GEARBAG: The S Plug Canal Phones

Gearbag

GEARBAG: The S Plug Canal Phones

The S plug incorporates two drivers in each ear bud for outstanding fidelity and sound reproduction...

SPEED Staff | Posted September 11, 2009 Charlotte, NC

The S Plug comes with the standard plug that will fit into any iPod or music source. (Photo: By Ken Glassman)

By Ken Glassman

When I’m out on a test bike to write a review, I’m always listening closely to the engine and exhaust note so I can report on it. It is too loud, too soft, throaty and robust, or ordinary and non-descript? Is there gear whine coming from the motor, or other mechanical noises I’d rather not hear?

But when I’m on my own bikes riding through the countryside, I like to listen to music. I can load up about 180 songs in my iPod Shuffle, and I’m good to go. The problem is finding the right set of earphones that can satisfy my needs for high quality sound reproduction, and be comfortable for all day wear under my various helmets. And occasionally, I also need to plug in other devices like a GPS system for turn by turn directions, communication devices for bike to bike or intercom radios, and sometimes, even a radar detector for those occasional banzai runs. While I want to hear all the nuances of the music clearly and cleanly, I also still want to get just enough ambient sound filtering through so I can hear emergency sirens, and enough of what is going on around me for safety.

Over the years, I’ve had many systems to do the job. First, there were the silver dollar size speakers that were installed inside the ear pockets of the helmet. I used to have to cut away at the helmet to fit those in, but now many helmets are made with cut-outs to accommodate speakers. They were still a hassle to install, and you still got the noise from the wind rush into the helmet. The sound was OK for intercom and bike to bike chatter, but sucked for music. And I’ve spent a small fortune on various ear bud designs to find a set that had good sound, and were comfortable to wear for any length of time. Most didn’t fit well into the ear, so I’d still get a lot of wind noise, and they’d move around inside the helmet, and required constant stopping to re-adjust. Then if I was able to jam them into my ears to keep them from moving, I’d get a headache after about an hour. I had a set of custom fit earphones made for me, and they were very good, but alas, I lost them, and wasn’t interested in spending another $400 or more to replace them. Then I ran into the folks from Plug Up at this years Dealer Expo, and they claimed their S Plug was just what I was looking for.

The S plug (named for the S shape of the ear canal) incorporates two drivers (miniature speakers) in each ear bud for outstanding fidelity and sound reproduction. Those drivers are enclosed in a unique baby soft rubber, mushroom-shaped tip that you insert into your ear canal. The shape of the tip creates a seal in the ear canal so that it muffles outside noises, and drives the music into your ears so you get increased bass responses, and bright treble tones. The plugs were designed by the owner of the company who is a licensed audiologist, and they’re made in America from the finest audio components. They even use a thicker “shielded” wire, which quashes any electrical interference that you normally get from the motorcycle’s electrical system for the best possible sound quality. And they are all-day comfortable to wear in any helmet without the need for constant readjustment.

While they sounded great at the booth, I admit I was hesitant to spend the $250 for the earphones, since I wasn’t sure how comfortable they’d be when used in my helmet for several hours. I’d gotten burned before. But Plug Up has a 30 day return policy, so that if I wasn’t satisfied with them for any reason, I could return them for a full refund. And, at any time after that, if I wasn’t completely happy with the fit, I could upgrade them into a full custom fit ear plug for an additional $100. So, it was a no-lose proposition, and I bought a pair. I use them all the time now, for my motorcycle needs, as well as for my gym workouts, airplane trips, and virtually any time I use my music devices. They’re absolutely terrific. You do not have to crank up the volume to get excellent sound throughout the range of music. You can hear the base and treble frequencies clearly. Whether it’s the Doobie Brothers, Steppenwolf, Cold Play, or Green Day, you’ll get a crisp sound quality. And if you have any questions or problems, you can call and speak directly to an audiologist, not a customer service rep in Pakistan.

The S Plug comes with the standard plug that will fit into any iPod or music source, but you can also order various adaptors to allow you to use them on the sound systems of specific motorcycles, like Honda Gold Wings, Harley Ultra’s, BMW’s, Victory’s, and even to adapt to helmet communications systems from Chatterbox, Autocom, Starcom , and others.

For the budget minded, you can also order S Plugs with a single driver (speaker) in each ear bud for only $145.

To order and get more information, visit the web site at www.plugup.com or call 305-477-2333.