Helmet Speakers

[skotty]

Hey all,

Anyone here ever buy one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-Motorcycle-Helmet-Speakers-Thin-Bodied-High-Vol_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6749QQihZ011QQitemZ320010351643QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

If so, please throw some light on whether they are worth buying. I know someone on KR mentioned that for speakers to be audible in the helmet, they should have a rating of at least 115 dBm. But the rating on the particular model shown in the ebay posting has a max power rating of 50 mW. Which if converted in this website;

http://my.athenet.net/~multiplx/cgi-bin/dbconv.main.cgi

shows that the dB rating would be 16.989700 dBm, which seems quite low. I may be wrong somewhere, so please correct me.

Thanks

[Jax]

They look like they would work but make sure you check your state laws on musical equipment in you helmet..I know in CA you can only have one speaker in an ear the other one must be open...

[kiba]

I just pulled apart a cheap pair of headphones I had lying around and have never had a problem hearing them

/kiba

[skotty]

Dont remember where I read it, but I think its legal to use them in Texas.

[skotty]

I have tried ripping the headphones before. I have actually ripped out about three pairs, but none seem loud enough. I have two helmets, a Shoei and an HJC. The headphones seem lound enough on the HJC, cause the helmet is slightly larger and the headphones dont get really baffled by the helmet padding, but while riding at high speeds, air gets in from the sides and thus there's a lot of distortion. The Shoei on the other hand, is a little snug and thus baffles the headphones.

[skotty]

The current headphones I have in my helmet are rated at 95 dBm. I guess I need to get at least a rating of 115 dBm for them to be audible.

[KatanaSoldier]

Please let us know how they sound. They look nice.

[The CyberPoet]

CyberPoet's Helmet Speaker Webpage, where I recommend the Philips SBC HS500 which are usually available through Target for about $16-$20 and are rated at 106 dB. I haven't found higher rated (or louder) headphones yet and I make it a habit to scan the packages whenever I walk in somewhere that sells headphones.

I'm not particularly keen on super-thin-bodied speakers for music either, because they tend to be optimized for voice frequencies rather than music (meaning they lack a lot in bass response). An extra 4mm of depth can make a serious bass-response difference.

As for the formula you posted, I don't think it applies to headphones at all -- because headphones are never listened to at 1 meter distance (unlike traditional car/home speakers which are rated that way for comparison purposes). Instead, manufacturers normally list max dB at the foam surface covering the speaker, since that is approximately where the ear is placed.

My two cents worth:
Take them if you solely want to hear human speech. If you want tunes, go find a good set of headphones made for high-fidelity music.

KNOW THIS:
You could, in theory, use flat-panel drivers to drive your windshield or a piece of plastic inside the windshield acting as the speaker. Suzuki did this with their Stratosphere prototype.

Cheers,
=-= The CyberPoet

[skotty]

ah hah, I knew I read that info somewhere, it was on motorcycleanchor.com. Thanks again cyber, for the useful information.

[KatanaSoldier]

Great info.

[rwcreigh]

Great info.

i agree this is good info

[squiggy]

They look like they would work but make sure you check your state laws on musical equipment in you helmet..I know in CA you can only have one speaker in an ear the other one must be open...

Here's proof: CA Vehicle Code Section 27400.

And I always thought that helmet speakers on both sides were allowed.

[Jax]

Ok...cool...so earplugs or headsets directly in your ears are prohibited but nothing about speakers...I can live with that......thanks squiggy!!!

[skotty]

This is one of the stickies on the forum;

motorcycle equipment requirements by state:

http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Equipment_Chart_2004_MSFlogo.pdf

which includes speaker regulations

[skotty]

well actually it includes a regulation for "headphones prohibited"