Ear plugs when riding?

[brownie0486]

Seems unlikely studio quality or audiophile quality sound is going to happen in a motorcycle helmet with bike in motion.

You can--like me--just listen to 50s on 5 (now 72) where that music wasn't recorded to a high sophistication level in the first place.

Really cool book called Brain Rules points out that the human brain is incapable of multitasking. That means simultaneously ... of course sequentially happens. So, in the same moment in time you're either hearing the fine nuances of the music or you're comprehending the road in front of you ... but not both. It's not an audiophile listening environment.

My earplugs are 3M E-A-Rsoft Yellow Neon Blasts rated 33db from a box of 200 pairs I bought from Amazon several years ago. Any stop along the way where I take them out ... they are replaced by new ones, as it seems to me most plugs like this are one time use only. I can hear Sirius just fine.

I had some custom plugs made once, but for me something hard in my ears is not compatible for comfort with wearing a helmet.

PS: I got tinnitus in 1969 following a bout of pneumonia. Dr at the time advised sleeping with radio on.

Incorrect, we humans multitask all the time. We can simultaneously apply the front brake and rear brake, we can simultaneously pull the clutch lever and shift gears with out left foot, all while listening to music piped to the helmet while keeping our eyes on the road.

Looking down to see the garmin, our brains can still do all the above without crashing. Music isn't a distraction, some people find it so, others do not. 300K down the road in 50 years, 1/2 of that listening to music either through the dash board or through the helmet. If my brain couldn't multitask, I'd have crashed long before this.

If we couldn't multitask or operate machinery while listening to music, the NTSB would have banned radios from cages decades ago.

 

[ebell]

I use the Hearos blue foam plugs and can hear my Sena 20 just fine. Much nicer riding with earplugs, I am much less tired when I get off the bike

I've used those squishy blue plugs with a Freecom 1 headsets inside a Shoei helmet for a few years now. Had my listening tested by an audiologist last year and passed with flying colors. Around the block or across the country, those blue plugs go in my ears, whatever bike I ride. But it does increase my listening pleasure with the RT's windshield in the up position to take down the wind noise.

BTW Those plugs also drown out the noise of a fellow-campers C-PAP machine in the tent next door.

YMMV.

 

[jkjohnson]

Splugs

We tried many things, including mold-them-yourself ear plugs/speakers but finally settled on wired Splugs

https://www.plugup.com/best_and_most_comfortable_stereo_earplug_earbuds_p/s 22-3.5-4.5.htm

 

[RadioFlyer]

I like these because:
- They provide excellent audio isolation and thus protect your hearing.
- They come with a bunch of earplugs so you can find the right fit.
- They are right angle at the earbuds so the wire is directed downward.
- They are small.
- They do not have a right angle audio plug making them easier to plug in to the jack on my helmet.
- They have superior strain relief at the audio plug.
- They have a short cord.

https://h2oaudio.com/products/surge-s-waterproof-headphones-short-cord

 

[eastbay]

I like these because:
- They provide excellent audio isolation and thus protect your hearing.
- They come with a bunch of earplugs so you can find the right fit.
- They are right angle at the earbuds so the wire is directed downward.
- They are small.
- They do not have a right angle audio plug making them easier to plug in to the jack on my helmet.
- They have superior strain relief at the audio plug.
- They have a short cord.

https://h2oaudio.com/products/surge-s-waterproof-headphones-short-cord

thanks,I'm going to try these. They are on Amazon for $39, same as their website, but with free, no questions asked returns.

 

[lkchris]

Incorrect, we humans multitask all the time. We can simultaneously apply the front brake and rear brake, we can simultaneously pull the clutch lever and shift gears with out left foot, all while listening to music piped to the helmet while keeping our eyes on the road.

Looking down to see the garmin, our brains can still do all the above without crashing. Music isn't a distraction, some people find it so, others do not. 300K down the road in 50 years, 1/2 of that listening to music either through the dash board or through the helmet. If my brain couldn't multitask, I'd have crashed long before this.

If we couldn't multitask or operate machinery while listening to music, the NTSB would have banned radios from cages decades ago.

Look up the book ... it's written by a Harvard brain surgeon. You're describing sequential actions, not simultaneous actions.

 

[jkjohnson]

S Plugs

We tried several mold-them-yourself versions before settling on "S Plugs" <https://www.plugup.com/the_S_plug_stereo_earbuds_s/67.htm> There are no doubt other good options. The vendor of these is an audiologist who also makes custom molded plugs, but these work well enough for us. You will be able to hear much better (via Cardo or Sena devices) with these. We just could not hear well enough relying only on the (Cardo) speakers in the helmet, that had to have the volume cranked up too high. Currently, I do not even install the helmet speakers anymore.

 

[dduelin]

I've used Howard Leight Max Lite or Laser Lite uncorded for the last 15 years. Once I mistakenly bought a box of corded ones and just cut the cords off where it exits the plug.

 

[zip50]

Eargasm ear plugs

Big fan of Eargasm ear plugs. Been riding with them for 5 years - first with Sena and now with Cardo. Allows music and coms through while blocking the damaging noise. No cords to worry about. They come in different sizes. All-day comfortable for me.

 

[jwjones63]

I have to give another vote to the Eargasm ear plugs. Both my wife and I use them and have no problem listening to music through the Cardio units or communicating with each other.

 

[LezHaul]

I use wired Etymotic ER3XR in ear monitors with a bluetooth Qudelix DAC Amp. This way I have good external noise isolation but can hear music at high quality and no wires at the handlebars.

Etymotics use passive isolation, providing 35-42 dB attenuation (depending on ear-tips used and the depth of insertion). I use the triple-flange ear-tips.

Some people try Etymotics and complain that you have to insert them into the ear canal to an obscene degree. That is true, but it's why they work so well. I had some discomfort in the first few days of use, but now they feel fine and can wear them for hours. You obviously don't have to play music through the ER3 and I often just have them relaying spoken GPS guidance with no noise.

To get audio wirelessly from my phone I use a Qudelix 5K bluetooth DAC Amp. It's a tiny, magical box that uses BT to connect wired earphones. It's combined a Digital to Audio Convertor and headphone amp which provides an audio quality, when used with good earphones, that certainly rivals my car stereo if not most home stereos. And because the Etymotics attenuate noise so well, you can play music at safe levels. I use them at home all the time.

I also use a JBL Click waterproof handlebar remote to adjust volume, advance tracks, mute etc.

This combo gives me noise blocking with great, wireless audio and simple, safe control. The only con is that the Etymotics are connected to the Qudelix by wire. But the ER3 wires are very flexible, the BT amp is tiny and the whole shebang can be stuffed in a shirt pocket or shoved down the front of a t-shirt or even under a bandana. No wires flapping around in the breeze!

Pic of 5K with Micro SD card for size reference.

 

[wiscomoto]

I rode for years without them, including thousands of hours on the track. Needless to say, at 43, tinnitus is strong!

Started using earplugs a few years ago. Did the cheap ones, molded ones, you name it. Landed on the ones from Earpeace, with the tuneable inserts.

They make a huge difference. I’m far less fatigued after a day of highway blasting, I can hear my coms better, and th headaches from the end of the day are gone.

It’s amazing what something so simple can accomplish.

 

[omega man]

I rode for years without them, including thousands of hours on the track. Needless to say, at 43, tinnitus is strong!

Started using earplugs a few years ago. Did the cheap ones, molded ones, you name it. Landed on the ones from Earpeace, with the tuneable inserts.

They make a huge difference. I’m far less fatigued after a day of highway blasting, I can hear my coms better, and th headaches from the end of the day are gone.

It’s amazing what something so simple can accomplish.

Welcome to the forum!
Speaking of tinnitus, there is a thread on that-

What's the buzzzz...or at least ringing?

This month in the Best of Forum it's that damn noise that never-ever stops. It's Tinnitus and it can be real annoying, so annoying in fact that suffered have sought their own demise to get some peace. It is quite a strange affliction in that there are causes, suggested causes, no cure and some...

forums.bmwmoa.org

OM

 

[dravnx]

Both Cardo and Sena tune their speakers for use with earplugs. You may be pleasantly suprised at how much better they sound. I asked my audiologist which type of earplugs were the best and he told me the ones that I use. It's really all about comfort. I've had 2 sets of custom plugs made and both eventually would not seal. I even had the second set refitted but the same thing happened. I went back to Howard Leight disposables.

 

[etiennelau]

I wear ear plugs and can still hear music and vehicles around me.

 

[brownie0486]

Both Cardo and Sena tune their speakers for use with earplugs. You may be pleasantly suprised at how much better they sound. I asked my audiologist which type of earplugs were the best and he told me the ones that I use. It's really all about comfort. I've had 2 sets of custom plugs made and both eventually would not seal. I even had the second set refitted but the same thing happened. I went back to Howard Leight disposables.

I didn't know that. My Cardo's use the 45mm Bose speakers.

 

[brownie]

Leight pink foamies…….worn for 30 years, flying & motorcycling…….