There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.
What We Tried
Revo Sonic 2 speaker sunglasses. These shades have speakers baked into the arms (technically called the “temples”) so you can listen to your music on the course without disturbing the grumpy single playing alongside you.
Who Tried It?
Connor – Director of Soft Goods Testing and resident sneakerhead. I believe golf is better with a pair of cool shoes and comfortable joggers. Plus, I’m a big fan of music on the golf course! I can’t help but tee it up to some George Strait.
On Your Face, Not in Your Face
What’s the draw of sunglasses that double as headphones? For those of us who like to listen to music on the golf course, the idea of an open-ear design that allows you to hear what’s going on around you is appealing.
For those of you who are opposed to music on the golf course, there’s still something in this for you, too. Speakers, when used with reckless abandon, can be loud and overbearing. The use of speaker sunglasses like the Revo Sonic 2 should stop other people’s music from intruding on your golf.
How does it sound?
Above all else, the Revo Sonic 2 must play music, and that it does very well. The speakers are strategically placed in the temples of the sunglasses, near the ears. This design function allows the wearer to listen to sweet tunes without disturbing those around them.
When I was on the course, I had a few buddies standing next to me on the tee box and they couldn’t hear my music at all. Even still, because of the open-ear design, I was able to converse with them and hear what was going on while still enjoying a private concert from Keith Urban – all from my sunglasses.
You’re not going to get audiophile quality from a pair of open-ear speaker sunglasses. That’s a fact. Even still, the music quality was plenty good for a fun time on the course.
Fit and Function
Sunglasses aren’t helpful if they won’t stay on your face during the swing. The Revo Sonic 2 fit very well on my face which, I’ll admit, is bigger than some. Whether I was swinging for the fences or hitting a thinned wedge over the green, the Revo Sonic 2 stayed put.
As far as the actual lenses go, they were really nice. The Evergreen lens is a brown-based lens with a green mirror coating for superior clarity and contrast. I found it enhanced the contours and curves of the course. This is perfect for someone like me who explores every inch of a course with my wayward tee shots.
Buggy, but Helpful
The music controls are integrated into the temples of the sunglasses, which allow for a phone-free experience. The Revo Sonic 2 relies on touch gestures to control music. A swipe towards the back or front of the glasses moves the volume up and down, respectively. A single tap on the side of the frames pauses or plays your current song.
The touch gestures take some getting used to. I found them to work the majority of the time, with a few hiccups. That said, when they work, it’s darned nice to change the volume with a quick swipe on the frame or tap to pause a song.
Why Not Use Headphones?
If you’re not a fan of speakers, why not just use headphones? That was the big question I had going into my review of the Revo Sonic 2. I found that most earbud-style headphones (and even the over-ear style) block out too much noise.
Using the Revo Sonic 2 keeps your ears completely open and thus able to hear the outside environment. The best way to describe why this is important is with a four-letter word … FORE!
Any moment on a golf course can quickly turn to catastrophe if you can’t hear someone shouting as their ball locks on to your unprotected head like a heat-seeking missile. The Revo Sonic 2 allows you to hear when you need it most.
More Noteworthy Features
The Revo Sonic 2 has more tricks up its sleeve. Here are a few nice features I’m glad they included:
- 11 hours of battery life
- Hands-free phone calls with RevoWhisper ambient noise blocker
- Quick and easy Bluetooth pairing
The Verdict
Would I rock the Revo Sonic 2 for my next round of golf? Absolutely! The Revo Sonic 2 promised great music playback in a product that’s as stylish as it is efficient; It delivered.
If you’re a fan of music on the golf course but don’t want to disturb others, the Revo Sonic 2 is a wonderful golfing companion. It’s a great alternative to headphones which can block out too much noise.
And as sunglasses go? They work darned well there, too. The Revo Sonic 2 is a true hybrid between sunglasses and headphones that any music enthusiast is sure to enjoy.
Glenn Funamoto
5 months ago
Essentially these are bone conducting headphones built into the sunglasses. I’ve got an alternate (cheaper) solution. Use your own sunglasses and I love the Shokz OpenRun Pro. It serves the same purpose at less than half the price.