What's the smallest self-contained Bluetooth speaker?
 

I'm looking for the smallest BT speaker I can find. I want something I can place on the helmet
( preferably ) to enhance audible navigation prompts from my phone navigation app. The smaller the footprint the better. With wind and traffic noise always a factor it is easy to miss a prompt for a turn. While my android phone has a fairly loud speaker, the speaker itself is on the back of the phone. Making matters worse is that I use a Bikase holder for the phone which makes hearing it even harder.

I realize that normal BT phone ear buds would be about perfect but I don't want to wear something in my ear that will block the normal sounds heard while riding. That means it has to have some volume to be useful. I don't think the ear bud type speakers will be loud enough to be heard if I mount on the helmet next to my ear. Anyway I've spent some time searching the net but most of what I'm seeing is too big to mount on my helmet ( although I am considering other mounting options. )

If anyone has any recommendations or thoughts along this line I've love to hear about it.

Dunno specifically, but I a saw a lot of options googling "bluetooth helmet speakers".

i bought a pair of these over the winter to use at the gym and office. they were only $50 in December. they're great. i plan to start bike commuting later this spring. I'm going to use them for gps till i get my route down. my plan is to keep the right ear in, while keeping the left tucked away so i can still hear traffic. they're not all that noise isolating so i'll still be getting outside sound when the gps chick isn't telling me what to do.

Amazon.com: LG Electronics Tone+ HBS-730 Bluetooth Headset - Retail Packaging - Black: Cell Phones & Accessories

Thanks Looigi. That helped. Eventually I came upon these, "Otus mini-speakers". I remember someone else talking about these some time ago. This might be the kind of set-up I'm looking for. Only problem is the cost. The speakers with BT receiver cost about $95 ( USD ). That's pretty steep but not totally out of my range. If I can't find a cheaper option I might go with these.

Now if I could find something about the size of a mini-flasher that I could mount on the bars that might work as well. Lots of BT-speakers out there only most of the ones that I'm seeing are just too big.

This one is pretty small: Buckshot Rugged Bluetooth Speaker - Outdoor Tech

Yeah I saw one similar to that. Little big for my tastes though.

Got one. Use it about every 5th ride when I'm solo. I mount it on the frame headtube pointing up toward me. Very simple, very rugged, non-distracting, great charge capacity. Bluetooth with iPhone works flawlessly.

Nice to hear it works well. If I were to use one of those I would likely do what you did. I would mount between the top top and the stem post. There is a similar product with a suction cup a little smaller that I could use the same way ( although I might have to paint it black ). Probably not made as well but cheap as dirt.

Still the less obvious stuff I have attached to my bike the better I feel. ( *sigh*... as If I don't have enough bike accessories mounted to my bike already..:rolleyes: ) In the mean time I plan to buy one of the nice universal mounts that were designed for the I-phones ( but can work with other phones ). If it works like I think it will I might not need the Bikase case unless the weather calls for rain. Without the Bikase case I might be able to hear the on-board speaker better and thus not need an additional BT speaker. My only worry with the I-phone mount is that the adapter mount glues directly to the phone and is not easily removable. If the adapter interferes when I'm using the phone for other things that could be a problem.

I use an earbud only in the side away from traffic. Otherwise for the mounting solution, can't you get it to stick to a case of some sort instead of directly to the phone?

My brother-in-law is using this and he's quite happy with it. Not sure whether it'll be good for cycling though.

I have a BT earbud. I might have dismissed using it too fast. I need to give it a fair shake down. If I don't get too much wind noise in the ear with the bud I'll likely use it. For the most though I really don't like wearing something in my ear.

About sticking the I-phone mount to a case; Right now I'm using an Otter case for my phone. The back of the Otter case is textured so gluing something to it might not work. There are other brand cases to consider though. In the mean time I need to order the mount. So much stuff to get before the season starts.

FWIW, I know a guy who just puts his iPhone in a bento box on his top tube and listens to music using its speakers. Of the sound quality or volume aren't great.

I used to think that it was xmini now there are tons out in the market that are smaller.

I know this is an older thread, but I was linked to it from another thread.

Have you considered the Aftershokz Bluez?

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=377305

They transmit sound using bone conduction, so you don't actually have anything in your ears blocking out noise from from the outside world. Plus they have an integrated mic + buttons, so you can answer phone calls/change songs pretty easily.

Ahh yes, the modern bone fone!

To attempt to answer the OP's question, there's a lot of bluetooth speakers now that are quite small, like this -- 2.5" tall, 2" diameter cylinder. Fits into one of those bags that sits on your top tube near your headset easily and loud enough. This particular one will even play mp3s from a micro sdcard -- no phone needed, but it does bluetooth too.

But you don't need this exact model ... Walmart and similar places sell a lot of similar things now for around $15-40.

LOL....Yeah, I had a pair of the original bone fones ( back in the 80's was it? )...boy does that bring back the memories. I guess that means, "Once a electronic geek, always an electronic geek". :p

The Aftershokz Bluez are an interesting product but wouldn't work in my case because I wear glasses. Even if I didn't, I would find it had to believe that the product wouldn't interfere with the wearing of a helmet ( or vise versa ).