Author |
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Okc99
| Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 11:19 am: |
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I've talked to more than a dozen riders on different forums who you might call "alternative speaker seekers". All they care to listen to is news/talk radio and not music so bass response, etc just doesn't matter to them at all. In short they are guys who have decided ALL of the following: 1) They will always wear ear plugs instead of earphones for a variety of reasons 2) They have tried multiple helmet speakers and none fit right. 3) They only solution they seek now is to mount some type of non-motorcycle mp3 speaker into the front of their helmet so they can hear it thru their earplugs and not affect the fitting around the ears at all. If anyone has a quick,easy off the shelf solution (no McGuyver solutions) please post it! (With pics/directions) |
Okc99
| Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 11:25 am: |
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Or....is there any vendor out there that has come up with the ultimate Uly sound system solution? I'm just tired or trial and error experimentation! |
Froggy
| Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 11:27 am: |
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Scala Rider. http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-intercoms/s cala-rider-q2/ I use it to bluetooth connect to my Zumo, which has XM radio. |
Rr_eater
| Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 01:24 pm: |
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http://www.cep-usa.com/id39.htm Been using the bottom ones, Stereo Receiver or as they called them on the phone, "lawn mower" CEP's. I LOVE them, and they are dual benefit, ear plug protection and sound enjoyment. Like 75 bucks I think they were, had them for 4 years now, and LOVE them!! They are military grade, solid, and durable. Give them a call!! They are not audiophile quality, but they work awesome for riding or mowing the lawn!! Bruce |
Rwven
| Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 02:02 pm: |
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First make a list of everything you want your "sound system" to do. Do you want bike to bike communication? Do you want passenger intercom? Do you want the ability to plug in earbuds? etc. (What do they have against noise isolating earbuds BTW?) Then compare system specs. to get what you want. At present I am using a StarCom 1 Advance intercom unit. It can be configured for bike to bike, intercom, cell phone, navigation, music, radar detector and bluetooth (using an adapter). I've got it mounted in my Buell Deluxe tank-bag. (Message edited by rwven on May 08, 2010) |
Billyo
| Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 06:37 pm: |
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Rwven is right. Grab a pen and paper and start making a list. Then decide if you can afford your ultimate system or what you're willing to give up. There are a lot of options and if you don't make a plan you can waste several hundred dollars. I didn't end up with the ultimate for me system because I didn't want to spend over $800 per bike but I'm satisfied with what I came up with. I have an xm and volume knob mounted on the left bar run to an amp under the seat and speakers in the tank bag. My wife and I use the new Scala Rider G4 to talk bike to bike. I wanted the music separate from the com system so it doesn't get shut off for 30 seconds every time we talk. You can use mp3, bluetooth gps, and cell phone with the Scala Rider. |
Rwven
| Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 08:02 pm: |
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Billyo, that's one thing I like about my StarCom, The intercom is overlayed with the music so it's just like you are talking in the car with the music on. The music does cut out for the nav. voice instructions though. |
Billyo
| Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 09:01 pm: |
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The overlay is a nice feature. Do you have PTT or is it voice activated? Personally I like the J&M CB setup because you could potentially talk to an unlimited number of people whereas the other brands (StarCom, Scala, Chatterbox, etc.) can't communicate with each other. I can only hook up to three other Scala users. I couldn't justify the cost of the J&M though. Besides, the wife wanted the VOX. |
Rwven
| Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 09:08 pm: |
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The intercom is voice activated. I have a PTT button for using with the CB but I don't have a CB on the bike right now (I had one on my last bike). It also interfaces with many FRS radios, which would be nice if I traveled with anyone who uses FRS....which I don't. I like the J&M also but they get big bucks for their headsets and they don't have an earbud option (a deal breaker for me). The next bike I purchase is going to be some kind of Geezer Glide with all this stuff integrated. |
Tiltcylinder
| Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 10:05 am: |
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Ear fuze... custom, mold your own earphone setup, blocks lots of wind/road noise (I'd guess 20db) and doesn't require the volume to be cranked up. Using an XBi and bluetooth from the GPS/MP3 player. Other than tight helmets being a problem on/off, it's been the best solution I've found; and only 40 bucks. (Message edited by tiltcylinder on May 10, 2010) |
Nobuell
| Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 05:24 pm: |
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I saw the Earfuze advertised. I was thinking about ordering the kit. Did it work as easy as the video? How quite are they compared to foam ear plugs? Thanks |
Tiltcylinder
| Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - 11:40 am: |
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Nobuell, not as quiet as a good fitting set of quality plugs. But then you'd need 6 x 9 speakers in the helmet to hear anything. I really like them. Quiet enough without music, comfortable (I wear them all day), decent fidelity and the player doesn't have to be turned to 11 all the time. Occasionally catch on the exo700 helmet (need to don slowly or it pulls them out of the ears) but no problems with the modular helmets. Pick the right cushion for the ear-phone, insert in ear, get comfortable, mix and mold the 'putty' into ear... presto. I even use them to mow the lawn (strange looks from the neighbors... who cares). First attempt went perfectly. Just follow the directions. Excess can be trimmed off with a razor after it firms up. Good luck. |
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