Sound on the CB1100

[Cormanus]

The back story to this post is two-fold. First, I've been battling with dealing with wind noise at highway speeds; secondly, I wanted to be able to use the TomTom installed on my iPhone when in strange places where a SatNav is helpful without going to the trouble of buying a bluetooth helmet kit that I mostly wouldn't use.

Pterodactyl recommended I solve the problem with a set of Bose Noise Cancelling in-ear headphones which he assured me both let you listen to things while riding (never a priority) and also cancel noise without listening to anything. So I bought some. They're not cheap—AUD$350—but they're fantastic. Put them in, switch them on and the background noise vanishes. I've tried them listening to music and I'm a convert. When I tried once before with ordinary ear buds I had the volume right up and could hear nothing worth while. With these things you can listen at a bearable volume and hear really well. Amazing. They are way better than ear plugs.

Anyway, it left me with a wee problem as I have mounted the phone on the bars so I can see it if necessary and wanted to be able to run the cord back to the seat without it flogging on the tank while I was riding. I was also a bit worried about the battery/noise cancelling box which sits down near the jack. I'd prefer to ride with that inside my jacket.

Here's the solution. Primitive, I fear, beside some of the more sophisticated work done by skilled forum members, but it works.

First I bought a 4-pole extension cord from eBay. It needs to be 4-pole so the switch gear in the headphones what controls volume/track skip etc can work. Ironically, there's a glitch in the phone software which means it often has to be restarted for any remote control to work, but that's another story.

I ran the extension cord along under the tank and used a cable tie to attach it to the bars.



For those interested, the phone is in a LifeProof case for which you can buy a handlebar mount that clips on and off easily. Because the case is waterproof, it has a headphone connector that screws in and seals. That's what the end of my cable connects to.

[url=http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy160/Cormanus/20140522-Wiring/DSCN1824Small_zpse2166ef5.jpg]http://i787.photobucket.com/albums/yy160/Cormanus/20140522-Wiring/DSCN1824Small_zpse2166ef5.jpg

The other end of the cable hangs out the end of the seat behind the tank so I can plug the headphones into it.



When I'm not using it, I simply drop it into the tool container out of the way.



When the handlebar end is not in use I'm protecting it with a female plug that I bought for a couple of bucks.



There's a bit of mucking around there, but I'll probably only use it on longer rides and in strange places when I need the SatNav. In the meantime I may look out for a small portable bluetooth connector I can plug the headphones into so I don't need the wire at all.

[kevbroce_imp]

I just did a similar thing last night. Installed a Ram Mount on my handlebar and ran a usb charger from the heated grip plug under the seat, through the tank up to the front of the frame. I'll post pics later.

I have some custom molded in-ear-monitors I use for work. Basically an Audiologist takes a mold of your ear canal then a a company (JH Audio in my case) makes it into ear bud. Works like an custom built earplug, so it cuts out a about 30db of noise, but also has sounds like an audiophile quality headphone. Works great on a stage and on the motorcycle.

[The Spaceman_imp]

Nice work there. I've used some Etymotic earbuds with good results. Not as expensive as your Bose, but way better than the average set. Anyway, the problem is they shift as I pull on my lid. It can take a few tries to get everything on and lined up.

Have you had any issues with that?

[CIP57_imp]

http://www.earfuze.com/

These are molded ear buds, there not great phones (decent sound )but the best seal i have found and the easiest getting on your helmet without movement. I have a set of ultimate ears which have great sound but the seal is not as good which make the earfuze a better choice. The do have a two part mix that you put in your ear for the mold. They last about a season, than the wiring usually breaks down.

[dBuster_imp]

Wonder if there is a Bluetooth ear bud noise canceling option so you don't have to worry about cords. I have been looking also but not that aggressively.

Sent from my XT1055 using Tapatalk

[Elipten_imp]

There is a Bluetooth device that you can plug headphones into and make any headphone into Bluetooth.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Cormanus]

http://www.earfuze.com/

These are molded ear buds, there not great phones (decent sound )but the best seal i have found and the easiest getting on your helmet without movement. I have a set of ultimate ears which have great sound but the seal is not as good which make the earfuze a better choice. The do have a two part mix that you put in your ear for the mold. They last about a season, than the wiring usually breaks down.

I have, but more with ordinary earplugs. The Bose buds have a little bit of plastic at the top that sits into the ridges of your ear and that seems to help them stay in. I just make sure I push the top of my ear and the earphone fairly carefully under each side of the lid as I put it on.

There is a Bluetooth device that you can plug headphones into and make any headphone into Bluetooth.


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I'd be interested in a link. The only ones I could find were quite large and I'm not sure they were battery operated.

[Tortuga_imp]

Oh man up you fanny, it's a motorbike, not a poofs chariot!

Just ride it hard and look manly!

Edited to add: I shot a LOT with my Benelli shotgun last year with no ear protection. It made me suffer tinnitus in my right ear for months.

Wear ear protection when shooting semi auto firearms.

On a bike a helmet is fine.

[Pterodactyl_imp]

Oh man up you fanny, it's a motorbike, not a poofs chariot!

Just ride it hard and look manly!

Edited to add: I shot a LOT with my Benelli shotgun last year with no ear protection. It made me suffer tinnitus in my right ear for months.

Wear ear protection when shooting semi auto firearms.

On a bike a helmet is fine.

WRONG! See (amongst others):

http://www.ridermagazine.com/motorcycle-...lists.htm/

http://www.hearingtestlabs.com/motorcycle.htm

Cheers

[Tortuga_imp]

Good to see I'm still taken at face value.