BLUE TOOTH HEADSET-who's using one?

[rc51ny]

So I finally got my itunes library loaded onto my Verizon Blackberry Tour. Now I'd like to find a stereo Blue Tooth headset so I can listen to my tunes while riding without any wires. Is it possible to do such a thing? Anyone using this kind of set up? Any and all advise is welcomed! THANK!

 

[omslaw]

I know it doesn't satisfy your "without any wires", but I use and Autocom system. Bike-to-bike, GPS, MP3, XM, phone, Radar detector, etc...

 

[klatu848]

Chatterbox makes a bluetooth system.

 

[BusaWizard]

Motorola S9-HD.

 

[SIGSAUER]

I was looking to do something similar but my needs were a bit more in depth.

I was looking for a wireless system that I could talk to other riders on, stream my XM music from my Zumo 550 GPS, and allow use of my phone which hooks up to my blue tooth. The phone hookup was not a primary but in the rare even I get a phone call I can pull over answer it and not have to shut bike off and take off my helmet and have to call someone back.

I ended up having to go wired and I chose the Autocom but the system works real well and is a very clean install. Also the Autocom seems to get the most positive reviews for quality of communication and everything else. The reason I had to go wired is the Zumo 550 doesn't stream music in stereo using bluetooth so the quality would be crap.

Seeing how your main concern seems to be music wirelessly there are a few options. Chatterbox and Scala both offer models that should work for you just make sure they have A2DP Bluetooth technology which allows you to stream in stereo. The Chatterbox XBi2 about $200.00 ChatterBox XBi2 Rider to Rider Bluetooth Communication System :: New Enough Motorcycle Hard Parts is one choice and it allows bike to bike communication should you desire it but the other riders have to have a Chatterbox system and you can only transmit to I believe 2 other riders which can be a pain to hook up too. Transmission distance is also limited. The other choice is the Chatterbox GMRS-X1 which transmits in UHF, so anyone using a UHF (standard handheld radio's) signal and on the same channel can communicate with you. Cost is about $340.00 ChatterBox GMRS-X1 Bluetooth Noise Reducing Communication System :: New Enough Motorcycle Hard Parts

Both the above systems require recharging but are wireless.

If you ever plan on purchasing or already have a Zumo 550 or 660 I'd get the Autocom. Yes you will be wired to the bike but you don't have to recharge the system. The connection that hooks up to your helmet can be purchased with a coiled cord which you don't notice and doesn't get in the way if routed correctly. You can also install any mp3 compatible music in your Zumo and play it through the headset. The Zumo will pair with your phone through bluetooth and will give access to ending or answering calls and it shows your phone book. The 550 can not stream it's music through the phone and I'm not sure if the 660 does or does not stream the music from the phone. Since you can play MP3 through your Zumo using the SD card reader though, it doesn't really matter unless you are getting live music to your phone and wanted to stream that. The other option is the 550 is expandable to XM radio with an added Antenna receiver. The 660 does not have this option but it can stream in stereo through bluetooth so if you chose the Chatterbox system you could stream the music from the 660 wirelessly to it as well has have the cell phone communication. The Autocom also gets the best reviews for bike to bike communication especially at higher speeds. They actually rate it to work up to 180mph. While testing the system I called a buddy doing 40mph and left him a message which he said didn't even sound as though I was on a bike.

I know this was kind of more information then you might have been asking for but I figure it might help some others doing some of this research in to a comm system.

 

[SIGSAUER]

Forgot to include that you can also use earphones with the Autocomm system which is nice as the Etymotic ear phones I use have great clarity and block outside noise like an ear plug. You'll never get really great quality of music from a speaker and it doesn't block out wind noise which is a must for me as I'm already going deaf. I play my music at 1/4 volume max and I hear it perfectly. Some other system allow use of ear phones but from what I had found it requires splicing wires to do it with the systems that are currently A2DP compatible. There might be others that have the option that are A2DP but I hadn't found any. Of course if quality of music isn't huge then just use the speakers as it will be less wires to deal with. When I first started listening to music I stopped after a couple weeks as the sound quality was crap using several different ear phones until I got the Etymotics. The Etymotics work so well that when I rode a buddy's bike and had to leave my XM radio on my bike I still left them in my ears with the cord stuck in my pocket due to the amount of outside noise they block. If I recall correctly they block out 36db's which is better then most ear plugs used for shooting. Here's a link if anyone is interested in a set: Amazon.com: Etymotic Research ER6i Isolator In-Ear Earphones (Black): Electronics

 

[rc51ny]

WOW! Great information---thanks folks. I'm gonna spend some time looking into these devices.

 

[Mr Bogus]

I own 2 of these for road trips... so far so good but the earbuds it comes with stink.. I stepped up to a "good" set of ear buds and am happy..

Amazon.com: Sony Ericsson Stereo Bluetooth Headset (Black): Cell Phones & Service

 

[SIGSAUER]

I own 2 of these for road trips... so far so good but the earbuds it comes with stink.. I stepped up to a "good" set of ear buds and am happy..

Amazon.com: Sony Ericsson Stereo Bluetooth Headset (Black): Cell Phones & Service

I have a similar product and if music is your only desire then I'd say this is the cheapest and best way. Just get some good earphones like the Etymotics and you should be set.

This is the version I'm running and it works perfectly. Hooks up to my Itouch the second I turn it on and has a volume control on it. Battery life has also been good and it was cheap: Acoustic Research Bluetooth Mini-Bridge Stereo Headset - eBay (item 120498854095 end time Dec-27-09 13:37:31 PST)

Get this and the earphones and you will have great wireless music for less then $125.00 much cheaper then a comm set.

 

[Mr Bogus]

I have a similar product and if music is your only desire then I'd say this is the cheapest and best way. Just get some good earphones like the Etymotics and you should be set.

This is the version I'm running and it works perfectly. Hooks up to my Itouch the second I turn it on and has a volume control on it. Battery life has also been good and it was cheap: Acoustic Research Bluetooth Mini-Bridge Stereo Headset - eBay (item 120498854095 end time Dec-27-09 13:37:31 PST)

Get this and the earphones and you will have great wireless music for less then $125.00 much cheaper then a comm set.

Yes, mine is essentially for music (although my phone works through it as well due to the fact it is also my MP3/4 player) The seinhauser ear buds I normally use work great but UncleSteve is running ER6's ? he really likes..

I like the digital display of your unit... The Sony I am using is just a tiny thing and no room for much of a display except for "off/on/battery" status.. (smaller than your pinky or dinky in some cases) I clip mine to my collar or helmet strap and run a short cord headset..

what is battery life like?

 

[rubber2burn]

I have been looking at the Bluetooth stuff myself so far I have got it down to

Chatterbox XBi2
Scala Rider Q2 multiset

 

[Mr Bogus]

I have been looking at the Bluetooth stuff myself so far I have got it down to

Chatterbox XBi2
Scala Rider Q2 multiset

I have the BT chatterbox and just do not use the BT part.. (kind of clunky operation IMHO)..

I also had one criteria.. had to be A2DP bluetooth...

I did buy a cable for my C.box to eliminate the speakers and go to ear buds.. best move I ever made.. can still pipe MP3 player to earbuds (via mini plug) and use the comm portion of the C.Box..

I think if I did it over again, I would look harder at the AutoComm

 

[busaniks]

Hi,
I've tried using just the Apple ear phones and ear bud headphones. However, beyond 160kmh or 100mph, I could not hear the music well at all.
I also hate all those dangling cables and also the ear buds falling out of it's place when I put my helmet on.
Do you guys have this problem?
Alternatively, I was looking some form of tiny speaker that could be mount to the helmet pads. Dunno if such exist.
I have tried stuffing those headphone into the helmet pads but the volume could be tune high enough to listen to the music well.

 

[Mr Bogus]

Hi,
I've tried using just the Apple ear phones and ear bud headphones. However, beyond 160kmh or 100mph, I could not hear the music well at all.
I also hate all those dangling cables and also the ear buds falling out of it's place when I put my helmet on.
Do you guys have this problem?
Alternatively, I was looking some form of tiny speaker that could be mount to the helmet pads. Dunno if such exist.
I have tried stuffing those headphone into the helmet pads but the volume could be tune high enough to listen to the music well.

wow, if you got time to be fiddling with music at 100mph +... My ideas about Malaysian roads must be really distorted...

 

[busaniks]

Malaysian freeway is nowhere as good as US freeway.
Only thing I fiddle is the volume and forwarding song and it works out well with thisecnew Apple iPhone which have those tiny controls on the cords. But to me best player is the previous version of iPod shuffle.

 

[Mr Bogus]

Malaysian freeway is nowhere as good as US freeway.
Only thing I fiddle is the volume and forwarding song and it works out well with thisecnew Apple iPhone which have those tiny controls on the cords. But to me best player is the previous version of iPod shuffle.

I keep having flashbacks of the guy in the middle east texting with both hands while zipping through traffic ...

 

[NickSully]

I keep having flashbacks of the guy in the middle east texting with both hands while zipping through traffic ...

Well, as I always say, If you're going to do something wrong you might as well and do it really really really wrong.

 

[zukracer]

I use the Oakley Rokr glasses, works great Doesnt do bike to bike but does link to cell phone and can play/control the audio and phone

(looks like Dawg The Bounty Hunter glasses though ??? )

 

[PADEROLIS]

Motorola S9-HD.

These are the headphones I use too!

 

[SIGSAUER]

Yes, mine is essentially for music (although my phone works through it as well due to the fact it is also my MP3/4 player) The seinhauser ear buds I normally use work great but UncleSteve is running ER6's ? he really likes..

I like the digital display of your unit... The Sony I am using is just a tiny thing and no room for much of a display except for "off/on/battery" status.. (smaller than your pinky or dinky in some cases) I clip mine to my collar or helmet strap and run a short cord headset..

what is battery life like?

Seinheiser makes great stuff too, I use there wrap around head phones for running and they work great.

Not sure on the real life runtime. They quote 5 hours listening time 150 standby. I've watched 1 1/2 movies through mine and some music and it still showed full on the battery life before I charged it.

The display is small as well but still nice to have. The device is about as long as your pinky and maybe 1" wide and 1/2" thick. It has a nice sturdy clip on the backside as well.