MP3 players, ear buds & helmets

[Giblet]

OK, I'm officially hip :clap: (at least for a week or two). I asked for an MP3 player for Christmas. Apparently 1 Gig isn't that much memory these days . Who woulda thunk you could fill up that much memory in about 30 minutes of downloading MP3 files. Any how, the question I have is, where can I get headphones, uh, I mean "ear buds" that will stay in place when I put my helmet on? Ear buds? Sounds kinda sissy if you ask me. I only wear a full face helmet these days.

 

[Clone]

About the only ones that will stay in my ears are the ones that go right into the canals. Body glove makes a pretty comfy set.

 

[notojsjc]

I recently got a set from amazon.com that come with 3 different set of adapters for 3 different sizes of ear canals. I love them they are very comfortable and sound great. You can search for V-MODA Bass Freq Earbuds on amazon to check them out for yourself.

 

[EricGS850G]

I got mine from Target and they are pretty comfortable.

 

[Tom MLC]

I've tried a few different brands of earbuds with little success. They never seemed to stay in place very long. Mostly they were a nuisance that would make me ticklish while riding. In my opinion helmet speakers are a better option.

A while back Skip did a write up about helmet speakers. http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=121197&highlight=helmet+speakers I tried 'em out and really enjoy the results. I now a set of these in each helmet. I also bought the el-cheapo amp that Skip said he already had. It's well worth the little expense. My ipod Nano is jammin' on all my long rides!

BTW, another suggestion is to wire up a power adapter to keep your mp3 charged. My ipod will only run for a few hours on a charge. I have a power adapter on each bike now. Also it keeps my celly charged up.

 

[dpep]

I have tried for years to come up with a good setup for listening on long bike trips. My preference is audio books.

The only thing that works for me are the the ear "buds" that have a hook that goes over the ear. Otherwise they get pulled out of your ears when you put on your helmet. But be sure to get the kind with flexible rubber/plastic hooks. Walmart sells a set for around $10. The hard plastic ones hurt when the helmet presses your ears up against them.

Also get yourself a head rag or helmet liner that extends below the ears. That enables the helmet to slide on without catching in the ear gear.

 

[mike-s]

I use seinheisser cx300 II's (well they are rebadged as creative labs) and they are absolutely fantastic on the bike and they have a lanyard to go around your neck too. They are fantastic and i've used them for at least the last two years without hassle.

 

[mriddle]

Plus one on the V-MODA Bass Freq Earbuds.

My son uses them too.

I recently got a set from amazon.com that come with 3 different set of adapters for 3 different sizes of ear canals. I love them they are very comfortable and sound great. You can search for V-MODA Bass Freq Earbuds on amazon to check them out for yourself.

 

[pkbjamn]

I have had great luck with Etymotic ER-6 ear buds. They are expensive ($120), but well worth the sound they provide. Coupled with the 8GB Zune, you have many hours of fine sounding music to enjoy.

Kelly

 

[Plooker]

Go down to your local guitar shop and get a set of in ear monitors from sennheiser or nady or one of those companys. They act like earplugs, dropping 30db of outside noise and let you keep your player volume low enough you can still hear your surroundings and be safe. I've had great luck with a set of sennheisrs I paid $70 for.

 

[flyingace]

My setup works and doesn't cost much. I use an open face helmet with wrap-around style ear-phones. Ear buds don't work if you take your helmet off and on - they just fall out. The wrap-around styles really aren't any bigger, they just stay in place better.

I also purchased a small amplifier for the MP3 player that can double the output. It helps a lot as revs/wind increase.

 

[txgs650]

earbuds

earbuds

I take a cheap set of ear buds and remove the ear piecce leaving the plastic stem. Get a set of ear plugs disposable or the rubber type. Drill a hole thru them and fit on the plastic stem (I normally use a drop of glue for the foam ones to stay). You now have a set of noise cancelling earbuds (cheap).

 

[jpaul]

I found a pair at MaoMart for around $20. Some noise cancelling properties and decent sound. I think they were JVC, but it may have been another brand (CRS is acting up). There were a couple of different options in the same price range. I went for ones with compressable foam that expands in the ear to hold them in place. They work OK for me, but I rarely use them for rides much longer than an hour.

I came across a web site that had do it yourself ear plugs for around $15; I was going to try getting them to form permanent moldings for the ear buds, but now I can't find the site.

 

[skidMarkNZ]

About the only ones that will stay in my ears are the ones that go right into the canals. Body glove makes a pretty comfy set.

Yeah canal earbuds are what i use...

www.skullcandy.com

sony philips etc make them to but all much of a muchness and you pqay big bucks for the sonys.

I have the skullcandy FMJ's (full metal jacket) very nice!

Great for on the bike!, just gotta be careful taking ya lid on and off.

 

[Spyder]

SkullCandy is the way too go. Pice to performance ratio is over the top. By far my favorite head phones yet. @35.00 U.S. you CAN'T go wrong.

 

[willie]

Hey Spyder, which ones are you using? I see the FMJ are alot more than $35.
Thanks,
Willie

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Too much wind noise.

Too much wind noise.

I tried some Sony earplugs, but I found that my helmets have too much wind noise. I have to blast the volume so high, I could be making myself deaf.
Be sure to compare the sound level you need for riding, to what you use in a quiet room. You want to keep your good hearing.

 

[Riding Again]

JVC canal buds have a squishy foam that fit fairly comfortable. I've bought mine at Wal-mart. About $15-$20

 

[dpep]

I tried some Sony earplugs, but I found that my helmets have too much wind noise. I have to blast the volume so high, I could be making myself deaf.
Be sure to compare the sound level you need for riding, to what you use in a quiet room. You want to keep your good hearing.

Good point. When I next used my MP3 after having listened to it on a ride I was always taken by how loud the volume was set. I would have to crank it down several levels for it to be comfortable, maybe even intelligible.

MP3 aside it is an indication of how loud the background noise (primarily wind) is while we ride. It shows how important it is to use ear plugs when riding at highway speeds.

I have done a lot of experimenting with helmets, windshields, fairings, ear buds, ear plugs, etc. toward minimizing the wind noise both for easier listening and for my hearing health in general. And I have yet to come up with anything I really consider satisfactory. I wasn't surprised to find that full fairings like a Winjammer or the GK fairing offer the most quiet. I was surprised to find that a windshield of the wrong size or at the wrong angle could be louder than no protection at all.

 

[Giblet]

Keep my good hearing? TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LATE! 46 years old and my 2000 Sierra seriously needs new front speakers.

I tried some Sony earplugs, but I found that my helmets have too much wind noise. I have to blast the volume so high, I could be making myself deaf.
Be sure to compare the sound level you need for riding, to what you use in a quiet room. You want to keep your good hearing.