[Kentucky Bob]

Recently, at the recommendation of @fla_rider I bought some Ear Piece noise cancelling ear plugs and absolutely love them when using with my Sena in helmet speakers. They cut the wind noise but allow the music.

At the same time we were discussing them, I was researching noise canceling ear buds that also allow for communication and music and bought a set of Shure 215 “in ear“ buds that make my helmet like a concert hall! I bought the wired set (also available wireless) and plugged them in to the 3.5 Jack on the front of my Sena which cancels the in helmet speakers and plays through the earbuds. Instead of the tinny sound from the Sena speakers, the Shure 215’s sound like a concert and because they have ANC (active noise cancelling) like the EarPiece plugs, they block out the wind noise too. Deep bass, great high fidelity and they don’t have to be loud because they plug into your ear canal. Amazing really. About $100 on Amazon.

Amazon.com: Shure SE215 PRO Wired Earbuds - Professional Sound Isolating Earphones, Clear Sound & Deep Bass, Single Dynamic MicroDriver, Secure Fit In Ear Monitor, plus Carrying Case & Fit Kit - Clear (SE215-CL) : Electronics

Buy Shure SE215 PRO Wired Earbuds - Professional Sound Isolating Earphones, Clear Sound & Deep Bass, Single Dynamic MicroDriver, Secure Fit In Ear Monitor, plus Carrying Case & Fit Kit - Clear (SE215-CL): Earbud Headphones - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Now that I have experienced this, I will likely always use these, especially on a trip or on the freeway.

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….

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

 

[WingNero]

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?

Yes, they would. I use Bose and it reduces wind and road noise.

 

[WingNero]

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.

 

[Tigerkf]

Noise cancelling NO! Noise isolating YES!

 

[Kentucky Bob]

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….

 

[Ruffy]

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.

 

[gkarasik]

I'd say we ought to listen to you (no pun intended) when it comes to this stuff.

I have a pair of @ShanghaiDan's earbuds. They're excellent.

 

[DaveFromDenver]

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

 

[Navy Gator]

I have a pair of @ShanghaiDan's earbuds. They're excellent.

Gary, how can I get a pair?

 

[gkarasik]

Gary, how can I get a pair?

PM @ShanghaiDan. The forum has rules about self-promotion.

 

[Brian_Fenner]

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?

 

[DaveFromDenver]

You have the single or dual drivers?

I have the single driver model. They have excellent fidelity and don’t protrude into the helmet.

David

 

[Brian_Fenner]

I have the single driver model. They have excellent fidelity and don’t protrude into the helmet.

David

Thanks.....
That is good information, my helmet fits tight and I've tried some others and end up returning them as any protrusion causes issues.
I've had Sensaphonics IEMS for about 8-years which has worked excellent........but they are getting well used and need replacements which are less expensive.

 

[Brian_Fenner]

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

OK I ordered a set of these IEMs and just received them a couple of days ago……got the 22” length which is still plenty long to plug into my Sena 50S.
Yesterday I went on a 230 mile ride with them…….they are the real deal!
They sound almost as good as the Sensaphonic IEMs I’ve had for 8-years and paid hundreds of dollars more for.
Absolutely no interference with my helmet as they fit inside your ear canal…..I had to use IEM lube just like my Sensaphnic’s but that is normal for me with a small ear canal.
Zero discomfort and helmet removal several times they stayed in place.

I love these……thanks much for the link and recommendation.

 

[Gatemech]

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.

 

[nwvic]

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.

 

[Gnarly]

The wires…..

Hopefully there is a streamlined way to deal with or totally AVOID the wires
I cannot imagine fidgeting with insertion or removal of IEM’s each time I take off / put on my helmet.
Or just leaving in the IEM’s and juggling with the 3.5mm connection.
OTOH, our new Sena 50S w/ the H-K speakers only reaches about half the volume I need, in order to hear WELL. ( Despite all sound levels being maxed out on the app.)
Not Sena’s fault…. ‘Twas my poor judgement plus earlier disdain for ear protection.
She says her H-K helmet speakers are plenty loud! So I switched ‘em out. No change.
It’s me
As I discussed briefly with @Navy Gator, I must make a change.
IEM’s seem promising.
But the wires…..those troublesome wires.

Pesky delicate dangling fragile wires, four times the diameter of a human hair, attached to a driver housing roughly the size of a lima bean, then culminating in a 3.5mm plug….and not once have I ever been accused of being graceful….

Is there a decent under-a-grand set of IEM’s that are Bluetooth?
And where is the emoji for “praying”?

 

[jettawreck]

Unless you are making frequent stops removing your helmet the wires aren't much of a hassle really. Sure, I forget now and then when I remove my helmet and yank them out of my ears but that serves as a reminder for quite a while. When getting ready to depart the procedure of putting in the earphones, dodging the wire and putting on the (modular) helmet become automatic.

 

[networkguy3]

I have used some form of IEMs ever since I started riding a Goldwing. I used SE215s and SE425s, but found those were prone to come out of my ears while riding and I felt like their isolation was not great even with Comply ear tips. I used the PlugUp dual driver units for several years, but the cords kept breaking and I was not a fan of their sound. Last year I purchased some dual driver UltimateEar IEMs. I use them with Comply foam wraps to keep them sealed in my ears under my helmet. The UEs sound good and are comfortable. Even though they are not cheap, I would buy them again without hesitation. It took some work to figure out how to get my helmet on over them, but after I figured it out there is really not a problem.

 

[Ruffy]

Is there a decent under-a-grand set of IEM’s that are Bluetooth?
And where is the emoji for “praying”?

Depends on your definition of decent. The Shures I mentioned above and all of the SE models can have bluetooth capability if you buy the accessory. I never had an issue with isolation but I use the EATFL1-6 sleeves.