Simple way to listen to music?

squid

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I have some headphone elements in my lid with a socket. In the past I have just plugged a radio via extn lead into this.

Simple but problem is it's not really loud enough when wearing ear plugs.

I also have in ear buds but if they do stay in place the thin wire can get pulled, esp when using the jacket zip.

I want a simple, stereo way of listening to radio/mp3 and poss satnav?

Thought of adding an in line amp but not sure this will do the job plus its more equipment.

As I have to carry the mobile and it has a radio and MP3 this would be ideal but it needs to be easy to adjust/turn off volume.

Mobile is Nokia 6233

Are there helmet speakers with high sensitivity that will give enough volume to be heard over ear plugs?

Any suggestions for a simple, no hassle solution?
 
You could try one of these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Boostaroo-Hea...tcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Boostaroo.. Got mine from this guy, quick delivery, does what it says...

Went to Garmisch with SWMBO on the back... music listenable up to about 80-90mph, which was a marked improvement on previously ... Sat nav clear to over the ton.. speech up to about 80....certainly boosts volume.. cheap enough too. One set of batteries lasted all week at 8-9 hrs a day. Takes rechargable AA's. Bth of us wearing moulded plugs....

Bryn :beerjug:
 
Ha clicked on the link to find I am actually watching that item!

So with the radio at present, whilst wearing plugs I can here it whilst stationary and can catch bits whilst doing say 40mph.

Would you say yours was similar prior to adding the amp?
 
Ultimate Ear (or similar) custom monitors :thumb2

I think these are similar to my Sennheiser CX300?

I find these usable but not the perfect solution - mainly because of snagging the cable and dislodging the buds. Might be my ears though, normal earphones just don't stay for more than a few mins.
 
Unless you are talking about the ones that cost £500 - eeeekks
 
Alternatively, bin the ear plugs and use these:
Etymotic.ER4.Medium.Black.Eartips.3182.jpg

with these:
Product_142560.jpg


It works for me.
 
Unless you are talking about the ones that cost £500 - eeeekks


no, they are about £140 & are custom made to your ears, they won't get dislodged.

they sound great.

can't find a link, sorry.
 
Been using custom made plugs for about 6 months now supplied via Specsavers in Yeovil of all people

Linky Here

Prices and bits

Work as both ear defenders and headphones of me iPod and have to admit they are brilliant. £150 is a bit steep but clarity of the music is great and road/wind noise is virtually nil and included in the fee is a full hearing exam. Took me 3 visits to sort (prelim exam, hearing test and moulds taken and final check fit session) but normally should only need 2.

not all Specsavers have a hearing centre but worth a look if you have one close.
 
I went the Booster-Roo route (described previously) to amplify the sound from my Zumo 550. I ride with custom fitted earplugs and found I could not hear the Garmin navigation commands above 50mph. Adding the Booster-Roo (£17 via Amazon) meant I could hear navigation commands comfortably at 100mph and also listen to my MP3 music at 80ish.

I waterproofed the Booster unit with a small plastic pouch & duct tape & simply velcro fixed it behind the GPS. A far cheaper and just as effective solution to boost sound than going the Autocom or Starcom route.
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

I might try the booster option first - £150 for earphones is reasonable if they last a few years but I'd be a bit worried about damaging them sooner or later?

No great loss if I don't get along with the booster at that money.

Appreciate all the advice

Rob
 
Your phone is bluetooth enabled yes? Try these for a cheap wireless option. Loud enough with earplugs below 50mph
 
I might try the booster option first - £150 for earphones is reasonable if they last a few years but I'd be a bit worried about damaging them sooner or later?

Here we go again...

I'm a Green Leopard agent and am therefore entirely biaised and bound to say that my product is fantastic etc etc etc...

However, GL monitors are £110 from me, fully CE approved and should last between 7-10 years. You will eventually grow out of the earplugs.

Unlike other systems on the market, the transponder (speaker to you and me) is not in the earplug so the earplug can be replaced without buying a new set of headphones.

The weak point on our old monitors (and any other system which has the transponder inside the plug) was were the cable went into the earplug. Over time the cable weakens as it keeps bending when the helmet is taken on and off and you get crackling and eventually no sound. The new ones use an air tube which does not weaken and is easily replaced even if it did get damaged (not had a single one returned yet though).

The only 'problem' I've had reported is that you need to tuck the air tubes under your jacket otherwise they can pick up external wind noise on an unfaired bike.

Here's a pic which should speak a thousand words (apparently)

OTiS-email.jpg


The other big advantage of this system is that the plugs are much easier to clean as the electronics are nowhere near the earplug. You can soak the plug in a bowl of hot water to loosen any hardened deposit as long as you drip dry it with the plugs below the speaker (so the water doesn't run down the tube into the speaker :rolleyes: )

The £110 includes the earplug element, but I can retro-fit the monitors to any cusom earplug (even if it was made by 'the competition') for a mere £55 delivered to your door.
 


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