Just spent $70 for some helmet speakers. They are uncomfortable and
the sound is crap. Not happy. Still, I'll be able to hear my GPS
telling me where to go. Might revert to my sports earphones. They are
uncomfortable too, but at least the sound quality is good.


--
DM
personal opinion only

On 07-Jan-12 17:24, DM wrote:
> Just spent $70 for some helmet speakers. They are uncomfortable and
> the sound is crap. Not happy. Still, I'll be able to hear my GPS
> telling me where to go. Might revert to my sports earphones. They are
> uncomfortable too, but at least the sound quality is good.

They've probably been mentioned here before, and they're not cheap, but
Earmold headphones (I'm pretty sure they advertise in all the bike
mags), are the beez neez. Professional molded earplugs which fit your
ears perfectly, with a small plastic tubes running through it which
carry the sound from some tiny speakers and wired to a standard 3.5mm
plug.

I can set the volume to a comfortable level in a quiet room, then get on
my bike and ride down the freeway with a noisy helmet and noisy bike and
not need to adjust the volume to compensate for the extra external
noise. And because they're molded to your ears they don't get
uncomfortable. I have on a number of occasions worn them for 12-15
hours a day while riding. Not only do they let you hear what you're
trying to listen to, at a reasonable volume, but they also reduce
fatigue because you're not listening to wind/helmet/engine/exhaust noise
all day, nor are you straining to hear whatever it is you want to hear
over the top of that noise.

I've had my set for 3 years and in that time used them for about
60,000km and still going fine. From memory they were $200 3 years ago,
and I think $220 18 months ago when Jo got a set, so probably in the
$240-250 range now. Money I consider very well spent.

Nev..

On Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:24:49 +0000, DM wrote:

> Just spent $70 for some helmet speakers. They are uncomfortable and the
> sound is crap. Not happy. Still, I'll be able to hear my GPS telling me
> where to go. Might revert to my sports earphones. They are uncomfortable
> too, but at least the sound quality is good.

What sort did you buy?



--
Bill_h

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:54:07 +1100
Nev.. <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> On 07-Jan-12 17:24, DM wrote:
>> Just spent $70 for some helmet speakers. They are uncomfortable and
>> the sound is crap. Not happy. Still, I'll be able to hear my GPS
>> telling me where to go. Might revert to my sports earphones. They are
>> uncomfortable too, but at least the sound quality is good.
>
> They've probably been mentioned here before, and they're not cheap, but
> Earmold headphones (I'm pretty sure they advertise in all the bike
> mags), are the beez neez. Professional molded earplugs which fit your
> ears perfectly, with a small plastic tubes running through it which
> carry the sound from some tiny speakers and wired to a standard 3.5mm
> plug.

THe sound quality is pretty average though, as the sound goes through
long hollow tubes to get to you. THe difference between them and a
$90 set of Sony in ear Fontopias is very clear.

However... they are comfortable and they block more sound than even
good in-ear ones.

> I've had my set for 3 years and in that time used them for about
> 60,000km and still going fine. From memory they were $200 3 years ago,
> and I think $220 18 months ago when Jo got a set, so probably in the
> $240-250 range now. Money I consider very well spent.
>


I am on my 2nd set. The first one broke down within the warranty
period and was replaced without question. The 2nd had a speaker die
again within warranty, again replaced without question. The
replacement electrics are breaking at the plug end, but are out of
warranty When they finally go I'll decide what to do. Probably
cut the plug apart, work out which wires are which, and wire a new
plug.

Yes, despite the problems, I like them one hell of a lot.

If the money's a bit much then you could look at
http://www.diycustomearplugs.com.au/ and mold them around your own
earphones, or something from here
http://www.earplugstore.com/music.html

Zebee

Bill_h <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> On Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:24:49 +0000, DM wrote:
>
>> Just spent $70 for some helmet speakers. They are uncomfortable and the
>> sound is crap. Not happy. Still, I'll be able to hear my GPS telling me
>> where to go. Might revert to my sports earphones. They are uncomfortable
>> too, but at least the sound quality is good.
>
> What sort did you buy?

http://tinyurl.com/7y5mm4r


--
DM
personal opinion only

DM <d-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Just spent $70 for some helmet speakers. They are uncomfortable and
> the sound is crap. Not happy. Still, I'll be able to hear my GPS
> telling me where to go. Might revert to my sports earphones. They are
> uncomfortable too, but at least the sound quality is good.
>

I use Tooks headband
http://www.tookshats.com/product_page.htm

--
:-P

"Nev.." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed). au...
> On 07-Jan-12 17:24, DM wrote:
>> Just spent $70 for some helmet speakers. They are uncomfortable and
>> the sound is crap. Not happy. Still, I'll be able to hear my GPS
>> telling me where to go. Might revert to my sports earphones. They are
>> uncomfortable too, but at least the sound quality is good.
>
> They've probably been mentioned here before, and they're not cheap, but
> Earmold headphones (I'm pretty sure they advertise in all the bike mags),
> are the beez neez. Professional molded earplugs which fit your ears
> perfectly, with a small plastic tubes running through it which carry the
> sound from some tiny speakers and wired to a standard 3.5mm plug.
>
> I can set the volume to a comfortable level in a quiet room, then get on
> my bike and ride down the freeway with a noisy helmet and noisy bike and
> not need to adjust the volume to compensate for the extra external noise.
> And because they're molded to your ears they don't get uncomfortable. I
> have on a number of occasions worn them for 12-15 hours a day while
> riding. Not only do they let you hear what you're trying to listen to, at
> a reasonable volume, but they also reduce fatigue because you're not
> listening to wind/helmet/engine/exhaust noise all day, nor are you
> straining to hear whatever it is you want to hear over the top of that
> noise.
>
> I've had my set for 3 years and in that time used them for about 60,000km
> and still going fine. From memory they were $200 3 years ago, and I think
> $220 18 months ago when Jo got a set, so probably in the $240-250 range
> now. Money I consider very well spent.

I used Koss's "The Plug" earphones for a couple of years with great success;
they have a pliable "tacky" plug which moulds to your ear much like
noiseproofing (OH&S) earplugs do. You give them a firm twist to compress
them, insert them into your ears, and over the course of 5-10 seconds they
expand to fill your auditory canal completely.

I eventually switched over to a Cardo II system (which comes with its own
speakers), but the earphones are still a favourite for long rides when I
don't have to worry too much about wayward city traffic (they really _do_
cut out practically all outside noise).

http://www.koss.com/en/products/head...-Ear_Headphone

At the time I bought mine, I couldn't find a local distributor/retailer who
carried them; thankfully though Koss themselves were quite happy to sell me
a set directly. I also ordered a half-dozen sets of replacement pads, of
which I only needed to use one set over the two years I used them daily (one
set per year isn't bad).

Sound quality was on par with any high end in-ear earphones I've tried, and
the cable showed no hint of ever getting damaged.

At USD$15 + postage, they're a far sight better value IMO than $200+.

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom

"Bob Milutinovic" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Nev.." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed). au...
>> On 07-Jan-12 17:24, DM wrote:
>>> Just spent $70 for some helmet speakers. They are uncomfortable and
>>> the sound is crap. Not happy. Still, I'll be able to hear my GPS
>>> telling me where to go. Might revert to my sports earphones. They are
>>> uncomfortable too, but at least the sound quality is good.
>>
>> They've probably been mentioned here before, and they're not cheap, but
>> Earmold headphones (I'm pretty sure they advertise in all the bike mags),
>> are the beez neez. Professional molded earplugs which fit your ears
>> perfectly, with a small plastic tubes running through it which carry the
>> sound from some tiny speakers and wired to a standard 3.5mm plug.
>>
>> I can set the volume to a comfortable level in a quiet room, then get on
>> my bike and ride down the freeway with a noisy helmet and noisy bike and
>> not need to adjust the volume to compensate for the extra external noise.
>> And because they're molded to your ears they don't get uncomfortable. I
>> have on a number of occasions worn them for 12-15 hours a day while
>> riding. Not only do they let you hear what you're trying to listen to,
>> at a reasonable volume, but they also reduce fatigue because you're not
>> listening to wind/helmet/engine/exhaust noise all day, nor are you
>> straining to hear whatever it is you want to hear over the top of that
>> noise.
>>
>> I've had my set for 3 years and in that time used them for about 60,000km
>> and still going fine. From memory they were $200 3 years ago, and I
>> think $220 18 months ago when Jo got a set, so probably in the $240-250
>> range now. Money I consider very well spent.
>
> I used Koss's "The Plug" earphones for a couple of years with great
> success; they have a pliable "tacky" plug which moulds to your ear much
> like noiseproofing (OH&S) earplugs do. You give them a firm twist to
> compress them, insert them into your ears, and over the course of 5-10
> seconds they expand to fill your auditory canal completely.
>
> I eventually switched over to a Cardo II system (which comes with its own
> speakers), but the earphones are still a favourite for long rides when I
> don't have to worry too much about wayward city traffic (they really _do_
> cut out practically all outside noise).
>
> http://www.koss.com/en/products/head...-Ear_Headphone
>
> At the time I bought mine, I couldn't find a local distributor/retailer
> who carried them; thankfully though Koss themselves were quite happy to
> sell me a set directly. I also ordered a half-dozen sets of replacement
> pads, of which I only needed to use one set over the two years I used them
> daily (one set per year isn't bad).
>
> Sound quality was on par with any high end in-ear earphones I've tried,
> and the cable showed no hint of ever getting damaged.
>
> At USD$15 + postage, they're a far sight better value IMO than $200+.

The difference six-odd years can make... They're now available more easily
through eBay:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/220888668748

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom

On 01/07/12 11:49 PM, Bob Milutinovic wrote:

<snip>

>> I used Koss's "The Plug" earphones for a couple of years with great
>> success; they have a pliable "tacky" plug which moulds to your ear
>> much like noiseproofing (OH&S) earplugs do. You give them a firm twist
>> to compress them, insert them into your ears, and over the course of
>> 5-10 seconds they expand to fill your auditory canal completely.
<snip>
>> http://www.koss.com/en/products/head...-Ear_Headphone
>>
>>
>> At the time I bought mine, I couldn't find a local
>> distributor/retailer who carried them; thankfully though Koss
>> themselves were quite happy to sell me a set directly. I also ordered
>> a half-dozen sets of replacement pads, of which I only needed to use
>> one set over the two years I used them daily (one set per year isn't
>> bad).
>>
>> Sound quality was on par with any high end in-ear earphones I've
>> tried, and the cable showed no hint of ever getting damaged.

Probably a dumb question, but, if you plug these into a mobile phone
that kinda expects to also have a microphone someplace, what happens?

Do they work, just not letting you answer a call?

Do they stuff up the phone?

regards,
CrazyCam

"CrazyCam" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:jeabq8$7jv$(E-Mail Removed)...
> On 01/07/12 11:49 PM, Bob Milutinovic wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>>> I used Koss's "The Plug" earphones for a couple of years with great
>>> success; they have a pliable "tacky" plug which moulds to your ear
>>> much like noiseproofing (OH&S) earplugs do. You give them a firm twist
>>> to compress them, insert them into your ears, and over the course of
>>> 5-10 seconds they expand to fill your auditory canal completely.
> <snip>
>>> http://www.koss.com/en/products/head...-Ear_Headphone
>>>
>>>
>>> At the time I bought mine, I couldn't find a local
>>> distributor/retailer who carried them; thankfully though Koss
>>> themselves were quite happy to sell me a set directly. I also ordered
>>> a half-dozen sets of replacement pads, of which I only needed to use
>>> one set over the two years I used them daily (one set per year isn't
>>> bad).
>>>
>>> Sound quality was on par with any high end in-ear earphones I've
>>> tried, and the cable showed no hint of ever getting damaged.
>
> Probably a dumb question, but, if you plug these into a mobile phone that
> kinda expects to also have a microphone someplace, what happens?
>
> Do they work, just not letting you answer a call?
>
> Do they stuff up the phone?

I'd assume it depends on the 'phone, but in more recent years manufacturers
have standardised on a four-pole socket (stereo out + mono in + ground) with
the additional (mono in) pin occupying a slither of the space normally used
for the ground.

The net effect is that plugging a pair of stereo earphones in will (a)
provide stereo audio out (as the pins match) and (b) short the microphone
input to ground, thereby giving no audio input (not even noise), which is
the way it's supposed to be done.

Images for reference:
3-pole plug: http://www.connector.com.sg/catalog_item/634003-0.jpg
4-pole plug:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

--
Bob Milutinovic
Cognicom