Yet Another Intercom Query
Hullo all! I too am about to pull the trigger on an intercom system purchase, and even after loads of research I'm hardly closer to a decision than I was when I started. Given that many of you have already gone down this road, I thought I'd solicit your help and advice.
Essentially I've narrowed my choice down to either Autocom and Starcom. There's also a slim chance that I might still consider Baehr, as their products appear to be highly recommended by those who own them, despite being appalling expensive.
Price is very much a factor, but ultimately sound quality and useability are my highest priorities. If necessary I will go without an intercom whilst I save for what I need, rather than skimp now and regret it later. (Though I'll admit that the current half-price sale on Autocom gear is very tempting.)
Where I get stuck is at the issue of side-tones (the process of mixing some of your voice back into your own headphones). Reading the Starcom and Autocom websites only confuses the matter, as each company describes the other's approach as inherently flawed: Autocom claims that side-tones are indispensible and a crucial mark of the superiority of their technology, while Starcom claims that side-tones are unnecessary in a properly engineered system.
There are also some weird consequences of this whole debate. For example, Autocom systems, as I understand it, lack individual volume controls for the rider and pillion's earphones. Supposedly you're just meant to set the whole system up once and leave it alone, which is fine if it works, but the idea of being unable to easily make adjustments on the road seems odd to me.
VOX is also an issue. No one wants to deal with the frustration of having the beginning of your sentences chopped off all the time.
So, UKGSers, what has your experince been? Have any of you used either of these systems successfully? Has anyone been disappointed by one of them? And if so, why?
Thanks in advance!
- SF Slim
p.s. For the record, I intend to use my selected system with a gaggle of accessories, including an iPod, a radar detector, speaking GPS, GMRS/FRS radio (for bike-to-bike comms) and probably at least one or two other devices that I'm forgetting at the moment.