Rockin Sound System for 2016 BMW C650GT

Paul Meudt

New member
Has anyone had success in putting together and installing a good sounding sound system on the 2016 C650GT?
So far I have only come up with two real possibilities:
I have been brainstorming and experimenting with the BOSE Soundlink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II system; still working on the mounting and reliability. You can get the Limited Edition black/copper color unit which is close to frozen bronze metallic color at https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/speakers/wireless_speakers/soundlink_mini_ii.html .
The other involves a full custom build possibly using the Planet Audio PGR35B source unit, Arc Audio XDI502 speaker set and Metra 44-ua205 antenna with no Bluetooth. It would be nice to play any music anytime streaming from smart phone or MP3 player.
Please post your ideas and installs if anyone has done this yet. Thanks.
 

TwoPort

Member
Glad you asked. There is probably some crossover into bluetooth helmet audio although I know you're thinking of something different.

My "sound system" is the Bose QC 20 noise cancelling ear buds and the Sena 20S bluetooth.

I used Sugru to mount magnets to hold the Bose battery base to the Sena. When I ride, I put the earbuds on first, then the helmet. I use a Schuberth C3 and it has ample room at "the right place" so there's no pushing on the ear buds. I know the Sena has speakers that fit in the Schuberth holes also because that is what my wife uses. She is happy with the Sena speakers but I think she listens to them too loud.

Flick on the noise canceling switch - the motor drone quites down a bit - and the audio "pops" real nice. Actually I think it sounds great. The bose unit has a button that allows full outside audio in so you can have a conversation when you're off the bike. Of course you can also turn the noise canceling off.

I mostly use Spotify from my iPhone for music. I also got expansion memory for my BMW V Navi unit and the audio sound from the unit is waaaay better from the Navi vs. the iPhone. I have no idea why that might be.

I think you'd find the Bose Mini II speaker a bit lite at operational speeds as it isn't that loud. A custom audio system would definitely do the trick but they are expensive. As I said too - I'm a fan of Spotify so if you get any system I'd make sure you can send audio from your iPhone to listen to whatever you want whenever you want. You can download Spotify songs to your iPhone so you don't miss anything when you get ouf cel range.


Notes:

Nose cancelling is of course a relative term. I often get challenged that it will render me unable to hear anything but that's not true. (I hope!) If I crank the music up too much then it definitely impairs hearing other things but that would also be true of any "nice" bike system. I live next to a touring highway and I hear motorcycle sound systems often as they ride by. There is no way they can hear anything else! Woooo.ooooo ooooo - Listen to the Music! Filling the neighborhood.

I'll also say I think the noise canceling helps me to listen to audio at a lower volume which may help with other noises - but that's just wishful thinking.

I've also seen some other interesting helmet speaker systems like: http://www.syphonsound.com/soundwrap.html but have no experience with them.

J
 
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JaimeC

New member
I have the NCOM bluetooth speakers in my helmet. Paired with my BMW Navigator IV (same as a Zumo 660) and my 4 Gb of MP3 music goes with me whenever I ride. Sounds great and doesn't annoy anyone else around me.

I DO miss cranking the stereo system on the K1200LT when I find myself next to idiots on their cell phones at traffic lights... but it's a good trade off.
 

Snowdog

New member
I have tried just about every option for listening except a neurophone (to expensive) . I agree that the best sound comes from in ear options, what ever that may be.
KOSS makes a cheap set ($19) with foam cushions that is excellent for keeping outside noise out. I found the foam a little short for my ears, so get industrial foam ear plugs, punch holes in them and use them in place of the KOSS foam. Works for me, and cheap.
 
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