new products

Ear speakers mountable onto cycling helmet’s strap

17 Comments

Elecom has launched a new line of wireless ear speakers, mountable onto the helmet’s strap, that deliver music stored in your Bluetooth smartphone so you can enjoy music while riding a bike.

The new model offers Bluetooth connection, allowing you to listen to music wirelessly via smartphones or audio players that support Bluetooth. The product features two ultra-compact speakers with an ear hook on each side, providing a level of comfort equivalent to wearing a headset even for long hours of use. The ear hooks are shaped so that the speakers sit right before the ears without covering them up. In addition, two pairs of hoop and clasp fastener tapes are included for secure fixing of the ear speakers to the helmet’s straps, making them perfect for listening to music while cycling.

Since the ear speakers will be double-secured to the ears and the helmet’s straps using the hooks and the hoop and clasp fastener tapes, they are unlikely to be affected by bumpy roads. The speakers sit right in front of the ears without blocking them and preventing the complete shutting out of the surrounding sounds, which means you will be able to safely enjoy music and cycling while still paying sufficient attention to your surroundings.

In terms of sound quality, the speakers feature the Bluetooth AAC codec, making it possible to reproduce sound source files without losing the quality. Furthermore, the speakers support codec aptX of CSR inc., enabling reproduction of high-quality sound as well as low-delay sound, which is realized by reducing audio delay in playing video, when used in combination with aptX compatible devices. The new model also supports hands-free profile HSP/HFP, allowing you to have telephone conversations as well as audio chat through the built-in noise-canceling microphone that provides clear voice response while filtering ambient noise.

When used in combination with A2DP devices, the speakers can reproduce even clearer sound from music data as well as audio for applications.

In terms of the operation, the right speaker is equipped with all buttons necessary for turning the power ON/OFF, pairing, and controlling volume as well as buttons for playing/pausing and fast-forwarding/rewinding music.

The product offers battery performance sufficient for everyday use, with a maximum of approximately fourteen hours of music playback time and a maximum of approximately two hundred hours of standby time. It also comes equipped with a micro USB connector for charging, and can be charged via connection to a PC, AC adapter, cigar USB charger, or similar using the included charging cable. The micro USB port can be closed up with a cap to prevent water from entering, providing peace of mind even when hit by a sudden rainfall.

The product is available in black, pink and red.

Price: 10,770 yen.

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17 Comments
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While this sounds nice I prefer to hear whatever road hazards that may harm me. Cyclists on public streets don't need to zone out placing themselves and others in more possible danger.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Shouldn't this be illegal?

7 ( +11 / -5 )

Shouldn't this site have more sense than to promote such an anti-social product?

2 ( +6 / -5 )

Yes, it should be illegal. How long will it be before some stupid cyclist dies because of listening to music using these instead of listening for traffic and signs of danger?

5 ( +8 / -3 )

How long will it be before some stupid cyclist dies because of riding against traffic at night without a light?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

No it's not illegal since it doesn't cover the ear and it does not shut out ambient road noise. It's like listening to music over normal speakers.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Triring is correct. In-ear headphones, or headphones that cover the ear are illegal. However, these are speakers strapped to the helmet, and do not block out outside sounds, and therefore are not illegal.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

If these were illegal then blasting music in an enclosed (near airtight) car is just plain stupid and equally illegal....

6 ( +7 / -1 )

I'd prefer cyclists to ride without any distractions. Many don't have rear-view mirrors and oblivious of what happens behind them. Regardless of these being mere speakers, they obviously make riding bicycles more dangerous...

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The bike-bashes are on the rampage again.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I'd prefer car dirvers to recognize and accept that bicycles are also wheeled vehicle that are required to drive on roads instead of treating them as if they are some kind of moving obstacle that should move out of the car's way.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There is no bike bashing here, I live my bicycle and ride it often myself. But only a car driver (which you obviously aren't) knows how scary cyclists distracted by various means can be...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Hey I am a cyclist and I think this crap should be illegal. Cyclists need their ears as much as their eyes. There is nothing more terrifying than seeing some blank faced bicycle rider with ear phones and texting as he is going along a sidewalk at full speed. Ear phones are for when you are passive.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I don't see the difference between listening to music while riding a bike or driving a car. In both cases you can either listen at a comfortable level while still able to hear ambient noise or blast away and only hear the music. How is it less dangerous for car drivers? If anything, I would think it's more dangerous since there is a couple of thousand kilograms of extra metal going at a much higher rate of speed.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Recipe for disaster. Love music and love cycling but I NEVER put anything in my ears much less listen to music while doing it. Crazy.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Recipe for disaster. Love music and love cycling but I NEVER put anything in my ears much less listen to music while doing it. Crazy.

I always listen to music while I ride, though on a handlebar mounted speaker, not on helmet mounted speakers. It makes for an enjoyable experience, and I have no problems hearing traffic or whatnot around me. I'm considering buying a set of these. I'd just make sure to not turn the music up too loud.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Along with umbrellas, double riding, I believe head phones and texting while biking are now illegal here. It is hard enough hearing these hybrid vehicles which do not stop at stop signs. We do not need this product.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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