Earphones (bluetooth???)

[Milo_357]

Does anyone use earphone when they ride?  Or a bluetooth devices of some kind?

Is it in your ear or attached to the helmet?

I would LOVE to work something out so I could listen to books when I ride but:

1)TOO much background noise
2)Very snug helmet, could I add something or not?
3)Too much of a distraction(?)

I'm not too worried about #3, but added it as a concern.

I have a Scorpion EX0-900 helmet.  If anyone has any ideas, please let me know!

Dell

[Justin B.]

I have a Parrot helmet kit and love it.  Here's what I'm talking about - Crutchfield is just an example that game up in Google...

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-3h9zTbgqODW/p_333SK4000/Parrot-SK4000.html?tab=detailed_info

[Milo_357]

What about is I just want to headphone unit for my mp3 player only.  I really don't have any occassion where I need a microphone.  I am really just looking to see if there is anything I can use to hear my mp3 player a little better.

[marcmax]

I use an original Ipod shuffle, about the size of a pack of matches but it will hold about 6 hrs of music or two audio books. I use a small pair of ear buds, in the ear. I have a shaved head and always wear a helmet liner. Its a thin, silky stretch cap and I pull it over my ears (and ear buds) before pulling on my helmet. Haven't had a problem yet and it keeps me company on long rides. Just don't turn it up enough to drown out the traffic around you.

[Motu]

I've been wearing hearing aids for a couple of years - they are bluetooth capable. I don't wear them on the bike of course,that's one of the reasons I need hearing aids. Now I have a phone and MP3 player bluetooth capable,I'm thinking of setting them up together - more money of course for the dodad to do the job.

[Milo_357]

I use an original Ipod shuffle, about the size of a pack of matches but it will hold about 6 hrs of music or two audio books. I use a small pair of ear buds, in the ear. I have a shaved head and always wear a helmet liner. Its a thin, silky stretch cap and I pull it over my ears (and ear buds) before pulling on my helmet. Haven't had a problem yet and it keeps me company on long rides. Just don't turn it up enough to drown out the traffic around you.

Helmet liner?  Where do you get yours?  That may be something I should look in to.

btw. St. Mary's is a beautiful place.  We want to vacation there sometime!

[marcmax]

I got my helmet liner at Sports Authority but any sporting goods store with a good UnderArmour selection will probably have them. I have a very thin light one that fits under all my helmets and a slightly thicker one that fits better under one particular helmet. Be aware of where any seams in the liner lay on your head. Your helmet will definitely let you know if you have a seam in the wrong place.

[Johnster]

I think I might clarify a bit.  There are earBUDS
and earPLUGS (with speakers)

earbuds - are cheap things that 'sit' inside your ear, they are normally what is shipped with most MP3 players.

earplugs range in price from $20 (Koss) to $hundreds (Etymotic) and actually go into your ear - they normally reduce backgorund noise by 20 or 25 db.
PLUS, they have a speaker in them with a standard 1/8" (?) headphone plug - so they plug into any MP3 player and most cellphones.

I'd highly recommend the earplugs, I bought the Koss version (definitely the cheapest out there...prolly in construction too) but they block out so much noise, you dont need to turn the music up very much (and books on tape need to be cranked - my experience listening to them in the car).
http://www.aerostich.com/koss-earplug-speakers.html

You'll have a wire going to your head - but if it were a bluetooth version you'd still have to stick something in your ear before you put your helmet on.

I used to have a Collet communication system - it made anything very loud, but I hated the fact that I was just cranking the volume way up to get over the wind noise...and the foamy earplugs that kept the world quieter....

ABOUT CONCERN #3- definitely keep the volume/power controls closeby so if the situation gets messy, you can quickly turn off the audio and pay (better?) attention to your surroundings if you have to.

-John

[Milo_357]

I am going to try a set off the KOSS earplugs and perhaps a headliner.  I'll report back what I find.

Dell

[Semper Gumby]

Just ordered a new set of Etymotics.  The cable on my Er-6i wore out and both speakers quit.

I'm trying a set of mc5's with a longer two year warrenty and stronger cables.  They should be here in a couple of days...  [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif] (tweek tweek tweek)

[Milo_357]

I am going to try a set off the KOSS earplugs and perhaps a headliner.  I'll report back what I find.

Dell

I got the KOSS earplugs and they worked great.  Some road noise (to be expected), and I still could hear both music and books on my iPod. Much better than earbuds.

[Semper Gumby]

Well the mc5 are in and they work great.  I read a couple of reviews that they need to "burn in" for a bunch of hours before they reach their full potential.  And I'm stunned to say they were right.  I rode all day on Sunday with them in.  My ears are getting used to the new plugs so, like the ER6i's when new, they were sore after an all day ride.  But tonight I put them in and rode to choir practice.  I noticed that I was hearing more parts of the music than I heard with the ER6i.  On the way home I almost didn't recognize a choral piece because of all the extra stuff I'm hearing -- truely astounding.  The bass is subtle but there -- where it wasn't on the ER6i.  And I believe the proper words for the mid and high range would be "more acurate".

My only complant is that they stick out a bit farther than the ER6i's which is OK for putting on the helmet, but when I take the helmet off they pull out which is painful at the moment as I don't have new caluses in my ears yet for the new plugs.

Takes some getting used to I guess.  So far I am really pleased at getting much better sound while paying less money -- about $56.