Anybody hacked into their Q2?

[80G]

Anybody hacked into their scala q2 and removed the speakers?  I am thinking about doing away with the speakers and hooking up ear buds.  I know that it ruins the whole just put on your helmet and go thing.  I used an Ipod and earbuds for years, but now connecting the gps, ipod, and also bluetoothing with my buddy worked well last summer.  I just couldn't position the speakers well enough to suit me.  All the wind noise and poor audio have to go.  I have an extra helmet mount to try on.  Now I have to figure out to hard mount or put on a connector.

[chornbe]

Anybody hacked into their scala q2 and removed the speakers?  I am thinking about doing away with the speakers and hooking up ear buds.  I know that it ruins the whole just put on your helmet and go thing.  I used an Ipod and earbuds for years, but now connecting the gps, ipod, and also bluetoothing with my buddy worked well last summer.  I just couldn't position the speakers well enough to suit me.  All the wind noise and poor audio have to go.  I have an extra helmet mount to try on.  Now I have to figure out to hard mount or put on a connector.

Should be fairly straight forward to do it. The biggest thing will be impedance matching on the buds/speakers.

I would like to offer a suggestion on the ear buds: JVC Air Cushions - they don't rely on ear canal insertion for retention, but neither do they just hang in the pocket of your ear. They seal up around the end of the ear canal and they have an air bag on them that positions them in, and holds their position in the ear pocket.

I'm a huge fan of these things and suggest them to everyone who will listen.  

JVC Air Cushion headphones at Amazon - ~20$

[Wockman]

Like you said you have an extra mount. Plus Cardo sells replacement parts, so if you messed it up, it would only be a $29 mistake...

http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=cardo&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=527385890&Count2=444526314

I've used the Koss Plug on the bike, they do a great job of blocking out noise.  Those JVC look like they are worth try as well.
http://www.amazon.com/Koss-Plug-Portable-Headphones-colors/dp/B00001P4XA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1265807813&sr=1-1

[camaroz1985]

Check it out.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=442304

[MK96xj]

I use a set of Etomic Er6i's on my Q2. I did this mod awhile ago and have never looked back. It is one of the best things you can do to the Q2 for sound quality and cure the struggle to hear conversations at speed. The Er6i's also double as my earplugs.

The write up on ADV that camaro posted has a lot of detail so i will not replicate it

One of the things I like about this mod is being that the Scala is not waterproof and I have been through a few due to moisture issue, I take them off in heavy rain. I have the excess wire from the Er6s tucked into the padding of my helmet. I can unplug from the Scala headset and direct to my GPS to continue with the music and direction.

[80G]

Thanks for the replies.  Now that I realize that I am not crazy for wanting to do this, I have to decide which mount to try.  The standard mount or the mount with the mp3 port.  I am one of those guys who listen to ipod, directions from gps, talk to buddy, and the answer the occasional call while riding (right or wrong).  I know there are guys out there who will put me down for this, I like to think that I am safe.  I do like having all this at my disposal.  The biggest hang up is the sound quality.  I am going to go for it.  I will keep you all posted on the outcome.

[MK96xj]

Thanks for the replies.  Now that I realize that I am not crazy for wanting to do this, I have to decide which mount to try.  The standard mount or the mount with the mp3 port.  I am one of those guys who listen to ipod, directions from gps, talk to buddy, and the answer the occasional call while riding (right or wrong).  I know there are guys out there who will put me down for this, I like to think that I am safe.  I do like having all this at my disposal.  The biggest hang up is the sound quality.  I am going to go for it.  I will keep you all posted on the outcome.

Do the one with the MP3 Port. Don't cut the wires too short. You want to allow for mistakes as these wires are very small and delicate.

[80G]

Got it done.  I found a guide that someone on another board wrote.  It wasn't too bad.  Now I am getting ready to ride.

[MK96xj]

A trick i use to prevent that plug from dangling and smacking you in the neck is to pit a zip tie around it and cut the ties length down to about 2". That that two inches and tuck it in to the helmet.

Here is a pick to help:

[80G]

Good tip.  It had crossed my mind on how to keep it from beating me in the neck.  Just hadn't thought of the zip tie yet.