Tested: These underwater headphones can stream Spotify and podcasts from your phone

The Zygo Z2 headphones accomplish something that other wireless audio devices can't. They can stream music and audio underwater from your phone while you swim. The advertised swimming headphones you'll find on Amazon only allow listening to pre-stored songs, downloaded and transferred ahead of time, because Bluetooth can’t stream wirelessly through water.

Of course, this isn’t Zygo’s first rodeo. The company initially had the Z1 headphones, which I reviewed for Newsweek back in 2021. But the Z2 improves on some of the rough spots. So far, in my use, I do see improvements in the experience. There are still some glaring places ripe for polish in the future.

But if you’re trying to solve the problem of streaming audio, on demand, while you swim, there’s just not a better option. The Zygo Z2 underwater headphones might be a swimmer’s new best friend.

How the Zygo Z2 swimming headphones work

Despite being a clever product to get around wireless transmission issues, the Zygo Z2 isn’t magic. It does require a few steps to add it to your swimming routine. First, there is the case that’s integral to the whole experience.

While the black box may look like just a bulky travel case, it’s actually the transmitter and charger. So your phone connects to the box with Bluetooth, and then that piece sends the signal to the bone-conducting headphones.

The case will need to be set up near the pool with the foldable antenna erected from the back of the box. The Z2 should work at least 50 meters from the case. Although these headphones work through water, Zygo's website lists a range of two feet under the surface. That means you can dive to the bottom of a pool with these, but I had no cut-outs doing laps.

I did experience the interruption when swimming to about three feet deep. There's a few-second buffer, so when doing turns, the audio should keep playing—as long as you're quick.

Streaming music underwater sounds okay

Streaming music and podcasts underwater is great. The capability is so great, in fact, that to me it didn’t really matter that the audio quality was sub-par. Just doing it is enough.

The Zygo Z2 headphones, like the original, are bone-conducting. They sit on the side of your head instead of going in your ears. That’s the major fidelity drawback. If you’ve ever used regular bone conduction headphones, you know that they often don’t sound full and come with a severe lack of bass. The same is true here.

When you first put the Z2 on, they sound trebly with all the audio sitting in the high frequencies. Add in the case as a middleman, with retransmission, and audio quality is not a strong suit. Still, it’s a lot better than nothing. And the audio quality does improve when you submerge your head underwater. The Z2 sound much closer to traditional earbuds when you're under the water.

I’ve used the Z2 at a local outdoor community pool. I didn’t experience any interference or problems streaming audio. I do wonder whether a crowded indoor pool would introduce any new complexities.

One aspect of the bone conduction is that I needed to turn them up decently loud. That means that at a quiet pool you can hear some inaudible sounds from several feet away. I don’t think it’s loud enough for people to hear the podcast conversation you’re listening to, but it may be loud enough to be annoying. There is some audible noise from the Z2 underwater as well.

I don’t think the sound leakage will be a problem in most cases. But it's something to note. In a lot of circumstances, I think there will be enough noise to cover up the leakage.

The other features of the Z2 headphones

Streaming audio from your phone is by far the main feature. But for people who are interested in the sport of swimming, Zygo offers features like audio coaching, lap counting, tempo training, and a walkie-talkie.

I’ve used various audio fitness guides for running and rowing, so I understand the concept here. I can’t comment on Zygo’s version because I haven’t tested that aspect. Even if it was intriguing, I don’t swim on a schedule enough to justify the $5 per month or $50 per year cost of the in-app features.

If you’re confused by the mention of a walkie-talkie feature, then it's probably not relevant. That’s geared towards teams and dedicated training. A parent or coach can use the app to talk to a person underwater to guide them, update them on splits, or just tell them dinner’s ready. It's a clever feature that casual audio listeners probably won't ever run into.

Are the Zygo Z2 headphones worth spending money on?

The Zygo Z2 underwater swimming headphones are a fantastic option for people spending a lot of time in the pool. This product is a brilliant alternative to loading MP3s onto a pair of headphones from a computer. Most people don’t have the time or willingness to spend doing that.

At $330, however, the Z2 headphones are still an investment. They require more attention than regular Bluetooth headphones and could present annoyances to other swimmers with sound leakage, in rare circumstances. Still, for anyone getting in a pool at least once a week or several times a month, the added convenience may top all other downsides.