Zygo is not a SwimSwam partner, but so many friends recommended it, we decided to give the product a try and a review. SwimSwam does review select products and produce gear guides. Some, but not all, have affiliate links. When you do buy via our links, it does support our competitive news productions. Thanks!
Let’s get one thing straight: most so-called “waterproof headphones” are lying to you.
They’re clunky. They’re glitchy. And they usually involve a prehistoric ritual of dragging and dropping MP3 files like it’s 2007 and you’re syncing your iPod Shuffle before morning practice.
Enter the Zygo Z2. It is among the very few products in the category we’ve tested that actually streams audio while you swim. Spotify. Audible. Podcasts. Even your coach’s voice in real-time. No downloads. No file juggling. Just sound in the water, live.
The Tech Breakdown
The Zygo Z2 is a bone-conduction headset that comes with a poolside FM transmitter (which also acts as a charging case). Here’s the clever bit: your phone sends the audio to the transmitter via Bluetooth, which then broadcasts it over FM radio waves to the headset underwater.
In plain English? It’s underwater streaming, without WiFi or LTE. Which, frankly, is sorcery! Love it!
Fit & Feel
It’s not small. The headset itself is beefy—about 67 grams—and looks like it belongs in a Mission: Impossible wetsuit. The fit is snug. It comes in two sizes, so if you’ve got a smaller dome or particularly pointy ears, go large. Trust us.
It stays put on push-offs and even with aggressive flip turns, though you might feel it shift a bit if you’re doing high-velocity breakouts.
Sound Quality
Let’s set expectations: it’s FM radio underwater. You’re not getting Bose-level acoustics. That said, the sound is surprisingly clear when paired with earplugs, and it’s miles ahead of most underwater MP3 devices we’ve tested.
Bass is a little light, and there’s the occasional static or dropout—especially during deep turns or when you stray too far from the transmitter (Zygo says 50 meters is the max range, and they’re mostly right).
The App Experience
For the full experience, the user can download Zygo’s app and sample some classes, try the tempo trainer in the pacing section, and play around with the walkie talkie. The current lap counting algorithm works pretty well for flip turns but not as much for touch turns; they’re still refining it.
The app comes loaded with audio workouts, music-enhanced sets, and real-time coaching tools. It’s essentially Peloton for the pool, minus the bike and yelling.
The downside? It’s subscription-based—$14.99/month or $120/year. So factor that into your decision.
Battery Life
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Headset: ~2.5 hours
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Transmitter: ~6–8 hours
You’ll need a power outlet nearby to charge the case, which doesn’t hold a charge itself. Annoying, but manageable if you keep your gear bag organized.
Price
At $329, the Zygo Z2 isn’t cheap. But then again, it’s among the very few devices doing what it claims. And that’s exactly what customers wants when the spend hard-earned cash.
The Bottom Line
If you’re the kind of swimmer who needs a playlist, a podcast, or a coach in your ear to get through those long aerobic sets, the Zygo Z2 is a game-changer. For the data nerds and gearheads, it’s one of the most innovative products we’ve seen hit the pool deck (in this category) in years.
If you just want music and don’t care about streaming, you might be happier with a simpler (and cheaper) MP3 player.
But if you’re ready to bring 21st-century audio tech to your lane lines, Zygo’s got your number.
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