Are Bluetooth transmissions immune from induced noise?

[bobg3723]

I'm investigating a farkle list of BT comm systems with the loudest in-helmet speakers (not in-ear canal plugs). I intend to wear in-ear sound reduction plugs for wind noise. Some questions for those of you experienced with Bluetooth connections to all your electronics:

1. First off, are the BT transmissions immune to induced noise provided there are no ground loops in the associated electronics?

2. How's the A2DP "quality" of the music (IE. Low-fi, Hi-fi, moot)?

3. How well do the radar warnings, gps directions, music, and com integrate seamlessly and come through clearly?

4. What sort of usage "distractions" or even pairing complications, if any, that you didn't expect?

5. Finally, what helmet BT comm system do you recommend, from most bang for the buck to price no object exceptionality?

 

[Ignacio]

Can't answer it all, but on #1 I think it is immune in that the signal is digital...just zeros and ones as opposed to circuits that are analog would be affected by ground loop. However, it could be that the data signal could be degraded that you'd lose signal or have intermittent drop outs.

As for the others...welcome to a very subjective world of nearly infinite permutation. Having done a Starcom I was marginally happy with...I'm going to try a Mix-It.

 

[bobg3723]

Can't answer it all, but on #1 I think it is immune in that the signal is digital...just zeros and ones as opposed to circuits that are analog would be affected by ground loop. However, it could be that the data signal could be degraded that you'd lose signal or have intermittent drop outs.

As for the others...welcome to a very subjective world of nearly infinite permutation. Having done a Starcom I was marginally happy with...I'm going to try a Mix-It.

I think digital signal drop outs might be a factor that could be a deal breaker for me....Hmmm I dunno....for it seems that the Mix-It designer has a bone of contentions with AD2P music quality reproduction and advocates wired connections. Plus, he warns his mixer circuitry doesn't work properly with the impedence of certain helmet speakers (ear-plug speakers are no problem). FM receivers too also gave the mixer problems.

Isa gonna do sum furder resartch fort wit....! :close_tema: But the Mix-it box so far has been and still is at the top'o the list if I finally decide to stick with wired instead of wireless. That A2DP music quality issue needs some investigative testing with my ear holes.

 

[ionbeam]

Here is ONE DATA set on Bluetooth units. This site has lots of comparisons and individual unit tests, poke around. And remember, this is just one site that most likely has an 'editorial point of view'.

Here is another site with communicators.

As a last resort, this topic has been covered in good detail several times recently in this site, you may want to search there too.

 

[wheatonFJR]

...As a last resort, this topic has been covered in good detail several times recently in this site, you may want to search there too.

unk:

:trinibob:

:rofl: :rofl:

 

[TomInPA]

The sound quality of A2DP Bluetooth is great, but helmet speakers universally suck because they are small and too far from your ears to transmit low frequency sound. Thus, they are fine for voice transmissions, but awful for music.. There is only so much driver you can put on a speaker that has to fit in the ear cavity of a helmet and must be powered by a small rechargeable battery that is also expected to power the transponder. If you go that route, you should have realistic expectations.

 

[LAF]

I use the Mix It Amp with Bluetooth no issues. It all fits in my tiny tank bag. You need a amp when it comes to boosting sound from a IPod to hear it at speed. The Mix It is very nice and has held up for 4 years now.

 

[phroenips]

The sound quality of A2DP Bluetooth is great, but helmet speakers universally suck because they are small and too far from your ears to transmit low frequency sound. Thus, they are fine for voice transmissions, but awful for music.. There is only so much driver you can put on a speaker that has to fit in the ear cavity of a helmet and must be powered by a small rechargeable battery that is also expected to power the transponder. If you go that route, you should have realistic expectations.

And with that being said, you also said you're planning to use ear plugs...you're not going to be listening to high-fidelity music.

 

[bobg3723]

As a last resort, this topic has been covered in good detail several times recently in this site, you may want to search there too.

That link only sent me to a porno portal. Some familiar names there from the old Craig's List sex classifieds.... :huh:

1. First off, are the BT transmissions immune to induced noise provided there are no ground loops in the associated electronics?

 

2. How's the A2DP "quality" of the music (IE. Low-fi, Hi-fi, moot)?

 

3. How well do the radar warnings, gps directions, music, and com integrate seamlessly and come through clearly?

 

4. What sort of usage "distractions" or even pairing complications, if any, that you didn't expect?

 

5. Finally, what helmet BT comm system do you recommend, from most bang for the buck to price no object exceptionality?

So from what I gather, (and thanks for the POV's, ya'all):

#1. BT quality goot, but transducer of choice the issue (helmet speakers vs earhole speakers). OK.

#2. AD2P sound quality? See #1.

#3. Dunno.

#4. I guess a source mixer (Mix-it et al) does as expected (priority input function). Another earhole test to be done in my full face lid.

#5. I gotta give you my heartfelt gratitudes ionbeam for those links. Thank ya der.

Now I gotta get some sleep for my BRC tommorow morning. :scooter:

 

[Barry 07 FJR1300AE]

First off I think my Scala Rider G4 is top notch. It works seamless with the iPhone. As for hq audio don't be silly. Your on a f'ing motorcycle driving 80 mph down the road. If you want good audio stay in your cage. Seriously what can u expect from something hanging on the side of your helmet that lasts for 11hrs and weights almost nothing. Just enjoy the ride and use the audio to pass the slabs. That's how I think of it. They cost 200 ea but it beat the hell out of dealing with wires and ear buds. As for loud. It will blow your ear drums out.

 

[smellthat?]

As for hq audio don't be silly. Your on a f'ing motorcycle driving 80 mph down the road. If you want good audio stay in your cage.

+1 on the sound comment - I do not condone speeding though. I may do it, I just don't condone it. I have used BlueAnt for years now and love it. I actually do get great sound (all things considered) out of a small package. I installed the speakers in the helmet cavities flush with the headliner so the speakers are essentially right on my ears. For me I needed something that sounded good, worked every time, and synced to everything. The BlueAnt does all that. I ride mainly one-up and not in packs so I wanted decent sound - and yes I can use my phone at highway speed with my full face. As was stated several times above this is all so subjective and has as much to do with what your expectations are, but also your helmet design.

 

[AVGeek]

Timely topic, as I will be writing up my review of my new Sena SMH-10 Bluetooth headset here soon. I chose the optional helmet clamp with headphone jack in order to use ear buds, and just had a custom set of in ear speakers cast (they are supposed to be here in four weeks or so). I have an iPhone 3GS with the Garmin Streetpilot app;I had to adjust the volume of the voice directions, but so far the testing has gone well. With Bluetooth, I also have the ability to make or take calls, though I don't do that while moving. So far, I have been happy with the sound quality, though there are dropouts (it is an RF based system after all, there will always be the potential for dropouts). The system also exhibits no noise, even with the phone powered from the bike, and the remote control of the iPod functions works very well and very intuitively.

 

[bobg3723]

And to think I tried so hard in my vain-foolish attempts to be god-smacked at 80 MPH, earholes cradled in perfect 20Hz to 20kHz audio Nirvana of less than one tenth of one nanodecible deviation total carbonic distorshun from da proverbial straight wire with gain. :not_i:

How can my golden ears suffer such indignity from such worthless meager earhole speakers, I ask? Someone please say it ain't so!!!! :fie: :eh-smiley:

The original point about AD2P "quality" in question #2, if this description helps any....or not, could be restated as:

Lo-fi => at least Playskool Speak-n-Spell audio quality....mooooo.

Hi-fi => at least FM radio quality.

moot => I-90 at 110MPH with a crockpot for a helmet and the wind noize for Muzak.

Just which one of these buzzwords approximates what the F is meaningful to what we're getting at here? :blink:

I simply only wanna enjoy some Beer Barrel Polka for Pete's sake! That's all the radio stations play up here in the Twin Cities. :yahoo:

 

[ScottyUSN]

I've got a J&M Bluetooth unit.

Never lost a connection with my Iphone. Iphone remains in tank bag.

Speaker quality is good by A2DP terms, certainly not as good as wired. 50% volume typically works fine.

Phone quality is great. Party at other end typically don't I'm riding never mind doing it at 70+. In the summer, when I return to the stock screen, phone calls will be more difficult to hear at slab speed.

I have no experience with bike to bike yet.

Ultimately, No regret and love having tunes while riding.

 

[bobg3723]

The simple truth is I can dig most any music source provided it's loud enough to be heard at freeway legal speeds, even audible through mildly sound attenuating earplugs. That it also exhibited a decent octave range to reproduce rock and roll classics, from mid-bass to upper midrange is a plus in my book.

If it's FM quality, well that would suit me fine. I don't need CD quality to enjoy music. I just have to hear it loudly enough, first and fore most. Quality is secondary and I can adjust to that even.