Best intercom

[RichardDunn]

I would like advice of which is the best intercom to buy for gs?
Requirements
Excellent sound
Minimal wind noise
Bluetooth if possible
Rider pillion and other bikes
Music player and sat nav coming through at same time.
I have duchini helmets with fitted Bluetooth but sound is very tinny, and can't be heard much above 70 without horrible noise.
Thanks

 

[mcinlb]

I never had any success with the standard Bluetooth set ups, a lot of folk on here(including myself) swear by hard wired systems.

Mind you, I wear earplugs and also found the volume marginal at any speed above 30 ish.......

Autocom seems the best.

 

[RichardDunn]

Thanks for the info, I guess it all comes down to earphone quality and power output? I just thought Bluetooth would be better than lots of cables etc?

 

[stever1]

Personally I use a wired system, a Starcom Digital, and I wear molded earplugs. I have it linked to satnav-including music, pillion headset, PMR radio and have no problem hearing it at speeds up to 90mph ( in Germany, on the autobahn). I believe that you will never get a good quality of sound and connection from bluetooth and I cant be bothered to charge helmets every day (that's why I went back to a wired system).
As to using a PMR radio, I don't know of a Bluetooth system that can connect to a radio.
As to quality, I have never used Autocom, but have been told that they are the best, albeit more money for an equivalent system to the Starcom.
TOP TIP. Regardless of which wired system you go for, use some silicon based lube gell in the headset connectors to ease connection and protect from corrosion and wetness.

Incidentally, wind noise is more relevant to helmet design ( IE, flip front helmets tend to be noisier than full face equivalent) and fit rather than the intercom you use, as the higher priced units all have noise cancelling mikes.

 

[paul08]

"Best intercom?" is like asking "best pint of beer?" - there is no answer. It depends on the user/drinker.

I used to have a wired Autocom unit and it was okay, but the cable was for ever pulling out and it was a pain getting my wife to remember to plug herself in and out when she was riding pillion. And the quality of the in-helmet speakers was such that she could never hear anything I said once out of town. I was using in-ear speakers and had no such trouble.

A change of bike and a new Nav V meant that I would have to swap the Auocom stuff over and buy a Bluetooth module. I thought the prices they were asking were ludicrous, so decided to go the BT headset route. And I never did plunge in and try and add radios for bike-to-bike.

I ended up with a Sena (an SMH10R - the 'low profile one) and have been really pleased with it. My wife uses Sena's standard in helmet speakers and she can actually hear me at most speeds (helped by the fact that it is easy to turn up the volume. Something that could not be done on the move with the Autocom). Sound quality is good too.

I prefer in-ear speakers/buds as they also act as ear-defenders when not listening to music. I have ended up using the ear-buds from a Sony-Eriksson MW600 Bluetooth radio/headset. (£34 all in I think). I ike them because they are quite low profile and so fit nicely inside my ears andwith the helmeton there is no pressure between the helmet and my ears. Sound quality good too. (I have some much better quality Denon ear-buds but they are just too long and press against the inside of the helmet, so not comfy on a longer run).

The Sena does all you want to do:

Headset to nav device for nav instructions and music (I have a Nav V, so my iPhone connects to the Nav V, not the headset).
Intercom with pillion is great: either PTT or Vox (we prefer PTT)
Intercom with up to 4 other bikes (I think, might be more)

Sena do cheaper headsets than the SMH10R, but I felt that they looked like a carbuncle on the side of the helmet. So, yes, I traded some 'ease of use' for a 'better look'!!

Easy to install, and easy to use. Highly recommend Sena

Scala do similar stuff, but have no experience of them.

So, whilst wired/Autocom systems have their supporters, I am more than happy that I went the BT route and happy with my choice of the Sena

 

[RichardDunn]

Thanks Steve.
I have set myself a budget of around £250. Any advice about model of system would be great. I am a great one of going off recommendations

 

[RichardDunn]

Thanks Paul. I am starting to get a great picture of systems here.
When you put the buds in, is there cable to "tuck away" each time your helmet goes on?
I wear plugs, but I think I would like the ease of helmet on off easily with speakers, ( there are enough things to do before getting on the bike again) so I will investigate that option.

 

[Peirre O`Bollox]

If your using a wired system, and in fact any comms system. Good moulded in ear speakers are ideal.
I used to have issues with the sound from the helmet speakers trying to penetrate my earplugs, even with the sound from the comms turned fully up, I struggled to hear the audio, plus the in helmet speakers would press on my ear plugs making it uncomfortable over a period of time. However now I have moulded in ear speakers (Ultimate ear http://www.ultimateear.com/products/soundear-motorbike.php) The issues I had before are no more, in fact I now ride with the sound from the comms turned down to its lowest setting, yet the sound is crystal clear even at speed. The only change I`ve made recently is to substitute my (starcom) headset with 3.5mm jack for a interide headset with a 3.5mm jack, to plug the earbud speakers into, eliminating the in helmet speakers altogether

 

[ianran]

Ive used Starcom and Autocom systems and not found either to be suitable for my needs. The adjustment of volume etc, on eiter of them was a pain in the neck. Having loads of cables plugged in everywhere was inconvenient, especially when forgetting about them and walking away from the bike!!

Anyone choosing to write off Bluetooth are being a tad luddite at best. Ive just bought the Scala G9 after talking to people I trust and having a try with it. Fitted exactly in to your budget. Ive linked it to SWMBO, My Phone my Sat Nav and used the radio ! it all appears to be good. Sound volume adjusted relatevely easily on the unit itself and it has voice contol to turn on Radio etc.

I will be trying it on a trip to Holland early next month and will see if it is as good as I hope.

 

[paul08]

Thanks Paul. I am starting to get a great picture of systems here.
When you put the buds in, is there cable to "tuck away" each time your helmet goes on?
I wear plugs, but I think I would like the ease of helmet on off easily with speakers, ( there are enough things to do before getting on the bike again) so I will investigate that option.

Sena have an optional cable for using earbuds: you plug it into the loom where the helmet speakers would go (which means that you could, if you wished, leave the speakers in situ in case you want to revert to the speakers. There is about 4" of pig-tail/curly wire that then hangs from the side of your helmet (it comes out between shell and the liner). All you do is put in your earbuds and leave the jack plug hanging. Put on your helmet and plug the earbuds jack into the adaptor cable hanging from your helmet. Job done.

When taking off your helmet, there is enough 'stretch' in the curly adapto cable for you to put your helmet on your tank bag/seat, before unplugging.

And, for the occasions where I do not bother with earbuds, the curly cable just tucks into the joint between the side lining and the lining at the back of the helmet, so you do not have any cables hanging around.

I seem to remember that the adaptor cable was about Euro15 here in Germany.

No hassles with using the earbuds for me

 

[stever1]

Thanks Steve.
I have set myself a budget of around £250. Any advice about model of system would be great. I am a great one of going off recommendations

Try looking at the Starcom1 website for prices. I personally don't think you can beat the starcom digital as its so flexible as to what you can connect and the sound output/quality. BUT, remember this is influenced by type of helmet, type of bike, windscreen etc.
paul08, you say it syncs with up to 4 other sets, but over what range ?. I believe it only reaches over a few metres. My PMR gets out over a couple of miles.
Ianran, how is it difficult to change the volume. You just reach for the volume control on the bars and adjust it - easy.
As for being a luddite if you don't like BT - not so, tried it, didn't like charging it every day and didn't like the sound quality so went back to what I know works well. As for loads of cables to unplug, there is only 1 cable per person

 

[ianran]

Try looking at the Starcom1 website for prices. I personally don't think you can beat the starcom digital as its so flexible as to what you can connect and the sound output/quality. BUT, remember this is influenced by type of helmet, type of bike, windscreen etc.
paul08, you say it syncs with up to 4 other sets, but over what range ?. I believe it only reaches over a few metres. My PMR gets out over a couple of miles.
Ianran, how is it difficult to change the volume. You just reach for the volume control on the bars and adjust it - easy.
As for being a luddite if you don't like BT - not so, tried it, didn't like charging it every day and didn't like the sound quality so went back to what I know works well. As for loads of cables to unplug, there is only 1 cable per person

As you say the quality of sound is dictated by many factors, most of them outside the control of your intercomm.

As to loads of cables, I agree not millions of them but as you say, if there is two of you, two cables. Then off course there is the cable to the sat nav, which is normally a speciaist cable, and cables to other devices, so whilst I exagerated there are more than one.

With regards volume, yes you can have a handlebar mounted control, I did with mine, but, this controls the volume but not for an indiviual.

Not liking BT is a personal choice, I didnt say that was an issue, just writing the technology off without full consideration is.

Good resellers of intercoms have demonstration kit so I would advise the original poster to go and find the noe that suits yourself. If you're near Cambridge pop in and see Starcom, they are a nice bunch of helpful people, it just didn suit what I needed and SWMBO hated it .

 

[Bryn]

Got an Autocom SPA fitted to my GS , and having tried the blutetooth kit I'm a bit of a luddite then

Didn't get on at all with the sena , or inter phone F5 as they both produced tinny music and erratic connection. Now I'm back with the Autocom and I know it works every time

 

[zoot]

hi I use to have full autocom sets (me & misses) icoms radios ptt vox the lot. had problems with the wire conections but in general very good, have just bought a sena smh5 as my requirements have changed, it will bike to bike if you have line of sight, blue tooth to satnav and phone pays your money and takes your pick.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Thanks Steve.
I have set myself a budget of around £250. Any advice about model of system would be great. I am a great one of going off recommendations

I've just paid £300 for a Sena SMH10R - & the dealer fitted it to both my crash helmet & my wife's.
Not quite the £250 you wanted to pay & I only picked it up on Thursday. Fannied around with it yesterday connecting:-

A) My phone to my Nav V
B) My Nav V to my Sena headset
&
C) My wife's phone to her Sena headset.

(The 2 Sena headsets in the box come pre-paired with each other aas you would expect).

I realise I paid £50 more than you hope to & you will get cheaper Sena headsets but I am an technical idiot & I found the pairing relatively easy on the 10R.

 

[GSTourer]

Wired Autocom for me.

 

[paul08]

Try looking at the Starcom1 website for prices. I personally don't think you can beat the starcom digital as its so flexible as to what you can connect and the sound output/quality. BUT, remember this is influenced by type of helmet, type of bike, windscreen etc.
paul08, you say it syncs with up to 4 other sets, but over what range ?. I believe it only reaches over a few metres. My PMR gets out over a couple of miles.
Ianran, how is it difficult to change the volume. You just reach for the volume control on the bars and adjust it - easy.
As for being a luddite if you don't like BT - not so, tried it, didn't like charging it every day and didn't like the sound quality so went back to what I know works well. As for loads of cables to unplug, there is only 1 cable per person

The manual says 900 metres, so don't know where you get your "a few metres" from

 

[Giles]

I've had autocom, then starcom (pretty much the same thing) and now have a sena smh 10.

When the autocom worked it was very good, my only negatives with it were that firstly the wires were a pain - my missus can't see without her glasses and I'd have to plug her in all the time 'cos she couldn't see to line up the connectors. And secondly, when there was the inevitable fracture in a wire somewhere, it was nigh on impossible to trace.

Does the Sena have the same sound quality? Ummmmm yeah pretty much I reckon. And the real bonus is no more bloody wires - fuel stops are a doddle and I can even take the piss out of her from the forecourt while shes standing in the queue waiting to pay. The only thing it struggles with is asking too much of it, so if I need the satnav comms, I don't play music (but still chit chat). If I want music and chat, I'll disable the bluetooth on the sat nav .... The battery is easily good enough for a days ride, and worst case scenario could be charged on the move.

By and large, I wouldn't go back to a wired system ..

 

[richardbd]

Got an Autocom SPA fitted to my GS , and having tried the blutetooth kit I'm a bit of a luddite then

Didn't get on at all with the sena , or inter phone F5 as they both produced tinny music and erratic connection. Now I'm back with the Autocom and I know it works every time

what he said +1

Have tried several bluetooth options but having switched to Autocom I will NEVER go back....

 

[jeff]

Have Starcom digital. Great piece of kit but have had same probs with cables as Giles. Have had four cables fail because of untraceable faults( even if you can trace them the individual cables are so fine that repairs are difficult. Have had intermittent probs with the cable from Zumo to unit. As off to Greece Tuesday decided to fit expensive replacement and wasted two hours fitting it as it is defective. Managed to splice plug from old audio headphones on to old cable as I was pretty sure plug connections were at fault. Working ok but not too confident it will last. So conclusion good.system let down by poor quality cables not up to job of being on a bike.
There is a co. Doing replacement heavier duty cables that look good but would cost almost as much as the new unit. Autocom cables look beefier but I have no experience as to their longevity.

Have had two interphone systems. Hopeless for serious touring. After year batteries lasted for a few hours only and always seemed to pack up in the middle of foreign cities