Hydrophone — H3-OCEAN

Q: Is the H3-OCEAN available in a Direct-Reading (cabled) version?

The H3-OCEAN is Self-Contained only — designed for autonomous deployment with internal battery and storage. If your project requires a cabled real-time hydrophone, contact our engineering team with your specifications — we can discuss a custom configuration or recommend an alternative from our product range.

Q: How do I choose between 512GB and 1TB storage?

At 128 kHz sampling rate with 24-bit quantization, 512GB stores approximately 15 days of continuous recording. 1TB doubles that. At lower sampling rates (e.g., 32 kHz for marine mammal monitoring), 512GB covers well over a month. Choose 1TB if you need the highest sample rates for extended durations, or if your vessel turnaround schedule is longer than two weeks.

Q: What does the atomic clock module do, and do I need it?

The atomic clock provides sub-millisecond time synchronization between multiple H3-OCEAN units. If you’re deploying a single hydrophone, you don’t need it — the internal clock is sufficient for single-point recording. If you’re deploying an array of 2+ units and intend to do acoustic localization, arrival-time differencing, or beamforming, the atomic clock option is essential — without it, clock drift between instruments will degrade your spatial resolution.

Q: How do I retrieve and process the data after recovery?

Data downloads via high-speed USB at ≥5 MB/s — a full 512GB offloads in under 30 hours. Output format is standard WAV (24-bit PCM), directly compatible with MATLAB, Python (scipy, pandas), PAMGuard, Raven Pro, and most bioacoustics analysis packages. No proprietary format — no vendor lock-in.

The H3-OCEAN is a self-contained, low-noise hydrophone for long-duration passive acoustic monitoring in the deep ocean. With a sensitivity better than -166 dB re 1 µPa, 24-bit quantization, and >100 dB dynamic range, it captures everything from distant whale vocalizations to nearby seismic events — in a single deployment lasting weeks to months.

Overview

512GB onboard storage (1TB optional) records continuously for over a month, or up to 370 days in scheduled interval mode. The titanium alloy housing is pressure-rated to 6,000m. At under 4 kg and Φ74mm diameter, it deploys on mooring lines, seabed landers, and cabled observatory frames without heavy handling equipment. An optional atomic clock module enables synchronized multi-unit arrays for acoustic localization and tomography studies.

Key Features

-166 dB re 1µPa Sensitivity

High-sensitivity hydrophone with integrated preamplifier detects faint acoustic signals — marine mammal vocalizations, distant seismic events, and ambient noise below sea state 0.

10Hz – 20kHz Wideband Response

Covers the full frequency range of interest for marine bioacoustics, geophysical surveys, and ocean noise monitoring. Adjustable sampling rates: 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 kHz.

Over 1 Month Continuous Recording

Built-in 480Wh battery supports ≥1 month of uninterrupted recording. Interval sampling mode extends deployment to 370 days — ideal for seasonal and annual monitoring campaigns.

24-Bit · >100 dB Dynamic Range

Captures the quietest ambient noise and the loudest anthropogenic sources in the same recording without clipping or quantization noise. Self-noise below 40 dB @ 1 kHz.

512GB Storage (1TB Optional)

Standard 512GB stores weeks of full-bandwidth data. 1TB option for extended deployments or high sample rates. High-speed download ≥5 MB/s — get your data off the instrument and into analysis quickly.

Adjustable Gain: -18dB to 24dB

Configurable preamplifier gain matches your deployment environment — low gain for noisy coastal or industrial sites, high gain for quiet deep-ocean and biological monitoring.

Specifications

Technical Specification	H3-OCEAN Self-contained Hydrophone
Model	H3-OCEAN
Product Type	Self-contained Hydrophone
Pressure Rating	1000m, 3000m, 6000m (Max rating: 6000m)
Operating Frequency	10Hz - 20kHz
Operation Mode	Self-contained
Continuous Working Time	≥ 1 month
Hydrophone Sensitivity	Better than -166dB re 1 µPa (including preamplifier module)
Sampling Rate	8kHz, 16kHz, 32kHz, 64kHz, 128kHz (adjustable)
Interval Sampling	Supports up to 370 days of monitoring
Sampling Quantization Precision	24-bit quantization
Dynamic Range	> 100dB
Minimum Measured Noise Spectral Level	< 40dB @ 1kHz
Maximum Gain	-18dB to 24dB
Power Supply	7.2V, 480Wh
Power Consumption	Continuous operating power consumption: better than 500mW
Data Download Speed	≥ 5 MB/s
Internal Storage Capacity	512GB nominal (optional 1TB)
Weight (with battery)	< 4kg
Dimensions	Hydrophone volume: Φ40mm (diameter) × 105mm (length) Main body volume: Φ74mm (diameter) × 315mm (length)

Applications

Why Choose the H3-OCEAN

Three reasons researchers and operators choose this hydrophone for long-duration monitoring.

Deploy It and Leave It

Over 1 month continuous or 370 days interval recording means you deploy once per field season — not once per week. For remote deep-ocean sites where vessel time costs more than the instrument, this deployment endurance is the spec that matters most.

Hear What Others Miss

-166 dB sensitivity with self-noise below sea state 0 captures signals that lower-sensitivity hydrophones lose in the ambient noise floor. For marine mammal research and ambient soundscape characterization, sensitivity is everything.

Scale from One Unit to an Array

One H3-OCEAN gives you a single-point acoustic record. Add the atomic clock module to multiple units and you have a synchronized array — enabling acoustic localization, source tracking, and tomography studies without the cost and complexity of a cabled observatory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about the H3-OCEAN

Is the H3-OCEAN available in a Direct-Reading (cabled) version?

The H3-OCEAN is Self-Contained only — designed for autonomous deployment with internal battery and storage. If your project requires a cabled real-time hydrophone, contact our engineering team with your specifications — we can discuss a custom configuration or recommend an alternative from our product range.

How do I choose between 512GB and 1TB storage?

At 128 kHz sampling rate with 24-bit quantization, 512GB stores approximately 15 days of continuous recording. 1TB doubles that. At lower sampling rates (e.g., 32 kHz for marine mammal monitoring), 512GB covers well over a month. Choose 1TB if you need the highest sample rates for extended durations, or if your vessel turnaround schedule is longer than two weeks.

What does the atomic clock module do, and do I need it?

The atomic clock provides sub-millisecond time synchronization between multiple H3-OCEAN units. If you’re deploying a single hydrophone, you don’t need it — the internal clock is sufficient for single-point recording. If you’re deploying an array of 2+ units and intend to do acoustic localization, arrival-time differencing, or beamforming, the atomic clock option is essential — without it, clock drift between instruments will degrade your spatial resolution.

How do I retrieve and process the data after recovery?

Data downloads via high-speed USB at ≥5 MB/s — a full 512GB offloads in under 30 hours. Output format is standard WAV (24-bit PCM), directly compatible with MATLAB, Python (scipy, pandas), PAMGuard, Raven Pro, and most bioacoustics analysis packages. No proprietary format — no vendor lock-in.

Get a Quick quote

Tell us about your project and we’ll provide a customized quotation within 24 hours — including recommended configuration, lead time, and shipping.