I am so disappointed! You mean to tell me that the Premium Audio Package is an under performer!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
I have an '02 with a rather basic rear speaker kit added - very similar in quality and performance to those provided by Honda for the front. Initially, the audio via the speakers was a joke and useless unless parked in the cycle bay; where it was great. AVC? Then, I agreed with most everybody else that it was a joke - useless at teets on a bore hog.
Then one day, aftyer having the top shelter off for a steering bearing adjustment or some such unrelated to audio task, I picked up one of my old helmets that did not have the pugtail wire attached. I had been listenting to a ball game and kept it on speakers as I test rode the bike. Right away, I noticed a remarkable improvement in "speaker" audio, I could actually hear the ball game up to about 60 mph and the AVC was definitely working! I wondered what I had josseled or shaken to "fix" that stupid audio system?
After a while I learned the truth. It was the helmet and not the audio system at all. My old 3/4 open face was way more quiet than was my Nolan N100 flip lid -- way-way quieter RE wind baffle. I got into insert phones and all of that was pretty much forgotten. I installed a new wind screen, the Tulsa Extra Tall and a set of mirror wings at the same time. First ride was two-up with my typical EdSets head sets and intercom because my rider has pisplaced hir insert phones. Immediately I knew I had just received another revelation of blessing! The intercom was almost totally silent, except the voices were loud and crystal clear. No mutes no mic mutes -- just stock straight up operation - remarkabble. No wind baffle on me or the passenger to speak of. I hated the looking through the screen part, but loved the quiet and plush ride. Then I switched to speakers on the audio........ WOW! Even at 80 I could hear the music and understand the speech. That big ole barn door sized shield was a personal/portable amplitheater! My AVC is now too effective if set to max so I pretty much keep it on low, unless I am really getting it on down the interstate.
As an audiologist; I realize that attempts to increase the audio to hear over the excessive wind baffle noise of the stock shield is going to expose the rider and passenger to sound levels that will permanently reduce their hearing. The wind baffle alone in many helments is going to do so. So an audio buff cranking it up to hear at speed is wrecking that most precious sense he possesses - his hearing. For at speed riding, I strongly encourage insert ear phones with sound isolating cuffs, such as those by Etymotic or Shure. If you gotta "improve" your speaker audio, seek the quietest windscreen you can find as your first expense - its got to be the biggest bang for the buck availave for enhanced external speaker audio.
prs
