Hello all,
Recently, I posted a thread about J&M headset compared to the Harley Premium headset. I received no response. So, I took the plunge and ordered the J&M Elite Headset Model HS-ECD584-FL-HO and the lower cord HC-ZHD made specifically for the newer Harleys.
Here are my findings.....
The Harley Premium Headset came "free" with my '09 Ultra Classic. I purchased an additional set for my passenger at a cost of $199.99 from the dealer.
I installed the Harley set in my helmet according to instructions, plugged it in and gave it a try. At low, too low, volume settings, the headset sounded okay. Not concert hall, but okay. The microphone seemed to work as intended. When used as an intercom at low volume, again, all sounded okay. Now, I turned up the volume to listening level. I am 60 years old so do not subscribe to the "loud stereo's save lives" bullshit. At a normal level, the audio was TERRIBLE. It crackeled at the least provocation making the music irritating and unlistenable. The intercom was barely useable with the words broken and crackling also. I took them back to the dealer who graciously exchanged them for another new set. Properly installed, the results were the same. I then tried the set for the passenger. Exactly the same. Simply unuseable for stereo music. I asked several Ultra owners at a local bike night and they all said the same thing. They quit using the headsets and rely on the speakers.
Then, I tried the J&M headsets. The earphones and mic was listed at $229 and the lower cord was listed at $69.99. What a difference!!! While still not concert hall quality, they make listening to music a treat. Whether music, podcasts, or audio books, every word is understandable, you can turn the volume up to painful levels with no crackling or cutting out. The intercom is a joy to use as I can understand what is being said. I HIGHLY recommend the J&M headsets over the Harley Premium version. They actually work as they should and help pass the many miles with a passenger.
As an added bonus, Sierra Electronics in Troy, Ohio has the J&M set-up for $243.00 with free delivery. Tax may be added depending on where you live. I seriously think you will be wasting your money with the Harley version, as much as it pains me to say something bad about Harley stuff. But then, once you're past the bikes, everything in the store is made overseas anyway.....
Jeff
I ride WAAAAY too fast to worry about cholesteral
Glad you like em. Thanks for the review Jeff
I almost cut my hair, it happened just the other day.
It was gettin' kinda long, I could've said it was in my way.
But I didn't and I wonder why, I feel like letting my freak flag fly
Great review - thanks!
[hr]Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals ... except the weasel.
~Homer Simpson[hr]
thanks for the info ... was going to get one of thoes for me aqnd old lady but wasent sure which... i am now thanks....
Iffn you cant go out and have fun with your friends..... Then you need new friends....
Great first class review my friend!! I don't wear a helmet as a rule, so I couldn't help you..
I occasionally plop an Ipod in my shirt pocket and jam to the music on the Bose earbuds I bought. But that's pretty rare, and LEO's hate when you have both ears blocked with wired stuff around here...
It's not the years, it's the mileage!!
When seconds count, the cops are moments away!!
Danny, how do you like the Bose earbuds? I typically don't like earbuds cause they really don't stay in that great unless they are the in the ear canal type which get uncomfortable after a while for me. I did find a pair at Radioshack, KOSS for $15 bucks that are by far the best so far. Little memory foam cushions that go in the canal and expand, so they block outside noise (mainly wind at high speed) and they sound pretty good.
PHATBOY
" Your suffering from COMPOUND IGNORANCE..................you don't know, and you don't know that you don't know "
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote