Bluetooth headphones?

[tight fart]

Any recommendations for helmet Bluetooth speakers?
I don’t need an intercom but would like phone connectivity for sat nav etc.

[SteveKTMer]

I'd guess Apple Air Pods would be a good choice, the basic ones don't stick into your ear too far and once you've got the helmet on they should stay in place with some foam in the speaker cut outs. Recharge in 20 mins when you stop for coffee. I'm sure there's an Android version if you have Android phone.

[TimmyMallett]

Airpods work with Android. It's just BT.

If you just want that, I'd go with normal headphones, anything else will be more expense for stuff you don't need (intercom)

Edited by TimmyMallett on Friday 27th January 11:22

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

An alternative is Plugfones - which have noise protection as well as bluetooth capability. I bought myself some recently but I've not had a chance to test them out.

https://www.plugfones.com/product/basic-pro-blueto...

[black-k1]

If you want to use it for phone calls you'll need to consider how the mic will work inside the helmet. The likes of iPods have no change of working. The risk is simply picking up nothing but background noise which is where mics in dedicated intercoms win hands down.

[Bodo]

black-k1 said:

If you want to use it for phone calls you'll need to consider how the mic will work inside the helmet. The likes of iPods have no change of working. The risk is simply picking up nothing but background noise which is where mics in dedicated intercoms win hands down.

I tried to find a universal solution for my jet helmet. While in-ears don't work for me, earbuds are fine, but hard to find.

I got one of these:

The mic is on the cable; so no problem to get it out of the jet helmet. The problem is the size of the outer part of the earbud; it won't fit in the ear void of the jet helmet.
It does fit the integral helmet, but for this I use a simple helmet intercom.

A disadvantage of all helmet intercoms: they do not have the advanced audio codecs like apt-x; the earbuds above have them for better music quality.

[SteveKTMer]

TimmyMallett said:

Airpods work with Android. It's just BT.

If you just want that, I'd go with normal headphones, anything else will be more expense for stuff you don't need (intercom)

Edited by TimmyMallett on Friday 27th January 11:22

The reason you might need matching tech is that the AirPods have microphones built into the pod, so it's possible the microphones will work for Siri and phone calls as well as noise canceling.

I've got Sony XM4 earbuds which are utterly brilliant but too large to wear in a helmet, but the mic picks up your voice from inside your ear and the bone. https://www.sony.co.uk/headphones/products/wf-1000...

[dibblecorse]

Here you go, I have had this up and running about 2 years in my commuter lid, its a doddle to fit, in fact the lad at Sportsbikeshop did it for me when I picked it up .... works well, loud enough but I do also wear custom earplugs, easy to detach from lid and recharge ....

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/...

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

I've yet to find a bike intercom that's really loud enough at "motorway" speeds. I've got an Interphone tour which is adequate, but you are really shouting at 80mph, which is legal in Europe.

[TheInternet]

I don't think I'd want to forego having earplugs in order to have in-ear headphones.

[conkerman]

Couple of options that I use and like,

Shure SE215 with Bluetooth adapter.

Mee Audio M6 Pro with a Bluetooth cable.

Wear a Buff over them as taking your helmet off seems to try and rip them out of your head. Not comfy.

I also have a GT-Air2 with the Sena SRL Mesh. Has worked fine even when wearing plugs (in a reasonably limited amount I have had it). Expensive though.

Edited by conkerman on Friday 27th January 17:12

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

TheInternet said:

I don't think I'd want to forego having earplugs in order to have in-ear headphones.

Pardon? (Totally agree)

[black-k1]

TheInternet said:

I don't think I'd want to forego having earplugs in order to have in-ear headphones.

100% this. The top priority is ear plugs. Sat nav, music, phone calls, intercom etc. are all secondary to wearing ear plugs.

[bogie]

If you helmet has cut outs for speakers I would go with that option. Then you can wear plugs as normal. I have the Shark bluetooth kit and its really good, great noise cancelling and loud enough to hear the nav at higher motorway speeds. I dont use it to make calls but when Ive forgotten and its been set to auto answer I've had people call me when im on the motorway and they cant tell im even moving.

I dont think it would fit well in a race helmet, but in a street/touring helmet with cut outs for speakers and enough room in the chin area for a mic, it works great.

[HairyMaclary]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

I've yet to find a bike intercom that's really loud enough at "motorway" speeds. I've got an Interphone tour which is adequate, but you are really shouting at 80mph, which is legal in Europe.

My cardo packtalk bold is plenty loud enough at motorway speeds even with earplugs in.

[tight fart]

I think I may need earplug recommendations as well.

[MDUBZ]

black-k1 said:

TheInternet said:

I don't think I'd want to forego having earplugs in order to have in-ear headphones.

100% this. The top priority is ear plugs. Sat nav, music, phone calls, intercom etc. are all secondary to wearing ear plugs.

FWIW in ear headphones will offer noise reduction but most aren't rated for this specifically - the best your going to get with passive noise reduction is ~20db - some of the noise cancelling headphones supposedly offer far better.. although tbh i've never really found any headphones which have a low enough profile to wear comfortably with a well fitting helmet, then there is the removal of helmet with them in, it is like some medieval torture. So it's ear plugs and integrated sena unit for me : the downside is that at real motorway speeds music can be a little hard to hear, but when pressing on it's probably better that i'm concentrating on the road than singing along to Kylie's i should be so lucky

https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tests/isolation/...

edit: just found these... https://snugs.com/

Edited by MDUBZ on Saturday 28th January 10:37

[spuds1]

HairyMaclary said:

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

I've yet to find a bike intercom that's really loud enough at "motorway" speeds. I've got an Interphone tour which is adequate, but you are really shouting at 80mph, which is legal in Europe.

My cardo packtalk bold is plenty loud enough at motorway speeds even with earplugs in.

Same. I had a Packtalk in the past and now have a Sena 50R. Both absolutely fine at motorway speeds with earplugs in.

[bogie]

MDUBZ said:

FWIW in ear headphones will offer noise reduction but most aren't rated for this specifically - the best your going to get with passive noise reduction is ~20db - some of the noise cancelling headphones supposedly offer far better.. although tbh i've never really found any headphones which have a low enough profile to wear comfortably with a well fitting helmet, then there is the removal of helmet with them in, it is like some medieval torture. So it's ear plugs and integrated sena unit for me : the downside is that at real motorway speeds music can be a little hard to hear, but when pressing on it's probably better that i'm concentrating on the road than singing along to Kylie's i should be so lucky

https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tests/isolation/...

edit: just found these... https://snugs.com/

Edited by MDUBZ on Saturday 28th January 10:37

those snugs look good, never seen anything designed for in helmet wear before https://snugs.com/moto/

[archie456]

Get some moulded earplugs with speakers in, it saves a lot of hassle, I use Ultimateear.

I use a cabled pair which I've had for about 10 years, which I used to plug into my old Zumo 550.

With the advent of bluetooth I thought about a new pair, but bought a FiiO bluetooth headphone amp instead.

In my view it's the best option, great quality audio with background noise suppressed the same as the 39db 3M FX earplugs that I otherwise use.

I did initially buy a new Shoei helmet with integrated Sena, but it's useless in comparison, if you get rid of the wind noise with earplugs you also get rid of the music/nav instructions.