Tips for choosing a bike speaker

A bicycle column is not just a gadget that allows you to brighten up your travel time. High-quality musical accompaniment makes it easier to tune in to the desired mood, sets the tone in the choice of speed and makes the rider more noticeable on the road. But how to adapt a compact sound system to the format of outdoor activities? What features of fastening and a support of the holder for a bicycle column should be considered? How to choose a portable steering wheel column and not regret it?

To understand exactly which options are suitable for travel, it is better to spend some time from the very beginning to study the technical capabilities of modern devices. A review of the JBL speakers and others with a Bluetooth module will help determine the power and design of the bicycle speakers.

The acoustic speaker for a bicycle is a comparatively new phenomenon in the technology market. The following features are added to the usual features of portable sound systems.

1. Vibration protection. Indispensable for moving on rough roads and in general when driving fast.
2. Sealed enclosure. It must be resistant to small stones or other possible road troubles.
3. Increased battery power. It should be sufficient to provide 8-10 hours of battery life.
4. High volume. Sound quality is very important, otherwise it will be impossible to hear musical chords in the whistle of the wind and the noise of cars.
5. A special mount that allows you to fix the sound system on the steering wheel. It must be functional, reliable and fairly durable.

These are the main parameters that a portable bike station should comply with. In addition, there are many subtleties that have to be considered when choosing a device.

All commercially available bike speakers can be divided into 3 large groups according to the type of received signal.

1. Radio frequency. The most rare, but with a large radius of reception - up to 100 m from the source of signal transmission. Among their shortcomings are the interference that occurs on the air, some complexity settings. But in general, for long trips and expeditions, this option is best suited.
2. Bluetooth Speakers with a small range of reception range - up to 30 m. To establish a connection in a smartphone, tablet or other device, there must be a similar communication module. Just turn it on and activate pairing. After that, you can play music or use the bike speaker as an external speaker when watching a video.
3. Wi-fi The most energy-consuming option in terms of battery consumption. After all, a smartphone or tablet acts as a signal source. Connection quality may also be unstable. But in general, many cyclists and cyclists are pleased with this acquisition.

Typically, special bike columns have a standard mount, but there are adapters that allow you to turn almost any device into a bike column. In the traditional version, it can be a holder on the steering wheel or mount on the frame. Which option is more convenient, simpler and provides better sound?

In the first case, the selected acoustics are fixed on the steering column using a simple bracket with a tripod screw, similar to those offered for cameras and DVRs.

Bicycle acoustics are mounted on the frame using a non-slip plastic or silicone device resembling a bottle holder - it is easily mounted in regular holes. But if they are not, you have to drill. The screw mount is quite reliable, but it is convenient to carry the column on the frame only when 2 fixing blocks are available immediately. For example, under the second bottle holder.

Among the models of bicycle speakers available on the market, you can pay attention to the following options.

• JBL Charge 3. Single-band mono speaker, waterproof housing, microphone for voice recording, in active mode it works up to 15 hours without recharging, there is no support for memory cards. The brand is considered the flagship of the market, pays great attention to build quality and material.

• Avantree cyclone. Model for mounting on the frame. Works with connection via Bluetooth, AUX, there is a slot for a memory card. The case is shockproof, the design is interesting.

• SVEN PS-465. Speaker with stereo sound, there is a calibration of low and high frequencies. It works via Bluetooth, supports USB connection, there is a slot for memory cards. The stylish design of the case is complemented by a battery for 6 hours of battery life.

• Partner Rebel. Inexpensive speaker with bright design. The sound is monophonic, button control, there is Bluetooth, a built-in flashlight, support for memory cards.

What additional features can a bike column show? Among the most relevant options can be distinguished solar charge - in this case, you definitely won’t have to worry about replenishing the energy reserve. A built-in clock and an alarm clock or timer can also be useful.

Reception of radio frequencies is useful if you want to maximize the use of the speaker offline and just listen to the radio.This feature is not available in all models, but if it is present, even in the absence of a normal connection, finding the latest news and enjoying music will be easy.

Portable bike speakers can support wired or wireless interfaces. Most often, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi protocols are used to connect to a smartphone. This avoids the need for a wired connection, it is more convenient and safe. But it all depends on the model of the device. For instance, Apple gadgets can only choose between Wi-Fi and AUX - the second method involves a wired connection to the headphone slot, the speaker simply transmits sound through the speaker, but you do not need to configure anything.

Among the available ports in most variants of bicycle speakers can be distinguished USB and microSD slots. They allow you to connect external memory cards or flash drives, make it possible to play music pre-loaded onto media without connecting to other gadgets. In addition, the USB slot is often a socket for connecting a charger. And if there is no AUX cable, through it you can connect to any device directly and use your smartphone or tablet as a regular flash card, playing tracks from the device’s memory.

In order for the speaker of musical portable acoustics to reproduce high-quality sound, you will have to pay attention to the number of bands that are available to the user in the frequency range. Usually they are from 1 to 3. You can understand which option to choose by marking. For true fans of good cycling, three-way versions can be recommended. The speaker formats encountered determine whether low frequencies will be played, and whether stereo sound can be heard at all in the speakers. All options presented on the market are divided into such.

1. Format 1.0. The simplest, supporting exclusively monophonic sound. The playback quality is appropriate, the power is also low.
2. Format 2.0. Speakers with stereo sound and realistic transmission of all intonations. Middle class to enjoy music on the go.
3. Format 3.0. Bike speakers with a subwoofer to enhance low-frequency and high-frequency sounds. A good solution for those who are not used to limiting themselves.

The number of speakers does not affect these parameters. It can be 1 and give out quality better than models where there are 3 or 4 of them in the audio speaker.

When choosing a portable bike speaker system It is worth paying attention to the following points.

1. Picking. If a specialized device is purchased, it should already be with fasteners and everything necessary for installation on the steering wheel.
2. Type of power supply. If trips are often made away from civilization, and there is no access to electricity, you can purchase a bike station that runs on replaceable batteries. For everyday use, a model with a modern lithium-ion battery and charger is more suitable.
3. Available interfaces. Even a wireless speaker can only work via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. In case there are no gadgets at hand, you should buy a model with a memory card and upload your favorite tracks to the player.
4. Where the stand is attached. Most models can be fixed to the steering wheel or frame - the first option is definitely more convenient for switching tracks on the way.

See how to make your own bike speaker for your bike in the next video.