We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-28 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a swimming-first, fully submersible wired earbud that stays put through flip turns, choose H2O Audio Surge SX10; if you need a true-wireless all-rounder for the gym, road and trail with long battery life, choose JBL Endurance Race 2.
• H2O Audio Surge SX10 — biggest strength: IPX8 waterproofing with submersion rated to 12 ft / 3.6 m, plus a 1 ft / 30 cm cord and over-ear wire built specifically for swimming.
• H2O Audio Surge SX10 — biggest trade-off: It's a wired 3.5 mm design, so there's no charging case, no app and no true-wireless freedom.
• JBL Endurance Race 2 — biggest strength: True-wireless convenience with IP68 dust/water protection and up to 48 hours total playback (12 hours in the buds, three extra charges in the case).
• JBL Endurance Race 2 — biggest trade-off: The charging case itself is only IPX2, so both buds and case need to be dry before you dock them.
• Who the SX10 is for: Swimmers and water-sport athletes who want sound underwater.
• Who the Endurance Race 2 is for: Runners, lifters and commuters who want one pair of wireless buds for everything on land.
The Surge SX10 is the specialist in this pairing. Its headline number is IPX8 — the highest waterproof rating in the set — and H2O Audio rates it for complete submersion down to 12 ft / 3.6 m. That's the spec that separates it from almost everything else: it's designed to be worn in the water, not just splashed on. If your training involves laps, you're the target buyer.
The rest of the design backs that up. The cord is deliberately short at roughly 1 ft / 30 cm, which is meant to pair with a head-mounted player and eliminates the long cable that snags on lane ropes and pool edges. The over-ear wire routes the cable so it hugs the ear, and the flat speaker profile sits flush to reduce drag. H2O Audio also ships an unusually deep fit kit: memory foam tips in three sizes, silicone tips in five sizes, and 'tree' tips in three sizes — a clear acknowledgement that ear canals vary and seal quality decides whether an in-ear stays put during a flip turn.
Audio-wise, these use dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz range and a bass-forward tuning that H2O Audio says was developed specifically for water-sport use. Controls are listed as active noise cancellation via a wired media controller.
Who should skip it? Anyone who wants wireless. This is a 3.5 mm wired earbud, so it needs a device with a headphone jack — the brand's own head-mounted players are the natural pairing. If you train with a phone in an armband and hate cables, this isn't the tool. And if your workouts are dry-land only, you're paying for a waterproofing capability you won't use.
The Endurance Race 2 is the generalist, and a well-rounded one. It's true wireless with Bluetooth 5.3 and a 10 m range, so no cable tethering you to anything. Battery is the standout: 12 hours in the buds plus three full charges (36 hours) in the case for 48 hours total with ANC off, and a 10-minute top-up on the included USB-C cable gives you another four hours. For a week of commutes and gym sessions between charges, that's genuinely convenient.
Durability is strong too — IP68 means fully dustproof and waterproof, rated to survive submersion deeper than a meter in both fresh and sea water. The case is IPX2, so it handles light rain but not a dunking. JBL is explicit about one habit: dry the buds and the case before charging, or you risk moisture in the contacts.
Fit uses JBL's Twistlock wing enhancer, which twists into the ear for a better seal and more stability — the kind of design that matters during burpees, sprint intervals or a sweaty treadmill session. Noise control is active, with Smart Ambient letting you dial in how much of the outside world you hear, which is useful on a road run.
Sound is JBL Pure Bass via 6.8 mm dynamic drivers, 20 Hz – 20 kHz, 16 ohm impedance and 104 dB sensitivity. Controls are touch-based and app-managed. Who should skip it? Swimmers. IP68 protects against water, but this earbud isn't built for lap swimming the way the SX10 is — and the case can't get wet.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for swimming and underwater use → H2O Audio Surge SX10. IPX8 to 12 ft / 3.6 m versus an IP68 land-and-splash rating.
• Best for battery life → JBL Endurance Race 2. Up to 48 hours total with the case, plus a 10-minute quick charge for four hours.
• Best for minimal cable drag in the pool → H2O Audio Surge SX10. The 1 ft / 30 cm cord and over-ear wire exit are purpose-built for head-mounted players.
• Best for fit customization → H2O Audio Surge SX10. Memory foam, silicone and 'tree' tips across eleven sizes total.
• Best for quick, secure on-ear stability during gym work → JBL Endurance Race 2. Twistlock wing enhancers plus three sizes of ear tips.
• Best for awareness on outdoor runs → JBL Endurance Race 2. Smart Ambient lets you control how much outside sound you let in.
• Best for a device without a headphone jack → JBL Endurance Race 2. The SX10 needs a 3.5 mm jack.
In my opinion, these two barely compete for the same buyer — they solve different problems. If you swim, the Surge SX10 is the pick: nothing about the Endurance Race 2's design suggests it's meant for lap after lap underwater, while the SX10's IPX8 rating, short cord and over-ear routing are all engineered for exactly that. For everything on dry land — running, lifting, commuting — I'd take the JBL Endurance Race 2. True-wireless freedom, 48 hours of total battery and IP68 protection make it the more useful everyday earbud for most people. Decide which of those two worlds you train in, and the choice makes itself.
how to use sports headphones
Match the fit to the activity first. With the SX10, work through the included memory foam, silicone and 'tree' tips until you get a seal that holds during movement, then route the over-ear wire so the 1 ft cord stays slack. With the Endurance Race 2, twist the wing enhancer into place for a stable seal, and keep the buds and case dry before charging.
how to wear running headphones
For running, stability and awareness matter most. The Endurance Race 2 uses Twistlock wing enhancers for a secure in-ear hold, and Smart Ambient lets you control how much surrounding noise you hear — useful near traffic. The SX10's over-ear wire and flush profile are built to reduce drag and keep the earbud seated during vigorous movement.
how to pair jlab sport headphones
This page covers H2O Audio and JBL, not JLab, so I can't give JLab-specific pairing steps. For the JBL Endurance Race 2, it's a Bluetooth 5.3 true-wireless earbud controlled through the JBL app, so you pair it from your phone's Bluetooth menu and manage settings there.
how to charge impact sport headphones
Again, that's a different brand. For the Endurance Race 2, dry the buds and the IPX2 case first, then charge via the included USB-C cable — 10 minutes gives about four hours, and a full charge takes around 2 hours. The Surge SX10 is a wired 3.5 mm earbud and doesn't use a charging case.
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