In helmet audio

[StoichSix]

I’ve been tossing around the idea of either the honda plug in helmet kit or a wireless Sena style helmet set up for listening to music. I’m curious if anyone has tried both and can provide guidance as to the pros and cons. Which has the better sound quality and usefulness for the price.

[tenxxx]

If you have a honda headset your good. The Sena head set doesn’t do music
Vert well.

[Switchmonkey]

I use the sena with a set of Ultimate Ears IEMs plugged into the 3.5 jack on the Sena. Bluetooth transmitter on the DIN and life is great. There is no upgrade that can be done to the bike that could sound better!

[Coondawg07]

I’ve been riding with a Sena 10s playing music on every type of bike imaginable for close to 5 years. Amazing product imo.

[StoichSix]

I use the sena with a set of Ultimate Ears IEMs plugged into the 3.5 jack on the Sena. Bluetooth transmitter on the DIN and life is great. There is no upgrade that can be done to the bike that could sound better!

Ultimate Ears a very nice and big $$$ but I would agree that the sound would be amazing.

[StoichSix]

I have to ask because I'm not sure the answer. I have a Bluetooth connection from Electical Connections. That allows me to send music via Bluetooth on my phone to my stereo on the bike to be played thru the speakers.

So, question is, can that Bluetooth on my bike send the stereo music and intercom wirelessly to my helmet/Sena from the bike??

I also have a Bluetooth on my Garmin GPS but I've never tried it. I'm usually very interested in techy/electronic kind of stuff so my knowledge is lacking in this area.

[shortleg0521]

What I use is a bit pricy,
1 Sena sm 10 plugged into headset jack with 3.5 to 5 pin din.
2 Sena 20s headset
3 Garmin zumo 396.
With this setup I can listen to any sorce on bike.
I can listen to music on phone, also make and receive calls.
When gps gives directions it will cut off music and give directions.

[JackB]

If you want to go with the plug in wire system let me know I have 2 J&M wired headset systems and I would sell one. It works and sounds great but you have to unplug every time to get off the bike.
Make an offer.

[Switchmonkey]

Ultimate Ears a very nice and big $$$ but I would agree that the sound would be amazing.

I already had them for studio/gig use. Added the Bluetooth harness. Never looking back!

[SeaSteve]

I've been following this thread and getting responses from Switchmonkey on another tread about connecting a Bluetooth transmitter to the DIN plug output, to Bluetooth to a wireless helmet headset. I've used Bluetooth receivers in helmets and always seem to forget to charge them and I'm not excited with the idea of being tethered to the DIN plug. I ride by myself so I don't need to talk to passenger and I DON'T want to take calls on the phone. I only want to hear my "USB" music.

A week ago I upgraded the stock speakers to J&M Performance XT Fairing Speaker (https://www.jmcorp.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=FSPU-GL06-XT) and can hear music better at 65+ MPH. In Texas we have 75 and 80 MPH limits and I'm heading out west next weekend. By Monday I'll know if they work for my ears or not.

If necessary, I think my next step would be to change my 11" Baggershield to the adjustable 11"-19" Baggershield. The extra height should cut the wind noise at 70+MPH.

[olegoat345]

I don't like anything blasting loudly or softly into my ears while I'm riding. I find it very distracting..... Just give me the enjoyment of the ride. To me, it's all about the riding experience, not what's going on in my ear...………………...just not my bag.

[shortleg0521]

I don't like anything blasting loudly or softly into my ears while I'm riding. I find it very distracting..... Just give me the enjoyment of the ride. To me, it's all about the riding experience, not what's going on in my ear...………………...just not my bag.

Dont think your reply wiil add to the gentlemans question .

[StoichSix]

Dont think your reply wiil add to the gentlemans question .

I like opinions that vary. If you don't listen to music at all, then you don't have to try and figure out which option is better or worse than the other. The problem simply resolves itself naturally if you will!

But seriously, just curious if there was a consensus for one side or the other of the original question. If many said, the Bluetooth is soooo much better and here's why, then I'd probably go with that. Or for instance if the consensus was that you get significantly better sound quality with the OEM Honda attachment with the cord than I'd probably give that a shot. I definitely don't like having to be tethered to the bike with a cord that's for certain. I had an in store demo at a dealership a few days ago with a Sena 20. I was not impressed at all with the sound quality and it wasn't very loud. Granted my hearing is shot too. I did like the option of connecting to other riders and listening to music. I would like to send the sound from my radio to a headset and be able to control my music and volumes off the bikes system. My bike has a Bluetooth audio connector but it's an input only, not an output. I would have to connect something to the DIN plug for output.

[StoichSix]

Ok, so where do you get the connectors to run a Bluetooth out of the DIN connector to a Sena in the helmet??? I think that is route I'd like to go.

[shortleg0521]

Ok, so where do you get the connectors to run a Bluetooth out of the DIN connector to a Sena in the helmet??? I think that is route I'd like to go.

Got mine through Amazon and then you can just Google the adapter for Goldwing din to 3.5 and you will find plenty.
Electrical connection has them and a lot of the bike parts people have them.

[SeaSteve]

Take a look at this other post (http://hondaf6b.com/showthread.php?13347-Which-Bluetooth-option-the-best) for some suggestions.

[Skromfols]

I have the Sena10 head set and listen to music while I ride. I have Serius XM hooked into the F6B audio system so that I can listen to 60's and 70's tunes. What I found is that the Sena helmet speakers were not close enough to my ears, because of the helmet padding, so I get some double sided 1/4 inch thick material and cut it to fit and attached it behind my helmet speakers. It made a big difference and now I use much less volume and get better quality sound.

[Draxsr]

Not sure why folks get all excited about 'sound quality' on an open-air vehicle. Unless you're running in-ear buds, you're going to get some outside noise. Road noise, engine noise, wind noise, and if you're riding with HD's, exhaust noise. I don't care what sort of windshield you've got, you're getting noise. Frankly, the difference in what a bluetooth receiver gets you and a plug is academic and have other pros/cons (the tethering vice battery life concern, for one). Don't forget that using ear buds in both ears while driving is illegal in many states.

My solution? I use a Shuberth helmet with integrated bluetooth receiver and speakers + a set of "Earpeace" ear plugs. The ear plugs remove all the extra 'noise', allowing the music to come through (from my Garmin, I hate phones). My helmet has a removable battery (about the size of a small box of matches) that gets 9-10 hours of play/charge. I've got a spare and I just swap them out if needs be (takes 15 seconds). This past year I did the American Legion National Legacy Ride over the course of 5 days, averaging 6-8 hours saddle time each day. Never did I run out of battery. If I ever had the time/inclination to run Iron-Butt, I'd throw the charger in my cubby and charge the spare while riding.

[Ghost Rider]

I use a Sena 20 on my bikes. Also have bikes wired in with a Sena Free wire set up. I can route pretty much anything into my helmet. Sound quality is much better that the corded systems, plus with cords I seem to have to replace cords every year or so. I have a F6B and full wing and Sena wired up to free wire on both. On full wing I have am/fm, weather band, telephone and everything extra it will do, Sirius radio, CB radio, a MP3 player, aux stick in saddle bag on B in the trunk on wing, and my Zumo 660. Plus bike to bike intercom for me and wife and can pair up to anyone traveling with us with a Sena. F6B has everything but the CB radio. Battery life is 8 to 10 hours plus I have bike wired so I can charge on the go if needed. I am very happy with the Sena 20

[barbedwire]

wondering if you got this working? I am looking at this as I have the electrical connection bluetooth and just got a sena 50s.