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Garmin vs Lowrance Live Sonar: LiveScope 2 vs ActiveTarget 2
These are the two best live sonar units you can buy right now. Pick the wrong one for how you fish and you'll regret it every time you're on the water. Here's how the Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 XL and the Garmin LiveScope 2 LVS42HD compare, so you can figure out which one is right for you.
The short answer...
Want the widest field of view and the deepest reach? The Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 XL is your unit. Fish tight to docks, brush, and weedlines and want the crispest close-up picture? The Garmin LiveScope 2 LVS42HD is hard to beat. Most anglers also lean toward whichever brand of display they already run.
Specs side by side
| Feature | Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 XL | Garmin LiveScope 2 LVS42HD |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,799.99 | $2,199.99 (pre-order) |
| Max depth | 200 ft | 125 ft |
| Sweet spot | Wide 180° coverage | Inside 125 ft |
| Frequency | 650 to 1300 kHz | 850 to 1600 kHz |
| Standout | Three 180° views, one transducer | 50% more close-range detail |
| Runs on | Lowrance HDS PRO | Compatible Garmin display |
Where the Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 XL shines
The big story here is coverage. One XL transducer gives you three full 180° views. Forward XL sees out front from the second your lure drops. Down XL shows everything under the boat, front to back. Scout XL gives you an overhead view so you can spot bait balls and schools before you get to them.
You can flip between Forward and Down right from your screen, with no reaching over to twist the transducer. It also reaches deeper, down to 200 feet, which helps on bigger water. Run two units on an HDS PRO display and you open up a 360° view around the whole boat.
Where the Garmin LiveScope 2 LVS42HD crushes
Garmin built the LVS42HD for the close game. It gives you 50% more detail up close than LiveScope Plus. At 30 feet, it separates two targets down to 3.8 inches, so you can tell your lure from the fish sitting right next to it. Watch a bass slide off a dock piling and eat your bait, live on the screen.
It also comes with built-in image stabilization to smooth out the picture in chop, a water temp sensor, and it plugs right into a compatible Garmin display with no black box. It's dialed in for water inside 125 feet, which covers most dock, crappie, and weedline fishing. The LVS42HD is up for pre-order now.
Order it and let Ben rig it up
A live sonar unit is only as good as the install behind it. Transducer angle, wiring, and network setup all change what shows up on your screen. Order your unit from Ben's Marine and have our Garmin-certified and NMEA-certified techs mount it, wire it, and dial in your settings. You drop off the boat, we rig it, you go fish. Book your install.
Which one should you pick?
Go with the Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 XL if you cover lots of water, fish deeper spots, or want the widest field of view from a single transducer. Go with the Garmin LiveScope 2 LVS42HD if most of your fishing happens up close and you want the most detailed near-range picture out there.
And if you already run a Lowrance HDS PRO or a Garmin display, that answer gets easy, since each unit pairs with its own brand.
Quick questions:
Is the Garmin LiveScope 2 worth the extra money over the Lowrance? If you fish up close for bass and panfish, the added near-range detail can earn its keep. If you want reach and coverage, the Lowrance gives you more view for less.
Can Ben's Marine install either one? Yes. Our techs rig both Lowrance and Garmin live sonar, from transducer mounting all the way to final on-screen calibration.
Ready to fish with better eyes underwater?
Order your Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 XL or Garmin LiveScope 2 LVS42HD from Ben's Marine and let our team rig it right. Call or text us at (218) 820-9781 to order, ask about display compatibility, or book your install. We're in the Brainerd Lakes area and ship across the country.