Best In-Ear Headphones/In Helmet Communication

Wanted to share my experience with this; in case maybe someone else was looking for the same information at some point..

So I started out with a SENA SMH-10 with speakers in my helmet, upgraded a few times through their line, different helmets, different set-ups etc..

Currently for my Every Day Street Rides..

Helmet - Bell Pro Star Ratchet
Comm - Cardo PAC-Talk Slim
Headphones - Ur Beats 3 ( soon to be replaced by MEE M6 PRO)

So the Pro-Star doesn’t come with speaker pockets to install the traditional speakers that came with my cardo system, I chose the cardo system for the slim design and the ability to plug in a regular 3.5mm jack headphone so that I could buy some in-ear headphones which will afford me some passive noise cancellation (kind of like ear plugs)

I’m not a big music listener as I like to hear some of what’s going on around me, so I’ll have it on but it‘s really low in the background where i know what I’m listening to but doesnt drown out everything else, I like to hear navigation cues if in use and I dont know where I’m going and the intercom for me is the most important.. I Like the cardo for this because it will lower the music whenever a connected friend speaks and then brings it back up.

My biggest challenge has been finding the best headphones, since the system plugs in within the helmet and there will be some excess wire; that I hid under the foam, cheek pads etc. I chose the BEATS because they have a flat wire design which made hiding the wires in the helmet fairly easy, however there are 2 issues with them.

1. They have an integrated mic/control switch that sometimes gets between a hard portion of the helmet and your head, it’s hard to hide because it’s so close to the actual ear bud, so it’s a hassle to get the helmet on just right and that piece out of the way where its not cumbersome.
2. the buds have to be placed perfectly and helmet pulled on perfect so that they don’t agitate and dislodge the seal of the buds in ear..

However when you get them right 3/4 times, they’re perfect; a nice seal for passive noise cancellation, nice sound etc.., but that 1 or 2 times that I can’t get it right especially when everyone is gearing up and I’m fiddling with heaphones was just enough to send me looking for a better solution. After reading a few posts that lead to extremely expensive custom molds and a few posts that led no where; I actually ended up finding what I’m hoping is the solution..

I found this old video from Ryan F9

and he mentions the M6 Pro which have since come out with a newer version found Here and are on sale for $40 down from $50 and after watching a few YouTube videos about them; I figured I’d give them a shot, they come with Comply Foam tips, and a braided wire loop to secure around my earlobe, which should help with putting on helmet and not dislodging them.. They should be delivered in a few days , I will give them a shot and I will report back here.. Although I think it may be a winner, hence this long drawn out post.

Also during my research I learned that they also provide a 3D Printed Custom Mold services for these headphones, if you live in LA you can stop by and get a scan and if you live elsewhere and audiologist can scan for you and MEE will print them up for a price of $149. I think I will be fine with the “Comply Foam” tips that are included but if it doesn’t work maybe i’ll consider the custom mold which including the price of the headphone is the cheapest I’ve seen so far.

They also have a standard non-pro version of the headphone found Here which I also considered because I didn’t like that the wire was detachable on the pro versions but I wanted the comply foam tips which were $20 by themselves and the custom mold is only for the pro if i decide to go that route, so I got the pro.

Here’s the video about that...

Anyway, thoughts, comments, etc?? What is your set-up?

Got a Sena 20s Evo, above 120 ks its pretty useless. Wind noise is an issue, ive got a carbon Nolan X-lite Helmet.

So the headphone’s arrived and while they are good as far as headphones goes they dont work for my situation, once I try to pull my helmet over my ears they dislodge these units in every situation I’ve tried; even with them tight fitted with memory wire around my earlobe..

It seems that the tiny beats are my best options at this point or I’ll keep looking.... I’m not gonna get custom earbuds if they cant even past this simple test. My only issue with the beats are these stupid inline volume controller thingy.. oh well..



Current beats

I've used a (pre-JBL) Cardo Packtalk Slim for the last 18 months or more. It's a good unit. Not happy with excessive wind noise making it very hard to hear I added a set of custom hi-fi earphones. At $500 the earphones are stupidly expensive and not worth it. A bloody rip off. An improvement, yes, but a modest one for a ridiculous amount of money. They're also a PITA every time you get off the bike, unplug, refuel and put everything back on. But I spent the money so I do it.

I get good wind noise reduction when wearing a neck warmer in winter. Stops noise coming in under the helmet. That, with in-helmet speakers is imo the best compromise. Maybe with the JBL speakers and software. Warmer months would be a problem though.

Btw with all of the above solutions I can hear outside sounds perfectly well. They mute the outside sound, not kill it. And there is an "off" button specially for those tossers that insist it's not real motorbiking.

I have a Sena set up that goes into my Arai RX7. It is made to fit that helmet. It also comes with a handlebar mounted 4 button switch so you do not have to press buttons on the side of the helmet. It is good but I wear earplugs to keep the noise of the Akrapovic down. I have full Akra on my BMW1300S and my 1199S. The limitation is at higher speeds there is not enough volume. Talking on the phone is pretty good though.

I use the Sena Smh10 for many years. Mounted it in various helmets like Fox V3 MX helmet, Icon Variant, Shoei Hornet and the current AGV AX8 evo DS. It has been great. Most cant even tell im on the bike (hypermotard 821 with dry clutch and open exhaust) but I wanted to try the Cardo Packtalk slim jbl next. Mainly because of all the good reviews and what not. I only use my communications for music and taking calls. I dont connect to others or to any other devices.

AirPods Pro

DucatiKev said:

AirPods Pro

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Lol, you just call your group of friends as you’re riding? 60% of my use is to intercom with friends

Shane23 said:

Lol, you just call your group of friends as you’re riding? 60% of my use is to intercom with friends

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Lol nah I can’t be bothered with that. Our group rides with Waze and flight radar 24 open and the best of us have access to the official coms to make sure they’re not coming for us.

most important, to me, is reducing the wind noise

If I plan on using communications, I go with the pactalk slim with the JBL speakers. I've got an extremely loud exhaust on my V4 and can still hear the communicator at any speed. If I am touring and just plan to listen to music, I leave the speaker pockets open in my helmet and use the latest galaxy wireless buds. They work fantastic. Excellent sound at any speed, quiets down the noise of the bike and wind, they are customizable as to how much ambient noise they let in (so you can hear around you) and they fit comfortably even on 4+hr rides.

I use Shure SE215 iem now going for $80 with a triple flange music sounds great and the triple flange reduces the loud Termie front exit that I run.