Why is speaker alignment so critical?

If you want the best sound and volume out of the speakers, you need to maximise their positioning. Three things to realise when positioning your speakers: 1) a foam filled container (a helmet) is not the best conductor of sound,

2) the side of your head is, also, not a good conductor of sound and 3) the only way to ensure rider safety (no helmet modification) is to provide speakers that fit into a helmet. Yes, larger speakers are easier to align but they also require cutting holes into your helmet ... goodbye warranty, goodbye safety.

Speaker Installation Tip 1: Your speakers need to be aligned directly over your ear canals. This seemingly minor point is important. Remember ear canals, not ears, there is a big difference. (Note the star pattern located under the foam cover by feeling the speaker. This should align with your ear canal.) Verify sound quality by hooking up the speakers to the system before installing them into the helmet and holding them up to your ears. Note the sound quality and volume setting you find comfortable as you hold the speakers in your hands. Installed correctly into your helmet, the speakers will sound exactly the same and require no change in the volume setting of your music source. Follow the installation instructions (also available in the download section of this website) to install the speakers utilising these tips. Speaker Installation Tip 2: Autocom systems have features within the design that require proper installation in order to ensure that you achieve maximum performance from your system. For example, speakers positioned 1/4" out of alignment will result in a 50% loss of volume. This includes not only any positions out of alignment with the ear canal(s) but also away from the ear itself. What we have tried to achieve is to eliminate grey areas only leaving black and white. Therefore, the installation is obviously right or obviously wrong. This way it is very clear whether your speakers are positioned correctly or incorrectly.