[.fabioss.]

I would buy an intercom be used mainly for playing music (via the mobile phone with Spotify) and the navigation commands (also by mobile phone).
For the moment I use this system (https://pentagon-headsets.co.uk/pro...cle-helmet-earpiece-for-1-pin-motorola-radio/) simply consists of speakers that fit into the helmet and connection through the jack to the mobile phone. In addition to the obvious discomfort given by physical connection to the phone I noticed that the volume is low and during running the wind rustling covers the audio emitted from the speakers.
I then I have two questions:
1) Do you say that using an intercom would have the same problem? I don't think so since the intercom are born for this use.
2) Which intercom do you recommend? I have a AGV K5 helmet and then I thought at AGV Side Share Easy (SHARE SYSTEM - Agv) but I would like to have an opinion of you?

 

[Bumpkin]

Speaker placement relative to your ear is critical for decent audio performance once the road speed, and with it the wind noise, increases.

I have had similar problems with both Autocom hard wired and Sena Bluetooth headsets. Both of these manufacturers have a great reputation for decent design a good audio quality. However, poor speaker placement makes them inaudible above town speed.

Ensuring that your current wired helmet speakers are correctly aligned might be all you need which will save you a bunch of cash.

Firstly you need to ensure that the centre of the speaker is aligned with your ear canal. The ear wells in the lining of your helmet may not correspond with this exactly so, at your own risk, some minor 'surgery' on the soft lining adjacent to this well might be required.

Secondly, and just as important, adjust the proximity of the speaker to your ear. I used fairly dense foam rubber and strong self adhesive Velcro to make a shim for each speaker to go between the rear of each spraker and the helmet lining. A few attempts at this to get the face of the speaker just lightly kissing the outside of each ear.

Time and care doing the above made a night and day difference for me with both the above mentioned systems. All the more noticeable as the speed increases. Previously I couldn't hear a thing above about 50mph, now 80mph, despite some wind noise intrusion (inevitable). This is whilst wearing 37SNR soft ear plugs. I can hear the sat nav instructions and bike to bike sufficiently to understand.

Bear in mind that you'll never get clear HiFi type audio at speed, that's an unrealistic expectation. In ear monitors built into custom moulded ear plugs are available but IMHO are too isolating.

 

[Allworld]

I have a Sena Headset, which works well. I use it on solo trips to play music via bluetooth from my phone (Pandora), when riding with a friend we are connected, making the ride that much more enjoyable.
I have a Shoei helmet which accommodates the all the components, speakers, microphone and communication unit.
I can adjust the volume when listing to music with my phone and the Sena unit, and can adjust the volume when talking to other paired riders with the Sena unit only.
I also am able to connect to a Garmin GPS.
I looked at a Bell Helmet recently and there was no pocket for speakers, which was a deal breaker for me. It pays to do a little research ...........

 

[.fabioss.]

Inside my AGV K5 helmet there is space to accommodate the speakers (which I have already set using this one https://pentagon-headsets.co.uk/pro...cle-helmet-earpiece-for-1-pin-motorola-radio/) and placing them in the direction of the ears (before actually were placed higher up) the perception of sound is higher.
Do you think that the volume of the speakers that emit an intercom are more or less comparable to the ones I am using now (link above)?

 

[Bumpkin]

I have a Sena Headset, which works well.

I have a Sena 10U headset, specifically made to fit the Shoei GT Air that I use, all parts fit neatly within the helmet shell. However, despite just clipping into place within the helmet, speaker alignment was far from optimal. Removed and discarded the speaker carrier frames (they are neatly clipped to the speaker casing, so can revert) and used the foam and Velco method in my post above to change their position. Result was lower volume required and better able to hear audio at speed.

Of course, Shoei are unable to match to every person, ear location must vary quite a bit. Maybe my head is particularly deformed :grin:

 

[silentservice703]

I use a Cardo Scala Rider G9 system for our Arai helmets and it works just fine. The key, as has been mentioned, is to ensure the speakers are aligned with your ears. The G9 accomplishes this by using a velcro mount. The speakers fit into the ear recesses moulded into the helmet interior. I rmove the liner at that point and install the speakers in the recess behind the liner.

I also have custom moulded earplugs with piezoelectric speakers built in...just like F1 drivers use...they work well with systems, but I have a tendency to knock them out of my ears while donning my helmet. For that reason they are seldom used.

For those who are concerned about "sound isolation", please do some research. Ear plugs to reduce industrial noise, in the range that damages hearing, are designed to pass though frequencies of normal speech. After wearing ear plugs for 40+ years in industrial and motorcycle applications, I have always heard what is important better while wearing ear protection that removes extraneous noise.

My hearing is also very good (tested annually) for a guy who is 57 and been around steam driven machinery most of his life.

The distraction someone suffers from listening to music or directions or conversation and how that is handled is very personal. I prefer to hear the bike when riding and the stereo when in The Cage.....ride safely!:wink2::nerd2:

 

[squibby]

All in helmet speakers are going to be useless with regard to sound when competing with wind noise on even the quietest of helmets. I used the latest sena headset with its stock speakers which mount in my ARAI Corsair 5 perfectly ( this helmet featured in some photos on the Sena website) I was riding a Honda ST1100 with super tall aftermarket screen. This bike provides so much wind protection I can ride visor open and no glasses without mych issue. Even so, the in helmet speakers were too poor on my opinion for enjoyable music listening.

I tried various cheap to mid range ear buds. These were massive massive improvement and comfortable up to about 3 hours riding. Although I wore them for 10 hours a day at times with some minor discomfort. The ear buds double as ear protection most being as effective as ear plugs for reducing ear damaging noise.

Eventually I took a tip from the aviation industry and bought Bose Quiet Comfort 20 noise cancelling ear buds. Now I am dubious of the value for money of most Bose products, but when it comes to noise cancellation they are the pros. These headphones are absolutely epic for this specifc use, intercom and music while riding a bike. Its eerie how they cancel wind noise and the thrum from the motor and yet you can still safely hear what you need to. The intercom quality is superb, you can now hear intercom easily. Music is superb quality. On the negative they have a powerpack which slipped away into the lining on my arai easily enough, not sure on other helmets. They also have about 10 hour battery life when worked hard, but charge very quick. Price? Worth every penny.

So thats my advice, budget for bose quiet comfort 20 or otherwise some good ear buds and spend the remainder on the actual headset.

 

[.fabioss.]

The first test that I will do is to re-use the speakers that I have now ( https://pentagon-headsets.co.uk/pro...cle-helmet-earpiece-for-1-pin-motorola-radio/ ) after better to have them placed in the direction of the ears. If it is not enough then I'll think of what to buy although I think at that point the money for an intercom would be a waste of money.
Until a few weeks ago I used regular headphones (those found along with mobile phones) but I found them little practical seen slipping away from the ears every time I put the helmet.

In your opinion, is the volume level of the speakers that I use now ( https://pentagon-headsets.co.uk/pro...cle-helmet-earpiece-for-1-pin-motorola-radio/ ) comparable to intercom's speakers? Mostly to see if the volume level to be expected with an intercom is the same that I have now.

 

[squibby]

They look similar like the Sena packtalk etc intercom speakers, maybe they look a bit better. The intercom speakers with my Sena are just entry level tat like what you get on any ipod etc. almost like expecting you to get better ones.

 

[.fabioss.]

I've tried after fixing, as you've recommended me, the speakers in the direction of the ears, and now I listen to music pretty well so it's time to buy an intercom.
I would like to buy an intercom that allows me to listen well to music, at least as much as the system I use now ( https://pentagon-headsets.co.uk/it/...torola-talkabout-per-casco-moto-solo-ascolto/ ).
Do you have some model to recommend?

 

[.fabioss.]

I found this kit ( http://www.cellularline.com/xc_en/products/pro-sound-audio-kit-shoei-mc-xt-series.html ) that allows you to have more powerful speakers than those that are fitted as standard but it's only mountable on some helmets (Shoei NEOTEC, GT-AIR and J-CRUISE), while I have an AGV K5.
Do you know some intercoms that have this type of kit to improve sound?

 

[Bumpkin]

That looks like a similar concept to the Sena 10U in so much as there are different versions designed to be fitted to a few popular helmet models.

My mate fitted a 10U into an older Shoei model with a bit of adaptation, works just as well as the one fitted to my GT Air which needed some tinkering for optimal performance anyway. Shouldn't be so hard to do the same with your AGV so long as you don't alter the interior of the helmet but make the changes to the headset instead. Admittedly something of a leap of faith and gamble on the cost.

 

[.fabioss.]

I need to buy the intercom and so I would like to know if the SENA models are as good as the speaker volume level. I ask this because I have read that AGV intercom model (model AGV helmets compatible) is defective as a volume level and so I would not want to throw away the money since I have interested to feel GOOD from speakers.

 

[MarcSilverTriple]

That looks like a similar concept to the Sena 10U in so much as there are different versions designed to be fitted to a few popular helmet models.

My mate fitted a 10U into an older Shoei model with a bit of adaptation, works just as well as the one fitted to my GT Air which needed some tinkering for optimal performance anyway. Shouldn't be so hard to do the same with your AGV so long as you don't alter the interior of the helmet but make the changes to the headset instead. Admittedly something of a leap of faith and gamble on the cost.

Well. It seems this one is not exactly like the Sena 10U: it does not include the Bluetooth system. It is just speakers and microphone integrated. The you have to put the Bluetooth part in addition outside of the helmet.

I need to buy the intercom and so I would like to know if the SENA models are as good as the speaker volume level. I ask this because I have read that AGV intercom model (model AGV helmets compatible) is defective as a volume level and so I would not want to throw away the money since I have interested to feel GOOD from speakers.

Quick comment on the fitting of the Sena headset to add over what Chas wrote earlier: I did not change anything from the standard positioning on mine, and I experienced like others the fact you don't hear much when your head is in the helmet. However, since the windscreen keeps being noisy, I use specific noise protection in ear (the brand here in France is earpad): they filter the sound in specific ranges (wind noise and some mecanic noises), and as a result, the sound of the Sena is perfect, and this whatever the speed. Other benefit: the voice of the triple is much improved as well.

 

[.fabioss.]

I use specific noise protection in ear (the brand here in France is earpad): they filter the sound in specific ranges (wind noise and some mecanic noises), and as a result, the sound of the Sena is perfect, and this whatever the speed. Other benefit: the voice of the triple is much improved as well.

I don't understand what is this noise protection in ear, can you insert some image? I want understand well.

 

[MarcSilverTriple]

I don't understand what is this noise protection in ear, can you insert some image? I want understand well.

https://www.dafy-moto.com/protecteur-daudition-earpad-tecno-globe.html

It filters only some frequencies and not the full range. Wind noise is reduced a lot. Music, voices, engine sound not so much.

 

[.fabioss.]

In this moment I'm undecided between these two models:
- SENA SMH5-FM ( https://www.sena.com/product/smh5-fm/ )
- MIDLAND BTX1 PRO ( BTX1 PRO<br> - Advanced Intercom System - C1230 - Midland Europe )

I have read positive feedback on the audio quality. What do you recommend me?

 

[Bumpkin]

Personally I would buy the Sena, more chance of other riders in a group to be using that brand. The bike-to-bike communication is brand specific. Whilst the Sena does have the 'Universal Intercom' feature in my experience this doesn't work particularly well (Sena 10U to Interphone F4). Maybe they've improved it since we tried but it seemed to lock out all other functions.

 

[.fabioss.]

I will take the SENA SMH5-FM and I searched some speaker more powerfull and so I found this ( https://www.rocketmoto.com/rocket-moto-trusound-helmet-speakers ). The problem is that the shipping to Italy costs more or less 30€. Do you know a less expensive alternative to that speakers?

 

[Allworld]

I will take the SENA SMH5-FM and I searched some speaker more powerfull and so I found this ( https://www.rocketmoto.com/rocket-moto-trusound-helmet-speakers ). The problem is that the shipping to Italy costs more or less 30€. Do you know a less expensive alternative to that speakers?

I knew I knew that name, Rocket Moto is in NH.
If it cost less for me to ship them to you vs them shipping it to you maybe I can pick them up an ship send them.
How would they send them UPS, USPS, FedEX??