Live, forward-facing sonar is the biggest shift in fishing electronics of the last decade — instead of seeing what’s already passed beneath the boat, you see fish and structure in real time, ahead or beside you, as they move. Garmin, Humminbird and Lowrance each build a competing system. Here’s how they compare.
| System | Brand | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Garmin LiveScope Plus System — LVS34 Transducer & GLS10 Black Box Combo | Garmin | £1494.99 |
| Garmin Panoptix LiveScope Plus System with GLS 10 and LVS34 Transducer | Garmin | £2069.99 |
| Humminbird MEGA Live 2 Forward-Facing Sonar | Humminbird | £1609.99 |
| Humminbird MEGA Live 2 Imaging Live Sonar System | Humminbird | £1839.99 |
| Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 Live Sonar System | Lowrance | £1494.99 |
| Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 Live Sonar System with Transducer | Lowrance | £1953.99 |
Garmin Panoptix LiveScope
Garmin’s Garmin LiveScope Plus System — LVS34 Transducer & GLS10 Black Box Combo (£1494.99) and the higher-spec Garmin Panoptix LiveScope Plus System with GLS 10 and LVS34 Transducer (£2069.99) pair a black box processor with the LVS34 transducer, delivering forward, down and historical scanning modes. LiveScope is widely regarded as the system that popularised live sonar for recreational anglers, with a large accessory ecosystem for mounting on trolling motors and poles.
Humminbird MEGA Live 2
The Humminbird MEGA Live 2 Forward-Facing Sonar (£1609.99) and full Humminbird MEGA Live 2 Imaging Live Sonar System package (£1609.99) deliver Humminbird’s second-generation live imaging, with a reputation for exceptionally clean, high-contrast target definition — useful for picking individual fish out from cover.
Lowrance ActiveTarget 2
The Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 Live Sonar System (£1494.99) and bundled Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 Live Sonar System with Transducer (£1953.99) integrate tightly with Lowrance’s HDS and Elite series displays, with a wide field of view that some anglers find easier to track moving fish with.
Which Live Sonar System Should You Choose?
- Already run a Garmin, Humminbird or Lowrance chartplotter? Staying within the same brand’s live sonar system is almost always the simplest and best-supported route, since compatibility and software integration are guaranteed.
- Buying a display and live sonar together? Compare the bundled system prices above rather than buying separately — bundles are usually better value.
- Prioritise target clarity if you fish heavy cover and need to distinguish individual fish from structure; prioritise field of view if you fish more open water and track moving schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a compatible chartplotter to run live sonar?
Yes — all three systems require a compatible display from the same brand to process and show the live sonar feed.
Can I mount live sonar on my trolling motor?
Yes, all three brands offer trolling motor and pole mounts as accessories, letting you scan ahead of the boat as you move.
Is live sonar worth the cost?
For anglers targeting individual fish in real time — bass, crappie, pike — most say yes. For general cruising or trolling, a standard CHIRP or imaging sonar is usually sufficient.
Not sure which live sonar system fits your existing electronics? Our team can check compatibility before you buy — browse the full range in our online shop.