Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Khrome on October 17, 2011, 01:00:15 PM

Title: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: Khrome on October 17, 2011, 01:00:15 PM
I have been fortunate the last couple weeks, I sold a couple of my 4 wheelers, so had some extra cash so I added:

CB Ultra Tour Domed
Throttlemeister
Kawa 47 Trunk
Phil's Rack
Garmin 3490LMT
Meathead's wings (have not installed yet)

Still need to figure out some sort of music option... That's the one thing I'm gonna miss from my voyager: full ipod control from my handlebars...  I have read several of the older posts about different options.  I have never tried speakers that go in your helmet, I don't think "in ear" buds would work for me.  The wife does'nt seem to care about listening but think she might change her mind if I went that route and bought a blue tooth system.

Any thoughts appreciated.
Title: Re: Farklicious
Post by: roadie on October 17, 2011, 01:42:58 PM
dude, I bought the Scala G4 a couple weeks ago...DAMN!!  so pleased.  good tunes sound... and can listen to GPS, radio, MP4's, make calls.  It totally blows the Q2 out of the water.  plus no wires is nice.
Title: Re: Farklicious
Post by: ZG on October 17, 2011, 03:22:28 PM
+1 on the G4!  :thumbs:
Title: Re: Farklicious
Post by: tthompsr on October 17, 2011, 03:26:42 PM
Also love my G4!
Title: Re: Farklicious
Post by: Jeremy Mitchell on October 17, 2011, 03:26:49 PM
Check the reviews on the Sena SMH-10.  My wife and I love ours and there are tons of reviews out there that echo our sentiment.  Great volume, very easy to use (one jog dial and one button) and the quality is very good.  I haven't tried the Scala but there were quite a few reviews that I read that said it wasn't loud enough and could be confusing, and that is where the Sena was praised.
Title: Re: Farklicious
Post by: tyler1015 on October 17, 2011, 03:36:26 PM
As jd stated sena hands down the best option. Research and u will find rave reviews by a lot of peoplein about half the price of other brands.
Title: Re: Farklicious
Post by: Khrome on October 17, 2011, 03:45:56 PM
Thanks for the quick replies... I am studying up on both of these based on your responses...

Has anyone used both and want to chime in?   :P
Title: Re: Farklicious
Post by: Flathead on October 17, 2011, 04:04:36 PM
Thanks for the quick replies... I am studying up on both of these based on your responses...

Has anyone used both and want to chime in?   :P

Great question Khrome!! Would love to hear from anyone that has used both.  (Ps. Meathead was on "All in the Family, I'm Flathead  ;D )
Title: Re: Farklicious
Post by: B.D.F. on October 17, 2011, 04:26:10 PM
Helmet speakers work for my wife and I along with using earplugs. Funny thing but the ear plugs seem to improve the quality of the music at high speeds (not joking here- I think the 'plugs block enough white noise that more speaker generated sound reaches the ear).

A real plus of any system is that you can communicate with the rider on the bike.

Finally, while wired systems seem to be losing ground to wireless systems lately, you might want to at least consider a wired system. There is only one wire (cable) hook-up required but the benefits are there IMO: no static of any kind, ever, no delay in the system, and it moves the controls of the system away from your helmet so it is easier to adjust IMO. Another big advantage is that a wired system never, ever needs to be recharged and will never 'die' from lack of battery power no matter how long they are used. I use the MP3 function of a Zumo for music and my wife uses her own MP3 player.

Brian


I have been fortunate the last couple weeks, I sold a couple of my 4 wheelers, so had some extra cash so I added:

CB Ultra Tour Domed
Throttlemeister
Kawa 47 Trunk
Phil's Rack
Garmin 3490LMT
Meathead's wings (have not installed yet)

Still need to figure out some sort of music option... That's the one thing I'm gonna miss from my voyager: full ipod control from my handlebars...  I have read several of the older posts about different options.  I have never tried speakers that go in your helmet, I don't think "in ear" buds would work for me.  The wife does'nt seem to care about listening but think she might change her mind if I went that route and bought a blue tooth system.

Any thoughts appreciated.
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: 4cedars on October 17, 2011, 05:50:48 PM
Sena SMH10 and Pandora on the Droid X2
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: Son of Pappy on October 17, 2011, 06:22:28 PM
What Brian said.  I really wanted to be wireless, just didnt work for me.  Coms tucked neatly away in the glove box, second lead coiled out of the way, and easy access to controls.  I run the XM30 through my Zumo, sat radio rocks!!!  Audiovox ProV1 for the last 40,000+ miles.
Title: Re: Farklicious
Post by: Khrome on October 17, 2011, 10:01:24 PM
(Ps. Meathead was on "All in the Family, I'm Flathead  ;D )

Oh S*** apologies! I did watch a lot of All in the Family though...  :o Gloria was a lot better looking back then  :P
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: t2sfd on October 18, 2011, 04:13:45 PM
Just installed the J&M CB 2003. I don't have many miles on it yet, but the sound is great. I had my Droid X and Ipod shuffle connected up to it. The sound out of the J&M helmet speakers if perfect and plenty of volume. Install wasn't bad. About 4 1/2 hours on the bike install and another 1 1/2 for the helmet speakers and mic.

I know the CB is "old" technology, but you can't beat it for the long trips on the highway.
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: Sea Level on October 18, 2011, 05:51:12 PM
Sena SMH10 and Pandora on the Droid X2

Sena SMH10 and WunderRadio (and iPod) on the iPhone.

I'm also researching the possibility of purchasing a pair of portable blue-toothed speakers to attach to the bike, for when I want to have the music outside my head. Bose has come out with a high-quality unit that is very thin and light, and I think I could rig it to attach to the windshield. Nice for those times when I am cruising low and slow and want to blast Commander Cody to the world.
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: Son of Pappy on October 18, 2011, 06:55:24 PM
Just installed the J&M CB 2003. I don't have many miles on it yet, but the sound is great. I had my Droid X and Ipod shuffle connected up to it. The sound out of the J&M helmet speakers if perfect and plenty of volume. Install wasn't bad. About 4 1/2 hours on the bike install and another 1 1/2 for the helmet speakers and mic.

I know the CB is "old" technology, but you can't beat it for the long trips on the highway.
I've been considering this for some time, truckers work at all hours, have great stories, and best of all provide smokie alerts ;D
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: Khrome on October 18, 2011, 07:35:16 PM
I'm also researching the possibility of purchasing a pair of portable blue-toothed speakers to attach to the bike, for when I want to have the music outside my head. Bose has come out with a high-quality unit that is very thin and light, and I think I could rig it to attach to the windshield.

Which one are you referring to?
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: Sea Level on October 19, 2011, 05:37:20 AM
The "Soundlink"...but further research indicates it's a bit to thick and heavy. Altec Lansing made a pair that looks good, but they appear to be out of production, the "inmotion soundwave". Still looking.....
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: Khrome on October 19, 2011, 06:27:50 AM
The "Soundlink"...but further research indicates it's a bit to thick and heavy.

Yea I looked around and figured that's what you were talking about.  There is a Bose store about an hour from me I may go listen to it just out of curiosity, I think it could be mounted on/in a tank bag maybe ...
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: TimmyG on October 19, 2011, 09:02:59 AM
I have a starcom1 digtal, been very happy
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: wildnphx on October 19, 2011, 03:50:10 PM
Tried both the Scala G4 and the Sena and the Sena was hands down the better of the two for multiple reasons.  the first and main reason was ease of use.  Nothing more fustrating then having a great system that is cumberson to use and confusing.  The sena is very very easy to use while riding.  The second reason is sound quality - The Sena speakers are better not by allot but they are better and then add in the option to replace the speakers and use earphones as well with the option mount.  That works great as it helpt to eliminate all the road noise.  The third reason is cost the Scala was wayyyyy more expensive.  Anyways it was a no brainer for me... Sena all the way!!
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: Flathead on October 19, 2011, 04:06:56 PM
Tried both the Scala G4 and the Sena and the Sena was hands down the better of the two for multiple reasons.  the first and main reason was ease of use.  Nothing more fustrating then having a great system that is cumberson to use and confusing.  The sena is very very easy to use while riding.  The second reason is sound quality - The Sena speakers are better not by allot but they are better and then add in the option to replace the speakers and use earphones as well with the option mount.  That works great as it helpt to eliminate all the road noise.  The third reason is cost the Scala was wayyyyy more expensive.  Anyways it was a no brainer for me... Sena all the way!!

Thanks wild!
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: Khrome on October 19, 2011, 04:54:20 PM
Tried both the Scala G4 and the Sena and the Sena was hands down the better of the two for multiple reasons.  the first and main reason was ease of use.  Nothing more fustrating then having a great system that is cumberson to use and confusing.  The sena is very very easy to use while riding.  The second reason is sound quality - The Sena speakers are better not by allot but they are better and then add in the option to replace the speakers and use earphones as well with the option mount.  That works great as it helpt to eliminate all the road noise.  The third reason is cost the Scala was wayyyyy more expensive.  Anyways it was a no brainer for me... Sena all the way!!

 :goodpost:  Thanks for your points.

However when I google both Sena and Scala dual pack.... I find the Scala for $10 cheaper...
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: ZG on October 19, 2011, 06:35:15 PM
We have the G4 powerset, my wife can use hers without any issue's, so I disagree that it's hard to use, and she still struggles with our tv/blue-ray/surround sound/etc remote that we've had for over a year. Maybe on day 1 it takes some getting use to, but not after you figure out what button does what function...
 
I really like the built in FM tuner on the G4, I use it every day when commuting to work.  :thumbs:
 
And the helmet speaker volume does not seem weak at all, I don't even turn mine all the way up and it sounds great.
 
I've never used the Sena, so I can't comment on that, but I will say the G4 does not suck, slick unit IMO!
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: Mad River Marc on October 20, 2011, 11:07:07 AM
I have an amplirider wired into the bike that ties my GPS, Radar and additional audio source (Ipod or Droid, I have an input on the bars I can plug either into) together and then I have custom earbuds that I use which both cut noise and give me good sound.  The amplirider has a remote volume control that I have mounted on the bars which lets me adjust sound on the fly.
Title: Re: Farklicious - need help with adding a sound system
Post by: roadie on October 20, 2011, 11:10:09 AM
+1...by the second ride, I had the G4 figured out too.  Without ear plugs I have to turn it down at 70 MPH as its too loud (and clear BTW too).

We have the G4 powerset, my wife can use hers without any issue's, so I disagree that it's hard to use, and she still struggles with our tv/blue-ray/surround sound/etc remote that we've had for over a year. Maybe on day 1 it takes some getting use to, but not after you figure out what button does what function...
 
I really like the built in FM tuner on the G4, I use it every day when commuting to work.  :thumbs:
 
And the helmet speaker volume does not seem weak at all, I don't even turn mine all the way up and it sounds great.
 
I've never used the Sena, so I can't comment on that, but I will say the G4 does not suck, slick unit IMO!