Helmet Speakers or Ear Speakers?

[Exploreinman]

I'm looking at using an Ipod in order to provide some music on long trips and I'm looking for advice on what type of speaker system would be best for me. I ride a R1200RT and usually wear custom molded earplugs to provide a quiet environment from wind noise. So I want to add music capability while maintaining:

 

external noise isolation (from the wind)

and

ear comfort inside helmet.

 

Some have said to add helmet speakers and I will still be able to hear music while wearing my earplugs. Others have told me to go with a good earspeaker. Any advice from those of you who have experience with this? I'm looking at an Aerostitch catalog and they sell an ER6 Earspeaker as well as various Helmet speakers.

 

Thanks,

 

Stephen

[Jerry Johnston]

I use a helmet speaker with my earplugs to listen to the V1 but if I were trying to listen to music I'd definately go for earphones. It would lessen wind noise and be much better sound than trying to hear through earplugs.

[SageRider]

One can get speakers inside custom molded ear plugs (Arizona Al on this board makes these.) I've seen 2 types: Speakers actually in the plugs, and speakers in a module on the cable with air tubes going to the ear plugs. I prefer the air tube variety. Better sound and easier to repair.

 

I highly recommend going with ear plug speakers rather than using a helmet speaker to blast loud enough to overcome the earplugs you wear anyway.

Much lower amplification demands from your electronics, also.

[Jerry_75_Guy]

IMHO, the best way to get music into your ears is by way of the ER6i's.

 

However, you then have to decide how complex you want the rest of the system to be; you can run the music through an intercom, or just pop the iPod into your pocket and go. If you're concerned about the iPod's battery life relative to the length of the ride, just get a iPod car cigarette lighter power adapter, and a 'Powerlet' adapter to hook that to the BMW power outlet, and you're good to go; this is the method I use on my VFR. I also run the iPod through my Autocom on the RT.

[smiller]

Some have said to add helmet speakers and I will still be able to hear music while wearing my earplugs. Others have told me to go with a good earspeaker.

I've done both and earphones are vastly superior to helmet speakers with earplugs (and I don't even want to think what helmet speakers without earplugs would do to your hearing.) The ER6i (get the 'i' model as it is better for this application, higher output and enhanced bass response) is an excellent choice as it provides both excellent audio quality and isolation from external noise. The latter characteristic is very important and where many other options fail. The ER6i has an ANSI/OSHA NRR (noise reduction rating) of 34-36 dB and you'll note that few if any other options carry a real NRR figure.

 

Do a search for the best price for the ER6i as web prices can vary dramatically.

[Exploreinman]

You hit the nail on the head concerning "what it will do to your hearing." I've always been concerned about hearing loss due to external noise while riding. I've been using earplugs for the last 10 of 16 years of riding. I'll do a search for the ER6i's.

 

Thanks,

[Exploreinman]

You can find them from $75 and up at different vendors.

[Ken H.]

Custom molded in-ear monitors are the cat's meow. Great music AND they protect your hearing. High $$ though.

[TexasRT]

Is there a website for Arizona Al's company?

[SageRider]

Is there a website for Arizona Al's company?

Not sure on website, but either send him a PM here or email him (customearplugs@cox.net)

Al does great work and there are many satisfied customers of his (me included) on this board.

[AdventurePoser]

I second the vote for AZ Al. The lovely Flame and I have been wearing custom earplug speakers over the course of our last three bikes.

 

Hint: put a tiny dab of lotion in your ear before inserting them. Makes them much more comfy. Also you may need to do some custom carving around the ear spaces of your helmet to make the fit perfect. Al will explain all that to you when you talk with him...

 

Steve in So Cal

[Exploreinman]

I will contact Arizona Al and look into his earpieces. Those of you who use the ER6i's, do they protrude much out of your ears? I'm just wondering about comfort between the ear and the inside of the helmet.

[Ben_Ricci]

Those of you who use the ER6i's, do they protrude much out of your ears? I'm just wondering about comfort between the ear and the inside of the helmet.

 

Mine fit within my ear and do not contact the helmet's interior (Shoei X-11).

[jaytee]

Those of you who use the ER6i's, do they protrude much out of your ears? I'm just wondering about comfort between the ear and the inside of the helmet.

 

I have used the ER6's (same body as the 6i) in several helmets. They are sufficiently low profile that your helmet will not create pressure on the headphones, IMHO.

 

JT

[allikanbe]

ER6i's are very comfortable and do not protrude. Once in the canal, they stay there. The sound is excellent.

[Woodie]

Just got the ER6i's this summer. (Considered Al...but didn't have the $$)

 

Sound isolation is excellent. (Almost too good!)

 

I have helmet speakers in my C2, and even with that, clearance is ok on with the earplugs. I did switch the left one from the grey (3-shield) to the white (2-shield), which fit a little better, and so made it more comfortable. Which also happens to make it easier to figure out which one goes in which ear without having to hunt for the little L or the R.

[bakerzdosen]

Here's a thought: I have never had a problem with my er6i's... until yesterday. I rode back from N. California on Hwy 50 yesterday, and suffice it to say, it was mildly chilly...

 

So, I had my windstopper balaclava on. (Great piece of kit I must say). Well, THAT caused my grief with my er6i (with the foam tips)- with my left ear anyway. With a LOT of fiddling, I got it to be comfy again, but by then the damage was done. Once I've ridden with an uncomfy earplug, it'll hurt to have anything in there (other than a really soft foam plug) for the rest of the day. I don't think Al's would have had that problem.

 

That's a far cry from the trip over where I took them out once to get food at the 350 mile half-way point. It was totally comfy.

[TyTass]

Custom molded in-ear monitors are the cat's meow. Great music AND they protect your hearing. High $$ though.

I am just now moving to ER-6i's from Autocom speakers. Wow! What a relief and better fidelity.

 

However, as a musician (well, musical hobbyist anyway) I can tell you Ken is right. The difference between ER-6i's and higher end custom molded in-ear monitors is every bit as great as speakers to ER-6i's. Complete frequency response.

 

Now, if you just want a bit of music here and there, the ER-6i's are good enough. I know I will eventually move to custom in-ear monitors (for me quality sounds are far less distracting - but that's me, and apparently Ken ).

[texasaggie97]

I will second Al ear plugs plus he is a great guy. Do yourself a favor and just do it right the first time and buy the ear plugs from Al. I did the Sure head phones and boy was that a mistake after i tried the ear plug and they are so much more comfortable.

Just my 2 cents

[marcopolo]

I started with Autocom helmet speakers, but found them uncomfortable (I wear custom-molded earplugs). I then moved to ER6i's. Sound was good, but they did not block sufficient ambient noise as compared to my ear plugs. I also found them a bit of a PITA when putting on/taking off my helmet. Finally I switched to Arizona Al's. They work great: good sound, comfortable, and block ambient noise like my other custom molded earplugs. BTW, I did not have Al make these in-person. I did it long distance (had ear impressions made locally; sent those to a lab in Colorado who then shipped them to Al to finish before sending them to me).

[dave_jo]

I have a pair of Shure EC-2 in ear earphones that I find are very comfortable, block a significant amount of road noise, and allow me to listen to Audiobooks on my iPod while riding 70mph.

[questrider]

Those of you who use the ER6i's, do they protrude much out of your ears? I'm just wondering about comfort between the ear and the inside of the helmet.

 

 

They work great for me especially with the foam earbud. I've also never had a problem when I'm wearing my balaclava either. The ER-6i should fit in right behind the tragus part of the ear.

 

[Exploreinman]

Wow, the pictures help greatly! I purchased my custom molded earplugs from Tim McCarty in Marietta, GA. I spoke with him today and he makes the custom plugs with audio as well. He charges $185 for a pair. That's about twice the price of the ER6-i's, but they insert in a snap, they're extremely comfortable, and do a super job of isolating external noise. Anyone else out there tried both the ER6-i's and custom plugs? Right now I'm leaning towards the custom plugs.

 

Thanks for everyone's input.

[finallyabeemer]

I think I have unusually sensitive ears. After years of experimentation, I have found the only thing I can stand to have in my ears for more than an hour or so are Howard Leight Max Lite earplugs, so I am stuck using speakers. Fortunately, I have found a way to make them work quite well.

I cut the earplugs in half (cross wise) so they do not stick out very far, and insert only part way - just enough to get satisfactory road noise attenuation. It actually improves the sound quality of every helmet speaker I have tried as the Lite plugs attenuate the annoying frequencies the most.

I have been very pleased with Collett helmet speakers. Good frequency response and high efficiency so they are loud enough to hear without additional amplification.