Bose QC30 on a bike

[Wildfire]

I'm considering purchasing some Bose QC30's to use on the bike, anyone got any experience with them?

[spareparts]

The neck band gets in the way, and the fontopia themselves are pretty big and will hurt your ears if the helmet presses on them. Personally, if noise is a problem, I'd just go with the regular yellow squidgy things or get custom molded.

[Wildfire]

Thanks Ade. I tend to use headphones with a remote as Sat Nav and for the occasional bit of music when on long journeys. Once I move away from my trusty iPhone 6S I will have no headphone jack and was considering some BT headphones. My company gave me the go ahead for any of the Bose range, so was looking a the active noise cancelling ones.

[Pravus1]

I find it much easier to use disposable ear plugs and a sena 20s. Gives me all my music, sat nav, intercom and have a nice mode to boost external noise for when someone is trying to talk to you with gear on.

It's also loud enough to be heard at over 120 on a naked bike. Tested on a private road of course

[RizzoTheRat]

You might have issues with active noise cancelling depending where the microphone is, if it's not in the helmet it'll be picking up different noises than your ears as it won't get the turbulence around the helmet.

Depending what your helmet is, quite a few manufacturers do BT headsets to fit, but presumably you're looking for something you can use off the bike as well.

Personally I wear foam earplugs and have an intercom system with speakers in the helmet that are loud enough to hear over the earplugs.

[Wildfire]

Thanks people. Currently I use some Shure ear buds on a cable, which are great. Most of the time it is foam plugs. I just figured I'd ask in case they were good. I know someone who rides with the QC 20's and really likes them, but they are cabled.

I may just grab some QC30's for commuting on the train and general listening (as they are free) and then carry on with a spare cable adapter.

I have a few different helmets which is why I have always avoided Sena, Interphone's etc. I don't really ride in a regular group (mates either aren't allowed out anymore or just race), so the intercom side is not worth it.

[Richyboy]

For my snug helmets I got Shure earphones that fit flush in my ears but they don't have active noise education. I've tried noise cancellation earphones that stick out a bit and found it's not worth the ordeal, painful taking helmet off after long ride.

[ccr32]

I have a Sena SMH5 on my regular use helmet and use foam earplugs - works great around town and probably up to about 60mph for me, but beyond that music gets a bit faint. I understand some of the better models go a bit louder...

On the plus side, you don't have to fiddle around with or get tangled up in cables, connecting wirelessly to your phone for music / nav / calls.

On the downside, you have to remember to charge the bastid thing which I always seem to forget to. That said, it does last a decent while one a single charge which is probably why I forget.

Am tempted to try some moulded earplugs with headphones in, kind of what musicians use, but not really wanting the outlay without really knowing what they're like as the proper stuff is pretty pricey.

[Wildfire]

Richyboy said:

For my snug helmets I got Shure earphones that fit flush in my ears but they don't have active noise education. I've tried noise cancellation earphones that stick out a bit and found it's not worth the ordeal, painful taking helmet off after long ride.

That's what I have. I guess I'll just live with the headphone adapter thing for the bike and save the QC30's for the day.

[Jammez]

Another vote for the Sena system, works well for me listening to music & also for the phone

[archie456]

ccr32 said:

Am tempted to try some moulded earplugs with headphones in, kind of what musicians use, but not really wanting the outlay without really knowing what they're like as the proper stuff is pretty pricey.

They are absolutely brilliant, I have used them for years now.

[Wildfire]

Update.

Got the Bose (paid for by the boss )

Sound quality - 5/10 (compared to my UE Triple Fi's)
ANC - 9/10 - It's like magic! Especially on the train!
Chance of getting them under any helmet 0/10.

No way these will fit under any helmet, even my XR1100 commuter. As for the X-Spirit 3 or SR1. It would hurt, a lot. And probably damage them taking the helmet off.

[2wheelsjimmy]

Any advice on the best way to listen to my audiobook/podcasts on the motorbike.

Got a new 1h commute and want to make it more pleasant. Motorway so need some noise cancelling or so.

Are Sena headsets good for this? Or earphones better?

[Wildfire]

2wheelsjimmy said:

Any advice on the best way to listen to my audiobook/podcasts on the motorbike.

Got a new 1h commute and want to make it more pleasant. Motorway so need some noise cancelling or so.

Are Sena headsets good for this? Or earphones better?

I am still using my wired Shure earbud headphones with remote under the helmet. Is fine for audio books, radio and music. With the foam tips you get a good amount of noise reduction, and the inline remote allows me to pause the sound if I need to.

I am borrowing a friend's Interphone next week to test.

[black-k1]

2wheelsjimmy said:

Any advice on the best way to listen to my audiobook/podcasts on the motorbike.

Got a new 1h commute and want to make it more pleasant. Motorway so need some noise cancelling or so.

Are Sena headsets good for this? Or earphones better?

I use a Scala 9x BT'd to my TomTom Rider for directions and phone calls (phone managed through Tomtom) but cable from the Scala to my MP3 player for music - but could be audio book. Works well and auto volume adjustment means I can hear things up to ... er ... autobahn speeds! An expensive solution but it works and it also allows me to connect to other Scala owning Old Gits when Euro touring.

[2wheelsjimmy]

Thanks. So maybe both okay.

Those helmet setups aren't cheap. Guess I'll try some earphones first and see how they are. And maybe find someone with a scala or like to try before I plunge for one of them.

[Richyboy]

Sena never released that helmet with noise cancellation technology in it, did they?

[Volant]

2wheelsjimmy said:

Any advice on the best way to listen to my audiobook/podcasts on the motorbike.

Got a new 1h commute and want to make it more pleasant. Motorway so need some noise cancelling or so.

Are Sena headsets good for this? Or earphones better?

Moulded earplugs with speakers in.

Brilliant, can listen to podcasts at around 1/2 volume on my iPhone, so not too loud. That's very impressive for spoken word. Block plenty of db at the same time, so are excellent for your hearing long term. Designed for motorcyclists so you still hear horns/engines.

The best comparison I could give is it's like listening to the radio in your car. Calm, comfortable volume, no wind noise but can hear everything going on that you need to. Don't feel isolated.

They are moulded to your ear, consequently they are SO comfortable. I rode 800 miles in a day (don't ask...) with them in, still comfy.

I couldn't have imagined 800 miles on a Daytona without them. A) bordom and B) comfort - 13 hours riding and still didn't know they were there. Got through a hell of a lot of the Adam Buxton podcast...

The only downside is price, mine were around £150 from Mercury Hearing, ultimate ears also do them.

But I promise, they're the best money I've spent on motorbiking, and would never, ever go back. A sentiment shared by anyone I know with them..

[Mr OCD]

Wildfire said:

Update.

Got the Bose (paid for by the boss )

Sound quality - 5/10 (compared to my UE Triple Fi's)
ANC - 9/10 - It's like magic! Especially on the train!
Chance of getting them under any helmet 0/10.

No way these will fit under any helmet, even my XR1100 commuter. As for the X-Spirit 3 or SR1. It would hurt, a lot. And probably damage them taking the helmet off.

I used to use UE 's for commuting ... they sounded absolutely superb but were the single armature units ... however, after getting through two sets that broke in the same way in two years (left hand speaker stopped due to cable fault) I thought I'd try some sound magic's... not quite in the same league as the UE's but very good sound quality, used most days on the bike and after 3 yrs are still going strong! Fit perfectly under helmet as well. The UE's used to get pushed into my ears very slightly by helmet interior.

I looked at the moulded ear plug speakers ... they sound idea but they are expensive given the quality of the speaker and sound quality. They will provide better noise isolation though.

[rapide]

I use Plugfones. Never seem to hear about them (excuse the pun) but I think they're brilliant. They're better at being ear plugs than half of the actual ear plugs I've used and very comfortable (blurb says 25db reduction). I only use them as a sat nav with my phone so can't comment on sound quality for music, but they've never let me down in a few thousand miles of use. I've been through a pack of the spare foam 'plugs' as they do get grubby just like an ear plug, surprisingly enough.

If you own a smartphone its the cheapest satnav possible! My sense of direction is average at best but for £15ish on eBay they've safely got me around Europe and back as well as various U.K. trips