Throat microphones and in ear headphones.

[captain_nesmo]

So, after a while, I'm back! I've just put a deposit on a '12 Triple Black hexhead which I'll be picking up next Saturday from Cooper in Tunbridge Wells.

SWMBO is (amazingly) looking forward to trips to the coast as well as as weekends away, so my first purchase is going to be a bluetooth intercom system. I used to have one of the Scala systems (did they make a G4?) which I really wasn't happy with. Sound quality was poor, and battery life was worse.

Looking around, the Sena units seem to be well liked here, with the SMH10 getting lots of good reviews. My question is this: Most devices seem to be speaker and boom microphone based. I'd like to look at something more like a throat microphone (transducer based I guess?) and a set of actual in ear headphones (I'll probably get some molds done), so the kit is basically attached to the person, rather than the lid. It'll mainly be for rider to pillion communication, but I'd like the option of music/GPS instruction playback, which will be from my Android phone (OnePlus One).

I've done a few searches here, and I can't see anything coming up, so, I wondered if I'm after something that actually doesn't exist? I'm more than happy to take a soldering iron to whatever I need to in order to create a custom solution, if that's the best option.

Thanks in advance!

 

[paul08]

I would recommend the Sena BT systems. I have the SMH10R and with this you can buy (about £10) a 'pig-tail' lead that just clicks into the wiring loom that is placed in the helmet and lets you connect in-ear headphones (rather than use the in helmet speakers provided). I believe that the SMH10 headsets have a suitable plug built in (but you should check that) so that you do not need to buy the optional pig-tail lead.

For in-ear speakers I just use some speakers that I got with a cheap Sony MP3 player: the sound is good and they really work for me as they do not protrude much out of my ears. Longer in-ear speakers tend to give me a pain in the ear from the pressure of the helmet liner against the end of the bud/speaker.

No experience of throat mikes, but the in helmet microphone that comes wit the Sena works well (they supply a boom mike for flip-front helmets) and also one than attatches with velcro inside the front bar on full face helmets.

The Sena works well with my iPhone/Nav V set up. I have the music on an SD card in the Nav V, rather than use the iPhone music. I can control the music from the Nav V with the screen of the Nav V and with the scroll wheel on the LH handle bar grip.

 

[mrtee43]

I know lots of people have had good things to say about theSena, indeed I and a mate had a pair of these a couple of years ago bought for a trip to Scotland. At first they worked quite well but after one day in heavy rain, mine gave up the ghost and despite the rubber seal being in place for the usb port, water got inside mine and it stopped working.

I could actually shake the water out of it. A day later, my mates packed in as well due to water ingress. Sena are a bit vague on the actual rating of these in the rain.

We got a refund and to replace the SMH10s we bought a pair of Scala Rider G9s which have worked well for over 2 years now in conditions that saw off the Senas.

I bought the baseplate for the G9x which allows you to plug in ear buds as an option,I actually have a Fiio 5 amplifier plugged in running some Koss porta something speakers becuase I like to wear earplugs and like the volume to be loud.

With earbuds you wouldn't have a problem with volume. I believe Scala give their G9 an IP rating whereas Sena do not.

Just my experience for what its worth.

Oh and just to add, a lot of functions like the control of music tracks, radio stations, intercom etc can be operated by voice commands.

 

[MikeO]

Throat mikes are a poor solution (although I have not personally tried them on a bike).

They used to use them in helicopters in the military, but reverted to boom mikes because the sound quality was so poor (I have used both and they are chalk & cheese in comparison). They also only work well if you're not a fat bastard - adipose tissue on the neck severely degrades the performance.

There is a reason all the manufacturers have gone for the boom mike solution...

 

[paul08]

I have used my Sena SMH10R's in some really 'biblical' rain and have had no problems whatsoever

 

[mrtee43]

I have used my Sena SMH10R's in some really 'biblical' rain and have had no problems whatsoever

Ours were the SMH10s with the jog dial. The SMH10R does look more rubbery .

 

[captain_nesmo]

Throat mikes are a poor solution (although I have not personally tried them on a bike).

They used to use them in helicopters in the military, but reverted to boom mikes because the sound quality was so poor (I have used both and they are chalk & cheese in comparison). They also only work well if you're not a fat bastard - adipose tissue on the neck severely degrades the performance.

There is a reason all the manufacturers have gone for the boom mike solution...

I had wondered about the fidelity offered by a throat mic, and the speech intelligibility, as I believe plosives and sibilant sounds are formed in the mouth, not the throat, and I believe throat mics use a transducer, rather than a diaphragm.

I was trying to get away from the boom simply from a comfort point of view, and to avoid having a little munch on it as I'm riding along.

Thank you all for the advice, I'll check out the Sena units vs the Scala devices, and see what I think!