This looks really interesting and I'm tempted...Helmet vibration speakers

[Luap McKeever]

The tech and the reviews all seem pretty impressive.  There are times I could for sure use the mic for phone calls, but mostly I love to listen to music.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/domio-pro-a-game-changer-in-helmet-audio-comms?fbclid=IwAR1dFJj99P5jnghno4Wqb0O-MZNp4nrLA4JbTPPFsA7c5DeNEfK_FOwF9a4#/

[kingoffleece]

I'm aware of at least two previous products like this.  The latest one was from, I believe, Germany and while the manufacture reviews were "outstanding" the customer reviews were, to put it polite, not so much.

[Zoom Zoom]

When I saw this post, I was intrigued. I went looking for their site to find more info, thinking that perhaps the older version might be cheaper. Well, maybe it is, but it is still 200 bucks. It is also shown as sold out so I don't know if that means gone or simply out of stock.

I also read reviews that contained things that made me skeptical. One person said they couldn't get it to work right. Another said the audio quality wasn't that great. Someone said they could not hear music above 45 mph. Yet another said they were unable to get it to connect to their GPS.

In my case, the GPS is where all my travel music resides, so that would be a no go right off the bat.

I too enjoy my music when on the road and have been very happy with the Nolan electronics for some time. When I had my Garmin 550, it was superb. I seldom used it for phone calls, but when I did, they were very clear and the person didn't even know I was on the bike. When it died and I replaced it with a 660, I was never able to get the mic to work and I took it out of the helmet. As for music, I discovered some time ago that I can pretty much double the battery life of the helmet if I use a wired connection to the GPS, which as I mentioned, where I store my music. Using the BT connection, I get a bit over 4 hours out of the helmet battery and eight with a hard wire connection. If I juice the helmet when I stop for fuel and a break, I am assured of music and NAV for the duration of the day. 

Since I don't keep my phone out on the bike, getting that out of my pocket is not worth risking it to change music, where as I can easily do that with the GPS.

I'm not trying to convince you not to try this, but give you some perspective from someone that values listening to my music while droning down the highway.

Personally, I would either want a money back guarantee or try one that someone already has before I shell out 200+ for something I hope works for what I want. It is a great concept if it really delivers, but...

IMHO

John Henry

[Luap McKeever]

When I saw this post, I was intrigued. I went looking for their site to find more info, thinking that perhaps the older version might be cheaper. Well, maybe it is, but it is still 200 bucks. It is also shown as sold out so I don't know if that means gone or simply out of stock.

I also read reviews that contained things that made me skeptical. One person said they couldn't get it to work right. Another said the audio quality wasn't that great. Someone said they could not hear music above 45 mph. Yet another said they were unable to get it to connect to their GPS.

In my case, the GPS is where all my travel music resides, so that would be a no go right off the bat.

I too enjoy my music when on the road and have been very happy with the Nolan electronics for some time. When I had my Garmin 550, it was superb. I seldom used it for phone calls, but when I did, they were very clear and the person didn't even know I was on the bike. When it died and I replaced it with a 660, I was never able to get the mic to work and I took it out of the helmet. As for music, I discovered some time ago that I can pretty much double the battery life of the helmet if I use a wired connection to the GPS, which as I mentioned, where I store my music. Using the BT connection, I get a bit over 4 hours out of the helmet battery and eight with a hard wire connection. If I juice the helmet when I stop for fuel and a break, I am assured of music and NAV for the duration of the day. 

Since I don't keep my phone out on the bike, getting that out of my pocket is not worth risking it to change music, where as I can easily do that with the GPS.

I'm not trying to convince you not to try this, but give you some perspective from someone that values listening to my music while droning down the highway.

Personally, I would either want a money back guarantee or try one that someone already has before I shell out 200+ for something I hope works for what I want. It is a great concept if it really delivers, but...

IMHO

John Henry

I hear ya. I know a guy that's getting one of the pro models for 40% because of this startup deal. He rides like I do so I'll await to hear what he has to say about it before I do anything.

[Moto]

It's bound to function as a speaker that broadcasts the music to the air surrounding the helmet (though not concentrating the sound in a particular direction). Kind of like a ghetto car with giant speakers and amps inside, radiating sound through its body while sitting at a stop light. I wonder what that will be like for those around your helmet.

I also would worry about the effect of the intervening styrofoam on the frequencies that get through to your head. Maybe it's been equalized to offset that.

[Testarossa]

I had something like this in the mid-70s -- Obviously it used a wire to the source, a radio or tape player. It was a 2-inch plastic enclosure for a 1.5-inch speaker, and glued to the back of the helmet with a flat foam donut. You had to drill a 1/2 inch hole in the helmet shell. Mono of course.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Remember the "Bone Phone", you wore this thing around your neck like a scarf, the sound was transmitted to your ears through your collar bones.

[bad Chad]

My mom got me a bone Phone, I wanted a Walkman.  The bone phone did work pretty well, but it's achillies was that reception was not great, the one I had was only Fm/Am.   I wish I still had it .

[Wayne Orwig]

I have a few speaker designs under my belt, so I will toss in my $.02. Which is worth all of that,  and less.

You are going to need to vibrate,  or basically physically move, the helmet. So the device doing the work would need to be heavy. Doesn't look like it is, and you would not want it if it was.
High frequencies mean moving it very very fast. A helmet is to heavy for that. The reason a tweater is small.
So even if you were happy with the low frequency mono only sound, the battery to drive that energy into the helmet wouldn't last long.

Putting little stereo speakers inside the foam on most helmets is pretty easy.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[elvisboy77]

I just have a really nice set of earbuds, bluetooth.  They get music from my phone.  I got a handlebar mounted widget from Aerostich for about $25 that bluetooths to my phone to control volume, skip, backward , pause etc.  I really like that setup.  There is a microphone on the earbuds but I dont like talking while I ride, too distracting so I dont know if it would work or not for talking.

I do have to say, when I stop (ie it is quiet) I can command my phone to stop the music via said microphone.  That is pretty nice.

[Guzzistajohn]

I thought I might scrub the bugs of my SHOEI this weekend

[Rick in WNY]

Took the plunge a month ago and bought a pair of Cardo Packtalk Slims for the wife and I.

Pricey, but worth it. The Slim is just that, skinny. Most of the hardware, and the battery, mount at the back of the helmet. Inside, you have a choice of mics and speakers. But me, with all the wind noise I get riding a naked bike... I opted to use the fact that Cardo uses standard 3.5mm audio jacks for their outputs. I plugged in a set of earbuds that have the expanding foam on them to seal your ear-holes like good earplugs do. The result? It's nice and quiet in my ears, but I can hear clearly! The plugs are easily replaced if need be.

Now, my wife rides behind a big windscreen, so for her, the 40mm speakers were the better option.

One point to consider... if you're vibrating the helmet to make it into a speaker, then everyone around you will be able to hear your conversation as well. No privacy.

Just my $0.02

[rdbandkab]

Was there a mention of how the voice commucication is activated?  Was this system activated by having to click on the module itself? 
With our Sena system, I can put it in "voice activation" mode whereas rider/passenger can initiate a conversation by saying something loudly into the mic.  That mode will time out after a minute or two of no talking.  We can also leave it in "always on" conversation mode.  The only time you push any buttons on the Sena communicator is to answer a call or do something via Bluetooth (GPS, or activate smartphone functions)

[not-fishing]

I don't believe music in a City or congested environment is a Good Idea.

I've had a Sena on my helmet for years but rarely turn it on.

When I'm riding the Sierra Mountains I leave it off.

Music while on Highway 50 in the middle of Nevada between gas-stop-towns is a good idea.

The rest of the time I have enough noise in my life.

Mark

[beetle]

I might have been interested in trying his, but I have Shark modular helmet, which precludes using it.

Bugger.

[blackcat]

The Cardo system seems like one of the best ones on the market and I would have purchased a set had I known about them, but ended up buying the N-Com communication system for my Nolan helmet. The major selling point was the brake light attachment to the back of the helmet which is activated under braking via de acceleration.

[luthier]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLNAeXX09zs

I can't believe that anyone doesn't know about this shit by now.
Not only Schuberth but there are several others who do sound as well as the sunvisor. Notably Shoie Nolan and Bell.
I think the flick down visor is the best thing ever but later the sound will be even more important.

These ones you are showing Luap are not so good with stuff sticking out at the top of the helmet. They might be cheaper but that isn't all that's important here.
I am lusting after one of these units.

[beetle]

Well, I just put my order in for one. Looks like I can mount it at the rear, down low. I also ordered the handlebar remote.