SilverFish
Registered user
Just got back from the NEC where I tried out the Schuberth Bluesonic at the Schuberth/Rukka/Daytona stand.
Overall impressions are that it isn't very good... The setup was using just two helmets to talk. The audio quality was poor, the mic is now sited on the chin guard on both a C2 and an S1. It had trouble picking up my voice, but was quite good at picking up all the ambient noise around. The chap at the stall did say that it could be programmed to reduce ambient noise, but it couldnt even pick up my voice to start with. There was also a lot of interference and the volume was a bit too low. Now obviously the NEC is a very noisy place - but so is a motorbike at 70mph... It doesn't appear to have duplex either.
Prices are still unconfirmed, but expect a little over €300 for each helmet fit (which must be done at a dealer as it requires different cheek pads.) The hub is still being finalised, but they think it will come in at somewhere over €500. It is designed to be bike powered, can accept a wire from a GPS and has a built in MP3 player. All told, you are looking at over €1100 for a complete intercom system, which in my limited test doesn't perform half as well as the current Autocom systems which come in under half of what Schuberth are asking for.
As an aside, the Autocom stand were doing a roaring trade selling half price Kits. They wouldnt be drawn on the features of their 2006 model range, but confirmed that Bluetooth connectivity would be a feature for connecting to phones etc, but the intercom system will still rely on wires for connecting to the helmets.
Mike
Overall impressions are that it isn't very good... The setup was using just two helmets to talk. The audio quality was poor, the mic is now sited on the chin guard on both a C2 and an S1. It had trouble picking up my voice, but was quite good at picking up all the ambient noise around. The chap at the stall did say that it could be programmed to reduce ambient noise, but it couldnt even pick up my voice to start with. There was also a lot of interference and the volume was a bit too low. Now obviously the NEC is a very noisy place - but so is a motorbike at 70mph... It doesn't appear to have duplex either.
Prices are still unconfirmed, but expect a little over €300 for each helmet fit (which must be done at a dealer as it requires different cheek pads.) The hub is still being finalised, but they think it will come in at somewhere over €500. It is designed to be bike powered, can accept a wire from a GPS and has a built in MP3 player. All told, you are looking at over €1100 for a complete intercom system, which in my limited test doesn't perform half as well as the current Autocom systems which come in under half of what Schuberth are asking for.
As an aside, the Autocom stand were doing a roaring trade selling half price Kits. They wouldnt be drawn on the features of their 2006 model range, but confirmed that Bluetooth connectivity would be a feature for connecting to phones etc, but the intercom system will still rely on wires for connecting to the helmets.
Mike
