Topic: Pocket FM radio

[Yan]

I have this MP3 player with built in FM Radio and I bought these soft headphones on eBay that go inside the helmet and I tried the whole setup today but I can't hear anything when I am riding - the wind noise kills the sound at speeds above 20-30 kmph. My question to the electronics savvy - can I get a pocket FM radio with more powerful output into the headphones or they are all pretty much the same? Thanks!

P.S. Is 2 vs 1 AAA batteries in the unit any indication of the output power?

[SeeSpotRun]

Buy some noise canceling earbuds. I saw a pair of Panasonics at Staples for $40. Don't know if they work, I've always used ear plugs.

[Yan]

Buy some noise canceling earbuds. I saw a pair of Panasonics at Staples for $40. Don't know if they work, I've always used ear plugs.

Nah, earbuds is a pita, they fall out when you put the lid on. I really like these soft headphones that adhere to the inside of the helmet and you never feel them. Granted they are further away from the ears hence the sound isn't as loud. So I am trying to solve this problem :)

[Cos]

sell the KLR Yan, problem solved 

and now a more serious proposition, RCAF had an amplifier for sale a while ago, not sure if he still has it. AmpliRider might be the answer, pricey but very well reviewed by people who bought one.

[gixxergirl]

Depends on the buds. Skullcandy makes a set called the Asyms (http://www.skullcandy.com/shop/asym-p-123.html?zenid=guk7h0g0j3odndi6lb0ddg8ot7) made to fit specifically under helmets. I know a few people that have them and love them

review here: http://www.motorcycleaddicts.org/gadget-corner/23705-headphones-skullcandy-asym-i-think-its-short-awesome.html

Brad wears the Skullcandy Smokin' Buds (http://www.skullcandy.com/shop/smokin-buds-p-124.html) under his helmet and loves them.

The thing with the in ear headphones as opposed to tradition ear buds is the in ears typically have interchangeable rubber pieces so you get the most secure fit possible. The better the fit, the less likely they are to fall out when your riding, plus they cut down on some of the wind noise in the helmet.

[Cos]

Depends on the buds. Skullcandy makes a set called the Asyms (http://www.skullcandy.com/shop/asym-p-123.html?zenid=guk7h0g0j3odndi6lb0ddg8ot7) made to fit specifically under helmets. I know a few people that have them and love them

review here: http://www.motorcycleaddicts.org/gadget-corner/23705-headphones-skullcandy-asym-i-think-its-short-awesome.html

Brad wears the Skullcandy Smokin' Buds (http://www.skullcandy.com/shop/smokin-buds-p-124.html) under his helmet and loves them.

The thing with the in ear headphones as opposed to tradition ear buds is the in ears typically have interchangeable rubber pieces so you get the most secure fit possible. The better the fit, the less likely they are to fall out when your riding, plus they cut down on some of the wind noise in the helmet.

I would like to see a study looking at the long term effect of earbuds...

[suzukinduced]

Depends on the buds. Skullcandy makes a set called the Asyms (http://www.skullcandy.com/shop/asym-p-123.html?zenid=guk7h0g0j3odndi6lb0ddg8ot7) made to fit specifically under helmets. I know a few people that have them and love them

review here: http://www.motorcycleaddicts.org/gadget-corner/23705-headphones-skullcandy-asym-i-think-its-short-awesome.html

Brad wears the Skullcandy Smokin' Buds (http://www.skullcandy.com/shop/smokin-buds-p-124.html) under his helmet and loves them.

The thing with the in ear headphones as opposed to tradition ear buds is the in ears typically have interchangeable rubber pieces so you get the most secure fit possible. The better the fit, the less likely they are to fall out when your riding, plus they cut down on some of the wind noise in the helmet.

I would like to see a study looking at the long term effect of earbuds...

Ear buds will make us deaf, microwaves are going to give us cancer, and mcdonalds is going to make us fat...


...if swine flu doesn't f*** us all over first

[SeeSpotRun]

Ear buds will make us deaf, microwaves are going to give us cancer, and mcdonalds is going to make us fat...


...if swine flu doesn't f*** us all over first

You forgot cellphones

[princess]

I wear a half helmet and use Sony headphones that wrap around your ears........no wind distortion and less hearing of the boom boxes going by.......pick them up at Walmart for 20$.....they are blue 

[GregR1 - air tool fanatic]

Nah, earbuds is a pita, they fall out when you put the lid on. ..... So I am trying to solve this problem :)

uh, learn how to put on your lid, maybe?  i've never had a problem with earbuds falling out, and if you're REALLY having a hard time buy a skull-cap too so that it covers your ears - that way when you slide the lid on, it'll slide over top of your ears and the buds.

problem solved.

[Ostro]

Nah, earbuds is a pita, they fall out when you put the lid on. ..... So I am trying to solve this problem :)

uh, learn how to put on your lid, maybe?  i've never had a problem with earbuds falling out, and if you're REALLY having a hard time buy a skull-cap too so that it covers your ears - that way when you slide the lid on, it'll slide over top of your ears and the buds.

problem solved.

I've tried 4 different ear bud designs, none of them seal properly or stay sealed for me either. And, I've found that a bad seal is worse than no ear protection at all.

I found that none of the ear buds I've tried will actually go into my ear canal. They just sit somewhat loosely at the opening.

[Yan]

Nah, earbuds is a pita, they fall out when you put the lid on. ..... So I am trying to solve this problem :)

uh, learn how to put on your lid, maybe?  i've never had a problem with earbuds falling out, and if you're REALLY having a hard time buy a skull-cap too so that it covers your ears - that way when you slide the lid on, it'll slide over top of your ears and the buds.

problem solved.

you can't answer the question, but still want to add your 2 cents, right buddy :)

[GregR1 - air tool fanatic]

I've tried 4 different ear bud designs, none of them seal properly or stay sealed for me either. And, I've found that a bad seal is worse than no ear protection at all.

I found that none of the ear buds I've tried will actually go into my ear canal. They just sit somewhat loosely at the opening.

when you put them in, do you pull up-n-back on your ear to help straighten out the ear canal so that it's easier for the earbuds to go in and seal properly?  i've found that just jammig them in from the side doesn't work THAT well - same as normal foam earplugs, gotta pull on the ear before putting earbud / headphone in.

[Ostro]

I have no problems getting regular ear plugs in (the orange ones). With ear buds, they just don't fit, even with the smallest tips on them.

[GregR1 - air tool fanatic]

you can't answer the question, but still want to add your 2 cents, right buddy :)

yes, i do - and i did answer your question!  the solution (or one of the first ones) is to use earbuds properly.

1 AA or 2 AA doesn't really tell you much - it all depends on how the stuff is designed.  i have a minidisk player that runs from a single AA battery for 50 hours and is plenty loud - and it's not a solid-state drive either (it's magnetic when reading, similar to hard drive)

and having some air-space between the helmet speakers and your ears WILL allow road / wind / bike noise to get in, no two ways around it.  you could maybe bolt in a 20W-per-channel amplifier to overcome that, but you'll be deaf within seconds.

output of radio is one thing - sensitivity (efficiency) of headphones is the other.  a powerful radio driving shitty earphones / earspeakers isn't going to help you.

big speakers (big at least compared to earbuds) are going to be less efficient, plus you have that air-space to overcome, so really you're fighting two things at once - and will need tons of clean power to overcome that.

happy now with my answer?

[GregR1 - air tool fanatic]

I have no problems getting regular ear plugs in (the orange ones). With ear buds, they just don't fit, even with the smallest tips on them.

a year or two ago i bought those $25 JVC things, the in-ear type which i think include a second set of foamy tips.  they were pretty damn good, only a notch worse than an $80 pair of sony buds.  even the simpler not-inside-ear buds work well for me, though the hard plastic makes my ear sore after 2+ hours.

[Cos]

It's always funny when some people say it works, and others say no it doesn't 

Ostro, you might want to try a pair of beewax ear buds, I have a similar problem with other type earbuds not fitting properly. I can give you a pair (a new one, not the one I used it for more than a year).

Yan, did you think of adding something to the helmet liner such that the speakers will be right against your ears? I thought of doing this myself, but did not find the right speakers in NA. The French have a nice one, next year I'll grab a pair.

[SeeSpotRun]

It's always funny when some people say it works, and others say no it doesn't 

Maybe?

[smokey]

sell the KLR Yan, problem solved 

and now a more serious proposition, RCAF had an amplifier for sale a while ago, not sure if he still has it. AmpliRider might be the answer, pricey but very well reviewed by people who bought one.

Yep, I still have it, never used, I use the noise canceling earphones so I didn't need it.

[Yan]

happy now with my answer?

yes, much happier with it than with your first one :) thank you.

[Yan]

Yan, did you think of adding something to the helmet liner such that the speakers will be right against your ears?

I did Cos, but in my helmet there is no liner next to the ear, just an opening, so the speakers/headphones attach to the plastic rather deep inside, about an inch away from the ear. Plus the noise canceling ear plugs in the ears. But something tells a bit more power and I would be hearing the tune, enough to entertain myself on long straight stretches. Better than my own humming anyways :)

[Yan]

for those monitoring this thread out of pure boredom - I am getting closer to the perfect and cheap solution - http://cgi.ebay.ca/TOP-MINI-AMPLIFIER-AMP-3-5mm-EARPHONE-FiiO-E3-MP3-MP4_W0QQitemZ220493859013QQcmdZViewItemQQptZOther_MP3_Player_Accessories?hash=item33567548c5

[smokey]

for those monitoring this thread out of pure boredom - I am getting closer to the perfect and cheap solution - http://cgi.ebay.ca/TOP-MINI-AMPLIFIER-AMP-3-5mm-EARPHONE-FiiO-E3-MP3-MP4_W0QQitemZ220493859013QQcmdZViewItemQQptZOther_MP3_Player_Accessories?hash=item33567548c5

Let us know how that works if you get it, I would go for the $8 one as it appears to have a lot more features. Looks like it might work for you.

[Yan]

for those monitoring this thread out of pure boredom - I am getting closer to the perfect and cheap solution - http://cgi.ebay.ca/TOP-MINI-AMPLIFIER-AMP-3-5mm-EARPHONE-FiiO-E3-MP3-MP4_W0QQitemZ220493859013QQcmdZViewItemQQptZOther_MP3_Player_Accessories?hash=item33567548c5

Let us know how that works if you get it, I would go for the $8 one as it appears to have a lot more features. Looks like it might work for you.

Sure will! It should arrive by the end of the month, I will test it right away. Can't wait to get my motorcycle entertainment system setup completed :)

[Bernstorm]

Depends on the buds. Skullcandy makes a set called the Asyms (http://www.skullcandy.com/shop/asym-p-123.html?zenid=guk7h0g0j3odndi6lb0ddg8ot7) made to fit specifically under helmets. I know a few people that have them and love them

They work for me. And nobody can argue that!