Ear plugs & Communication Devices

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Beekman

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Anybody have experience using ear plugs with a bluetooth communicator?

Im planning a two week trip this summer and since my helmet doesnt block wind noise very well I want to use ear plugs. However since I am riding with a friend we want to get bluetooth communicators for the trip.

I'm wondering if anybody has experience using both. Can you still hear the communicator when using the earplugs? Which combo of plugs/communicator do you use?

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Yes, if anything, earplugs actually make the communicator easier to hear since they block out the wind roar. Speaker placement is critical, regardless of earplugs or not - even a couple of millimeters can make a big difference, so spend some time experimenting with that before heading out.
 
I use ear plugs with a communicator and have no problem hearing. The ear plugs have a noise filter in them that allow in some sound. As for “what combo” I have, the communicator system my friend and I use is Cardo Systems Scala Rider Q3 and the ear plugs are Lee Parks Filtered S Plug. The sound and distance is more than adequate.


If buying another communicator set I’d look for something maybe a bit simpler if it exists …. Maybe a 3 button communicator or whatever. We find it a bit hard to remember which of the two buttons to push for what. Sometimes you push one button and sometimes the other and sometimes both at once and sometimes you hold down one or the other or both together for 2 or 3 seconds. This all has to do with communicating between ourselves or making and answering a phone call or turning on the FM radio or playing music stored on your phone. Most of the time I just stick to the communication between bikes function and so I know what button to push but I did have to make up “cheat sheets” for both our tank bags on when to push what button how many times and for how long. I’m sure if I used it every day it would become second nature but we only ride together a few times a year.
 
I use earplugs and my Sena 3s (the cheapest one) on a full face helmet. It's still loud enough to hear.

You our cant compete with wind noise at highway speeds without earplugs by blasting music louder.

Earplugs and Bluetooth all the way.
 
You just have to turn the volume up when wearing ear plugs, I wear them in my Schuberth C3 Pro that has bluetooth SRC, everything sounds great and as others have said actually sounds better at least for music, I do not use it for direct communication. Just remember to turn the volume down when riding without if you are using it for music or you will get an ear full.
 
Awesome! Thanks for the responses. Im looking at the "no noise" brand earplugs and the Uclear 200 communicator. Sounds like combining earplugs with it will be the way to go!

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If you have yet to buy a BT Communicator set - perfect! Pick up something like Sena 10s, or 20s that have a 1/8 stereo jack for headphones. Plug in earbuds and use those instead of speakers. I started listening to music off my cellphone while commuting to work with earbuds, and definitely enjoyed the music + lack of wind noise!
 
PrivatePilot said:
Incredible price point for those.

FWIW these have existed in the aviation circles for about a decade or so now...but at a price point north of $500. ;)
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the regular wired ones are very cheap, i still havent tried them but im going to order a set of the bluetooth ones once they launch. their crowd funding account is over 100k and they were only looking for 30k, so these are going to go into production for sure.
 
Ash said:
Yes, if anything, earplugs actually make the communicator easier to hear since they block out the wind roar. Speaker placement is critical, regardless of earplugs or not - even a couple of millimeters can make a big difference, so spend some time experimenting with that before heading out.
Click to expand...

This. I have a Sena SMH10 and a Shoei RF1100, and it is much better with plugs than without. Without plugs, anything above 80km/h becomes sort of hard to hear, even with the volume cranked to 100%. With plugs, I don't think I ever turn it up past 60-80% even at highway speeds.

I also thought about custom plugs, but to be honest, the yellow/pink 'foamies' from Canadian Tire seem to work well for me. Good for maybe 1-3 days/uses then throw them out and put in a fresh pair (tube comes with around 100).
 
Yes, if anything, earplugs actually make the communicator easier to hear since they block out the wind roar. Speaker placement is critical, regardless of earplugs or not - even a couple of millimeters can make a big difference, so spend some time experimenting with that before heading out.
Click to expand...

Yep - placement is critical and bringing the speaker a bit closer to the ear with some backing can help...the Sena's are very directional so you have to fiddle unless you get lucky.

You CAN however do what I do and avoid the in helmet speakers entirely and run earphones designed to attenuate ambient noise ( Ultimate Ears is one brand).

Earplugs take the noise down 33 db ( some are less ).
Earphones take it down about 26 db and of course you can hear much better and music is better.

The Sena 20s allow you to skip the speakers and just use earphones....audio books are excellent for long distance riding and much easier on earphones.
 
Earplugs actually make the sena speakers sound less tinny & improves the bass.
 
EaZ8 said:
the regular wired ones are very cheap, i still havent tried them but im going to order a set of the bluetooth ones once they launch. their crowd funding account is over 100k and they were only looking for 30k, so these are going to go into production for sure.
Click to expand...
I have the wired ones and i like them. Would recommend!

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I upgraded to Sena 20s from 10. The volume on the 20 is a lot lower compared to the 10. With ear plugs I was able to hear my music and phone calls loud and clear on the 10 model.

I tried to adjust the setting on the 20s but nada. Volume is way too low even when it's cranked all the up. Anyone noticed this?
 
I use regular soft ear plugs. Something like this: https://well.ca/products/hearos-ultimate-softness-series-ear_23257.html

I tried the custom made ones and was quite unimpressed with the results, so just got the basic plugs instead.

I dispose of them after a few rides, but the cost is low and I never worry about losing them or what not.

Like everyone says, the quality of audio actually improves at highway speeds compared to no plugs. And if you are gonna ride for hours on end, less chance of headaches at the end of the day.
 
MacDoc said:
Yep - placement is critical and bringing the speaker a bit closer to the ear with some backing can help...the Sena's are very directional so you have to fiddle unless you get lucky.

You CAN however do what I do and avoid the in helmet speakers entirely and run earphones designed to attenuate ambient noise ( Ultimate Ears is one brand).

Earplugs take the noise down 33 db ( some are less ).
Earphones take it down about 26 db and of course you can hear much better and music is better.

The Sena 20s allow you to skip the speakers and just use earphones....audio books are excellent for long distance riding and much easier on earphones.
Click to expand...

That's quite a price point. I'm leery of spending a lot on earphones without an extended warranty

Can I ask how you acquired?
 
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