Carven's Bike with Pimped-Out Audio System
I finally found an MP3 speaker that works well on my bike.
No, it’s not the one Son Matt saw on the way to work a few years back. Even I’M not prepared to carry a boom box so big it has to have its own trailer.
The Active Tunes i-RIDE Pro is a winner
I’m going to award the It Really Works Trophy to the i-RIDE Pro from Active Tunes.
I’ll detail the als0-rans tomorrow and the next day.
I’m going to have to set expectations here. I’m not an audiophile. Most of my life has been spent with multiple police scanners blaring stuff like, “One Adam 12, see the woman…” into my ears.
That means the speaker has to be just good enough for me to recognize the song over wind and traffic sounds.
Why Do I like the i-RIDE Pro?
- It’s small, 4″ x 1.75″.
- It’s lightweight.
- It produces acceptable quality sound with 4 watts output.
- The built-in rechargeable Lithium Ion battery has long life and recharges from a USB port. If you don’t have a computer with you, you could use a USB adapter (not included) to charge it from AC. Active Tunes says it’ll play for eight hours on a charge. I went for a four-hour ride on a Sunday and forgot to turn it off. On the next Wednesday, I noticed the LED was lit and turned the MP3 player on. Much to my surprise, the speakers still worked.
- Mick from Active Tunes says the battery should last for about 3,500 hours. If it fails within the first two years, Active Tunes will replace it free. If you play it while riding four hours a day, 365 days a year, then it should last 2.57 years. I think something better will come along before I need to replace the battery.
- It comes with a carrying case that uses Velcro straps for multiple mounting possibilities. The case has a built-in MP3 player holder with a transparent front so you can manipulate the controls.
What nits can I pick about the i-RIDE Pro?
- It’s a little expensive at $59.99. (Although it’s cheaper than the junk box full of others I’ve bought one at a time.)
- It uses a Lithium Ion battery that’s not removable. If it dies while you’re out on the road, then you’re out of luck until you can charge it again.
- It’s not waterproof. (Mick says they’ve had reports from riders who were caught in the rain and didn’t encounter any failures. The neoprene pouch is water resistant, but neither it nor the speaker should be considered waterproof, he warns.)
- The case’s MP3 player holder is designed for the newer, smaller players. My Classic is too big to fit it, so I cut it off.
How do I mount my i-RIDE Pro?
My Surly Long Haul Trucker’s cockpit is a bit busy, so I attach the speaker to my Camelbak MULE strap and put the iPod in a special pocket made for it. I use the iPod’s remote control to skip tracks, pause and adjust the volume.
Since the speaker is right under my ear, I don’t have to turn the volume up very high, which probably gives me longer battery life on both the player and the speaker.
The flap-looking thing at the left of the holder is for the smaller version of MP3 players. I cut it off after the first ride.
MP3 player video shoot-out
You can listen to all of the speakers here, including on the road.
The Active Tunes folks respond quickly
They’re nice folks who have always been responsive to my email. You can find them here.
[Disclaimer: Mick at Active Tunes sent me a free speaker to review. I've been a satisfied customer and a past winner of an i-Ride Classic in the company's monthly giveaway contest.]
Tomorrow I’ll review my second and third-place speakers choices, the Byco WRX1 and the Active Tunes i-RIDE Classic.
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16 responses so far ↓
1 The Spokesrider
// May 28, 2009 at 10:13 pm
I’m especially interested in hearing how it compares with the standard i-Ride. I bought one of those last year and used it once. I’m not saying I won’t use it again, but I’m not guaranteeing I will, either.
2 George P
// May 29, 2009 at 7:53 am
For waterproofing you might want to see if the speaker or the neoprene pouch would be damaged by silicone spray. I’ve sprayed that stuff on boots, backpacks and such with good results. Rain beads up on them like a car that’s just been waxed and the insides stay dry.
3 Ken Steinhoff
// May 29, 2009 at 9:23 am
Spokesrider,
I review the Classic tomorrow, but having used both, the i-RIDE Pro is far superior.
The sound is twice as loud, it’s cleaner and crisper and it doesn’t look like you’ve got a pair of Mickey Mouse ears mounted on your bike.
I had two Classics (I won one in the Active Tunes monthly contest). I think I may have given one to my brother, who thought he might stick it in his jersey pocket.
Son Matt uses his all the time to listen to podcasts and as a shower speaker.
4 Ken Steinhoff
// May 29, 2009 at 9:26 am
George,
I think the spray would work on the case, but the speakers are exposed. I’d be afraid to spray them.
I always carry Ziploc bags where they’re easy to grab, so I’m not concerned much about rain.
If it was going to be a long rainy ride, then I’d probably throw the iPod and speaker inside my handlebar bag. It wouldn’t get wet in there and the speaker is plenty loud enough to be heard.
5 David
// Jul 18, 2009 at 7:24 pm
I’m getting one today!I just hope it’s loud like they claim it is….
6 Ken Steinhoff
// Jul 18, 2009 at 8:12 pm
David,
I was just working on a video yesterday that compares the speakers.
I have to say that the i-RIDE Pro is the best of the batch. It’s not going to rattle the windows as you go down the street, but it’s going to be plenty loud for you to hear it.
Let me know what you think after you get it.
7 David
// Jul 24, 2009 at 1:46 am
Yeah i got it 2 days ago,im very satisfied with it’s sound quality…but when they make another speaker they should put a volume wheel on it.
8 Ken Steinhoff
// Jul 24, 2009 at 5:00 pm
David,
The way I use mine, a volume control on the speaker wouldn’t do me any good. I use the inline control that came with my iPod classic to start and stop play, fast forward and to change the volume.
I guess it all depends on your application.
How do you like it otherwise?
9 David
// Jul 25, 2009 at 1:00 am
I love everything about it… it’s LOUD enough like people turn there heads so im satisfied.But i just want it louder ya know?I have a samsung t9 so I can adjust the volume from the player fast foward pause ect..Can you review the Cyfi bike speaker?it’s made for ipod’s so I think it would be a nice setup for you.But it’s $159.99!
10 mike bike
// Oct 6, 2009 at 6:04 pm
I got the active tunes I-ride pro with shipping it came to 70.00 bucks ….. is small looks cute but it does not deliver any thing to boast about. any 10.00 radio from anystore any where. can beat the sound quality and volume. but it is cute.
11 Ken Steinhoff
// Oct 6, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Mike,
I’m curious. Which $10 radio do you recommend?
And, do you mean radio or MP3 player speaker?
Radio, I might see, but MP3 speaker, I’m not so sure. I’ve tried a bunch of them, as the reviews indicate, and the i-Ride Pro is the best one I’ve found.
Of course, I haven’t tried the $159.99 model yet.
12 Jessica
// Apr 13, 2010 at 8:30 am
DONT ORDER THIS- They take your money but don’t send the product!! I ordered this product from the maker (active tunes) and they charged my paypal account, but never sent the product or any emails and its been about 10 days. I am trying to follow up but they either a) hang up on me or b) tell me the “order line is busy and I need to call back later”. When asked if i can hold, they say no, because they can’t tie up the line. BEWARE OF DOING BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY!! I will update my comment if they return my call. Otherwise, I have to have my credit card fight it out and find another solution for the big 180 mile ride this weekend.
13 Jessica
// Apr 15, 2010 at 8:30 am
UPDATE: Still no response from the company via phone or email But they are keeping my money. BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY. I will be making a complaint with the BBB and everywhere else I can. If they won’t give me the product they sold me, at least they should give me my money back no? But they wont return my phone calls or emails… sigh. the search for good speakers continues…
14 Ken Steinhoff
// Apr 15, 2010 at 8:47 am
Jessica,
I’m surprised and disappointed that you haven’t received a reply. I emailed Mick at Active Tunes April 13 after reading your reply, expecting a quick reponse. He has always been quick to reply in the past.
Like you, I haven’t heard from him. I sent him a second message this morning.
I’ll let you know if and when I get a reply.
I’m sorry you couldn’t get the speaker before your ride (sounds like you must be doing an MS150 from the distance). I’ve been very pleased with mine. That, of course, isn’t what you want to hear.
15 Ken Steinhoff
// Apr 16, 2010 at 11:33 am
Jessica, et al:
Here’s the response I received from Active Tunes this morning:
Ken, Thanks for the note. Our supplier sent us 25,000 speakers last month with the wrong battery. It only lasts about 1-2 hours. Having paid in advance, I’m negotiating an equitable resolution with them.
I’ve been in China with an attorney working it out for the past 3 weeks. I have shipped an additional 10,000 speakers to the US with the correct battery and they are supposed to arrive in NJ today. We’ll be packaging and shipping through the weekend and hope to have all shipments sent out by Monday.
I know that we have a boat load of irate customers. Having bent over backwards to make clients happy over the past 4 years, this has been a customer service nightmare and goes against everything we tried to build in the past.
It’s been mentally exhausting, extremely frustrating and an expensive experience. I am having Emily issue refunds for all of the PayPal disputes today.
I apologize for any bad feedback or embarrassment that you personally have received after having been such an outstanding advocate for us.
Regards, Mick
16 Jessica
// Apr 22, 2010 at 9:31 am
Ken,
Thank you so very much for helping me get to the bottom of this! I understand mistakes happen, but an responsive email or phone call from the company would have gone a very long way.
Also, it was indeed an ms150. The ride went great and we raised a TON of money for an amazing cause.
Keep up the great work Ken!
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