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I have a Cardo Freecom 1 with the in-helmet speakers..The sound is ok but the volume is insufficient when wearing earplugs. Cardo has recently added replacement 45mm JBL speakers - has anyone tried these? I’m also considering using a pair of Sennheiser earbuds in place of the speakers - has anyone used earbuds in place of the speakers?

Earbuds are the way to go... Custom molded is best.

Maybe you mounted the speakers on the outside of the helmet? Pro tip: I'd try them on the inside of the helmet.

Recently. I upgraded to a newer Sena and Put the Sena 20 on the daughters helmet. When reading the directions, it stated that the closer the speakers were to your ears, the louder it would be.

I added some of the foam discs to her helmet and it was much better according to Kenzie. I added the foam to mine and it was remarkably louder and more clear.

I have some ear buds from JWilly that are not custom. They are okay, but I don’t like the cords as much. Not in a bad way, but I just haven’t figured out the best was to manage them.

^^^ What he said about the foam pads, but also make sure the speaker is lined up with your ear canal. Speaker placement adjustments of 1/4 to 1/2 inch make a big difference.

Oh, sorry, that would be 1/2 to 1 cm Canadian measure.

I used shure 215k’s for a long time, and still love them. I normally use integrated comms though. Currently sena srl.

At least 10 years ago, bought a pair of XB's to be able to talk to the wifey when she rides along. The speakers were garbage back then, maybe better now with newer technology, but bought a pair of skull candy headsets($29.95)each and soldered the replacements in. They were slightly thicker and was concerned they might be some pressure on the ears but Arai has deep enough ear cups that it is not an issue. Sound is 100% better than the XB stocks. The ohms are slightly more and battery only last about 6 hours while playing music compared to about 8 with the stock. Has worked great for a long time but am also interested in looking into a later system that has a more quality speaker unmodified. Got to believe that in ten years someone has created a better quality system.

FJRPittsburgh wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2019 10:47 pm Maybe you mounted the speakers on the outside of the helmet? Pro tip: I'd try them on the inside of the helmet.

Ya!

I use earbuds. Took the speakers out. They are plenty loud that way for the hearing challenged. The Cardo Slim has a 3.5 mm jack, so you can plug speakers or earbuds in.

I used speakers first with a Shoei Quest with the foam pads and they were just OK. Changed the base (SMH-12) to the one that takes ear buds. That is the best way for volume and fidelity. I now am using the integrated 20S in a Shoei Neotech II. Quietest helmet I have used and the speakers are sufficient. Unfortunately, Sena doesn't offer a model that will take earbuds for this one.

Not related to speakers, but I discovered two disadvantages on my last ride:
1. You cannot connect a power cord to the Shoei integrated 20S and use the unit. It will only charge with the power off.
2. You cannot change out to a backup module like you can with the SMH-12.

I've tried a variety of earbuds... most have been a pita as they become dislodged when donninf/doffing my helmet.
Up until very recently that is.
I just stumbled across a set of buds that are very small and don't protrude much... they also sound great.
Best of all..... They cost $22.
I gave up on speakers as they still had to compete with road/wind noise.

Hack wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 1:06 pm I've tried a variety of earbuds... most have been a pita as they become dislodged when donninf/doffing my helmet.
Up until very recently that is.
I just stumbled across a set of buds that are very small and don't protrude much... they also sound great.
Best of all..... They cost $22.
I gave up on speakers as they still had to compete with road/wind noise.

What dB reduction are they rated?

I bought a pair of these Panasonic earbuds. They go into the ear far enough not to feel any pressure on them from the helmet. The sound quality for the money is quite good with excellent bass.

However, I still use the "in helmet" speakers with my Sena 20s and I can hear well with my molded earplugs in.

https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Headph ... B003EM8008

wheatonFJR wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 1:27 pm

Hack wrote: ↑Sat Jun 29, 2019 1:06 pm I've tried a variety of earbuds... most have been a pita as they become dislodged when donninf/doffing my helmet.
Up until very recently that is.
I just stumbled across a set of buds that are very small and don't protrude much... they also sound great.
Best of all..... They cost $22.
I gave up on speakers as they still had to compete with road/wind noise.

What dB reduction are they rated?

I don't know... These are them>>> https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B071WR ... UTF8&psc=1

CollingsBob wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2019 10:27 pm I have a Cardo Freecom 1 with the in-helmet speakers..The sound is ok but the volume is insufficient when wearing earplugs. Cardo has recently added replacement 45mm JBL speakers - has anyone tried these? I’m also considering using a pair of Sennheiser earbuds in place of the speakers - has anyone used earbuds in place of the speakers?

I've very happy with my S-Plug in ear speakers. I bought a mount kit for my Sena unit that accepts the 3.5mm audio plug so I can use in helmet speakers or the ear buds. But since I've started using the S-Plugs, I haven't gone back to speakers. S-plug sound quality is much better.

I also use the S-plugs while mowing the lawn and on long airplane rides.

Not speakers, but Sure SE-215 with triple flange adapters is a definite contender. The triple flange adapters isolate noise like a set of triple flange ear plugs. In other words, very good. With them, my volume is usually in the 10-20% range on the Sena or just plugged into the phone (when the Sena battery dies). They isolate outside noise well enough that the conductive noise from the helmet going through the wind is the loudest noise. The Sure earphones are really great quality. They sound amazing and they are contoured to fit in the cup of your ear. Very comfortable, even on long rides. They have replaceable cord, so you don't have to buy a whole new set of the plug quits working or something damages the chord.

So, ear plugs and speakers in the same device. Multitasking. Gotta love it.

As for speakers, I am not convinced anything out there would compete with the wind noise vibrating the helmet around. Not anything that wouldn't drain a deep cycle boat battery in 20 minutes.

Someone has put a driver on top of a helmet, using the helmet itself as the speaker. Kind of like the old bass shakers kids put under car seats in the 90s. Will be interesting to see if that takes off. Also would be I retesting to see if they come up with a bone conducting helmet that doesn't have speakers, just transmits sound into your skull.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

https://www.torkworld.com/torkworld/hel ... akers.html
Elements replaced stock & they sound great

Madmudder wrote: ↑Mon Jul 01, 2019 5:25 pm https://www.torkworld.com/torkworld/hel ... akers.html
Elements replaced stock & they sound great

How did you connect them? The Sena "wires" are slimmer than fiber and I can't figure out how to solder in new speakers.

I'll second the Sure SE-215 are a good way to go. I have to tuck the cord inside of my jacket then pull the wire up just a touch out of the jacket collar, but the little extra effort is worth the much better sound quality over the Sena 20s speakers.

Many years ago I had the opportunity to put on flight helmet and was impressed how well it quited down the outside noise. To the point I thought earplugs wouldn't be needed the way it sealed around my ears and the sound quality was very good. It was like putting on a comfortable set of over the ear headphones. I understand there are laws in some states that say no or one speaker only, but what about a speakerless headphone type setup in the helmet to protect our hearing? I'm surprised helmet manufactures don't have something like this on the market or at least tried. There are a very few who have highly modified their helmet to do this but what they had to do to fit that into the shell, to me, didn't look safe because of the material they removed. I find it hard to believe a helmet couldn't be designed that is every bit as safe as we have now with all of that built in.

For those who complain about the lack of volume on your bluetooth speakers. If your playing music or audiobooks off your cellphone, there are volume booster apps. Just sayin