Motorcycle helmet headphones? What kind?

[joevirus563]

:P i'm up for a new pair of hearbud or any inside speaker system for helmet  any suggestion? What do you guys use for riding and listening music?

[bajakirch]

I have a 1st Gen iPod Nano that's a hand-me-down from SOQS. I run the headphone wire up inside my jacket and into the helmet. I only ride with one earbud in so I can better hear what's going on around me. Plus, I don't have to turn it off when someone walks up to me and starts talking just after I dismount the bike.

[ariwhiteboy]

You could go for some Thumper in Helmet Speakers ...personally I'll just stick with headphones.

[DesignFlaw06]

I did these a few years back. Worked out pretty well.
http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/topic,248.0.html

Had an MP3 player on my keychain. It was a small with a ring that I could put the keychain through.

[LOKi]

ER6i




http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i-acc.aspx

They come with a variety pack of tips so you can find one that fits your ear. Wait for them to get in and fit the different tips first then order a few extra. Get some of the foam ones. They fit like the regular foam earplugs but with a tinny hole so you can hear music though them.

I use these every day. Set the music to a nice volume first then start the bike and ride. Sounds the same at 80 as it does standing next to the bike with the right tips on.

[joevirus563]

ER6i




http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i-acc.aspx

They come with a variety pack of tips so you can find one that fits your ear. Wait for them to get in and fit the different tips first then order a few extra. Get some of the foam ones. They fit like the regular foam earplugs but with a tinny hole so you can hear music though them.

I use these every day. Set the music to a nice volume first then start the bike and ride. Sounds the same at 80 as it does standing next to the bike with the right tips on.

100$... is it really worth it?

Thanks.

[LOKi]

ER6i




http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i-acc.aspx

They come with a variety pack of tips so you can find one that fits your ear. Wait for them to get in and fit the different tips first then order a few extra. Get some of the foam ones. They fit like the regular foam earplugs but with a tinny hole so you can hear music though them.

I use these every day. Set the music to a nice volume first then start the bike and ride. Sounds the same at 80 as it does standing next to the bike with the right tips on.

100$... is it really worth it?

Thanks.

YES!

Little better.

http://www1.epinions.com/review/Etymotic_Research_ETYMOTIC_ER_6I_LIMITED_EDITION_ER_6i_Noise_Blocking_Earphones_for_Apple_Ipod_Headset/content_194593066628

[cjbear11]

I use my Skull Candy earbuds. They work really well in the helmet, sound good, and are pretty inexpensive. They're noise cancelling, and come with a couple rubber tip options to suit your ears. I use them with my iPod nano, or my iPhone4.

[leftfield6]

If wearing my O'neal bluetooth helmet, I can stream to the helmet speakers from my iPhone.  The built-in helmet speakers give a really crappy sound for music, though, so on a longer ride I'll wear my Shure e3c earbuds.



Very expensive, but very worth it.  I've had these for years, and all I have to do is replace the foam pads every 6 months or so.  Best sounding earbuds I've ever worn/used.

Not sure if the e3c model is still sold, but Shure is a good name to consider when looking for good quality headphones.

[hspratt3]

Check out the post I started this morning. If you can aford it these are the bomb.

http://nighthawk-forums.com/index.php/topic,10279.0.html

[Soupskin]

ER6i




http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i-acc.aspx

They come with a variety pack of tips so you can find one that fits your ear. Wait for them to get in and fit the different tips first then order a few extra. Get some of the foam ones. They fit like the regular foam earplugs but with a tinny hole so you can hear music though them.

I use these every day. Set the music to a nice volume first then start the bike and ride. Sounds the same at 80 as it does standing next to the bike with the right tips on.

100$... is it really worth it?

Thanks.

Hell yes!

I got them at Loki's suggestion and they have been fantastic.  I wear them at least twice a day while commuting.  My first pair got a short in them at the one year mark and Etymotic replaced them free of charge.  Frankly, I wasn't surprised they got a short considering how much I use them.

[NH750Kitch]

You could go for some Thumper in Helmet Speakers ...personally I'll just stick with headphones.

I also recommend the Thumper 1 helmet speakers.  I used them for a season before moving on to J&M intercom headsets.   My ears can't tolerate earbuds for very long.

[LOKi]

My ears can't tolerate earbuds for very long.

I'm the same way but these are different. There are tones of tips to choose from. If you get the tip that fits your ear then they are very comfortable.

I like the foam tips for long trips.


You insert them in your ear just like an ear plug. Roll it between your index finger and thumb until its really small then insert deep into the ear. It expands out making a snug even fit on the ear canal wall that really removes the excess noise and Has no pressure points because it gently pushes out in all directions.

On my commute I don't want to mess with rolling the foam tips to fit them in my ear, so I use these.


Just jam them in and forget. They don't block as much of the noise as the foam ones but that is a good thing in NOLA traffic. I can hear tire noise of the cars around me.

[Soupskin]

I think they stopped selling the two flanged ones. At least I couldn't find them on their site last time I looked.

[Burgi]

I can't wear ear buds so I just put cheap helmet speakers in my helmets. They work fine for me. The only problem I have is the cables that run from the jack on the speakers to my MP3 eventually fail. The only replacements I find are thicker and a PITA to deal with.
Anyone know where you can buy a cord that is thin and flexible (like ear buds have) with 3.5mm jacks at each end?

[LOKi]

I can't wear ear buds so I just put cheap helmet speakers in my helmets. They work fine for me. The only problem I have is the cables that run from the jack on the speakers to my MP3 eventually fail. The only replacements I find are thicker and a PITA to deal with.
Anyone know where you can buy a cord that is thin and flexible (like ear buds have) with 3.5mm jacks at each end?

Is your MP3 on the dash or your pocket? I might have mentioned this before but I'll do it again for the sake of the people that have not herd.

DO NOT PLUG DIRECTLY INTO AN MP3 ON THE DASH.

Three reasons.

1) The wind whipping the cord around will eventually break it at the plug. I'm on my second set of ER6i's because of this.

2) The cord draping across the tank to you is a hazard. If you take your hand off the bar to scratch your nose then putting it back isn't always as easy as it might seam.

3) If the cord does get tangled around your hand after picking your nose then when you go to grab the bar again it could rip the MP3 player off the dash and send it bouncing down the road only to get run over by the dump truck behind you. I found one of the buttons and that was it....there was a bugger on it.  

Option:
Run a patch cord under the tank. I have a cord that plugs into the MP3 player and runs under the tank that comes out at the front of the seat. So the plug in is in your lap. Near impossible to get tangled in the wire now. Now that I use my phone as a MP3 pandora player I really don't want to rip the cord out, or the expensive phone off the dash because I'm picking my noes and get the cord tangled in my hand.

Whats cool is when you get off the bike you just walk away. It unplugs itself. I rarely remember to unhook.
 

[Burgi]

Mine is in my chest pocket. I think the wind still eventually breaks the wires at the plug.

[LOKi]

Burgi, can you wear ear plugs? If so then you can wear the ER6i's with the foam tip. They fit the ear like a regular foam ear plug but with a tiny hole in the middle to allow the sound though. The reason some people can't wear ear buds is because they tend to put pressure points on the ear canal. I have a hard time with them too. Anything over 60min and my ears are killing me. But the ER6i's with foam tips I can leave in all day long. The foam expands evenly in all directions so the pressure it takes to hold them in place is evenly distributed.

[NicholasDM]

:P i'm up for a new pair of hearbud or any inside speaker system for helmet  any suggestion? What do you guys use for riding and listening music?

Jvc makes a couple of models of ear buds that are helmet friendly and fit snugly in the ear. Not nearly as long as the others posted here, so they stay in place when pulling helmet on and then off again. Very inexpensive. Very comfortable for hours on end. Sound good. Durable! 3 pair off amazon for around 50.

These are the ones I use now, they fit almost fully flush in the ear. Block virtually all high frequency wind noise and most of the lower frequencies, yet you can still hear sirens and whatnot. The world around you isn't numbed too badly.
 http://av.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL028707&pathId=162&page=1

I used to use these. Nearly. As good as the ones above, fit nicely in the ear and are helmet friendly. The above ones fit more flushly.
 http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000UNVNJY/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/175-0114284-0989174


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[Burgi]

Burgi, can you wear ear plugs?

It took a lot of searching before I could even find foam ear plugs that didn't hurt my ears. Apparently, I have some of the smallest ear openings known to human kind. I'm hesitant to spend big $ on anything with the poor results I've had in the past.

[LOKi]

Well if we ever meet for a ride I'll bring my sample pack and you can try a few one with mine.

[Burgi]

Thanks Loki, we both seem to get around so I'm sure it is possible. 

[LOKi]

Well hopefully I land a job out west someplace. If I do end up in the west I do want to tour the coast. I'll end up touring it regardless one day but living closer would move it up on the to-do list.

[bajakirch]

Can anyone recommend a set of headphones that's no more than $50 but loops over the ear? I use mine for running as well as on the bike. When I run, the in-ear buds just fall out constantly.

I use a cheap set now ($10) but I'm looking for something that will block the noise a bit better.

[Burgi]

Isn't the ear "loop" uncomfortable under the helmet? I use that sort too but never tried to pull my helmet over them.