If you want waterproof swim audio with a setup designed around an Apple Watch, choose H2O Audio Interval Swim Headphones; if you need open-ear Bluetooth headphones for everyday calls, choose Monster AC317. For gaming, Monster is the more relevant fit because it is designed for wireless audio and calls, while the Interval is built around swimming rather than gaming.
H2O Audio Interval Swim Headphones vs Monster AC317 at a Glance
• Monster AC317’s biggest strength: open-ear Bluetooth listening, touch controls, and up to 24 hours of playback with the case; its trade-off is that it has no stated waterproof rating or active noise cancellation.
• Choose H2O Audio Interval if swimming and underwater use are central to your routine.
• Choose Monster AC317 if you want open-ear wireless earbuds for calls, daily listening, and casual gaming.
The Interval is the clear choice here for someone who wants to bring audio into the water. It is IPX8 certified and designed for swimming and other underwater sports. Its open-ear bone-conduction design, included elastomer earplugs in five sizes, and fit intended to sit close to the ear reflect that aquatic focus. The goggle loops also give you a practical way to attach the unit to swim goggles.
Its Apple Watch connection is another defining part of the package. The design lets you attach an Apple Watch to the Interval and clip the setup onto a goggle strap, with buttons for volume and basic playback controls. That makes it an option for a swimmer who wants audio and accessible controls without treating ordinary Bluetooth earbuds as pool equipment. The manufacturer describes it as suitable for submersion up to 12 feet.
I would skip the Interval if your main goal is gaming at a desk or wearing headphones for calls throughout the day. Its strongest features address swimming, water resistance, and an Apple Watch-based setup, not a general gaming headset experience. The listed battery figures also differ: the product title says six hours, while product information lists seven hours. Either way, it is not the longer overall playback package of these two when Monster’s case is included.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
For gaming, the AC317 has a more relevant feature set than the Interval. Monster specifies Bluetooth 5.4 and describes low-latency listening with audio and video kept in sync. It also has touch controls, hands-free calling with AI noise reduction, and up to seven hours of playback per charge, with up to 24 hours when the charging case is included. Those details make it a plausible pick for casual gaming on a compatible Bluetooth device, as well as calls and everyday listening.
There are limits. The AC317 has no stated waterproof rating, so I would not choose it for swimming or assume it can handle submersion. It is also not an active noise-cancelling headset: the listed noise-control feature is none, and its open-ear design is intended to leave the ear open. If you want to shut out a noisy room for competitive play, this is not the design I would look for.
• Best for swimming and underwater sports → H2O Audio Interval. It is IPX8 certified, and its goggle-loop setup is specifically relevant to swim use.
• Best for ordinary open-ear Bluetooth listening → Monster AC317. Its hook-style fit and Bluetooth 5.4 connection make it the more straightforward everyday option.
• Best for an Apple Watch swimming setup → H2O Audio Interval. It is designed to pair with an Apple Watch and attach to a goggle strap.
• Best stated total playback time with a case → Monster AC317. Monster specifies up to 24 hours with the case, including up to seven hours per charge.
• Best for calls → Monster AC317. It includes hands-free calling and AI noise reduction for calls, though that does not mean active noise cancellation for listening.
• Best for gaming between these two → Monster AC317. Its Bluetooth 5.4 connection and stated low-latency listening make it the more gaming-relevant choice, particularly for casual play.
• Best for a water-focused fit and accessories → H2O Audio Interval. Its included earplug sizes and goggle loops are useful details for a swimmer, not generic gaming extras.
• Best if you need active noise cancellation → Neither based on the listed features. Monster lists no noise control, while the Interval is described with sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation.
The distinction is not simply “bone conduction versus open ear.” It is a matter of where and how you expect to use the headphones. The Interval is built around swimming: water resistance, attachment to goggles, and Apple Watch compatibility are central to its purpose. The AC317 is built around open-ear wireless listening, calls, and a charging case. Those design priorities point to different buyers.
The same caution applies to “best ear clip headphones for gaming.” The AC317’s ear hook gives it a secure open-ear form, but the listed details do not turn it into a dedicated gaming headset. It is more appropriate for casual gaming where open ears and Bluetooth convenience matter than for someone who needs an enclosed headset or a stated wired gaming connection.
And if your search is for the best multipoint Bluetooth headset for gaming, neither product’s listed features confirm multipoint pairing. Bluetooth version alone does not establish multipoint support. I would not buy either on the assumption that it can stay connected to two devices at once.
Battery needs can also change the decision. The Interval listing gives a six-hour figure in its title and seven hours in the product information, so there is a discrepancy in the supplied specifications. Monster lists up to seven hours from the earbuds and up to 24 hours with the case. That makes Monster’s total-playback claim more useful for someone who wants to recharge less often between listening sessions, while the Interval’s value is its swim-specific design rather than its case-assisted runtime.
My Verdict
I would choose the Monster AC317 for gaming, especially casual play, calls, and everyday open-ear listening. Its Bluetooth 5.4 connection and stated low-latency audio make it the more relevant option for that job, and its case extends total playback to up to 24 hours. I would choose the H2O Audio Interval instead only if swimming is a real part of the plan: its waterproofing and goggle-ready design give it a purpose Monster does not match.
FAQ
The H2O Audio Interval is IPX8 certified and designed for swimming, with product information describing submersion up to 12 feet. The Monster AC317 has no stated waterproof rating in the provided specifications, so it should not be treated as suitable for swimming.
No active noise cancellation is listed for the AC317; its stated noise-control field is “None.” Its AI noise reduction is described for calls, which is not the same as active noise cancellation for gaming or music.
Monster specifies up to seven hours per charge and up to 24 hours of playback with its charging case. The Interval’s supplied figures conflict: its title says six hours, while product information lists seven hours. The figures should not be treated as directly equivalent because Monster’s 24-hour total includes the case.
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