Wireless Bluetooth Ear Buds Suggestion

[darrell]

I’m exploring wireless ear buds I can sync with a TFT to listen to XM radio from my iPhone routed through the TFT and hear directions from the mapping on the TFT.

I don’t need the option to communicate with anyone else.

Any suggestions, if you have found anything that works for you?

[ESquared]

I'm assuming that, once you synch your phone with the TFT (and you're using the Connected App?), and then connect the phone with whatever ear buds you use, it all plays well together, but I've never done it (since my bike's not ready yet).

Anyway, I've gone with the Apple Air Pros and this little headband that 1) Is invisible once the helmet is on; 2) keeps the earbuds in place while you put the helmet on (and take it off); and 3) acts as a bit of a doo-rag and keeps your brown dry. It's also very easy to wash/rinse under a kitchen faucet with whatever kind of soap is handy.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MQ4...UTF8&psc=1

[Grumpy Goat]

I have my iPhone and VI paired to my Cardo Pactalk Bold and hear my XM from the phone and directions from the Nav VI no problem. I don’t communicate with any other helmet of I don’t want to but it’s there when I need it. You may find that the earbuds can only pair with one input source at a time. I could be wrong of course.

[Lee]

Darrell are you not happy with your wireless helmet speakers now?
My Sena speakers are not that great for music unless I'm going 60 or less, so I rarely listen to music on the bike.
The other problem is I can't listen to music when I'm connected to Debbie with the intercom.

What color RS did you get?

[darrell]

Darrell are you not happy with your wireless helmet speakers now?
My Sena speakers are not that great for music unless I'm going 60 or less, so I rarely listen to music on the bike.
The other problem is I can't listen to music when I'm connected to Debbie with the intercom.

i use wired ear buds now that attach to my Sena 30K. I never installed the helmet speakers as still need to wear hearing protection. The wired buds work perfectly well as I can listen to music and have hearing protection, make and receive phone calls, GPS interrupts my music when I use it for directions and could if I wanted to connect with other riders on the mesh system options. I’m just exploring if there is anything others have used that would allow me to do everything I can now except talk to others but without wires so nothing hanging on my helmet. I ride nearly all my miles alone so really no one else I could communicate with even when I have the option.

I still need to stop by Starkey Labs (the hear aid company who makes my hearing devises now) here in the Twin Cities and see what might be able. Technology is changing so fast on all this electronic stuff just wondering if anyone found a good option.

ESquared had a suggestion on the Apple devises but I don’t believe those would fit under my Arai helmets which are very tight fitting.

[Pyrrho]

I recently had custom earphones made for my ears. They squirted some stuff in my ears, let it cure, pulled it out and sent it to a lab, and then three weeks later I had earphones. They can be wired or wireless, and depending on what you order are tuned to emphasize some frequencies and block others. Examples would be live musicians, newscasters, or using for firing guns. The one I chose was for motorcycling, and works to block road and bike noise. Supposedly around 22 dB of isolation, so not nearly as good as a set of 30 dB disposable foam plugs. I chose wired, and plug them into my Cardo. They sit perfectly flush in my ear, the cables point straight down, no issues with dislodging them while putting a helmet on.

Mine cost $80 for making the mould, and another $180 for the earphones, if anyone is thinking this might be a good idea or if it's worth it. PS - it is!

[ESquared]

Sounds very worthwhile. Where did you have this work done?

[Grumpy Goat]

Sounds very worthwhile. Where did you have this work done?

Yes, what Company did this and how does it perform with regard to ambient sounds that you actually do need to hear while riding?

[Pyrrho]

This was a local audiologist, I don't know where they sent it to be made. I Googled custom earphones and audiologists and they were the closest.

There are two types of ways to make them. One is to do what I did and have the goop poured in your ears. The second is to have a machine scan your ears with a laser. The 2nd type is better because you can take that scan to multiple different places to have earpieces made, but because the machines are expensive many audiologists don't have access to them, so they use the goop.

Your ears change as you age anyway, and as the earpieces age they slowly harden and are less able to form a secure seal in your ear canal. Supposedly they should be good for at least 3 years of daily use before you'd need to get a new mould or scan made and then a new set of earphones made from that.

[Pyrrho]

Talked to the audiologist again today. The lab my earphones were made is Starkey Labs <https://starkey.com> in Minnesota. They offer different end connectors too; I didn't specify and received a mono mini plug instead. Had them send it back to the lab and put a stereo minijack on instead. Just received the modified version today.

Doesn't sound as good as good as my Jabra Elite 7t, Google Pixel Buds 2, or Sony WF-1000XM4s for pure audio quality -- the highs are more muffled and the midrange is flat, but that's not really its point: provide adequate passive sound isolation & good (not great) quality audio. By comparison, I used to use Sennheiser in-ear headphones to do the same thing, as they gave a good seal in my ear canal and were generally small enough I could tuck them in my ear and under my balaclava so as to not interfere when I turned my head in my helmet. They sealed out outside sound well and sounded GREAT but were VERY fiddly, and if made even a small error while putting them on one or both ears would become slightly dislodged, break the seal, and I'd have to take my helmet and balaclava off again and start over.

These don't sound as good but they: seal perfectly each time, and lay perfectly flat.

[Lee]

These don't sound as good but they: seal perfectly each time, and lay perfectly flat.

I have a friend in Texas who uses some high dollar customer ear buds made for musician when he rides. I'll see him next week and will try to remember to ask about them.

[TriangleRider]

I’m exploring wireless ear buds I can sync with a TFT to listen to XM radio from my iPhone routed through the TFT and hear directions from the mapping on the TFT.

I don’t need the option to communicate with anyone else.

Any suggestions, if you have found anything that works for you?

I wear full-face helmets and I wear them tight. I haven't found a set of Bluetooth earbuds small enough to allow long-term comfort under my helmets. I either use low-profile wired earbuds (plugged into a Cardo) or just use helmet speakers while wearing custom formed -25dB earplugs (designed for musicians with very little effect on the overall frequency response).