November 10, 2025
By Shane Beilue
As a departure from reviewing premium rods and reels in the Tackle Junkie space, we’re reviewing the highly anticipated release of Humminbird’s forward-facing sonar technology, Mega Live 2.
There’s been much anticipation about how this technology compares to Garmin Livescope, the clear market leader, and Lowrance’s Active Target, which is a distant second from Garmin. The first iteration of Humminbird’s Mega Live didn’t have the performance and image quality of its competitors. Everyone has asked how Mega Live 2 would compare to the “gold standard” in the forward-facing sonar space.
The best way to begin the review is to understand why I purchased the Mega Live 2 (yes, it was purchased, not offered for free in hopes of a positive review).
First, my current bass boat has Humminbird and Minn Kota products from bow to stern. Both brands are owned by the same parent company, Johnson Outdoors, which offers networking capabilities between sonar units, Raptor anchors and the Ultrex trolling motor.
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Second, the very early reviews of Mega Live 2 indicated it was a significant improvement over Mega Live 1.
Lastly, I was drawn to the idea of not having to mount an external processor or “black box” somewhere in the boat. The processor for the Humminbird unit is contained within the relatively large housing of the Mega Live 2 transducer, meaning fewer holes to drill and quicker installation.
One key note for current Humminbird users is that Mega Live 2 does not work with the popular Helix control heads. The Helix is being phased out and replaced by the Xplore series, which features a high-resolution touch screen. Mega Live 2 is also compatible with Humminbird's high-end Apex and Solix series, but the Helix will not work.
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The installation of the transducer went as expected. One feature I appreciate about the mounting bracket is how easily it transitions from forward to down and landscape mode. A simple click of a button allows the transducer to pivot quickly and easily from one mode to the next.
When I first hit the water with the unit, I was pleased at how clean the image appeared on screen. The unit is set to “auto,” allowing the machine to adjust the sensitivity and contrast. If you’re a tinkerer, like me, you’ll want to dial in the image to your liking, which is easily accomplished from the intuitive touchscreen menu of the Xplore unit.
Another quick observation: No “ghost tree” appeared on screen. The ghost tree is a false signal from the overlap of the various sonar arrays and is common to most FFS units; however, Humminbird has eliminated this issue.
As many FFS users know, the ability to separate fish from cover is often a matter of the selected color palette. Humminbird offers 15 distinct color palettes with clever names familiar to anglers, such as Black and Blue Craw, Watermelon Red and Citrus Shad. My favorites have been Alabama Amber and Doppler.
Now for the crux: How does the technology compare with Garmin and Lowrance? After extensive and rather intense use over the past few months, the image quality, clarity and target separation are comparable to the existing technology on the market. Without having all three units side by side looking at the same target, it’s difficult to say with certainty if one brand offers a slight advantage over the others, which speaks to Humminbird's significant improvement with Mega Live 2.
The Mega Live 2 transducer's suggested retail price is $1,500, and the 12-inch Xplore screen (the largest offered in the series) is $2,500.
The intent with any Tackle Junkie review is to inform, not to sell. With an investment of this significance, it’s always best to gather as much information as possible before the purchase, so here’s hoping this review adds to your informed decision.
