va_rider
Wizard
so, part 2 in the new helmet audio setup is the music player.
The last part I wrote about was the FiiO E5 Headphone Amplifier:
http://www.998cc.org/forum/product-reviews/7409-fiio-e5-headphone-amplifier.html
My requirements for the player were:
The Shuffle would be replacing my iPod Touch for motorcycle duties, as the Touch is a bit large, and I really don't need it for anything other than music on trips.... I figured that the iPod shuffle would meet all of these requirements... I was actually looking for the previous generation Shuffle (the postage stamp looking one) but, they were selling on eBay for $70+ ... and I wasn't willing to spend that much.
So, I got on eBay... found a few Shuffle auctions that were about to end, and tossed a $15 max bid on 5 of them... thinking I might get one... turns out, I got 3... so... I kept a silver 4GB for myself, gave my wife the pink 2GB, and my buddy Josh wanted the silver 2GB model. All were brand new and factory sealed.
On to the testing / review.
They sync just like any other iPod... although they use that BS USB to 3.5mm plug adapter, and it sync's through the headphone jack.... so, there's no such thing as charging and listening at the same time. I just set up a "Shuffle" Playlist with iTunes, and set it to only sync that playlist to the shuffle.
Next, let's talk controls. This thing is abysmal. There are no buttons anywhere on the iPod, other than the multi-function power button (3 position: Off; On Shuffle; and On non-shuffle) ... the controls are all via the headphone cable mounted remote.
It functions thusly:
Squeeze the top the the remote: Volume up.
Squeeze bottom of remote: Volume down.
Center of remote:
Squeeze once: Play / Pause
Squeeze Twice: Fast-Forward Track
Squeeze 3 Times: Rewind Track
Squeeze and hold: Change playlist.
Now... this remote is built onto the headphone cable in such a way that it hits you about chin level, or slightly below. If you sat down with a pen and paper, and tried to design the absolute worst design you possibly could for a MP3 player, this would be it. Want to use it at the gym? The remote will smack you in the chin and neck while you're on the treadmill, and the slight added weight from the built-on remote will pull the headphone from your ear. Do you have a GREAT pair of headphones or helmet speakers that you'd like to use? Too bad. Without the wired remote, the iPod shuffle makes a rather fancy paper-clip.
However, 3rd party to the rescue.
That's the Belkin iPod Shuffle adapter, which allows you to use whatever headphones / speakers you'd like with your Shuffle... however, this means that the following will be my connection for this riding season:
iAsus XSJ Helmet speakers:
will connect to the Fiio E5 Headphone Amplifier:
which will hook up to the Belkin adapter:
which will then hook up to the shuffle:
That's a lot of connections.
So... summary:
Good:
The bad:
Overall... it's a horrible little invention. They took a definite step back from the last iteration of the iPod shuffle. Yet another example of: "If it ain't broke, fix it 'till it is." It's easy to understand now why I got three 3rd Gen iPod shuffles for $15 each, while the 2nd Gen Shuffle is going for $70...
Part 1 - Headphone Amplifier
http://www.998cc.org/forum/product-...son-part-1-3-fiio-e5-headphone-amplifier.html
Part 2 - iPod Shuffle 3rd Gen
http://www.998cc.org/forum/product-...dio-season-part-2-3-3rd-gen-ipod-shuffle.html
Part 3 - Iasus Speakers / Whole System
http://www.998cc.org/forum/product-...t-3-3-iasus-helmet-speakers-whole-system.html
The last part I wrote about was the FiiO E5 Headphone Amplifier:
http://www.998cc.org/forum/product-reviews/7409-fiio-e5-headphone-amplifier.html
My requirements for the player were:
- decent capacity
- good battery life
- light-weight
- good sound quality
The Shuffle would be replacing my iPod Touch for motorcycle duties, as the Touch is a bit large, and I really don't need it for anything other than music on trips.... I figured that the iPod shuffle would meet all of these requirements... I was actually looking for the previous generation Shuffle (the postage stamp looking one) but, they were selling on eBay for $70+ ... and I wasn't willing to spend that much.
So, I got on eBay... found a few Shuffle auctions that were about to end, and tossed a $15 max bid on 5 of them... thinking I might get one... turns out, I got 3... so... I kept a silver 4GB for myself, gave my wife the pink 2GB, and my buddy Josh wanted the silver 2GB model. All were brand new and factory sealed.
On to the testing / review.
They sync just like any other iPod... although they use that BS USB to 3.5mm plug adapter, and it sync's through the headphone jack.... so, there's no such thing as charging and listening at the same time. I just set up a "Shuffle" Playlist with iTunes, and set it to only sync that playlist to the shuffle.
Next, let's talk controls. This thing is abysmal. There are no buttons anywhere on the iPod, other than the multi-function power button (3 position: Off; On Shuffle; and On non-shuffle) ... the controls are all via the headphone cable mounted remote.
It functions thusly:
Squeeze the top the the remote: Volume up.
Squeeze bottom of remote: Volume down.
Center of remote:
Squeeze once: Play / Pause
Squeeze Twice: Fast-Forward Track
Squeeze 3 Times: Rewind Track
Squeeze and hold: Change playlist.
Now... this remote is built onto the headphone cable in such a way that it hits you about chin level, or slightly below. If you sat down with a pen and paper, and tried to design the absolute worst design you possibly could for a MP3 player, this would be it. Want to use it at the gym? The remote will smack you in the chin and neck while you're on the treadmill, and the slight added weight from the built-on remote will pull the headphone from your ear. Do you have a GREAT pair of headphones or helmet speakers that you'd like to use? Too bad. Without the wired remote, the iPod shuffle makes a rather fancy paper-clip.
However, 3rd party to the rescue.
That's the Belkin iPod Shuffle adapter, which allows you to use whatever headphones / speakers you'd like with your Shuffle... however, this means that the following will be my connection for this riding season:
iAsus XSJ Helmet speakers:
will connect to the Fiio E5 Headphone Amplifier:
which will hook up to the Belkin adapter:
which will then hook up to the shuffle:
That's a lot of connections.
So... summary:
Good:
- Good sound quality
- 4gb is plenty of storage for riding music
- It's tiny
- Good battery life
The bad:
- Remote is abysmal... the whole idea is moronic.
- Charging is a pain. Have to carry around that dumb USB to 3.5mm jack, and either a computer or a USB charging adapter
- Lose the headphones / remote, you can't use the iPod at all. It'll play everything in order... at 50% volume.
Overall... it's a horrible little invention. They took a definite step back from the last iteration of the iPod shuffle. Yet another example of: "If it ain't broke, fix it 'till it is." It's easy to understand now why I got three 3rd Gen iPod shuffles for $15 each, while the 2nd Gen Shuffle is going for $70...
Part 1 - Headphone Amplifier
http://www.998cc.org/forum/product-...son-part-1-3-fiio-e5-headphone-amplifier.html
Part 2 - iPod Shuffle 3rd Gen
http://www.998cc.org/forum/product-...dio-season-part-2-3-3rd-gen-ipod-shuffle.html
Part 3 - Iasus Speakers / Whole System
http://www.998cc.org/forum/product-...t-3-3-iasus-helmet-speakers-whole-system.html
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