I run a very cheap set of Bluetooth earbuds. I often have issues connecting to the bike but once connected they sound pretty good. I plan to get a better set with noise cancelling in the future.

 

I've been using wired ANC for 5 years now and I just buy the cheap ones and they're just as good. Bought this recently $20.00 AO Active Noise Cancelling Earphones Earbuds I wear a 1/2 helmet connected to my Sena works perfectly.

 

I’d be careful on the link as some Amazon reviewers say these are counterfeit. Fairly typical for Amazon. I’d buy these from a reputable retailer if interest. Don’t want fellow rides to be scammed.

 

I just pulled up a link as an example. There are several sellers on Amazon selling them. Pretty sure I got mine at the Shure store on Amazon.

When I bought mine, I think I paid $99 on Amazon and they were stocked in their warehouse. They work wonderfully and seem legit.

edit: I found the review you were referring to and checked my packaging against what the reviewer sited as counterfeit and mine are factory packed and barcoded so I am satisfied they are OEM.

 

At the same time we were discussing them, I was researching noise canceling ear buds that also allow for communication and music.

I've been wondering the same thing about noise canceling headsets.
What Sena headset are you using?
I still need rider passenger intercom and CB which is a complication. Most likely have to stick with replacing the speakers with the ANC headset

 

20S

 

I've been an advocate for even just regular corded earphones with our Cardo PackTalk units instead of the JBL helmet speakers on several prior threads. Lower volume setting for music, less wind noise and better sound. Win, win!!

 

I've used Bose wired to the Sena 30k. Great except for the electronics brick. Hangs 2" from the 3.5mm plug. Also used Jabra with noise canceling to the bike Bluetooth when my Sena 30k battery died. Paired quickly, but not as good at noise canceling as the Bose. The Jabras were around $100 and Bose Bluetooth earbuds are $300+ so I'll stay with Jabras when I forget the charging cable and wired earbuds otherwise. This is during the hot months when I wear half helmets.

 

I use Bose, and use a piece of Velcro to attach the “brick” to the side of my helmet. Works great. I can turn the noise canceling on and off too.

 

Wind noise is one thing, but here in Texas, the noise from coarse chip & seal asphalt road surfaces is even more annoying. It can be so loud that I can hardly hear my bluetooth music in my 3/4 helmet. Would the noise-canceling feature help with road noise?

 

My Bose reduce road noise very well. Some of the country roads around here are as you describe your Texas roads. Best description I can give on their noise reduction it doesn't just reduce the noise it calms the noise. I wore them mostly flying, but those days are behind me. I also use them mowing, very nice but the cord is a nuisance hence the Jabra. The Jabra are ok and the freedom of wireless makes up for the lower quality ANC. I budget wasn't a concern Bose would be my choice. Hope this helps.

 

My buying experience on Amazon has been good. I bought a bird cage that was counterfeit. It arrived bent with poor quality welds, etc. I had no problem returning it to the seller in Cal. Usually the copy cat products really cheap and easy to spot.

 

I would like to get a similar product with a mic for my cell phone.

 

NOTE: in-ears (the ones with rubber tips that actually go INTO your canal) really don't need ANC. They're functional, 35-30 dB NRR earplugs to start with. Go for comfort and small size so you'll always wear them.

 

Helmet speakers tend to press against my ears and become uncomfortable very quickly. A few years ago I bought some Skullcandy wired earbuds that plug into the speaker feed wire to my Packtalk Bold. I can ride for hours wearing these earbuds and the quality of the music and intercom is excellent. The best part is Shullcandy wired earbuds are available at Walmart or Target for under $10. If you want to spend a $100 or more dollars on more expensive earbuds go for it, but I bet the music quality won't be a $100 better.

 

I haven't had issue with the helmet speakers pressing on my ears but have gone the corded earphones route for all the other similar reasons. SkullCandy or Sony at 'Get or Xmart for $10 and better sound, less "noise", and lower volume levels result in less fatigue. Plug in/corded type for less stuff "paired" and I would lose at least a few sets of wireless a season.

 

X51 Bluetooth Single Driver Earphones

Custom fit, lab manufactured single transducer in each earpiece, Bluetooth interface to smartphone or other device. Choose from soft silicone or firm acrylic ear mold material. Exclusively from InEarz Sport, Fusion SoftTM combines a soft silicone earmold with a hard acrylic face plate for the...

inearzsport.com

Excellent product!

 

I occasionally use bluetooth buds paired to bike and then bike using my iPhone as one of the sources for CarPlay. They are "almost as good as" my wired Etymotic research buds fed by Senna or directly from iPhone. I do wish Honda would have provided a mini jack outlet for audio. See if very old thread "Holy Sound Quality Batman" is still available on general board.

prs

 

Aren't the ear buds illegal in some states?

We still use speakers in helmet in our modular helmets, wearing ear plugs and we hear music and intercom just fine.

 

Stick a couple of ear buds in your ears, (any kind) plug it into a music source (your phone) put your helmet on and you will see the difference we are talking about. You can do it in your living room, but the real difference is at 80mph on the freeway with a nice wind blowing.

 

I own Bose noise cancelling earbuds. They are wonderful!!! They drown out my chainsaw, tractor, wife......I also wear a modular full-face helmet. I doubt they would be comfortable under that. I will mention something to my son who works for Bose.....you never know!!

 

So, I got to thinking….. Does anyone use Shure or Bose, or other, ANC BLUETOOTH earbuds paired directly to the bike, bypassing your Sena or Cardo? For a solo cross country trip, that would be a perfect set up if you didn’t need to communicate with anyone.

The Shure 215‘s fit flush in your ear so they don’t interfere with your helmet and stay put, but I am wondering if the Sena could be taken out of the equation and just go Bluetooth ear bud directly to bike?

I did a search but not much came up….so….

Listening to music, with the best quality possible, is very important to me. I have always used Shure 215s, with them plugged directly into the audio system of my F6B. I love being able to control the music selection and volume with handle bar switches. Giving that up was something that held me back from upgrading to a Gen 6.

I'm not interested in a Sena or Cardo. I won't use the microphone and don't want something hanging off my helmet.

Well now that I have a 2021 Tour, I found a great solution. A small, portable, audiophile quality bluetooth receiver that will drive standard earbuds. The unit is small, fits in your pocket. It connects and works perfectly with the Honda audio system. The unit has an app for your phone that will allow you to adjust the equalization to your taste. The sound quality is fabulous.

So far in my testing, battery life is acceptable, I have ridden for 6 hours and there was 35% battery life left. The unit recharges with micro USB, so if the battery does die you can plug it into any USB plug to recharge.

The audio quality is first rate, sounding better than anything I have ever connected the earbuds too.

Amazon.com: EarStudio ES100 MK2-24bit Portable High-Resolution Bluetooth Receiver/USB DAC/Headphone Amp with LDAC, aptX HD, aptX, AAC (3.5mm Unbalanced & 2.5mm Balanced Output) : Electronics

Amazon.com: EarStudio ES100 MK2-24bit Portable High-Resolution Bluetooth Receiver/USB DAC/Headphone Amp with LDAC, aptX HD, aptX, AAC (3.5mm Unbalanced & 2.5mm Balanced Output) : Electronics

www.amazon.com

A good review of the ES100 MK2 is here:

EarStudio ES100 review: a studio in your pocket - Soundphile Review

For quite some time, the EarStudio ES100 has been the benchmark portable Bluetooth DAC. This deceivingly little device offers so … More

www.soundphilereview.com

 

Would like to Bluetooth my gl1800 to use bikes systems thru mine & wife's sena helmets. I saw online there is a bt dongle from J&M. Can someone explain how/where this connects and the pros/cons. I assume you have to buy the receiver that talks to the sena helmets ? tks Tom

 

Tom, this is the Sena Freewire dongle you are looking for. I used one on my ‘12, and then on my ‘16 Wings. Kept it in the left storage box. Worked great. Gave it to my bil when I got my ‘18.

Product

FREEWIRE

www.sena.com

 

I just received my Shure 215’s (overnight from Amazon) and I’m not impressed. They’re a nice build, but have no bass response. I’m going back to my $12 Sony earbuds.

Sony MDR-EX15LP-BLACK

 

If you just want bass, Shure really isn't the direction to go in unless you step up to the 8xx series or higher I have 215s and 535s for IEMs as well as several other headphones. I once posted on a headphone forum that I was looking for a one-and-done headphone solution with my musical preferences and ended up being recommended a $2500-3000 pair.

 

@ShanghaiDan Any products you recommend?

 

AirPods work great. Just as you described. Can’t communicate though. Apple earbuds with wires work great hooked to phone. Great music. Communicate fine. No noise cancel but pretty damn good compromise

 

Noise cancelling NO! Noise isolating YES!

 

Airpod Pro work directly to the phone via applecar play. You can control everything via the left hand controls. The only issue is the microphone on the AirPod is in your ear under my 1/2 helmet with ear covered. The noise canceling is phenomenal. I never thought it could work that good. When I have to make a call, I just pull over. However, I did use my wired apple ear buds, (no noise canceling) but do a damn good job and was talking to a friend at 75 mph on the interstate and he had no idea I was not in my car. No wind noise via the microphone. If the airpod pro could be mic’d up it would be awesome….

 

Nothing beats these that plug into your Cardo or Sena units:
PlugUp In-ear speakers

Properly inserted, they transform your riding experience. You can still use your Bluetooth microphone that comes with the Cardo or Sena unit, and if you don't want to fool with them, just unplug them and in the case of Cardo, re-plug in your standard in-helmet speakers.

David

 

You have the single or dual drivers?

 

Since nothing fits my ears I went with custom IEM. 3 drivers. Incredible sound!!! I can hear sirens or horns. Good enough for me. I saw a previous post where the person got his from inearz. That’s where I got my first pair. Black Friday special. 3 driver model for $360. I got another pair from ear inc in Colorado. I travel with two of most items. 2 pair IEM w/2 spare cables.

 

I used to have some Etymotic noise isolating headphones, mainly for work and flying, they were fantastic. I tried them under my helmet and they were magical, however, the wires were a pain. I currently use in-helmet speakers which are good enough. Sure the sound isn’t awesome but I’m here to ride and the hassle with the wires isn’t worth it. Make your choice accordingly.