Please note this post has been edited due to a complaint and to protect the identity of a well known intercom manufactrer
I was hoping to have my bike back already (its still getting its clutch fixed after 8 days), so I would then have been able to say first hand how good a Starcom1 unit is.
Sadly I don't
I did however do a month or so of intensive research on Autc** vs Starcom1 vs Intraride.
From what I found after asking various questions on multiple forums, reading old forum and newsgroup posts etc, and even asking a few people that do have one or the other, I came to the conclusion that the 3 leading brands are much of a muchness.
Starcom1 is different to the other two in that they have the mic always on (not always hearable though - thats down to the VOX system setting). Apart from that they are very similar - all have the ability to fine-tune the VOX (mic sensitivity) and other volume based settings.
On the bluetooth side of things, Starcom1 have a solution (designed for bikes), Autoc** have a hack (its a car kit), and I don't think Intraride have anything.
Other than that, it comes a great deal down to price.
Autoc** is the most expensive. Small cables cost a few thousand percent more than the raw cost warrants (30 odd quid for a 4 pole 2.5 mm jack to 3 pole 3.5 mm jack for example - the bits cost less than a fiver retail if you make it yourself). They are currently trying to get rid of their existing stock by selling it at half price - not because its worse than Starcom1 or Intraride, but because they are about to launch a new range of products in the next few months. Another point to note is that Autoc** went out of their way to bad mouth their opposition in their sound tests, which from hearing them sound like they were rigged to make the other units sound terrible. Fine-tuning of the VOX type controls can be done to make a unit sound bad
Not professional regardless of which way you look at it in my opinion.
Starcom1 and Intraride are approximately the same cost. Still slighly cheaper than Autoc** even at their half-price cost, and much cheaper than Autc** at their full price cost. Starcom1 do give examples of what it 'should' sound like, and the competitor that they compare against is either Autoc** or Intraride - they don't say which though. They also give good detail on the test itself so that its repeatable by other people, so marks there for being professional about the whole 'we are better, compare our results' thing.
Time will tell if the new Autoc** units are going to be a vast improvement over their existing kit or not - given this is getting to be a fairly mature technology I can't see how though - I'm more than willing to be surprised and astounded though!
In the end, I chose Starcom1 because its cheaper and they have a better Bluetooth system. If it fails to meet expectations I will no doubt be looking at one of the new Autoc** units once they are out (not going for one of the half price systems as thats 'old' tech just like Autoc** will no doubt market Starcom1's when comparing it to their 'new' stuff).
With paying little then potentially paying lots and lots, I will still feel like I might be upgrading if I do it that way, as opposed to paying lots, then downgrading to paying less which may end up being more! Confused?
To answer your original question though, there are very few people that have actually tried out both Autoc** and Starcom1. The 3 examples of this that I did find all came to the conclusion that the two units are very similar, with Starcom1 being slightly cheaper. I know its hearsay, but it was good enough for me to purchase a Starcom1 unit.
I hopefully will have my bike back in the next few days - give me a week to fine-tune the Starcom1 unit to my liking and I'll post a good synopsis of my findings on that front. If its terrible, then I'll join you in getting an Autoc** unit - although as previously stated, I may wait till Autoc** release their new stuff before doing so if I do get to that point. I always did have more money than sense
