

If you for illustration bone-conducting headphones, I'd highly urge you springiness nan H20 Tri 2 a effort simply because of nan value of sound they nutrient (compared to akin products).