Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

No idea if any of you have already got these, but I was looking for a way of listening to music on the bike while not damaging my hearing (long motorway stints). These are plenty of companies that produce custom fitted headphones, but they are expensive and involve a trip to an audiologist.

I always assume I can do it cheaper. So I did.

First up is to buy a DIY silicone ear plug kit:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Custom-mou...ht_1470wt_1396
Good for 2 pairs.

Then you need a set of the newer style in ear headphones - the ones that come with several rubber tips and fit inside the ear canal.

Follow the instructions supplied with the earplugs, and insert the headphones into the plug before it sets. Make sure its in far enough to not foul on your helmet while putting it on. Wait 10 mins, remove.

Remove the headphone and clean any extra material out of the tube. Drill from where the end of the headphone tube went into the plug to the end of the section of the plug went into your ear canal.

Rinse and repeat.

In order to satisfy the bluetooth requirement, I bought one of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Ericsso...7164108&sr=8-1

The headphones supplied with it are suitable.

Now I can listen to music (track skip and volume works with iPhones), get sat nav instructions etc from my phone on the bars. Plugs are comfy so far and decent at "motorway Speeds". Not tried taking a call on the device yet, the bluetooth unit doe shave a mike so it should be possible. More use for quick calls while stopped probably, not sure i want to be on the phone while riding a bike.

I'll get some photos of the finished product up tonight.

http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/...on/Photo16.jpg

http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/...on/Photo17.jpg

There is a video here of someone doing the same thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmk-y_9exJ8

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones
 

Fantastic post , cheers Mark!
Will give it a go at some point
My ears were in agony after a recent ride back from France, shoulder checks were blindingly painful

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones
 

great stuff..always up for a bit of diy. I wonder how they stack up when you are pulliing the helmet on and off.
Any low profile ear buds out there? Look forward to the pics and review.

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones
 

I got the left earphone one pushed in further, works well. The right catches a bit and I sometimes need to give it a tap once my lid is on for it to sit perfect.

Pics are up, should be able to see what I'm talking about.... Still got half the stuff left, will make a set of plain plugs as well I think.

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

I've heard good things about these ...
http://www.earfuze.com/store.html

Quite cheap, not much more than your DIY jobbie.

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

Cool, both ideas look good & I've been thinking about getting some custom ones made, I will try the DIY way first, as you could make loads before even getting near the price of custom made ones

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

I was talking to a guy last weekend when I was on my trumpet weekend up north, he's got a viper Bluetooth flip front lid, I'm thinking of one for touring.

He let me listen to it, it can answer calls, synch with the satnav, if your pillion has one you can use it as comms, all for £150.

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

Just ordered a set, might as well give it a go for that price

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

Great post Mark, definitely worth a shot :D

Haha Marshmallow poops 8)

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

I just ordered 2 x sets for £12 (made them an offer).

Cheers for the heads up!

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

Got mine today, only ordered on wednesday night. Going to make up a set of normal earplugs in the morning then have a go at a set with my headphones in

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

is the silicone that the earplugs are made of slightly soft or really hard as i was thinking of getting some but would have problems with hard plugs thanks

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

I'll let you know tomorrow after i try them

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

so what were they like then? should i buy some or stick to my alpine ones

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

I ordered 2 x sets of these and through trial and error reckon that you can get 3 x pairs of earplugs with headphones in out of 1 x box.

I initially tried using half of each compound to make each earplug, although once the headphones were inserted, a lot of the compound comes out of your ear. The 1st go wasn't a resounding success, there was more compound in the ear plug than was necessary and because I'd slightly covered the earphones once they were inserted, had a job getting them back out without damaging the rest of the earplug. Not so bad if you wanted to keep the earphones stuck in the plugs, but I wanted to be able to remove them.

I had a 2nd attempt, using less of the remaining compound (so probably about a third of the total original amount) and ensured that the earphones weren't covered. Although they were a better fit using less compound, they're still quite fragile and I really struggled to get them to sit properly in my helmet. As I put it on, it knocks them very slightly and 'unseats' them from your ear a tiny amount, but enough to not be as snug as when you wear them without your helmet.

When taking the lid off, it drags them up out of your ears and against your head which isn't the comfiest thing ever.

All in all I reckon through more trial and error I could get a near perfect fit and be able to get my lid off without too much discomfort, however not sure I want to spend much more time on it when the end result isn't that much better than using the earphones directly.

I might look about for some more 'flexible' material though, as once set, these are quite hard and I think that might be the reason for the movement/poor fit once you put your lid on.

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

Have a look at Comply ear phones with foam tips. I have tried many many ear phones, including ultimate ears ones, and comply are by far the best!

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

Did you get the earphones, or just the comply tips for existing earphones?

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

this stuff is just 'silly gum' and you can get it cheaper. it's used for taking moulds for cake decorating and jewellery making etc.etc

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

I just use bog standard Sony in ear earphones and a headover to keep them seated while putting helmet on or taking helmet off. Works with no problems so far.

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

Bibio, do you mean something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silly-Gum-...-/280867773904

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

yes that's the stuff.doubt that 20g would be enough but i could be wrong.

just read the blurb a bit more and it say it makes 2 spheres at 22mm which should be enough.

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

I got the comply earphones and then a set of comply medium tips as spares. I have just used them on the Cornwall Trip and I can honestly say they are perfect. They are more comfy than my ear defenders at work.

They could out almost everything as well. I accidently knocked my IPOD off and it was a really strange experience to be riding along at 70 mph when its quiet.

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

Cornwall?

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

I am an idiot. WALES! lol

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

ordered the exact same stuff and it looks enough to make 1 pair of plugs. just waiting on some cord coming so i can mould that into them so they have a lanyard permanently attached.

Re: Custom Earplugs / Headphones.
 

i can confirm that the amount in the link above is enough to do 3 ears or 2 very large ears. done mine and easy peasy. half the amount of each pot mixed till uniform then stuffed into ear along with some cord that i put a knot in waited about 6 mins then removed, repeated on other ear and now i have a pair of custom ear plugs for very very little dosh.

£3.40 for the gum and £2 for 5mtr of lanyard/necklace rubber (enough to make 6 pairs).

things i found out when doing mine. you will use to much as it's deceptive the amount needed e.g. not as much as you think. you have to trim them when done as they are a pain in the arz to get in and out if you don't.

so even given that you get way to much rubber cord it still works out at £5.40 for a pair of custom ear plugs with attached lanyard and that's including postage those wanting custom earphones don't need the rubber cord.

happy dayz :-)

what are they like in use. well they don't drown out everything as i expected and i would say about the same as the foam ones which is good as you can still hear sirens etc.etc. very very comfy once you get them in which takes practise.