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The H2d hydrophone is designed to offer great sensitivity and low self noise in the human auditory range while being rugged, compact and affordable. Its small, streamlined shape and high specific gravity will help maintain a low working depth in mild wind and currents. Its compact size and flexible cable make it very portable and simple to use. It is available with either XLR or 3.5mm TRS output connectors to work with nearly every recording device with a microphone input. If both output types are needed, the user can easily adapt between the two. When both output connectors are needed, we recommend using the H2dM with the new PIP-XLR adapter.
XLR output (H2dX)
Used with any microphone preamp with mating connector and phantom power. In most cases, these preamps will be built into a digital recorder, mixer, professional video camera or PA system. Phantom power is required and will likely need to be switched on in your device. Any phantom voltage will work. 48V is standard, but we recommend using the lowest voltage available for lowest power consumption and noise. For more information and limited specifications, see H2dX User Guide.
3.5mm TRS output (H2dM)
Used with compact digital recorders and other devices with mic preamps designed for electret-condenser microphones with 3.5mm input. These may include computers and computer sound interfaces (including tablets and smart phones), radio transceivers, video cameras and audio adapter boards for microcontrollers such as Raspberry Pi and Arduino. Plug-in power (PIP) is required and may need to be switched on in your device. Please note that adapters may be required for modern computers and that this type of connector is used for line-level inputs and headphone outputs as well. Check compatibility with your device. For more information and limited specifications, see H2dM User Guide.
How to specify custom cable lengths: Select the custom cable length option above, then buy hydrophone cable separately from the accessories menu. Leave notes at checkout with assembly details. If no instructions are provided, we will assume that any cable that is purchased is evenly divided among any hydrophones purchased with custom cable length. If cable is purchased while buying hydrophones with standard cable lengths, cable will be shipped separately in a bulk coil.
Features:
- Low cost
- Low self noise
- Good sensitivity
- Robust design handles accidental drops and temperature extremes
- Compact (4.5mm OD) Low-noise cable with tough urethane jacket
- Connects directly with thousands of consumer and pro audio devices
- Adapters allow use with telephone, radio, and pro audio equipment
- High-quality gold output connector
- Compact size and easy hand of cable
- High specific gravity and streamlined shape keeps hydrophone down in currents
- 1-year limited warranty (details here)
COMPATIBILITY NOTES:
For H2dX: Any microphone input with 3-pin standard XLR female jack and phantom power should work.
For H2dM: SMART PHONES, TABLETS AND COMPUTERS: All smart phones and tablets that we are aware of use the same connection for both the microphone and headphones. Most newer laptop computers also use this combination jack. The H2d will not work directly with these combination jacks unless there is an automatic switching mechanism built in. An adapter, such as the StarTech MUYHSMFF, must be used to break out the microphone and headphone contacts. Due to limitations in the quality of the preamps that are built into these devices, we recommend using the H2dX hydrophone and the Zoom AMS-22 for connecting to these devices (connect by USB adapter for iPhone or iPad or use as simple preamp with appropriate adapters for Android).
MARINE STEREOS and POWERED SPEAKERS: The H2d hydrophone will not work with a line or auxiliary audio input on a marine stereo system or powered speakers. These will not supply plug-in power or adequate gain. A mic preamp is required.
DIGITAL RECORDERS: Many of the new digital recorders require that you go into the menu system and switch on plug-in power. The H2d will not work before doing this.
HONEYTONE SPEAKER: The H2d will not work directly with the Honeytone speaker; the input is not compatible and the speaker does not supply the appropriate plug-in power.
Reseller accommodation and Quantity discounts: Please see our policies page for details.
Previous model (H2a): The H2d utilizes our new CS6 signal conditioning board, which offers approximately 10dB better sensitivity and signal-to noise, as compared with the CS4 board that was included in the H2a. While supplies last, we can still make the H2a and H2a-XLR hydrophone, for those wanting to match a previous purchase. Contact us for details.
H2dX (XLR output)
Specifications are dependent upon the audio device to which the H2dX is connected. The output impedance of the H2dX is set by the phantom power supply from the audio device with which the hydrophone is used. Gain of the signal conditioning amplifier in the H2dX is related to the bias current and input impedance of the mic preamp. High-frequency performance is also limited by the output impedance of the hydrophone and the cable impedance—which is a function of length. For all of these reasons, we do not publish detailed response plots for this design. Please also note that further limitations in your overall system may result from the sampling rate of digital recorders and by the input stage of your audio device’s microphone preamp.
The following specifications are based on typical response when using the H2dX with a standard 48V phantom power supply (48V with 6.8K pull-up resistors):
The H2dX is terminated with a 3-pin male XLR plug. Wiring is standard: pin 1 is ground, pin 2 is hot and pin 3 unused*. This configuration should be compatible with any standard female XLR microphone jack. Phantom power is required and will need to be switched on in your device. Any standard phantom power supply voltage will work. Do not exceed +48V when powering the H2dX. If your recorder or mic preamp offers options for phantom voltage, we recommend using the lowest voltage available for lowest noise and power consumption. With the connection firmly made and phantom power switched on, there’s nothing more to do but adjust levels and take in the sounds of the deep.
*Most XLR-terminated microphones are balanced and use Pin 3 for a cold (or low) side of the signal, which has the same output impedance and is typically complimentary to the signal on Pin 2. This configuration can be beneficial for common-mode noise reduction when used with a balanced input device. The H2dX runs single-ended. It is a simple output plug variation of our standard H2dM. Single-ended operation lowers cost (mostly because it allows the use of a coaxial cable) and power use. Common-mode noise is seldom a problem in most hydrophone applications and the hydrophone is well shielded from electrical noise. Nearly all microphone preamps now are electronically balanced and tolerate this well, so this single-ended configuration is generally advantageous overall.
For a downloadable version of this guide or additional care information, please see the H2dX user manual.
H2dM (3.5mm TRS output)
Specifications are dependent upon the audio device to which the H2dM is connected and whether the hydrophone is driving stereo inputs or a single channel. The output impedance of the H2dM is set by the PIP supply from the audio device with which the hydrophone is used. Gain of the signal conditioning amplifier in the H2dM is related to the bias current and input impedance of the mic preamp. High- frequency performance is also limited by the output impedance of the hydrophone and the cable impedance—which is a function of length. For all of these reasons, we do not publish detailed response plots for this design. Please also note that further limitations in your overall system may result from the sampling rate of digital recorders and by the input stage of your audio device’s microphone preamp.
Note that there is no standard for plug-in power. Performance can vary significantly. The following specifications are based on typical response when using the H2dM with a compliance voltage of 2.5V and bias resistor of 1.1KΩ (two channels at 2.2KΩ each—2.2mA—typical of many compact digital recorders, including those that we sell).
The H2dM is terminated with a 3.5mm TRS plug and wired for dual-mono output (output wired to both tip and ring; sleeve contact to ground). The most common application is driving a compact stereo digital recorder. This output configuration will also work with nearly all video cameras and computer sound interfaces1 with 3.5mm mic input. Plug-in power (PIP) is required and may need to be switched on in your device. When recording with only one hydrophone, direct connection is made to the recorder and both left and right channels will record the same information. If wanting to record true stereo sound with two hydrophones, an adapter is typically needed that breaks out the left and right channels of the recorder into separate input jacks.
Please note that the 3.5mm jack is used for many kinds of audio connections. The H2dM will only work with microphone inputs. The hydrophone plug will fit into auxiliary inputs on powered speakers or marine stereo systems, but these will not provide PIP to the signal conditioning board in the H2dM, nor will they provide adequate gain. This connector is also used with headphone outputs. An adapter will be needed for most headset jacks (TRRS jacks that are designed to have a microphone contact as well as headphone outputs). These are common on smart phones, tablets and laptop computers. Do not make the assumption that, if the plug fits, the system will work.
For a downloadable version of this guide or additional care information, please see the H2dM user manual.
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