Bluetooth Speaker loud enough to hear over Rower noise

[Treeh0use]

Hi

Would any of you good folks who enjoy doing your rowing workouts to music played from your phone, be able to recommend budget speakers loud enough to hear over the loud sound of the rower?

Tried both an Echo and Iphone in phone cradle but the rower noise just drowns them out.

Thans
Andrew

[Dangerscouse]

I have given up on speakers, and have kept on using headphones. I found the flywheel drowned it out too much, unless I had it at an unacceptably high volume.

[Tony Cook]

I have a Sonos Bluetooth speaker that does the job. Loud though, as you say, to cover the noise. Also use Bluetooth headphones if not going to be on too long. I find they itch my ears after 45 mins or so.

[Baraboobiker]

I also use Sonos, and love it, although on WiFi. Plenty loud, but may not fit into the budget category - aprox. $150. Check out Wirecutter for some good ideas.

[Treeh0use]

Thanks folks.

Not keen on Bluetooth earphones as I’ve concerns over long term exposure to EMF (but that’s a different story).

Can I ask what decibel level any speaker purchase should be to cover the Flywheel noise.

What’s the output of any speakers recommended?

Cheers

[StevenWayne]

I adore my JBL Clip3 speaker and use it clipped to my belt loop for walking so that I can hear traffic and mean dogs. Because of this thread, I decided to try it during a Model D rowing workout to see if its loud enough. it is! I hung a loop of paracord around my monitor arm beneath the PM5 and clipped the JBL Clip3 speaker onto it with speaker directly facing me (so, it's the same distance from me as the monitor). I played my iPad though it (I use my iPhone for Ant+ HRM and Bluetooth to PM5 and ErgData), and the JBL CLip3 was awesome. I sure like this speaker, and I was listening to classic 90s rock (Rage, Oasis, GNR, etc) at approx volume 80%-90% and it was plenty loud against the flywheel noise at 2:00min/500m. If I went down to just above 50%, that's where it was pretty faint compared to the flywheel (but still listenable if I didnt want to wake the neighbors). I like that the volume buttons on the speaker are right there in front of me on the JBL Clip 3, as well as the pause button, in case someone hollers to me from the other room (thus, i don't need my iPad even within arm's reach; one cannot skip tracks directly on the Clip3, though). If a rower wanted it even closer to them, they could clip it to their workout clothing, I suppose. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDw0R8EJusw

JBL has come out with a Clip4 model that is $70, but I see no major advantage to it over the Clip3 (both 10 hours of battery life; Clip 4 with slightly more bass and USB-C charger...there's already a Youtube video comparison of Clip4 to Clip3). The JBL Clip3 is available at most retailers (Target, Kohls, Amazon, etc) for $39-$48 dollars. I kept the paracord loop on the monitor arm so I can clip this speaker to it in two shakes of a dog's tail anytime now, will come in especially handy when I'm row erging outdoors this summer. Thanks for idea, treehouse. And, no, I don't work for JBL. lolol

[Tsnor]

Thanks folks.

Not keen on Bluetooth earphones as I’ve concerns over long term exposure to EMF (but that’s a different story).
...

Cheers

FWIW since the signal goes from your phone via Bluetooth you are getting the same radiation whether it's a Bluetooth speaker listening or Bluetooth headphones listening. It's not like a cellphone conversation where there is a lot of traffic outbound from the headset, although there will be some. Mostly the headset just receives. Bluetooth LE is also a much weaker signal than a cell phone signal.

If you decide to risk EMF from the bluetooth headset, I like the cheap ones I use. They block ambient sound like the flywheel passively so you don't have to play them that loud. You can adjust volume by pushing buttons on the headset rather than reaching for your phone. The over ear hooks keep them in place. Battery is rechargeable. $23 Amazon < SENSO Bluetooth Headphones, Best Wireless Sports Earphones w/Mic IPX7 Waterproof HD Stereo Sweatproof Earbuds for Gym Running Workout 8 Hour Battery Noise Cancelling Headsets. >

If you prefer absolutely no EMF then hooking your cell phone to your old stereo is trivial using wires. 3MM jack to stereo input or if phones does not have a 3mm jack then use USB to USB sound device to stereo input.

[smokersteve]

I’ve had the Doss Soundbox xl for 1.5 years and it is plenty loud for using while rowing

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B071JN4F ... asin_title

[ben_r_]

Rock out! Pick up a JBL PartyBox 100 (or whatever the latest version is)! Thing is an absolute BEAST!