First On-The-Water Test Of All 3 Live Sonars | Humminbird Mega Live, Active Target, Garmin Livescope

[@helicopterjohns]

Probably the most comprehensive review I have seen on these products. I will give you a score of 10/10. Thanks for all the time you and Bass Tank spent in putting this together.

[@stevebender7614]

Great test thank you !!!!

[@TeeWhyOG1]

I think you did a wonderful job as I was torn on which unit to get thank you very much for your time and effort.

[@batfreak6897]

Truly some of the best educational material on you tube. While Garmin requires you t adjust some settings, its a 2 sec adjustment on the screen. Looked to me that the gain was too high in this comparison for the Garmin.

[@TysonEdwardsFishing]

I'd like to see you revisit this test now comparing the latest improvements to transducers and updates to see how they have changed.

[@m14hh5]

Target lock actually gives a person a reason to use mega live over other options now because the image is not going to make people choose it over the other options.

[@OldMysticFantasist]

Very nice review & analysis! As someone who is VERY new to using fish/depth finders, I really appreciate all the images, video clips, & explanation you put into this.

[@hikenmikes8262]

Great job!! We all love direct comparisons...I’m surprised more KZbinrs don’t do more of them. Keep up the good work.

[@InstinctBassin]

Awesome job Johnny. 18 people fish with cane poles and trot lines. Seriously if I still worked in a marine section of a store, I would just loop this video all day.

[@randyjoiner5141]

Best comparative review I’ve seen so far. Garmin looked the best. I agreed with the scoring

[@gixxer420]

Great video. Thrilled Garmin stood out ( what I use ). I would have thought Lowrance and Humminbird would have been alot better than Garmin. Especially with Garmin being out for years giving Lowrance and Humminbird alot of info to build from. Thanks for your time and all the info you share with us..

[@itme3356]

Honestly man Lowrance and garmin are about the same

[@Gibb591]

Garmin has the IP, the others are working around patents that Garmin invented and has exclusive rights to

[@gregshelton4487]

Great breakdown on these 3 units! Thanks for your hard work doing these comparisons cause for a weekend warrior it would be impossible to to obtain the info to have provided in this video. Keep up the good work🎣🎣🎣

[@1lostdrake]

One of the best comparison videos that I have seen. I've been looking to upgrade my electronics for several months and this has definitely helped me select what I need. Thank You

[@DinsmoreOutdoors]

It's really disappointing that Hummingbird was the last to come to the game and had other units to compare and is the worst out of the 3. I love all their other products that's why my boat has all birds and one stand alone Garmin at the bow. Great side by side review!! Very informative!

[@reidsimonson]

Best maps, best side imaging and best down imagining. Too bad HB couldn’t have the best live imaging.

[@bucke13]

Clayton Schick had been running the mega on his last few videos. The quality looks way better than this.

[@ElementofKindness]

To be honest, he doesn't seem to have the Humminbird settings anywhere close to optimal. Granted, megahertz frequencies will suffer on range. But the whole point of delving into that frequency range is to improve image clarity, not extend range.

[@javakalle8615]

@@ElementofKindness Yeah well, electromagnetic waves work that way. We had radiowaves crawling over obstacles at 1930s, 1960s moon shuttle live radio. Try to get more highend engineers to start fishing. 3 days of no Bass creates innovations.

[@m14hh5]

Humminbird has target lock now which is pretty cool but definitely still behind when it comes to the image you get to see.

[@infinitybiz1]

EXCELLENT, HONEST COMPARISON!!! Grateful for the time and the detailed breakdown with no bias. THANK YOU!! I’d most likely go with the Garmin. The background noise almost gives it an “advantage” as it looks like a natural contrast between water and object. Again, thank you!!

[@johndeluca1614]

Outstanding video! I really appreciate the hard work and time you put into this awesome comparison. I'm now planning to purcahase a forward facing sonar and am leaning toward Mega Live so I don't have to buy another brand of sonar. I have one Helix 10 Gen 3 on the console and one on the bow, so I assume I wouldn't need another sonar unit. My question is, have you done a follow up comparison to find out if Mega Live has improved after some updates? Thanks for all you do!!!

[@svenultimate6440]

Many thanks. It`s the best test I have seen up to now. I´m using Garmin livescope on a GPS-Map 1223 xsv. By using this screen I have a tip: On this screen ist seems that the colors are a third possibility to adjust. Try ist out! Depending on your target, fishoutline in shallow water (-5m), definition of a tree in middle depth (-8m) or identification of size of the fish in deeper water (-14m), change the clours an you will see a difference! All the best from Hamburg in Germany.

[@jeffbrowning5317]

I’ve been waiting for someone to do I true side by side. Great job!!

[@juleswinnfield826]

Best comprehensive comparison.... many thanks, always appreciate your commitment and content quality.

[@stephenlevine6610]

one nice setting the humminbird has is the ability to trails on a moving target. This setting really helps for tracking the lure or a Bass.The other two units I do not believe have that. Good review

[@maximusmeridious7655]

You can do trails with Garmin. Been that way since the original panoptix. Just an FYI, trails are nice at times.

[@otisleejr279]

Thanks for the clarity between the three live scopes. Now I can make a choice....

[@Hocking1973]

I have been set on getting the new Humminbird Mega Live for a year now, but saw this video about five days ago. Been giving it some real thought, then some more thought, and even some more thought. I have decided to go with the Garmin Livescope system with an additional third screen on the bow. When I told my local marina about my decision they totally understood and say many others are doing the exact same thing. Hmmm...... I guess I will have three humminbird Solix 12s and one Garmin unit on my boat now. Happy so support as many different manufacturers as possible!

[@grantmitchell814]

Nice Job and thank you. I have ran the Garmin for 2 years and really have caught fish every time out that I would not have been able to. I run all Humminbird 12s and I will keep my Garmin as well. All three brands are amazing in different things and thats what keeps them in the market.

[@georgeadcock2347]

Great job Jonny. This was a heck of a lot of work. I'm really educated on these units...

[@Outdoorjunkie]

Great test but use all the options on all three units . You have to turn the contrast/gain up on the ATarget you had it set too low. It will get grainy. You can see target separation a lot better as well as distance. If your going to adjust the Garmin unit and not the AT that’s not a fair test. Turn them all on Auto and do a test. Then use the features and adjust contrast/gain! I can pick up my crappie jigs 40-50 feet out all the time. I know I could have picked up that big bait further than 60 feet.

[@elkbow]

Agree, he didn't know how to adjust each unit for the best performance

[@reel_crappie]

Extremely helpful, has to be the best video made that I've found out there.

[@randybarger8649]

Johnny thanks and thanks to every body who helped best test ever nailed it guys should go viral in bass world I own livescope 3 years now

[@chrisroberts3963]

Excellent video. It just shows how much better the livescope is against the other two. There is no comparison. I also leaned I should try the basic color palette of the livescope in weeds. I have been using the blue palette but it’s not the greatest in the weeds.

[@vinosfinostapasandwinebar5109]

Thanks Jonny, great comparison. Come back to NC soon. Pat

[@ThatSB]

As someone who works on a vessel with multiple radars, dealing with other vessels with multiple radars, as soon as you said uou were gonna run 3 transducers next to eachother at the same time, I knew you were in for a bunch of sonar returns from different waves crashing into eachother. Easy to figure out, simple to use, and takes 2 seconds to mess with

[@guernseyfamily4895]

Strong work Jonny. Well done as always. You provide very thorough and detailed information. Thank you!

[@garyhegwer6895]

Awesome comparison of these three units! The proof is in the images! Greatly appreciate all that was involved in making this video! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Always learn a ton from your vids! Good fish'in brother.

[@pmm422]

Great comparison very appreciative! Having said that based on the images you were comparing I personally would have ranked the Garmin images way higher than you did. You actually gave them the same score in some categories where I was thinking they weren't even close in comparison. I'm not a Garmin fan-boy by any measure but it looked way better in every category to my eye.

[@ronaldbrennan5806]

That's because he can make Garmin look better with the settings and not the others. My Helix 7 DI, SI GPS is as clear as a picture when i set the settings right. I'm sceptical of these kinds of videos as i am not there to adjust the setting myself. I hate background noise like he showed with the garmin and why not use the same color for all three ? It's been my experience that amber is the way to go in most cases and you will see fish bright yellow.

[@pmm422]

​@@ronaldbrennan5806 Ya, certainly seemed like a clear bias to me.

[@ronaldbrennan5806]

@@pmm422 Agreed.

[@robc9954]

Thank you, answered a lot of questions, gave better answers than bass pro shop

[@JacksonJourney.]

I love your videos you are so detailed and it helped my fishing tremendously. I wish you would show more fish finders with grass or mukey bottom. Lot of the lakes in Northern Ohio are very seaweed/lily pad lakes

[@jimknowles5483]

Thanks for an exciting great comparative test!! Thanks for all your time and work! Yes ..!! Redo this test next year!! Who of us has the opportunity to compare expensive finders! You do us all an incredible service. Best compison ever! Thanks just jim

[@chaguie07171959]

Great video. I am so glad the Garmin Panoptix Livescope is the best one of the 3. Because the Garmin is the one I have. I used to have Lowrance then Humminbird and now have 2 - Garmin Echomap UHD units with GT-56 and LS-10 Livescope System. One unit and the console and the other at the bow. I am still a beginner since it’s been about a month since I have the Livescope system. I like the rusted steel and blue color on the screens. I sometimes run the rusted steel on the console and the blue on the bow. I am leaning more towards the rusted steel color since it makes fish pop. Thanks again for a well done instructional video.

[@fishcranktexas3896]

Thanks for this superbly done experiment. I have Garmin Livescope and your study reinforces my decision. Keep the great videos coming!!!

[@liferelation]

Thanks for the review Jonny, you were way too nice to Lowrance and Humminbird and I use all Humminbird. Garmin is two times better than both to my eyes

[@robertmowery3370]

you are very smart testing person I have seen. Great job

[@redfishandout]

Very generous scores for the two off brand livescopes. A lot of those cons on the two units are a deal breaker when compared to the livescope. If livescope didn’t exist, the other two units would be relevant. We must demand better performance from these companies by not buying these sonars until they improve the product to compete with livescope. Great video Johnny. Super content!

[@dankearney1636]

I got to say your test was great, it clearly made my decision for my new tournament boat, I probably will set up the boat completely with Garmin, so once again thank you for that test and I'll be looking forward to more tests that you're going to do

[@JoycefulTrails]

Good Stuff! I would reccommend Trying the Active Target on a HDS Live unit vs the Elite FS. I run the AT on the HDS Live and it Looks quite a bit better. Tons of Variables but I would reccommend giving it a shot!

[@thereeldevin1875]

Great review! I fished with a buddy who had Lowrance. I was able to take my knowledge from Garmin setup and tweak his unit to get a much better image. It was difficult to track our baits past 50feet. Garmin for the win!

[@markschiano3447]

Would like to this test done now with the latest Humminbird update. Seems the new Humminbird update geatly improved these issues in your original test

[@tjtewshews5531]

Ay....time to do the do the test again. Everyone is saying the new live update has made a big difference.

[@tomleonard8044]

I would have given Humminbird 10/10 on target separation. You are clearly a Garmin fan.

[@dougjack3532]

Thank you. This was an eye(s) opener gor me. I just purchased two Helix 7 3G with GPS (DI&SI units). I know I'm going to have to learn how to operate them in order to get the most of them. But I thank you for the information in the video. Looking forward to any other information on or about electronic for boats.

[@PCAPastorTrav]

I originally was going to stick with my ‘Birds but another KZbinr did a comparison with Lowrance that made me pause. You’ve confirmed my decision to go back to Garmin.

[@chrisbolden2584]

I think the scores are a fair look at the 3 sonars. I have the AT by Lowrance and after watching this comparison, I’m glad I chose the active target. It also made it easy because my other displays are Lowrance.

[@mongo.outdoors5479]

Good video I have a garmin and with a bit of tuning you can get a better image and also get rid of the back ground clutter.

[@FishOn1]

Excellent overview and comparison of the three systems!

[@bidkid2020]

Great video lots of good information I'm in the market for one of these three trying to decide thanks

[@computerguy1724]

Jonny, WOW! Great vid. Let me fly you here to MD for my next tourney. Let me know....

[@rephidimriderz7262]

Outstanding! Didn't know much about any of them. Had one of the first Lowrance gps/ moving map units in 1997. Loved it, my how things have changed! About to get back to my passion and really didn't know which way to go in this area so, very informative and Garmin looks like the ticket! I also liked what you had at your pilot console... even that is new to me. I had an in dash "flasher".. lol do you have video for that set up as well? Best brands, functionality, etc... that I might could find on your past videos? Just subscribed.... thanks so much!

[@randallrevis7384]

thanks for the time you spent on this review! definitely the best channel on you tube!

[@tonylou1234]

Great job with all the detailed comparisons, info and videos. Thanks.

[@haroldkennemore6321]

Thanks very helpful to choose a unit!

[@maddgoatee9708]

I use Garmin LiveScope and have been very happy with unit.

[@davidnewton3064]

Best review/test/experience I've ever seen you do.

[@donkswampey3874]

Great video! I’ve been looking for a video like this for a while. You answers all of my questions! Thanks

[@mwhack3262]

For people who can't fish, stare at this screen all day!

[@stephentrebolo4233]

Excellent comparisons. I agree with your assessment. Methodical, fair, and logical trials.

[@jasonstokley7274]

I enjoyed your in depth comparison of the live sonars. However i run Lowrance units on my boat and you can absolutely adjust the settings just like you can on the Garmin and the Hummingbird. Lowrance has preset settings for sensitivity under the water clarity and noise rejection selections. They just made it to where you can easily adjust your unit to the conditions and spend more time fishing.

[@jimmyoliver296]

I enjoyed your comparison of the three units. As for choice, I was faced with this decision when I decided to go with FFS. Since I already had lowrance units on my boat, I found I was more drawn to the live Target. One of my main reasons was that I was already familiar with lowrance settings and controls. Hummingbird has always seemed a bit more complicated for me. As for Garmin, I thought right from the beginning that their images were as good if not slightly best. But I guess I could not get past the grainyness. So I purchased the Live Target and gave been pleased. Like any new piece of equipment or Toy, the more you use it and work with it, the more comfortable you become. Had I seen this video of your comparison, I might have gone with the Garmin. But there again, familiarity and ease of operation of the lowrance was a big deciding factor. I thought this comparrison video was very well done, and I appreciate the time and effort it took to put together. Look forward to future videos. Thank you.

[@lrwilliams3160]

Great comparisons with Garmin I can see a brush pile the others you really can’t. I have all birds and I believe you rated active and bird to high. Thanks for your time and effort !

[@jeffcollins8978]

Just bought Garmin hoping it works great love the content thanks

[@rcagle123]

Love my Livescope and my mega side/ down imaging.

[@PanFishWeekly]

Thank you for this video, it is so helpful to those wanting to upgrade sonar units

[@garymitchell625]

Really good job. Very thorough and informative. I may get forward facing sonar but may wait for another new generation of models to come out. Im sure, like everything else.. they will ( slowly ) improve to drive sales on new ones.

[@darinmartin711]

Very good comparison, I really enjoyed your video,So I give you a 9out of 10,Where I thought you missed one was the forward Range. If you go back and look Garmin you can see a hole more of the brush pile, but very good job,Thanks for the video!!

[@mattbrown7483]

great job, exactly what I was looking for in a comparison review. I'm looking to purchase one of these units in the ice fishing bundle. I think my decision is made. Unfortunately I purchased a humminbird helix 7 G3N last year, based on info that it would be compatible with the mega live when released, however they didn't make it happen, you now need the G4N. So I'm going with the Garmin panoptix livescope ice bundle. I'll keep the humminbird as well, its a great unit.

[@timmytubow7651]

No, they always said 8-15 Helix G3N & G4N & 7 G4N. But you're better off with the Garmin 😆

[@redriderwannabe2840]

Great Job. I greatly appreciate the side-by-side comparisons. Personally, I think all three brands have a long way to go to live up to their advertising hype. I would have given each unit a score of 3-4 point LOWER than you did for each test. I'll save my money and wait for product improvements. Thanks again! Very informative!

[@stevoky]

This needs another visit.

[@danmartin8376]

i am new to modern electronicsand am attemting to get up to speed. i fish deep lakes for striper and catfish, cast the banks for bass and striper at night in the summer. i also do some saltwater near shore and bay fishing for reds, trout, flounder and some mackeral. I am wanting to link my trolling motor ( minnkota riptide 80) to the fishfinder for navagation ,( conture and shoreline following) , and get as many features as possible with the one unit added to the sinrads i currently have. 1 for gps navagation, 1 for down imageing(200&455kh) as well as side imageing which i have yet to master. Great video! very informative. Looks like i need to wait for some up dates on hummingbird to link for my purpose or buy the least capadable unit and upgrade when the tech improves.I take it no other finders will link with minnkota trolling motors?

[@AFaO]

Thank you for the comprehensive review. Well done! Would love to see a side-by-side comparison of the new AT2 and LVS62 when available. 🙂

[@davidgoff2204]

Excellent video. Very comprehensive and great examples. Really great to see a video like this with such direct visual comparison's. Makes it easier to see what's happening and how the units perform. Thanks. Keep the videos going. 👍

[@steveglasson2424]

Fantastic Johnny! I purchased the garmen and love...I can't wait to follow up on your educational how to videos.

[@rockard94]

Garmen? You must mean Garmin...

[@randy4805]

Great comparison. I am somewhat of a beginner and you helped me understand and decide on which manf I will go with! Thank you so much!

[@finmanpoozie4756]

Pretty impressive video!! Well done!

[@Hb1174]

Great video! Now I have to convince the wife that we need Livescope so she can catch her PB!

[@FishingWithBubba1]

Great Test, I have the Garmin and you are right on the settings. it's a great unit. Thanks for video and explaining all the test.

[@kevinarbour962]

Fantastic review and thank you for doing all this work. Just this past year I built out a new boat based on Humminbird one network with downriggers, Ulterra motor with GPS and SI+DI, rear HB sonar for second SI+DI to the console, and third SI/DI sonar for my Garmin 95SV located at the rear of the boat . I am about to make a decision regarding forward-looking sonar solutions and was hoping to use HB's product. It appears that I might be better off using the Garmin 95SV upfront with a Livescope and rounding it out with HB 360. Thanks again for your insights, you have given me lots to consider.

[@jodyreed6856]

Great review, comprehensive details. I think the comparison ratings were spot on but in my opinion the values were a bit higher than I would give. For the price of these units I would expect more from them in each criterion that you rated. Great job as always. You consistently have one of the most informative channels.

[@stevoky]

I would love to see this with the new mega live updates. I believe it may be the best now. But the tech os only going to get better every year.

[@thedragonfarm]

Really appreciate your time you put into this. The way you break down everything is spot on. Thanks so much 🙏

[@steveloydedwards8448]

Thank you. Exactly what we are looking for. Good video.

[@burdettehoeppner1062]

This is an awesome video. Im planning on buying a new boat and need to know as much as possible about these units. You did an awesome job comparing these units. Thanks for the great info.

[@07slowbalt]

In every way i agree 💯% with your review. Garmin stood out from the rest by quite a bit. Im not in love with the grainy background but it shows fish and structure better. The only thing i was confused on was the brush pile. I couldnt see it on all 3 😂

[@biaggiwins]

Without looking at the Garmin image first, I wouldn't be able to make out what the other two were displaying. Garmin was the clear winner.

[@Randy-gz8eu]

Thank you for putting this together, very nice and informative testing

[@tonyduran4764]

Great job Johnny keep up the good work

[@dmnguye69]

Very nice and detail comparison. Suggestion that you could perhaps include in how noticable swiming fishes appear on all 3 units and how easy it is to track them base on imagery.

[@shawntacina7291]

Yea livescope dominates!

[@shawntacina7291]

I can make out what type of fish it is by the way they move..

[@jesuslopez737]

Outstanding presentation! This information was the best I have seen. I’m looking to buy a new Nitro Z21 and want the best electronic for the price. Keep the updates coming!

[@christophercanady3059]

This has helped me out quite a bit. I don't have a system yet because of pricing, even though Amazon has a 4 payment plan. When I do get one, it will be a Garmin Live Scope. I'm a Garmin guy.

[@proaquatics4005]

This was a great video and cemented my decision to go with Garmin over Hummingbird

[@dwaynebergeaux7019]

Amazing job Jonny and the Bass Tank!! Thanks

[@seriousmechanicing]

I'm surprised with the poor showing from Humminbird, they had way more time to work on this thing and get it sorted out and still delivered the third best product. My dream of only having one brand of electronics on my boat is still just a dream.

[@sebastian2fn]

Ya same. Hopefully in a couple years they get it right , mega 360 and live scope from garmin is the combo to go for now .

[@bruceclayton5927]

Great work. Comparing only at "most likely used actual fishing distance" @40ft from brush/object would have been a good category. Probably panoramic grainyness would be issue then?

[@Rich-it1mc]

Great review !! I've come to expect nothing less from you. Always clear detailed information.

[@markanton2349]

As a Florida fisherman and being in much shallow water most of the time, perspective mode would be more useful to me. I wish you had done a review on perspective mode and the three units also

[@mjheggie2]

Great video. What monitor do you run on the bow with your forward facing sonar? You run garmin panoptix correct?

[@charleslefebvre5515]

Great video. My only comment is that I feel like the settings for the Garmin were off. I've watched lots of videos where the image was far more clear than what you were getting. I like how you had everything side by side and on the same areas to give a great comparison.

[@mrsmith2475]

Great video, would be great to do it now after the Garmin update has come out.