| Author | Message | ||
     Sparky_494 |
I'm looking for advice on a new Bluetooth helmet comm system. I purchased a cheap unit a couple years ago to basically talk to the wife while she is riding on the back of my bike. I don't often ride in a group where I need to communicate with other drivers, I mainly use it to communicate with the passenger. However the issue that I am having is at speeds above 50 miles per hour wind noise and traffic noise makes it difficult to hear what is coming out of the speakers. I have tried moving the speakers in different locations inside the helmet with no luck. Typically I wear ear plugs or a nice set of Shure in-ear monitors while I am riding. In order to hear anything from the Bluetooth speakers I have now, I have to ride without earplugs. I like the Shure earbuds because they are sort of flush fit and have noise canceling memory foam tips that act like ear plugs. I am wondering if anyone knows of a helmet to helmet communication system that has a 3.5 mm output jack that I can plug my earbuds into and still have use of the microphone? | ||
| Shoggin |
I can do that with my Shure 215 and the Sena 20s. WELL worth the expense to buy the right thing, once. With the Sena speakers in the right location, I don't have to use the ear buds anymore. Honestly moving them about 1/2" down, in line with my ears made a HUGE difference in volume and bass. I believe the Sena has the best noise cancelling available, people don't even know if I'm talking to them at 70MPH on the Buell with a Barkers pipe! | ||
| Jaimec |
I've been wearing Nolan Helmets with Nolan's NCOM headsets for the past several years. Even with earplugs, I've never had a problem hearing my music, phone or GPS sounds but I don't know how it works as an intercom. | ||
| Oopezoo |
I've had a Sena system since their initial launch and have used it on 3 separate bikes for close to 100k miles of use. Works great at all speeds and conditions. I've taken plenty of phone calls and the person on the other end had no idea I was on the bike. The trick to it for me was getting DIY custom molded ear buds from EarFuze. They come with little packs of 2-part putty. Stick the ear bud in your ear, kneed the 2-part epoxy together, work it into your ear, pinch off the excess, and walk around for 10 mins while it cures. They plug into my Sena via 3.5mm jack for listening, but the Sena has its own microphone hard wired inside my chin bar of my helmet. It all works great. You get the benefit of wearing earplugs while riding, and being able to listen to music, intercom, interact with your phone at a reasonable volume. I've worn those earbuds for 16+ hours at a time when on long trips and couldn't be happier. They are also great for airplane travel or any other time you want to drown out the background noise to either listen to music or get some sleep. | ||
| Mnscrounger |
2nd on the Sena! I have also talked to people at hiway speeds and they hear me just fine. range is about 1/4-1/2 mile based on my communications with other riders. Although I have the speakers mounted in the helmet, and they sound great, my Supertrapped S3 is loud enough I use the 2.5 mm headphone jack and earbuds rather than the helmet speakers. on other quieter bikes I use the speakers My earbuds of choice are the Plugfones brand. Fit properly they offer a 25 Db NRR. Side note: Its a violation to wear headphones while driving in many states,so you might want to take that under consideration in your choice. The one time I got stopped, while the officer was running my plate I removed my helmet while hooking my thumbs under the earbud leads and pulled them out of my ears surreptitiously. I then set the helmet down on the tank and took my gloves off, placing them over the leads and buds. Once our business was done and the officer was back at the car, I did not put them back in, I just tucked them into the tank bag before putting my helmet on. | ||
| Ourdee |
Some states allow one ear bud only, not both. Check laws for States you ride in. (Message edited by ourdee on January 16, 2020) | ||
| Sparky_494 |
Thank you for all the replies! I figured I would be looking at a better quality system such as Senna or Cardo. Neither one of them seemed to advertise the ability to add earbuds instead of the speakers. I will definitely look closer at the Senna systems. | ||
| Ourdee |
I have a SENA 10 and like it. People on phone calls couldn't tell I was riding. | ||
| Damnut |
I have 2 Sena SMH10, a 10S and a 10C. They all are great units with good battery life. I bought the 10S first about 6 years ago then gave it to my wife and bought the 10C for myself. The camera on the 10C is really good but has its quirkiness too. I have the other 2 units for my 2 kids so they ride with us and we can all talk. | ||
| Cupcake_mike |
On a lark I bought a $20 no name one off of amazon about 6 months back. It is just for bluetoothing to my phone for music and nav. No guarantees it will last as long as my sena, going on 5 years now, but the battery life is absolutely incredible over 50 hours with sound on high. The couple senas i've tried last, at best, 10 hours. I love it, better sound too, IMHO. |
