| Author | Message | ||
     Badhabit |
I enjoy listenin to some tunes while riding, at an appropriate level of course, but i have a hard time keepin my ear buds in my ear where they need to be when i slip on my helmet, seem like when i slide my helmet on it pulls them out/away from my ear a little and then i can barely hear the music... just wondering if there was a special technique I'm missing. Thanks. | ||
| Leoloureiro |
Hi there! I put a pair of velcro speakers (for communicators) and they work just fine. Of course, they don't pump your head with bass, but they do their jobs. | ||
| Sparky |
Bad, I've heard of people using surgical tape (or some kind that doesn't leave a sticky residue) over the wires against the ears to help keep them in place. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Badhabit, Contact cement? Joking of course! I'm about to buy a set of Shure e2c's in an effort to get the audio level from XM (at max volume) up to where I can hear it. I tried a pair of "high volume" helmet speakers I found on eBay but they are not putting out enough sound to be much more than an annoyance. I want a good pair or buds for use in boats and other noisy places so I'm going to try the Shure e2c. They have some other better (much more expensive anyway) models too. Jack | ||
| Jackbequick |
Some more info for consideration on the Shure ear buds. I asked Shure how much the e2c protrudes from the ear and how much attenuation or isolation it provides. Got this info back from them: -- The E2c is their largest earphone, support rep thinks "it should fit fine under a helmet." Protrusion from the ear is estimated at 1/2". -- Support rep suggested using E3c because it's smaller, has better isolation, and sound quality. Protrusion from the ear is estimated at 1/4". -- On attenuation - The yellow foam sleeve that comes with the E3c will reduce average noise by 37dB and 93 percent. The orange foam sleeve that comes with the E2c will reduce average noise by 31dB and 88 percent. -- I was warned that I might not hear "important noises", he said I might or might not be able to hear a car horn. The e3c's run $125-150, the cadillac is the e5c at up around $500. A review and comparison here. The price of the e5c will keep me out of that market. Sort of makes me wonder if I could hear the difference... The "Fit Kit" that comes with both models includes both foam and flanged (silicone rubber) inserts. Jack | ||
| Uwgriz |
I loop the wire over the back of my ear and they stay in place pretty well. | ||
| Calvin68 |
I have the Shure E2C. Fit great under my HJC CL10 helmet. Sound great. Really blocks the wind noise nice! | ||
| Jackbequick |
Thanks Calvin, Those are the ones I'm going to try. Lot of sellers on eBay and pretty good prices there, around $75 shipped for those. Jack | ||
| Blublak |
I have molded plugs. Go to an audiologist and have them take an impression of your ear, they can then place a pair of high quality 'buds' inside the rubber plug they create and seal the whole thing. Mine fit flush in my ear and the sound quality is spectacular! The only thing protruding from then is the wire and since I told them I would be wearing them under a helmet, the wires exit the bottom and cause no problems whatsoever. The wires are insulated quite well and the whole rig from them is water tight (except where the sound tube is and that's in my ear) I've ridden through a monsoon type rain with them on.. no problems whatsoever. My only complaint is if I don't get the left one in all the way, when I pull off my helmet it will knock it loose. No problems though, they are tethered to me. Cost a bit, true, but worth it! | ||
| Nutsosane |
Blublack, how much is "a bit?" NUTS | ||
| Jackbequick |
I got the Shure e2c's (eBay = $75 shipped, MSRP = $109) and they are working fine. They come with three different types of sleeves (foam, flex, and triple flanged) and each of those in three sizes. I'd be surprised if you couldn't find happiness with one of those. I think the foam sleeves are the best choice for hearing some external noises along with the audio. Here are some details on fitting and wearing the earbuds: http://www.shurestore.com/earphones/howto.html#fit With mine in the ear and cables going up and over the ear as shown, the e2c does not protrude out beyond my ear. If I hold my finger vertical and run it lightly across my ear, it barely touches the buds when they are in place. I spread my helmet a little by pulling outward on the straps when I remove it and the buds do not come out of my ears. For me, a properly fitted helmet needs a little spreading for easy removal. With the e2c's with foam sleeves (and no audio input) I can hear external sounds about the same as I would hear them with typical disposable -25 dB ear plugs. I have been using the XM radio at levels 1 and 2 (of six levels) and at that level I can hear the music, the engine and mufflers, and some louder external noises. The music is not loud and clear but it is heard. If I turn the XM up I get more audio and less external noise. The e2c's are capable of putting out 120 dB of sound (if your audio source is capable of driving them). That is a *lot* of noise and not a smart listening level. The Owner's Manual that comes with them provides some figures on recommended listening levels and periods of time at various levels. Needless to say, you can damage your hearing with these if you use them at too high a level too much. Jack (The guy that has to take his hearing aids out to use his earbuds. Does that make sense?) | ||
| Dauphin |
I had the same problem with my earbuds falling out. I opt'd to go with in helmet speakers instead. This way I could also use regular ear plugs to protect my ears rather than just turning up the music to drown out the wind noise. I'm currently using the Aerostich Helmet Speakers. They fit inside the ear pockets and stick with a pick of tape & velcro. Unfortunately, they aren't as "wafer thin" as advertised so I notice a little bit of additional pressure from them, especially if the ear plugs aren't in all the way. http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Aerostich-Helmet-Speakers-p-18213.html I'm using them in conjunction with the Etymotic Ear Plugs. http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Etymotic-ER-20-Ear-Plug-p-16503.html | ||
| Cyclone262 |
This may sound silly-but is it a good idea to listen to music while riding? I have thought about it but havent done it yet.I wonder if I would pay as much attention if I had the Ipod on.Has anyone had any problems listening to music while riding? | ||
| Sparky |
Cyclone, the answer to your first question is, it depends. If it makes your riding experience more enjoyable, then go for it. But if you find yourself distracted, fiddling with gadgets and not paying enough attention to traffic and such, then no, it's not safe. The answer to the second question is, of course. When I listen to my music, I don't want other things to detract from the enjoyment. So, in the car I roll up the windows and crank it up, but on a bike, all I can do is crank it up. And that's the bugaboo -- all it takes is one wrong move due to missing an audible clue from the surrounding traffic, and I'm toast. Having said all that, I recall with fondness my Harley, a FXRT with its 40 watt AM/FM/stereo tape. It was a rolling party machine. And I never got myself into trouble playing music as loud as I could stand it in traffic, out in the country or wherever. Granted a dash-mounted radio is not the same as an iPod, but it's easy to control unlike an iPod unless it's fitted with a remote control or some other ergonomic device. So, I'd say proceed with caution. All things are good in moderation. And if you find a way to mount a 40 watt system connected to your iPod, let me know. I'm all  Sparky | ||
| Pammy |
I wear the sony earbuds($49). I also wear an HJC 'skullcap' under my helmet. The buds kindof wedge in my ears like airplane earplugs and the skullcap goes over my ears to keep my helmet from knocking them out while putting my helmet on. The skullcap also keeps my helmet from pulling my hair out and keeps the sweat off the interior of my lid...not that I sweat, mind you...I'm just sayin'... | ||
| Road_thing |
Pammy, I've been informed by my wife (born and raised in New Orleans) that proper Southern ladies don't "sweat"--they "glow!" Merry Christmas, darlin' rt | ||
| Blksupra1jzed |
I just use a set of earphones. The ones that don't go over your head but wrap around the back of your head. I forget what they call the style but they put out plenty of sound and doesn't put too much pressure on my ears. | ||
| Diablobrian |
I've used earbuds on occasion, the phillips noise canceling earbuds worked pretty well for me. What works better for me is my chatterbox Gmrs radio with a patch cable from a music player (like my son's new flash memory mp3 player I intend to shanghai for rides  I'd love to try a set of the shure, etymotic, solitude or even sennheiser noise canceling ear buds, but the cost of them is too much for me to "experiment" with. | ||
| Asym50 |
I've been using Etymotic's ER6i earbuds for a few years and have enjoyed them. They have soft foam plugs that conform to the ear canal and work well to reduce ambient noise. I don't have problems putting on the helmet with the earbuds on. The sound quality is excellent on or off the bike. |
