Best Airmar CHIRP Transducers for 2026: B150, B175, B265, and B285 Compared

CHIRP technology changed fishfinding more than anything since color screens. Instead of pinging at a single frequency, CHIRP transducers sweep a range of frequencies continuously — and the result is target separation, depth range, and noise rejection that traditional transducers simply can't match. Airmar makes the CHIRP elements inside most major fishfinder brands. Here's how their direct-sale lineup stacks up in 2026.

How to Read This Comparison

Airmar CHIRP transducers vary across four key dimensions: frequency band (High, Medium, Low, Wide), power (300W vs. 1kW), beam coverage (narrow vs. wide), and mounting style. Matching these to your fishing style and fishfinder is the whole game.

Airmar B150 — Medium CHIRP, 300W

The B150 is the most accessible CHIRP thru-hull in the Airmar lineup. At 300W in the Medium CHIRP band (80–160kHz), it delivers noticeably better target separation and resolution than any traditional 600W transducer, at a price point that makes sense for serious inshore and freshwater anglers. The Tilted Element™ design allows precise deadrise angle matching in 0°, 12°, and 20° tilt variants.

Best for: Inshore saltwater, freshwater, bay fishing. Boats with CHIRP-capable fishfinders who want thru-hull performance without the 1kW price tag.

Airmar B150 Medium 0 Degree Chirp D/T | Includes Mix & Match Cable

SKU: AIR-B150C-0-M-MM | More Info

Airmar's entry-level CHIRP thru-hull — and a massive upgrade over any traditional transducer. Medium CHIRP at 300W with Tilted Element™ technology. The Mix & Match version lets you choose your connector adapter separately, making it compatible with any major fishfinder brand.

Airmar B175H — High CHIRP, 1kW

The B175H is the most popular single-band CHIRP transducer Airmar makes, and for good reason. At 1kW in the High CHIRP band (130–210kHz), you get exceptional resolution from the surface down to mid-offshore depths. It outperforms the B150 in water clarity, target size discrimination, and maximum depth — and it's what most high-end CHIRP fishfinders are designed to pair with.

Best for: Offshore day trips, nearshore reef fishing, bluewater inshore. Anglers fishing 0–600 feet primarily.

Airmar B175 High Chirp, 1kW, 0° Tilted Element™, Navico 9-Pin, DT

SKU: AIR-B175C-0-H-9N | More Info

One kilowatt in the High CHIRP band — this is the standard transducer for premium offshore fishfinders. Delivers outstanding target separation and arch quality. Available for Furuno, Garmin, Simrad, Humminbird, and Raymarine — or order No Connector and use a Mix & Match adapter.

Airmar B175M — Medium CHIRP, 1kW

The B175M splits the difference between the B175H and B175L: Medium CHIRP band (80–160kHz) at 1kW. It gives you more depth penetration than the B175H while maintaining better resolution than the B175L. A good all-around choice for anglers who fish a range of depths from inshore to the canyon edge.

Best for: Versatile offshore and inshore fishing. Mixed depth applications from 0–1,000 feet.

Airmar B175M Bronze 0 Degree Thru-Hull 1kW f/Garmin w/8-Pin Connector

SKU: AIR-B175C-0-M-8G | More Info

The versatile middle ground in the B175 family — Medium CHIRP at 1kW gives you more depth than the High CHIRP models while preserving excellent resolution in shallower water. The smart choice if you fish a wide range of depths.

Airmar B175L — Low CHIRP, 1kW

The B175L goes deep. Low CHIRP (28–60kHz) at 1kW is the configuration for offshore canyon fishing, deep drops, and any application where you need bottom contact beyond 1,000 feet. It trades some resolution in shallow water for dramatically better depth penetration. Pair it with a B175H or B175M on a second port for dual-band CHIRP coverage.

Best for: Deep-water offshore fishing. Canyon drops, tile fish, deep wreck fishing. Depths of 600–3,000+ feet.

Airmar B175 Bronze Low Frequency 1kW Chirp Transducer 0° Tilt - Requires Mix & Match Cable

SKU: AIR-B175C-0-L-MM | More Info

Airmar's low-frequency 1kW CHIRP transducer — built for offshore depth. The B175L reaches into the canyon and beyond, maintaining bottom contact at depths where high-frequency transducers lose the signal entirely. Pairs naturally with a B175H for dual-band coverage on two sonar ports.

Airmar B265 — Low-High Dual-Band CHIRP, 1kW

The B265 is a two-transducers-in-one solution: it transmits in both the Low and High CHIRP bands simultaneously through a single housing and fairing block. You get deep-water penetration AND shallow-water detail from one hull penetration. Compatible fishfinders can display both returns at once, giving you a comprehensive picture at any depth. The B265 is for anglers who want it all without drilling two holes.

Best for: Versatile offshore fishing. Anglers who fish varying depths and want dual-band CHIRP without a second transducer install.

Airmar B265 Low-High Chirp, 1kW, w/ FB, Furuno 12-Pin, DT

SKU: AIR-B265C-LH-12F | More Info

Low and High CHIRP through a single housing — a serious upgrade for the serious offshore angler. One hull penetration gives you the bottom-reading depth of a low-frequency CHIRP and the resolution of a high-frequency CHIRP. Includes fairing block for clean hull integration.

Airmar B285 — High Wide CHIRP, 1kW

The B285 takes the B175H's frequency range and widens the beam significantly. A wider beam covers more water per ping — you're looking at a larger cone angle that can spot fish and structure that a narrow beam would miss. The tradeoff is some reduction in vertical resolution. The B285 is the tournament angler's tool for finding fish in open water quickly before zooming in.

Best for: Tournament fishing, open-water fish-finding, mahi and tuna in open blue water. Anglers prioritizing coverage area over pinpoint detail.

Airmar B285 High Wide Chirp, 1kW w/ FB, Garmin 12-Pin, DT

SKU: AIR-B285C-HW-12G | More Info

Airmar's widest CHIRP coverage in the High band — a larger cone angle means more water scanned per ping. The B285 is a tournament angler's tool: find fish across a wide area, then work them. Includes fairing block for clean installation at speed.

Quick Comparison

🎣 Expert Advice from Mack Jennings

If you're making the jump from a traditional transducer to CHIRP, start with the B175H unless you're specifically fishing deep offshore — then go B175L or B265. The High CHIRP band is where Airmar's engineering really shines in the 0–600 foot range that most saltwater day-boat fishermen spend their time. The target arches are cleaner, individual fish pop off the bottom, and baitfish schools have texture and definition instead of a fuzzy blob.

For tournament anglers who fish in the blue water, seriously consider the B285 as a second transducer on a dedicated sonar port. Run the B175H or B175L for your primary sonar, and use the B285 for coverage while running. The combination of precision and width is what separates the boats that find fish from the ones that don't.

Not sure which connector or tilt angle to order? Email [email protected] with your fishfinder model and hull deadrise, and we'll spec it out for you.