Triumphrat

smartin108 · 04-13-2007

Who makes a good set of helmet speakers for an MP3 player? Do any of them have a volume or mute control?

RSRAT · 04-13-2007

apart from just considering speaker choices per se, have a look at the blue tooth technology string on this forum-- just a few clicks down from here. you'll find some very informative entries on speakers/earplugs/ and bluetooth there.

generally, audiophiles seem to prefer in -ear phones in their helmets that can deliver great sound while providing various degrees of noise isolation along with it. speakers don't typically provide very good sound compared to earphone plugs.

I've tried both approaches and would suggest that if you want to go with in helmet earphone speakers, don't spend much on them because they can't deliver high quality sound anyway-- check aerostich/rider warehouse for good, inexpensive ones. there, you'll also find a number of high quality in ear options as well, if you choose to go that route.

If you already have a bluetooth audio source, or want to create one for your non-bluetooth device, consider the Phillips unit I reviewed at the string I mentioned. I've been quite pleased with it. Wireless stereo sound with the Phillips unit is quite impressive as well as highly convenient and very versatile, should you like using them both off and on the bike.

smartin108 · 04-15-2007

Thanks for the info. I'm a neophyte at on-bike communications. I've always preferred listening to the bike, but I am planning some long rides.

stmike · 04-15-2007

I believe Aerostitch sells speakers that fit into the ear recesses on your helmet cheekpads. Don't know about the audiophile quality of these, but one of my friends uses them for his radar detector and hears the signal well. And they're very cheap - around $15 or so. On the other hand, the current Cycle World reviewed speakers that are built into molded ear plugs. They absolutely loved them, but they are somewhat more pricey - the two models go for $300 and $500. Then again, I spent $300 on headphones for my stereo that I hardly ever use.

denny · 04-15-2007

I've used helmet speakers for a couple of years now. I think the quality in ear headset would be better. Wind noise in my helmet always interferes with the ability to hear the speakers. Especially whe I am trying to keep up with you!!!

kit: :chug:

i've been researching those and it seems the ER6i's are liked by nearly everyone who has tried them.

rustbucket · 04-16-2007

I have a pair of Shure e2c's I picked up a couple of years ago. I've been using them in place of earplugs on the bike this season.

They filter outside noise really well. This is good and bad. With no tunes, the road noise level is about the same as with ear plugs - significantly attenuated, but I can still hear things like horns, sirens, etc. Even at very low volumes, music overwhelms just about all outside noises short of a truck horn. I listen sparingly, generally only when I'm way out in the boons or on a long highway run with little traffic. The good news about all the sound attenuation is that I can get away with listening at safe volumes. I have done 2-3 hours at a shot with music, and no ringing ears afterward. This is important to me because I've already lost a fair amount of hearing (too many hardcore and punk shows), so I'm attached to what I have left...

In terms of fidelity, I never really loved the e2c's - they have a nice bass kick that borders on being bass heavy (which I like). The mids and highs always sounded like they were coming through a tunnel to get to me. I did some reading at www.head-fi.org and discovered an easy mod that involved cutting off about 1/8" of the tube that goes into the ear. This transformed them - I absolutely love the sound now. I had previously resigned myself to getting a better/different set of in-ear headphones, but no longer have any need.

From what I've read, the three big contenders in the canal phone market (in-ear headphones) are Etymotics, Shure and in the last year or so, Ultimate Ears. The Etymotics are said to be the most accurate, but least 'fun' headphone. People use words like 'cold' and 'uninvolving'. Some people also love them. The Shures are generally considered to be more fun, a bit bass-heavy, and not as accurate as the Ety's. The Ultimate Ears fall about in the middle of the spectrum - if I was buying today I'd probably get the entry level UE's (they weren't available when I got the Shures).

Sorry for the ramble - hope this helps.

edit: I can't speel :razz:

[ This message was edited by: rustbucket on 2007-04-16 09:29 ]