Communicators...

[BKP]

K... just got back a little bit ago from the SMH-5's maiden voyage...

The thing is great! The jog dial is a piece of cake to use, and I like simple.

I got three calls on it, while I was riding. It's just a matter of one push on the jog dial to answer... *None* of the callers knew I was on a bike -- they couldn't hear any wind (well, that may be a function of the Scorpion lid), couldn't hear the bike itself (and I was running anywhere between 0 and 80mph during the calls)...

The sound was great -- I could hear better than any bluetooth cellphone headset I've ever owned (and I was wearing Hearos ear plugs). Now, that could also be because I upgraded to the larger optional speakers... Dunno...

Gets 4-1/2 stars... Loses 1/2 star for not including the larger speakers to begin with....

 

[0150r]

You could make the install a little cleaner by running the wires underneath the left cheek pad. Here's what my speakers look like in my Scorpion EXO-1000. I have a SMH10 on order along with an extra helmet mount with a headphone jack instead of speakers. The regular mount will go on my other helmet and I will keep the speakers in this one as they are already installed and sound pretty good.

 

[Nastybutler]

I run my wires for my SMH-5 the way 0150r does. The fewer wires visible the better.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[BKP]

Okay, okay... y'all happy?

 

[BKP]

Oh, by the way... @Nyuu: I took the pads back off the speakers. The pockets hold them just fine without the pads, and your ears can't tell they're in the helmet (except when you're listening to something).

 

[BKP]

@Nastybutler: I see you're sending from a Nexus 7... I'm on the fence about buying one... what's your take on it?

(My thread... I'll hijack it if I want...)

 

[0150r]

How do you like the boomless setup? I ordered mine with a boom and then an extra connection kit that has a wired mic and a 3.5mm jack for headphones. I ordered some custom fit ear plugs that I will mold with ear buds in them for use on longer trips. Just wondering now if I should have ordered them both boomless.

 

[BKP]

How do you like the boomless setup? I ordered mine with a boom and then an extra connection kit that has a wired mic and a 3.5mm jack for headphones. I ordered some custom fit ear plugs that I will mold with ear buds in them for use on longer trips. Just wondering now if I should have ordered them both boomless.

I don't know if you can call mine a completely boomless setup. The mike is on a boom, and the boom is hidden underneath the left cheekpad entirely. However, the fact that the boom doesn't come off the SMH unit itself, and just connects with its own extension wire into the wiring harness is fabulous!

For my purposes, it seems to be the best of all worlds, since I like the rigidity of the boom holding the mike with a wind cover, yet I don't have a rigid boom coming off the SMH unit itself, and having to cross it under the helmet and cheekpad. That would be fine for a 3/4 helmet with no chin guard... wouldn't work for me. Your solution would also be fine for me -- having it completely wired, and just running the wire around. How do you affix the mike to the helmet with that configuration?

Anyway... went out this morning, and really tested the speakers (running mp3's on my phone). I've never listened to music while riding before... but, man, I'm definitely hooked... It's not supposed to be legal in Georgia, but having it paired to the phone for communication is... so... tell on me, and I'll deny it...
Bottom line, the music was flawless. I definitely recommend the larger speakers for the SMH5. Pairing with my Garmin Nuvi 745T was also flawless -- was able to hear directions perfectly (which is great, because when it's sunny here, seeing that screen is an issue, much less having to keep glancing down at it, while I'm riding).
So far the phone, GPS, and MP3 capabilities are a success... only thing I haven't tried is the intercom itself paired to another Sena...

Like most technology, don't know how I got along without up til now...

 

[Nastybutler]

@Nastybutler: I see you're sending from a Nexus 7... I'm on the fence about buying one... what's your take on it?

(My thread... I'll hijack it if I want...)

I gotta say... it's awesome! My wife has an iPad 2 and it has some cool features, but it's too big for my liking. It's not as handy to lug around (I can put my Nexus in a back or inside pocket) and holding it to read or watch a movie takes two hands and wears you down after a while, whereas I can hold this tablet for hours comfortably. It's the perfect size. Plus the features you get for the price are outstanding. It has/does everything I want it to. Plus the new Jelly Bean OS is fantastic. I'd say it's almost perfect for what I use it for; mostly reading, gaming, email and web browsing. Oh, and running Torque on my Triumph. I have it rooted (super easy to do without carriers/manufacturers trying to stop you) along with my GS2 phone, so I can do everything the device is capable of.

TL;DR: It's great. Playing games on this sized device is better than on a phone or ten inch tablet, and reading books it looks and works great. Couldn't be happier with it.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[RooKie]

BKP, thanks for the great review! I just went ahead and ordered a SMH-5 for myself! Should be here next week. Can't wait!!!

 

[0150r]

I got my SMH10's today. It's pretty good, but the speakers could be better. They have a noticeable amount of crackling in them. I tested them out going at SoCal freeway speeds and the unit worked great. Up until about 75, the person I called could barely hear the wind and my TBR in the background. After 75, he could hear the TBR but we could still talk just fine.

Thankfully, I already had a decent set of speakers that have a 3.5mm jack and I had also ordered the helmet clip that had the 3.5mm output and wired microphone. I have it setup with that in my Scorpion Exo-1000 and it's pretty nice. It took a little bit of fiddling with the wired mic to get it to work (dirty or corroded contacts), also took a little work to get the speakers where I wanted due to not having speaker cut outs in the helmet.

I also installed the stock mount on my Exo-500. It was a little weird at first with the boom, but got used to it in 30 minutes. The microphone is larger than the wired mic, I can feel it on my mouth at times. Install took about 10 minutes this time. The speaker cut outs saved time, and the mic just need to be bent into place instead of routing a wire.

I definitely prefer the wired mic and different headphones, the only downside to this setup is cost, the wired mic/3.5mm jack mount costs $30 and the speakers I had originally were around $20. Not sure it's worth the extra $50 for it though.

 

[Nastybutler]

I ordered the better speakers for the smh-5's for the wife and I, and they should be here on Thursday. I'll post how they differ from the standard ones.

 

[0150r]

On the smh10, the speakers are non-changeable they are connected directly to the helmet mount.

After listening to a few minutes of music this morning, I have decided to contact Sena's customer service to see if the static I hear is normal. If its not normal, I will ask for a free replacement. If I have to pay for a replacement or the static is normal, I will be returning the set.

 

[0150r]

update on my dilemma.. I took out the unit with the bad speakers and put the one in for my second unit. These speaker sound much better, almost as good as the wired speakers I have. I will be contacting Sena to see if they will replace the bad set without having to send everything in.

 

[BKP]

On the smh10, the speakers are non-changeable they are connected directly to the helmet mount.

After listening to a few minutes of music this morning, I have decided to contact Sena's customer service to see if the static I hear is normal. If its not normal, I will ask for a free replacement. If I have to pay for a replacement or the static is normal, I will be returning the set.

Can't imagine the static being normal... but you seemed to have resolved that already...

 

[RooKie]

OOOOH YEAH!!!

Only thing I'm a bit worried about is the fact that there's about 1/8" between the speakers and my ear... I don't think I'll be able to hear anything over the wind noise w/o blasting the sound on the headset. I'm going to try it out today on my way home and post how it went later today or tomorrow. Still super excited!

 

[0150r]

Did it come with some spacers? The SMH10's come with a velcro spacer that moves the speakers closer to your ears for this type of situation.

 

[RooKie]

It did come with the spacers and I did put them on. As I expected, the outside wind noise is way too loud. The volume has to be all the way up to be able to make out what the people on the phone are saying when traveling at speeds higher than 60mph. After 20 min ride my ears were hurting from all the noise and I had a massive headache.

On the plus side - The people I called could hear me loud and clearly. They thought I was calling from my apartment when I was traveling at over 60mph. The controls are super easy to operate and they look really cool as well.

Was doing some testing with my phone at home and am thinking about plugging in my earphones (as I usually do). In case of a phone call the bluetooth device takes priority and disables my earphones, but in that case I noticed that the helmet speakers are right up against my earbuds and transfer the sound really well, it actually helps me listen to what the other person is saying very clearly. Will try this out tomorrow morning and post any success/failure info I can gather.

 

[BKP]

It did come with the spacers and I did put them on. As I expected, the outside wind noise is way too loud. The volume has to be all the way up to be able to make out what the people on the phone are saying when traveling at speeds higher than 60mph. After 20 min ride my ears were hurting from all the noise and I had a massive headache.

On the plus side - The people I called could hear me loud and clearly. They thought I was calling from my apartment when I was traveling at over 60mph. The controls are super easy to operate and they look really cool as well.

Was doing some testing with my phone at home and am thinking about plugging in my earphones (as I usually do). In case of a phone call the Bluetooth device takes priority and disables my earphones, but in that case I noticed that the helmet speakers are right up against my ear buds and transfer the sound really well, it actually helps me listen to what the other person is saying very clearly. Will try this out tomorrow morning and post any success/failure info I can gather.

I never used the stock speakers on my SMH5, so I don't have a reference, but the optional larger speakers have no problem getting past the wind noise AND the Hearos ear plugs. It's a relatively cheap upgrade, and I don't use the pads, either. No problem hearing up to 80mph.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[0150r]

What kind of helmet do you wear? I have used my SMH10 in a Scorpion Exo-500, Exo-1000, and Shoei RF-1100. The Exo-1000 is very loud and the music/calls have to be louder than the wind which is bad on the ears. Because of how loud it is, I bought a different clamp that has a 3.5mm jack so I can hook up ear buds. The Exo-500 is okay. The RF-1100 is pretty darn quiet and I can keep the speakers at a reasonably low level. I like the music kind of low so it's more of a background.