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I recently purchased the 45 mm upgrade speakers from Cardo Systems and offer this product review. In buying the larger JBL speakers I thought that if the stick speakers sounded so good, then these must be even better. In this video I compare the speakers outside the helmet and also on a ride, after installing in my Shoei helmet. The result was surprising.
Regards,
Grumpy Goat
2016 BMW R1200RS
2023 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
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To my ears the original speakers are noticeably louder.
I could barely hear the 45 mm speakers.
Lee
Iowa, USA
2022 R1250RS White Sport
Past BMWs: 2016 R1200RS x 2, 2011 K1300S x 2, 2003 K1200RS x 2, 1991 K75S x 2, 1987 K75T x 2, 1984 R100RT
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(02-18-2020, 09:52 AM)Lee Wrote: To my ears the original speakers are noticeably louder.
I could barely hear the 45 mm speakers.
Yes, that was my impression too. When I first plugged them in outside the soundbox I expected to hear significantly bigger and fuller sound. When I heard
what appeared to be the opposite, I decided that the soundbox was a must, because I could not trust the naked speaker to make my decision. When the soundbox result did not produce a bigger fuller sound, I still did not believe that I could make a final decision, so I still mounted it in the helmet for a last test, and that made me almost fully decide that it was a dud. It was when I put the original speakers back in the helmet that the decision was clear - these speakers were going back.
One thing I did not mention in the video was, the original speakers appeared to he more solid / heavier than the larger speakers. I figured that the drivers were not as robust (?) as on the originals and that probably was why the sound was not up to snuff.
Anyway hope this review helps someone who was thinking that it might be worth the 31% upgrade cost. NOT.
Regards,
Grumpy Goat
2016 BMW R1200RS
2023 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro
Posts: 2,043
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Joined: Jun 2018
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Location: Iowa, US
02-18-2020, 09:10 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-18-2020, 09:13 PM by Lee.)
(02-18-2020, 07:54 PM)Grumpy Goat Wrote: One thing I did not mention in the video was, the original speakers appeared to he more solid / heavier than the larger speakers. I figured that the drivers were not as robust (?) as on the originals and that probably was why the sound was not up to snuff.
My simple test for speakers is to pick them up.
Good speakers weigh more than cheap speaker
Can you return the speakers after using them in your helmet on a ride?
Lee
Iowa, USA
2022 R1250RS White Sport
Past BMWs: 2016 R1200RS x 2, 2011 K1300S x 2, 2003 K1200RS x 2, 1991 K75S x 2, 1987 K75T x 2, 1984 R100RT
