Sena 20S Mic Choices

[SupraSabre]

...
I guess I am too old school.....or stubborn. I don't like music, phone calls, or other riders in my ears when I ride. Just like the sounds of the bike and wind and the occasional sounds of nature. And if a train is coming...or another vehicle.... And I'm not important enough to be glued to my phone.....

I have used intercoms, listened to cassette tapes......ya that old...... Found it all to be just too much for me.
...
ToddC

I used to be that way too. I wanted to hear the cages next to me. But my brother Dave talked me into trying out a CD in my tankbag and running a wire to my helmet. I found, especially during my commute, the music would actually settle me down, instead of totally getting pissed off at the braindead cagers. 4:

So, now I run mp3s through my Garmin to my Sena headset and enjoy. Except right now, with my new Neotec helmet, I need to get the speakers closer to my ears....4:

 

[ST Gui]

I found, especially during my commute, the music would actually settle me down, instead of totally getting pissed off at the braindead cagers.

+1 And on scenic rides music can really enhance the experience for me. The ability to quickly tell my fellow riders that there's a problem or that I want to change the itinerary is a huge plus.

I've had enough and get more then enough wind sound to last a lifetime. And with a helmet and wind nature generally comes in a distant second. Unless you're talking about the grunt of deer while torpedoing it.

My phone is the source of my music and GPS so getting a call is incidental without being glued to it. So I'd rather be with the Sena than without it.

 

[ST Gui]

Except right now, with my new Neotec helmet, I need to get the speakers closer to my ears

On a related note a question of everyone with helmet mounted speakers (and maybe Shoei helmets):

After installing speakers in the ear pockets do you keep the original foam piece in place or just toss it? It doesn't want to stay in place very well and presses on my ears. I've though of cutting off the bit of foam on the back so it fits flush and cleans up the look of the installation. (But nobody sees the interior right?)

 

[SupraSabre]

On a related note a question of everyone with helmet mounted speakers (and maybe Shoei helmets):

After installing speakers in the ear pockets do you keep the original foam piece in place or just toss it? It doesn't want to stay in place very well and presses on my ears. I've though of cutting off the bit of foam on the back so it fits flush and cleans up the look of the installation. (But nobody sees the interior right?)

I pulled it off of the ear area covers! Besides pushing out, it would just block the sound.

 

[spiderman302]

To answer your question..
Yes, the exposed boom mic is better than the wired mic.

Noise canceling mics are two microphones that are mounted back to back, opposite of each other. Noise hits both mics equally and gets canceled. When you talk you only talk into one mic. If you rotate the mic 90 degrees it will cancel your voice. So the microphone is very directional.
The boom mic is fully exposed to the noise so the canceling effect is balanced but the mic mounted on the chin bar gets unequal noise because the canceling side is partially blocked. They try to offset this by amplifier gains but it is not as effective as the fully exposed boom mic. Every helmet is different....

Position the speakers in line with your ears, I always wear cheap foam ear plugs (30+db) and I can hear just fine. Makes the long commutes very comfortable, I have to turn up the music player volume to max on my phone so I can hear the music while cruising..... very happy with the Sena 20...

 

[playfair]

This is the boom mic I use. I had to cut a littl of the plastic away on the chin pad of my Neotech helmet, but it works great and it is all tucked inside the helmet.

The directions actually say to use this mic for modular helmets. I've installed several on Neotec's, and it fits tight under the cheek pad without the long reach from the bracket.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

do you keep the original foam piece in place or just toss it?

From the Sena 20S EVO user manual installation instructions.

Note:
To enhance the audio quality, you can make use of the foam speaker covers.
Cover each speaker with the foam and attach the hook fastener at the
back of the speaker. Then place the speakers in the helmet as described
above. Foam covered speakers work most effectively when they are slightly
touching your ears.

 

[SupraSabre]

From the Sena 20S EVO user manual installation instructions.

Note:
To enhance the audio quality, you can make use of the foam speaker covers.
Cover each speaker with the foam and attach the hook fastener at the
back of the speaker. Then place the speakers in the helmet as described
above. Foam covered speakers work most effectively when they are slightly
touching your ears.

In the Neotec, there is a "cover" that goes over the area where the speakers go. Attached to that is a piece of foam (not the foam covers with the 20s) that I'm refering to that I remove.

 

[ST Gui]

In the Neotec, there is a "cover" that goes over the area where the speakers go. Attached to that is a piece of foam (not the foam covers with the 20s) that I'm refering to that I remove.

Yes those are what I'm talking about. I'm going to try cutting off that circular foam bit and reinstalling them.

To enhance the audio quality, you can make use of the foam speaker covers.

Those are the covers that slip over and around (sort of) the speakers and not the original foam piece I mentioned.

The Sena instructions for installing the speakers generally suck. I'm not sure how the Sena foam covers enhance the quality at all let alone significantly enough to overcome wind and ambient noises.

 

[cdnemsguy]

If you look at my photos in #20 posting, I do not use the small foam covers, but the helmet as Dale's and mine have, cover the speakers with the internal foam. All I know re-positioning as I have is a real must to make this great.

 

[gmast1100]

Just got a 20S yesterday and got it installed. Had a choice of which mic to use. Chose the one in the pic. I was able to get it inside the helmet versus using just the boom mic, which would have set on the outside of the helmet.

Now maybe the different mics don't come with a 20S, but I scored a brand new one from a member of TWT that had bought a pair of them. He already sold the other one and when I got this one in the mail, it had 4 different mics.

If anyone would like the mic I have pictured, let me know. It's an extra one and you can install it like it did and close the chin bar without any interference.

As for the speakers, I used the foam covers and had to reposition them once. Sound is far superior to the SMH10 that I just took out.

 

[TPadden]

But my brother Dave talked me into trying out a CD in my tankbag and running a wire to my helmet. I found, especially during my commute, the music would actually settle me down, instead of totally getting pissed off .....

I listened to a riding bud, Raymond, and in addition to music use Valium or Xanax. I now don't get totally pissed but the voices won't go away.

Tom

 

[SupraSabre]

I listened to a riding bud, Raymond, and in addition to music use Valium or Xanax. I now don't get totally pissed but the voices won't go away.

Tom

 

[Dale_I]

Installed!

The 20S Evo install kit came with a couple foam spacers with hook on one side and loop on the other. I think one is about 1/4 inch and the other is about 1/2 inch. I tried various configurations and ended up using the 1/2 inch spacers in the helmet speaker pocket, but wanted the speaker positioned lower than the stock pocket. So, I took the 1/4 inch spacers and cut them into a 1/4 moon shape and used it on the portion of the speaker that was not lined up with the speaker pocket. Perfect.

I started with the foam covers on the speakers but ended up taking them off. As Tim mentioned, our helmets (IS-Max 2) has an ear cover already. You can see the metal case of the speaker just behind the ear cover.



You are supposed to get better radio reception if you route the away speaker across the top of your helmet compared to running it around the lower rim. I had a difficult time finding a way to retain the wire. I ended up looping it loosely through the top of the removable liner. You can see just a bit of the cable as I looped it.



For the mic, I used the standard boom and routed it into the base of the helmet.



Then took a file and made an exit port to the inside of the chin bar. A small wrap of electrical tape (AKA: Tim's cushion) and I'm in business.



Sounds fantastic while wearing your helmet and dancing around the shop (be glad you can't see that).

 

[cdnemsguy]

Looks great Dale! I like the way you routed the mic, but I am wondering about flexibility when putting your helmet on or off. I wouldn't think so. Also, for the wires that come over to the right side as an antenna, all I did was a dab of hot glue gun goop on the wire and Styrofoam. Stays put but so should yours. Now this dancing around the shop thing, remember you never want to see what you can never unsee, and unfortunately I have a mental image. Good thing my shrink is on speed dial and a retainer.