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Stereo ear plugs....

lazygator

New member
I have a Schuberth helmet with the intercom/music optional system. The speakers are 'okay' but there is still a lot of road and wind noise that makes the audio experience less than I hoped for on longer trips. I'm considering going to the Rally in NY to check out the ear plug audio options - I see that there are three-four companies that will be there. Does anybody have experience in this area and could maybe make some recommendations? It seems to me the custom ear plugs with built-in speakers would be the way to go to gain both noise reduction and better fidelity. my bike is the R1200RT....
 
I have dealt three times with three different companies that made custom earplug/stereo speakers for my ears. All three companies produced very unsatisfactory products, resulting in more wind noise than my regular disposable earplugs. Now I simply use a Sena 5 Bluetooth headset which works wel enough for me as I keep the music volume low.

Etoymics ear/music plugs sound was very good but somewhat tight and uncomfortable for my ear channels.
 
Welcome lazygator and let me say that I have some extensive experience on this quest for high quality audio in my ears while getting good excellent noise attenuation.

It seems to me the custom ear plugs with built-in speakers would be the way to go to gain both noise reduction and better fidelity.

Actually, and maybe counter-intuitively, this is a pretty poor solution. If the ear plugs are worth anything at all they will be providing you with something better than 35db of noise attenuation and you'll have to turn up your intercom or tunes to the point that they will be awful (if you can even hear them at all well). The best solution is a set of custom molded in-ear-monitors (ear phones) from Sensaphonics. They're not cheap but if you understand that your hearing is a very fragile and perishable thing, they're cheap at twice the price. You'll get studio musician quality sound out of them and depending on your ears and fitment, up to 40db of noise attenuation. I use mine plugged in to my Sena bluetooth on my hat and paired with my phone so that I can ask Siri to entertain me with music and make and accept calls, set reminders, etc.

There are other custom molded earphones out there but nothing near the quality of the Sensaphonics. I'm in no way affiliated but just a happy user after trying other options. I've worn them for 12 hour days and on multi-week trips and they have always been comfortable and effective.
 
I always ride with 33db earplugs in and listen to music/radio through my Sena 10C with no issues at all. Volume isn't cranked up either.

Chris
 
I have always ridden with ear plugs or with ear buds. I can't stand to listen to open wind and road when I ride. :banghead

For music, I've used Etymotics for years. Great units and they fit my ear well. I can usually ride 8-9 hours before the buds make my outer ear a little sore. I also use them with my Sena 20S. Just plug the buds into the Sena audio jack.

http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/earphones/mk5.html
 
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