A helmet music solution that works while riding

[TerryMoto]

After thumbing through the PDFs of the Aerostich Catalog, and trying to find a pair of Bass Monster speakers for my new helmet, I found that Aerostich has a new recommendation for listening to music while riding.

Before I had used the Custom Earmold Speakers, and helmet speakers with Bass Monster speakers installed. I had also tried tons of other solutions (chatterbox, earbuds, etc.)

With the helmet speakers I would have to wear earplugs (to block out the wind noise), and then really crank up the volume to overwhelm the earplugs. The music would sound very muddled and distorted.

With the Custom Earmold Speakers, they wouldn't fit well under the helmet, and didn't deliver the sound well into my ears, and the speaker part kept popping out of the earmold part.

This new solution works much better.

http://www.aerostich.com/isroot/ride...rspeakers.html

Get both the Koss Earplug Speakers ($17), and the Etymotic earplugs ($15). Follow the instructions on the Aerostich page.

The Koss Earplug Speakers are basically special foam style earplugs with holes in the center and a small speaker that is designed to be put into the hole at the end. It blocks out the exterior sound, and lets the music go directly to your ear.

The Etymotic earplugs are basically better earplugs than the foam style earplugs that come with the Koss setup. The Etymotic earplugs have a hole in the center so it is really easy to use the Koss speakers with the Etymotic earplugs.

The only difference that I did in assembly was to remove the plastic sound tubes completely, they weren't really needed. After I was comfortable with the setup, I superglued the Etymotic earplugs to the Koss speakers so that they wouldn't be separated when I removed them from my ear.

Now the music (and my Spanish language MP3s) are clear, and sound great, while the outside wind noise riding the motorcycle is blocked.

Any music player will work, but I use a Rio Cali (256mb + 512mb SD = 768mb) MP3 player. It plays MP3 and WMA. Solid state electronics means no moving parts like a hard drive in an iPod to get hammered while on the topes. 18 hour battery life on a single AAA battery. I use the running strap and holster to attach it to my throttle hand forearm so I can use the player controls without taking my hand off the throttle.

http://www.digitalnetworksna.com/sho...del=214&cat=54

I carry a laptop while traveling so putting on fresh MP3s is not a problem.

Disclaimer: Listening to music while riding may not be safe.

--Terry

just found this also:
http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?...subTopicID=181
Good tips on how to put in ear canal headphones, and earplugs. Makes a difference in how they feel and sound.

[This message has been edited by TerryMoto (edited 19 May 2004).]