It's a shame this video was filmed before Cardos recent announcement about their new product with locked features that are unlocked via a monthly subscription plan. Similar to the BMW subscription based heated seats. A lot of people are finding that business decision repulsive and deciding to stay away from the company as a whole even though the subscription scheme only applies to one of their models (so far).
We knew about the unit in advance since we have the ability to sell it. We have the same feedback to them that we didn’t think it was the right move but they are their own company. Coming out with an iffy unit like that doesn’t deter their other units from being great for riders. If you think so that’s fine, but my Edge is still pretty dope
Moralists, chasing ghosts.......................on their smartphones where the materials for the circuit boards that are in their computers/phones were strip mined and later sorted through by Chinese children working 16 hour days, with nets around building that they work. Never ever underestimate what people will say/do to feel powerful. "I'LL SHOW CARDO SOMETHING! I WON'T BUY IT!!!!1111oneoneone111one!" Congrats.
I have the Freecom 4+ and ride with Cardo friends. This video made me lookup their new offerings incase there were any features I want (mainly I want to be able to hear 2 Bluetooth devices at the same time, no cut outs) and then I saw their subscription rubbish. Now I need to convince everyone to jump to Senna when the time comes.... ugh
@@sirosisofliverr I have a Fairphone, so feel free to try again with your moral panic. While you're doing that, remember that no one can fight every battle, and the fact that people object to one bad practice doesn't mean they support another.
What moral panic was I talking about? I was talking about consistency. I don't need your virtue signaling ass coming in here talking about your Fairphone. Congratulations on buying AN ITEM smartly. What about your television? Tablet? Personal computer? Automobile? Any meat that you get from the grocery store? Milk? Printer paper? Oh, right. I'm wrong to point those things out as having unethical practices baked into them. After all 'I'm forced to deal with the world we live in today.' Or some crap. That's my point. We're living on a freaking landfill and you got random virtue signalers holding up a thing or two that is clean and pointing at the occasional rat company that pops up like Cardo with subscription fees that says 'look at me I'm doing something great by pointing something out!' or 'look at me I bought this clean thing.' Give me a break. 🤣
I would love it if you would start including a category of top picks for riders who are mostly using their unit for listening to music. So basically the best audio quality.
Yup, like walk-talkies of any brand can. This is entirely possible with mesh networks. I've used IEEE 802.11s meshes to connect computer systems, it's really not hard from a technical standpoint. There's no technical reason e.g. Sena and Cardo couldn't use a mixed mesh - they're just disincentivized because every sold mesh device is potentially going to lead to another mesh device sold if they lock it down. If they open it up then it'll be a race to the bottom for pricing which we'd love but they'd hate.
I bought a cheap BTS2 from Amazon years ago as I ride alone mostly and I have been delighted with the simple strong connection and battery life for just getting directions, calls and messages from my phone
Bought one of those for an occasional passenger. I think they had issues with really low sound volume at higher speeds...but I don't know how much of that was because I couldn't get them to wear earplugs.
I have one of those and a pair of the Cardo's 4x.... man the difference is insane.. you can put plug in ear sets on the cardo (better than using their excellent speakers) and since the microphone has noise cancellation, you can talk on the phone at 90mph and the other person doesnt even know you are on a bike... and you hear them crystal clear. I did a ride for 8 hours with a friend and was life changing being able to communicate clearly about any dangers or turns the road brings you.
I had good luck with the Chinese units too except they never seemed to get loud enough. It wasn't until I got a freecom 4 that I had a comfortable listening experience
I agree my friends and i bought Freedconn units, and they are actually very waterproof. We've been out in some wild storms with no issues. As well as i have received phone calls where people have no idea i'm on the highway in an open face helmet doing 60mph/100km/h because the noise cancelling is that good. Highly recommend the Freedconn R1 Plus, or Freedconn KY Pro.
I'm still happy with my cardo freecom 4. Been using if for two years now. I don't use it as a com, just play music on it. But if I have to answer calls on it, the other party doesn't suspect I'm on my bike. Able to have a clear conversation. Don't need those higher end models, more features for not my use. If you want better speakers you can always just buy them and use your existing unit.
My Sena SMH10 is still working just fine :(. After more than 10 years it still works well. I can't speak to other brands, but this Sena has managed pretty much daily use in all weather and still works. The last several months I have noticed it needs a little jiggle to play through both speakers so the contacts are obviously getting worn. It will take a lot to get me to move to a different brand - good job Sena. (pronounced seh nah, lol).
Mine broke recently (The clip holding it to the mount snapped after years of use) and no one sells that specific part. Gonna have to upgrade after all :(
i had the same experience with my even cheaper SMH5. i had it for 6 years and it was flawless. easy connection, handled heavy rain trips like it was nothing (even though they dont do an IPxx certification), and i loved the jog dial interface. now jumped to an SRL2 on my Shoei and i miss that jog dial so much
Thanks for the video, I used Cardo for long time, and when I switched to Interphone Tour it was like heaven. So easy to use and connect to other riders with different brand, and it was soo easy to connect to almost any device. I had so many issues with Cardo, and almost none with Interphone Tour. But that’s me :) Ride safe
For a basic one the Sena 5S is an underlooked choice. Bluetooth 5.0, voice activation, etc. at a budget price. Many others in the same range are really outdated by comparison. Like, why do they even still sell the 10S? (Side note, but I can no longer support Cardo as a company with their recent moves, just personally.)
The 5s is a solid unit, but if you ride with two other friends your SOL, which is why we tend to recommend the 10S. The 10 series is still Senas number one mover, most people like having the option for up to 4. Solo or 2 rider max is where the 5S is a solid solid option though
@@patrickmchugh8039 Ah, good point. Man, they just need to upgrade the 10S so badly, ha. Edit: That is not a limitation! Just checked my manual--you can do intercom pairing with up to 3 friends. (It's only 1 friend if the other unit is non-Sena.)
@@patrickmchugh8039 This is old now, but I was just looking at my manual and remembered this. The 5S can actually use intercom mode with to up to 3 friends at once! The "1 friend" limitation is only if they use a different brand of headset.
Or you can try the Cardo 4x with the bells and whistles but keep in mind it’s more expensive… by $4!! Who the F cares about $239 vs $243 hahahahaha who are these people hahahaha
Unless you need low-profile, I HIGHLY recommend the Sena 5S over that. Even cheaper price, but _way_ more modern. Bluetooth 5.0, voice commands, etc. And the jog dial makes operating it with hands a dream. (Honestly they need a new low-profile model with modern features. And should discontinue the similar 10S entirely, since it's getting really old now and is outclassed by their newer stuff.)
@@JelloThatsMellow yeah I have a Spirit HD it was like $120 and it works perfectly, sure it doesnt have JBS but i can still hear my music just fine even with earplugs on
Id love it if Sena used a similar system to Cardo for connecting the unit to the helmet, so taking it off wouldn't require to pull the wires; furthermore if they upgrade the 10s with higher bt standard and maybe FM radio, itd be perfect for me
Cardo's implementation of a subscription based service for baked in hardware is repugnant. I don't care how many other products they have, sub service is an anti-consumer practice trend that infects an industry like cancer. I hope the marketing department at Sena is popping champagne, because this is will be a huge blow to Cardo's reputation.
Given the history of the two brands going tic for tac on products, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sena had one planned and bagged it after seeing that launch. Or they will still launch it, who knows. Subscription base gets real hare and get people go on and buy it so companies have a double edged sword to deal with
@@patrickmchugh8039 I messaged sena directly on instagram to ask them if they were planning a similar thing and they assured me they are not. Of course take that with a grain of salt.
The product will fail, but not because of moralists on the YT/IG comment section. It's a poor business decision, but a dozen people here aren't making a dent in that. Tens of thousands of people will buy their products not even knowing that product exists. I know this will send these moralists into a frothing at the mouth rage, but the fact is that people buy with their wallets without checking a damned website to make sure that a company does or does not offer a subscription bullshit product in their line. If it works for them, they'll buy it. If not, they won't. It only becomes a problem when things becomes much more tight (1 out of 2 or 3 products) or when it's becomes mandatory. Until then, the moralists will have stick to writing scathing comments on social media, which will do nothing. The bottom line matters. Not you. And given that these products from both companies last for damn near a decade before needing replaced, in a stagnant motorcycling market, I would say there's very little to worry about.
I went with UClears motion infinity. Unlimited Mesh and BT 5.1. Sounds great and I know my wife's getting a call if I ever go down. Plus it's only 300 bucks.
Thank you Mark. This is very helpful for new Triumph Scrambler 400X users like me. I'd like to see some chain slack adjustments and rear suspension preload adjustments soon. Cheers!
Aliexpress Bluetooth 60 usd communicator is doing the job just fine. I am using Fodsports M1-S Plus (not Pro but Plus) and I am very satisfied. Up to 8 people in a chain or 4 in a mix, loud speakers, good microphone, fm radio, good battery life… yes other could be better but not 8-10 times better as the price is 8-10 times higher.
Blows my mind that SENA bring out new headsets, and still, they’re not waterproof. $500 units that are written off if you get caught in heavy rain of tropical weather
Yup! Buh buh buh muh charging port! Nope, it's been tested. Even with everything sealed up that unit can be destroyed, rarely by the rain, but much more so by being dropped into water, like a puddle or such.
I must be lucky. I've been using a 50s for the last 2 years and have ridden through a TON of rain, including a few heavy, long duration downpours, and I've never had a single issue. (knocks on wooden desk)
How do these work though? Bluetooth doesn't have a range of multiple kilometers and "mesh" doesn't tell me how much works either? Is it radio like UHF CB?
Thank you for your informative videos. I bought my Cardo coms because of your recommendations. However, the microphone doesn't seem to do well. I ride an open face helmet and use the boom mic. The noise reduction function doesn't seem to work and the audio on the other end is not clear or loud enough during our conversations. What would you recommend for an open face helmet?
I ride solo and doubt i would ever ride in a group. What i want is a reliable device that connects to my phone so i can listen to navigation and Spotify whenever i am riding. What would be my best option?
The 50s has treated me well for 2 years and approximately 20k miles. Mostly solo riding, but a couple trips I've had a buddy with me. It can be a bit quirky at times, but can't they all?
It's very interesting(strange) how Sena's very basic, bluetooth, no frills Sena 10R unit is said to be "affordable" and reliable with the basic features......Yet the price tag is listed at 240USD.....240.....and then you have the audacity to say ...."Hey, it won't break the bank." It's more money than the RT1 & ST1! Crazyy
The most reliable and time tested communicator is the two way radio. You gotta press a button, but you also don’t have to listen to Burt’s mouth breathing.
Burt's mouth breathing and other noise gets filtered out as long as your device is decent enough. I have Sena 50R and when I answer a phone call, the other person can't tell I'm riding, even if I purposefully rev the engine. There's settings for noise cancellation and activation threshold specific to the intercom, too. I'd assume some of those features come with higher tier of devices.
@@patrickmchugh8039 yes but they don’t talk about em as if they might release soon or maybe are barely released when the Edge has been out for a while AND they show it in the b-roll. Kind of weird. Also has to be the only best comm video in the world to prefer Sena over Cardo
@@anathma that’s because we shot this video weeks before the latest Cardo units launched. The Edge is in there and won last years guide, the Neo and Custom from Cardo are new versions with tweaks from the Edge
Which units will enable me and one riding buddy to listen to our music independently while also being able to converse over the music without pausing it?
Interesting video. Are you going to do a more in-depth article in Common Tread as to why you chose these units as winners vs the competition? I mean other than the Sena 50C with the camera as I don't believe there is any competition.
I’m currently looking for a a set of comms. I have a group a of 4 (dirt bike riders )but my other buddies have coms to unsure of the brand ). Is there a company that offers universal BT connection for any brand and can have 4+ riders ?
Don't like the 50S for me. I use the Shoei Neotec. Far to big on the helmet, you need to move it way back. Otherwise it's in front of the switch for the sunvisor. Shame they didn't think about that....
I'm gutted I don't alot on the new gearelec gx10 turns out it's a scam and never arrived. Really wanted to try it. Now I'm looking for something else it's put me off hunting it down. Dont know what to buy now 🤷🏼♂️
nice rv. it would have been nice to hear the audio quality for each, with both music and comms/ voice. or at least hear your opinion on the sound quality
We have reviews on the sound quality on each of these units during their individual breakdown videos. This is just a general overview buying guide and TBH, these are some of the best units on the market and the sound quality is pretty much the same across all of these. Hence, why we selected them for this "best of" series.
I have the Cardo Packtalk Black. Music and phone is great. The comm isn’t good. My buddy also has the black and we can’t hear each other very well. Cuts out and has little range. Maybe we are doing something wrong but we already exchanged them for new units. Same problem.
If you check out their channel, they also have some videos saying that it is *Senna* but that they don't care if people call it *Seena* either. So if they don't care that much, neither do we.
Most of the top Sena and Cardo options have Music Sharing these days, so there are plenty of options. Feel free to contact our CS teams and they can walk through all the options and what else you’re looking for in the unit.
Wait, are you telling me Sena and Cardo meshes cant connect to each other? Every rider needs the same brand? That is absolute ass. Surely that cant be true?
Nope. These things have always been obnoxious walled gardens tho even before meshes. Cardo announced they were gonna make an open standard at one point but Senna immediately said they would rather not have an interoperable system so i think that project kinda died.
@Bing Bing I mean, if it's an open and published standard it doesn't really matter who develops it. That said I'm sure they were given an invite and declined it judging by their attitude towards it's existence. It flat out does not benefit them in any way and the large downside of standards is that they tend to be constrained since additional features get wrapped up in red tape. I'm sure Senna just wasn't interested and honestly the only reason the brands that are involved care is because they really have nothing to lose compared to Senna who could be forfeiting a very large market
@@nordic-chan maybe… in the end it’s all speculation. I’m sure this “standard” would be based on Cardo DMC and not on Sena Mesh. I always thought Cardo controlled the largest market share.
Hey dudes. I want to ask about an option called "audio multitasking", others called it "real intercom" others "vox". Have you ever try to communicate with pasenger while playing music or radio? I mean, we have 2 units in 2 helmets at same motorcycle. Driver and passenger, we listen music and someone say something. What happened in this case? Is the volume of music going down and when dialogue end music come on? And all of this being automatically without pushing button or give voice command. Can you inform me which set (driver-passenger) can do this? Thank u
With my 50s the music is very low. That's something I changed in the settings. On my Freecom 4x the sound is also lower but not as low as with the Sena. You can tweak s lot by using the apps
My riding buddy and I both use Cardo Packtalk Black.. the range is only direct line of sight for up to about 150m or yards.. what a waste of nearly $500 AUD.. These things are crap unless riding close together..
Why does nobody talk about the horrible design of the Sena. You have a giant dock hanging lower than the helmet for it snags on to my jacket every time I look left.
@@Dan-hm1dx They may not advertise as waterproof, but I've also never had a problem with my 50s in thousands of miles of riding in the rain. If it's battery lasted longer, it would be ideal. Mine was one of the first ones bought in that line and I've heard the early units had less battery life. It's useable, but not as good as my old sena unit when it came to battery life.
@@Dan-hm1dx This is a reply I gave to someone else who asked the same question. I think why they're not is because wind is always pushing against the unit, and not allowing water to seep in anywhere, and they think that's good enough. The big difference between the two (waterproof and water-resistant) is being submersible. If your SENA unit fell in a puddle of water you'd better be scrambling to get it out of there. The Cardo stuff, less so. (But I'd still be going nuts. These things ain't cheap.) Still, the 'waterproof' is a nice little thumbs up in Cardo's lineup. 👍
Remove Bluetooth from the title altogether, just call it ‘Best Motorcycle Communicators’. You present Mesh then Bluetooth and the best happens to be Mesh ‘not’ Bluetooth. So Bluetooth in the title is irrelevant.
I purchased the freecom2 duel set......received today. installed in helmet- mic wire broke, very easier I might add too, ordered another, just the part with the wires. The app,, Pain in the F'ing ass! One of my emails said I needed to register my cardo for the warranty. I searched cardo website, I searched the internet. Could NOT find anything on this subject. There is no phone on cardo website OR any contact information. WHERE IN HELL AM I TO REGISTER WHEN CARDO IS HIDING THE REGISTRATION PAGE(S) !!! WHY WOULD CARDO HIDE THIS FROM ITS CUSTOMERS?????????? Maybe this is why you hide the registration caz yall know shit going to break before you can register it. I am one PISSED OFF CUSTOMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep, they're all great, till they're not. My less than 1 yr old Cardo Spirit dual pack, one unit died already (good luck w/warranty). The Sena smh10, one mounting tab broke-had to glue it on to the mounting plate. The other one broke on the road at 70mph, bye bye! Still have my old smh 5, with the metal can sounding speakers, guess Ill have to use that till I find something else. What a bunch of over priced junk.
Find all of our picks for best Bluetooth Comm units here! rvz.la/3Lcci6O
Looking for other gear? We’ve got picks for those too! rvz.la/3LaU19F
Does the 10r have music sharing?
😊😊
❤ፐ❤0😊❤1😊😊
Black gospel worship songs
It's a shame this video was filmed before Cardos recent announcement about their new product with locked features that are unlocked via a monthly subscription plan. Similar to the BMW subscription based heated seats.
A lot of people are finding that business decision repulsive and deciding to stay away from the company as a whole even though the subscription scheme only applies to one of their models (so far).
We knew about the unit in advance since we have the ability to sell it. We have the same feedback to them that we didn’t think it was the right move but they are their own company. Coming out with an iffy unit like that doesn’t deter their other units from being great for riders. If you think so that’s fine, but my Edge is still pretty dope
Moralists, chasing ghosts.......................on their smartphones where the materials for the circuit boards that are in their computers/phones were strip mined and later sorted through by Chinese children working 16 hour days, with nets around building that they work.
Never ever underestimate what people will say/do to feel powerful. "I'LL SHOW CARDO SOMETHING! I WON'T BUY IT!!!!1111oneoneone111one!"
Congrats.
I have the Freecom 4+ and ride with Cardo friends. This video made me lookup their new offerings incase there were any features I want (mainly I want to be able to hear 2 Bluetooth devices at the same time, no cut outs) and then I saw their subscription rubbish. Now I need to convince everyone to jump to Senna when the time comes.... ugh
@@sirosisofliverr I have a Fairphone, so feel free to try again with your moral panic. While you're doing that, remember that no one can fight every battle, and the fact that people object to one bad practice doesn't mean they support another.
What moral panic was I talking about? I was talking about consistency.
I don't need your virtue signaling ass coming in here talking about your Fairphone. Congratulations on buying AN ITEM smartly. What about your television? Tablet? Personal computer? Automobile? Any meat that you get from the grocery store? Milk? Printer paper?
Oh, right. I'm wrong to point those things out as having unethical practices baked into them. After all 'I'm forced to deal with the world we live in today.' Or some crap.
That's my point. We're living on a freaking landfill and you got random virtue signalers holding up a thing or two that is clean and pointing at the occasional rat company that pops up like Cardo with subscription fees that says 'look at me I'm doing something great by pointing something out!' or 'look at me I bought this clean thing.'
Give me a break. 🤣
I would love it if you would start including a category of top picks for riders who are mostly using their unit for listening to music. So basically the best audio quality.
That's what I'm looking for. Just give a top teir audio quality pick.
Yes thats literally why I’m here, don’t really ride with groups.
Same here
Same
I am back, did some research, the best one fitting my style is the Cardo Neo
2:34
"A Bluetooth unit is the best way to go without spending a few hundred bucks"
"And our pick ... STARTING AT $239"
Ah yes, BUT OF COURSE ! 🤨🤔😂🤣
There needs to be an 'industry standard' for coms so you don't have to be stuck in one brand for mesh.
Yup, like walk-talkies of any brand can. This is entirely possible with mesh networks. I've used IEEE 802.11s meshes to connect computer systems, it's really not hard from a technical standpoint. There's no technical reason e.g. Sena and Cardo couldn't use a mixed mesh - they're just disincentivized because every sold mesh device is potentially going to lead to another mesh device sold if they lock it down. If they open it up then it'll be a race to the bottom for pricing which we'd love but they'd hate.
I bought a cheap BTS2 from Amazon years ago as I ride alone mostly and I have been delighted with the simple strong connection and battery life for just getting directions, calls and messages from my phone
Bought one of those for an occasional passenger. I think they had issues with really low sound volume at higher speeds...but I don't know how much of that was because I couldn't get them to wear earplugs.
I have one of those and a pair of the Cardo's 4x.... man the difference is insane.. you can put plug in ear sets on the cardo (better than using their excellent speakers) and since the microphone has noise cancellation, you can talk on the phone at 90mph and the other person doesnt even know you are on a bike... and you hear them crystal clear. I did a ride for 8 hours with a friend and was life changing being able to communicate clearly about any dangers or turns the road brings you.
I had good luck with the Chinese units too except they never seemed to get loud enough. It wasn't until I got a freecom 4 that I had a comfortable listening experience
I agree my friends and i bought Freedconn units, and they are actually very waterproof. We've been out in some wild storms with no issues. As well as i have received phone calls where people have no idea i'm on the highway in an open face helmet doing 60mph/100km/h because the noise cancelling is that good. Highly recommend the Freedconn R1 Plus, or Freedconn KY Pro.
@@SunyJim uh, "Freecom"
I'm still happy with my cardo freecom 4. Been using if for two years now. I don't use it as a com, just play music on it. But if I have to answer calls on it, the other party doesn't suspect I'm on my bike. Able to have a clear conversation. Don't need those higher end models, more features for not my use. If you want better speakers you can always just buy them and use your existing unit.
I do love taking calls and at some point hearing “wait, are you on your bike right now?!” Lol
My Sena SMH10 is still working just fine :(. After more than 10 years it still works well. I can't speak to other brands, but this Sena has managed pretty much daily use in all weather and still works. The last several months I have noticed it needs a little jiggle to play through both speakers so the contacts are obviously getting worn. It will take a lot to get me to move to a different brand - good job Sena. (pronounced seh nah, lol).
Mine broke recently (The clip holding it to the mount snapped after years of use) and no one sells that specific part. Gonna have to upgrade after all :(
i had the same experience with my even cheaper SMH5. i had it for 6 years and it was flawless. easy connection, handled heavy rain trips like it was nothing (even though they dont do an IPxx certification), and i loved the jog dial interface. now jumped to an SRL2 on my Shoei and i miss that jog dial so much
Thanks for the video, I used Cardo for long time, and when I switched to Interphone Tour it was like heaven. So easy to use and connect to other riders with different brand, and it was soo easy to connect to almost any device. I had so many issues with Cardo, and almost none with Interphone Tour. But that’s me :) Ride safe
For a second there it sounded like you said "Communist"
😂"The best motorcycle Communist for 2023"
Did someone say free helicopter rides?
@@TTGRainbowDash Calm down Colin McRae
@@Konformation07 I get that reference.🤣
@@TTGRainbowDash hahah baseddd
For a basic one the Sena 5S is an underlooked choice. Bluetooth 5.0, voice activation, etc. at a budget price. Many others in the same range are really outdated by comparison. Like, why do they even still sell the 10S?
(Side note, but I can no longer support Cardo as a company with their recent moves, just personally.)
The 5s is a solid unit, but if you ride with two other friends your SOL, which is why we tend to recommend the 10S. The 10 series is still Senas number one mover, most people like having the option for up to 4. Solo or 2 rider max is where the 5S is a solid solid option though
@@patrickmchugh8039 Ah, good point. Man, they just need to upgrade the 10S so badly, ha.
Edit: That is not a limitation! Just checked my manual--you can do intercom pairing with up to 3 friends. (It's only 1 friend if the other unit is non-Sena.)
@@TravisTerrell yeah I tend to be testing out the latest and greatest each year, but still jealous my wife has my old 10R and it still runs strong ha
Cardo is offering an additional way to own Cardo models, it’s not like the only way to get it is with a subscription, whats the issue ?
@@patrickmchugh8039 This is old now, but I was just looking at my manual and remembered this. The 5S can actually use intercom mode with to up to 3 friends at once! The "1 friend" limitation is only if they use a different brand of headset.
Still rocking freecom 4x, love it , had no issues so far. Worth every money
What helmet are you using?
If you just want something simple and ride solo and want to avoid spending a couple hundred bucks get this Sena 10R for $239 👀😂🤦♂️
Or you can try the Cardo 4x with the bells and whistles but keep in mind it’s more expensive… by $4!! Who the F cares about $239 vs $243 hahahahaha who are these people hahahaha
@@poobank Hey man! That $4 can get me................... Oh wait, $4 doesn't buy shit these days. 😂
Like they forgot the Cardo Spirit lineup exists
Unless you need low-profile, I HIGHLY recommend the Sena 5S over that. Even cheaper price, but _way_ more modern. Bluetooth 5.0, voice commands, etc. And the jog dial makes operating it with hands a dream. (Honestly they need a new low-profile model with modern features. And should discontinue the similar 10S entirely, since it's getting really old now and is outclassed by their newer stuff.)
@@JelloThatsMellow yeah I have a Spirit HD it was like $120 and it works perfectly, sure it doesnt have JBS but i can still hear my music just fine even with earplugs on
Got the edge when it came out, works great sound great. Pairs well with my phone (both Bluetooth 5.2) and Garmin Zumo XT.
Cardo Packtalk Edge FTW 🙌🎯
Id love it if Sena used a similar system to Cardo for connecting the unit to the helmet, so taking it off wouldn't require to pull the wires; furthermore if they upgrade the 10s with higher bt standard and maybe FM radio, itd be perfect for me
Cardo's implementation of a subscription based service for baked in hardware is repugnant. I don't care how many other products they have, sub service is an anti-consumer practice trend that infects an industry like cancer.
I hope the marketing department at Sena is popping champagne, because this is will be a huge blow to Cardo's reputation.
Given the history of the two brands going tic for tac on products, I wouldn’t be surprised if Sena had one planned and bagged it after seeing that launch. Or they will still launch it, who knows. Subscription base gets real hare and get people go on and buy it so companies have a double edged sword to deal with
@@patrickmchugh8039 I messaged sena directly on instagram to ask them if they were planning a similar thing and they assured me they are not.
Of course take that with a grain of salt.
@@MotoActionADV lol yeah, I don’t think any rep is touching that pr-grenade
The product will fail, but not because of moralists on the YT/IG comment section. It's a poor business decision, but a dozen people here aren't making a dent in that. Tens of thousands of people will buy their products not even knowing that product exists. I know this will send these moralists into a frothing at the mouth rage, but the fact is that people buy with their wallets without checking a damned website to make sure that a company does or does not offer a subscription bullshit product in their line.
If it works for them, they'll buy it. If not, they won't. It only becomes a problem when things becomes much more tight (1 out of 2 or 3 products) or when it's becomes mandatory. Until then, the moralists will have stick to writing scathing comments on social media, which will do nothing. The bottom line matters. Not you. And given that these products from both companies last for damn near a decade before needing replaced, in a stagnant motorcycling market, I would say there's very little to worry about.
Time will tell.
I went with UClears motion infinity. Unlimited Mesh and BT 5.1. Sounds great and I know my wife's getting a call if I ever go down. Plus it's only 300 bucks.
Thank you Mark. This is very helpful for new Triumph Scrambler 400X users like me. I'd like to see some chain slack adjustments and rear suspension preload adjustments soon. Cheers!
Aliexpress Bluetooth 60 usd communicator is doing the job just fine. I am using Fodsports M1-S Plus (not Pro but Plus) and I am very satisfied. Up to 8 people in a chain or 4 in a mix, loud speakers, good microphone, fm radio, good battery life… yes other could be better but not 8-10 times better as the price is 8-10 times higher.
I’ve been running the Fodsports M1S Pro for a couple years and love them! Me my friend and both daughters run them.
Blows my mind that SENA bring out new headsets, and still, they’re not waterproof. $500 units that are written off if you get caught in heavy rain of tropical weather
Yup!
Buh buh buh muh charging port!
Nope, it's been tested. Even with everything sealed up that unit can be destroyed, rarely by the rain, but much more so by being dropped into water, like a puddle or such.
I must be lucky. I've been using a 50s for the last 2 years and have ridden through a TON of rain, including a few heavy, long duration downpours, and I've never had a single issue. (knocks on wooden desk)
The sena app was crazy outdated when I tried it about 2 years ago. My Cardo packtalk edge has been great
what if I only talk with my passenger and l dont talk with other riders? Which unit would you suggest? Listening to music and phone use is also needed
Any. Be on a call with them
I bought a couple 50S units when they came out and they have been great so far.
The stupid times we are living were we need $1700 jackets and pants, $750 helmets and $600 bluetooth devices!
I mean you don’t need it
Just make more money.
@stealth1077 I make a shit load of money.that doesn't mean I'm going to throw it away.
@12masterr Apparently not enough if your complaining about 3k worth of gear you'll only buy once.
@stealth1077 jajajaaaja whatever!
How do these work though? Bluetooth doesn't have a range of multiple kilometers and "mesh" doesn't tell me how much works either? Is it radio like UHF CB?
Gf and I are thinking of getting a drz and a set of those Senas with the cameras so she can start riding with me when I take the XR out
Thank you for your informative videos. I bought my Cardo coms because of your recommendations. However, the microphone doesn't seem to do well. I ride an open face helmet and use the boom mic. The noise reduction function doesn't seem to work and the audio on the other end is not clear or loud enough during our conversations.
What would you recommend for an open face helmet?
I ride solo and doubt i would ever ride in a group. What i want is a reliable device that connects to my phone so i can listen to navigation and Spotify whenever i am riding. What would be my best option?
Sena 5s is great if you just want basic features and No comms.
The 50s has treated me well for 2 years and approximately 20k miles. Mostly solo riding, but a couple trips I've had a buddy with me. It can be a bit quirky at times, but can't they all?
It's very interesting(strange) how Sena's very basic, bluetooth, no frills Sena 10R unit is said to be "affordable" and reliable with the basic features......Yet the price tag is listed at 240USD.....240.....and then you have the audacity to say ...."Hey, it won't break the bank." It's more money than the RT1 & ST1! Crazyy
The most reliable and time tested communicator is the two way radio. You gotta press a button, but you also don’t have to listen to Burt’s mouth breathing.
Burt's mouth breathing and other noise gets filtered out as long as your device is decent enough. I have Sena 50R and when I answer a phone call, the other person can't tell I'm riding, even if I purposefully rev the engine. There's settings for noise cancellation and activation threshold specific to the intercom, too. I'd assume some of those features come with higher tier of devices.
The lady has the correct pronunciation of Sena
The packtalk edge and neo are out and have been for a long while. You even show it in your B roll video.
The Edge is shown in the BRoll, the Neo wasn’t but they look identical other than the base.
@@patrickmchugh8039 yes but they don’t talk about em as if they might release soon or maybe are barely released when the Edge has been out for a while AND they show it in the b-roll. Kind of weird.
Also has to be the only best comm video in the world to prefer Sena over Cardo
@@anathma that’s because we shot this video weeks before the latest Cardo units launched. The Edge is in there and won last years guide, the Neo and Custom from Cardo are new versions with tweaks from the Edge
@@patrickmchugh8039ah that does make sense.
Sena SF2-03 (Bluetooth 4.1) or Cardo Spirit HD (Bluetooth 5.2)???
Big fan of the camera on these, worth weighing up against buying dedicated vlogging and dashcam setups.
I've seen a few vloggers use them, but the video quality has not been on par with standard gopro setups. Not bad for dashcam use though
@@SunyJim Yeah I figured, depends on your standards too I guess :)
How do these compare to the old school chatterbox?
Last time I had a helmet communication was 2008ish using a chatterbox
Awesome- Thanks guys!
Is the universally compatible with other brands?
What if you don't need the mesh tech? Just straight Bluetooth?
This is just a sena vs cardo comparison?
Which one of the mesh network communicator has the best battery?
On my Cardo Packtalk edge i have about 8-10 hours with constant music and talking
Yeah in real world use they are about comparable in mesh mode, 8 hours was my longest day on both and still had some juice left afterwards.
To say my 50s has been underwhelming would be an understatement.
Man, I never expected the 'Communicators' review to be so contentious in the comments. It's...communicators........
Haha right?!
If you didn't care you could also just say that too haha
Which units will enable me and one riding buddy to listen to our music independently while also being able to converse over the music without pausing it?
Mesh units will do that and you can prioritise speech.
What is the best com unit to use whilst wearing motorbike gloves?
I hate to break it to ya, I’m with her on the pronunciation
For a price, rocking the Ejeas Q7. hehe
yeah! i have this, inside have a qualcomm chip for noise reduction and best signal performance, the battery is big
I agree with Jen on “Seyna”😊
Interesting video. Are you going to do a more in-depth article in Common Tread as to why you chose these units as winners vs the competition? I mean other than the Sena 50C with the camera as I don't believe there is any competition.
Plus no competition for a cheaper / entry level Mesh only device.
Can sena and cardo connect to each other ?
The cardo packtalk edge is the king of comms
I’m currently looking for a a set of comms. I have a group a of 4 (dirt bike riders )but my other buddies have coms to unsure of the brand ). Is there a company that offers universal BT connection for any brand and can have 4+ riders ?
How about looking at helmet camera options for 2023?
Don't like the 50S for me. I use the Shoei Neotec. Far to big on the helmet, you need to move it way back. Otherwise it's in front of the switch for the sunvisor. Shame they didn't think about that....
Do cardo and Sena's Mesh work together?
Also why is there no com unit design where you clip the monstrosity on your collar or jacket with magnets?
Do any helmet comms have PTT?
good work
I'm gutted I don't alot on the new gearelec gx10 turns out it's a scam and never arrived. Really wanted to try it. Now I'm looking for something else it's put me off hunting it down. Dont know what to buy now 🤷🏼♂️
cardo edge no cam ?
Had a Cardo 4x. HATED IT. Every time I’d turn my head to look over my left shoulder, the wheel would catch on my jacket and mess with volume
Exactly my frustration and I went for a 50s for that reason only to find out that the Sena is even worse. But not because of the volume wheel...
Can I still listen to music through the mesh intercom?
Yes you can!
Affirmative
Alyssa @ Sena pronounces and confirms it's S'eh'na and not S'ee'na, so you win Jen :P
nice rv. it would have been nice to hear the audio quality for each, with both music and comms/ voice. or at least hear your opinion on the sound quality
We have reviews on the sound quality on each of these units during their individual breakdown videos. This is just a general overview buying guide and TBH, these are some of the best units on the market and the sound quality is pretty much the same across all of these. Hence, why we selected them for this "best of" series.
@@RevZilla understood 👍🏻
Anyone have any thoughts on the RuRoc communications setup
Gonna make it easy. Get cardo
would it have kiiled you guys to do audio tests lol five seconds of chatting explaing the set before moving on to the next
How's the RX-7V RC
God video, thanks... its obviously pronounced "seh-nah" not "see-nah" soz spurge
When in doubt about pronunciation always choose the english uk one
What if you're a solo rider and need a great Bluetooth to keep in touch with your loved one?
use air pods
I have the Cardo Packtalk Black. Music and phone is great. The comm isn’t good. My buddy also has the black and we can’t hear each other very well. Cuts out and has little range. Maybe we are doing something wrong but we already exchanged them for new units. Same problem.
Did you update the firmware to the latest versions?
@@RevZilla We have. We’ll try again. Thank you.
Discord and air pods it is
Are they waterproof? Sena are not, ask me how I know😊
You left the charging flap open?
MESH TECHNOLOGY! WOW. WHAT ABOUT MY GODDAMN HEADPHONES!?
Shes right its pronounced Senna not Seena. Sena has its own channel. Thats how they pronounce it.
If you check out their channel, they also have some videos saying that it is *Senna* but that they don't care if people call it *Seena* either. So if they don't care that much, neither do we.
But there is a right way and there is a wrong way. Pronouncing it as "Seena" is definitely the wrong way.
Fodsports is whooping all these brands
I owned a Sena once and the performance was good but the battery life was so bad I dumped it just for that reason
Anyone know of system lets rider talk to his passanger and share there music with the passanger
Most of the top Sena and Cardo options have Music Sharing these days, so there are plenty of options. Feel free to contact our CS teams and they can walk through all the options and what else you’re looking for in the unit.
@revzilla fyi she's right. It's Sena not Seena 🤣😜
Anything out there for like $50? I just want to pair something to my phone that wont rip my ears off while taking my helmet off
Wait, are you telling me Sena and Cardo meshes cant connect to each other?
Every rider needs the same brand? That is absolute ass.
Surely that cant be true?
Nope. These things have always been obnoxious walled gardens tho even before meshes. Cardo announced they were gonna make an open standard at one point but Senna immediately said they would rather not have an interoperable system so i think that project kinda died.
Sena was never involved (or maybe invited?) in that project. Project involves cardo, Uclear, midlands, and a couple other smaller brands.
@Bing Bing I mean, if it's an open and published standard it doesn't really matter who develops it. That said I'm sure they were given an invite and declined it judging by their attitude towards it's existence. It flat out does not benefit them in any way and the large downside of standards is that they tend to be constrained since additional features get wrapped up in red tape. I'm sure Senna just wasn't interested and honestly the only reason the brands that are involved care is because they really have nothing to lose compared to Senna who could be forfeiting a very large market
@@nordic-chan maybe… in the end it’s all speculation. I’m sure this “standard” would be based on Cardo DMC and not on Sena Mesh. I always thought Cardo controlled the largest market share.
Man it sucks that those things are this expensive.
Not a single mention about reception distance between units
Is there not any comms that talk to different brands i.e. sena -> cardo?🙄🙄
In Bluetooth but not Mesh. Mesh is not universal, yet.
It’s like going to McDonald’s for a best burger review: hmm gotta be 1/4 pounder or Big Mac…
Anyone knows the helmet shown 0:41? Never seen it before
I think its a Bell but not sure
Yep, Sena not seeeeena!
I always direct people to Sena’s own video where they say they don’t care, either is fine, and their own employees pronounce it both ways.
@Patrick McHugh regardless of how the Sena employees say it, there is still a correct way to pronounce it, and I'm pretty sure it's not Seeeeena!
@@jaspersilus yeah that’s cool, I’ll stick with saying it Seeeena though. Especially if they don’t care
@@patrickmchugh8039 I support your right to mispronounce!🍻
@@jaspersilus haha yes! As a Philly native I still swap between wooder and water. Even if I tell my brain to stop, it’ll pop up somewhere
Hey dudes. I want to ask about an option called "audio multitasking", others called it "real intercom" others "vox". Have you ever try to communicate with pasenger while playing music or radio?
I mean, we have 2 units in 2 helmets at same motorcycle. Driver and passenger, we listen music and someone say something. What happened in this case? Is the volume of music going down and when dialogue end music come on? And all of this being automatically without pushing button or give voice command.
Can you inform me which set (driver-passenger) can do this?
Thank u
With my 50s the music is very low. That's something I changed in the settings. On my Freecom 4x the sound is also lower but not as low as with the Sena. You can tweak s lot by using the apps
My riding buddy and I both use Cardo Packtalk Black.. the range is only direct line of sight for up to about 150m or yards.. what a waste of nearly $500 AUD.. These things are crap unless riding close together..
Why does nobody talk about the horrible design of the Sena. You have a giant dock hanging lower than the helmet for it snags on to my jacket every time I look left.
I love jog dials. Buttons are useless with gloves on.
I thought the Senas weren't even waterproof?
They're not.
@@sirosisofliverr Why would anyone entertain the idea of one xD
@@Dan-hm1dx They may not advertise as waterproof, but I've also never had a problem with my 50s in thousands of miles of riding in the rain. If it's battery lasted longer, it would be ideal. Mine was one of the first ones bought in that line and I've heard the early units had less battery life. It's useable, but not as good as my old sena unit when it came to battery life.
@@Dan-hm1dx This is a reply I gave to someone else who asked the same question.
I think why they're not is because wind is always pushing against the unit, and not allowing water to seep in anywhere, and they think that's good enough. The big difference between the two (waterproof and water-resistant) is being submersible. If your SENA unit fell in a puddle of water you'd better be scrambling to get it out of there. The Cardo stuff, less so. (But I'd still be going nuts. These things ain't cheap.)
Still, the 'waterproof' is a nice little thumbs up in Cardo's lineup.
👍
They are, and they aren't trying to push a subscription to unlock basic functionality like Cardo is.
You guys are both pronouncing Sena wrong. It’s pronounced Say Na. It means army in Hindi. You’re welcome
The Lexin g16 is by far superior to any other Bluetooth com unit on the market
Remove Bluetooth from the title altogether, just call it ‘Best Motorcycle Communicators’.
You present Mesh then Bluetooth and the best happens to be Mesh ‘not’ Bluetooth. So Bluetooth in the title is irrelevant.
I purchased the freecom2 duel set......received today. installed in helmet- mic wire broke,
very easier I might add too, ordered another, just the part with the wires.
The app,, Pain in the F'ing ass!
One of my emails said I needed to register my cardo for the warranty.
I searched cardo website, I searched the internet. Could NOT find anything on this subject. There is no phone on cardo website OR any contact information.
WHERE IN HELL AM I TO REGISTER WHEN CARDO IS HIDING THE REGISTRATION PAGE(S) !!!
WHY WOULD CARDO HIDE THIS FROM ITS CUSTOMERS??????????
Maybe this is why you hide the registration caz yall know shit going to break before you can register it.
I am one PISSED OFF CUSTOMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yep, they're all great, till they're not. My less than 1 yr old Cardo Spirit dual pack, one unit died already (good luck w/warranty). The Sena smh10, one mounting tab broke-had to glue it on to the mounting plate. The other one broke on the road at 70mph, bye bye! Still have my old smh 5, with the metal can sounding speakers, guess Ill have to use that till I find something else. What a bunch of over priced junk.
Best motorcycle communists!? Oooh *comm units*! For a second I thought you were leading into a review of The Motorcycle Diaries or something.
To a hammer everything looks like a nail
@@Baleur That was meant as a joke of nothing but silliness.
And I think you meant to say: "To a sickle, everything looks like grass."
I vote for the Yamaha Tenere 700 extreme