dmcconnaughy
dmcconnaughy's stats
- Review count2
- Helpfulness votes3
- First reviewOctober 16, 2012
- Last reviewMarch 9, 2013
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.5
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- First answerMarch 9, 2013
- Last answerMarch 9, 2013
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dmcconnaughy's Reviews
Sena SMH-10 Bluetooth Headset Dual Pack The SMH10 is a Bluetooth v3.0+EDR Class 1 Stereo Headset with long-range Bluetooth Intercom designed specifically for motorcycles. With the SMH10 on your helmet, you can call hands-free on your Bluetooth mobile phone, listen to stereo music or voice instructions of GPS navigations by Bluetooth wirelessly, and have intercom conversations in full duplex with a passenger or other motorcycle riders. Thanks to the latest Bluetooth v3.0+EDR and the advanced digital processing technology, the Sena SMH10 bluetooth helmet communication system offers the best sound quality for both incoming and outgoing sound in its class. Also, the easy-to-access and intuitive button operations make the SMH10 a perfect companion for motorcycles. System Features Audio Booster Individual Volume Control Versatile Jog Dial Use while charging Upgradable firmware General Talk time 12 hours Standby time 10 days Working Distance (Intercom) up to 900 meters (980 yards) in open terrain 4-way conference intercom Dimensions Headset 84.1 mm x 56.5 mm x 38.6 mm (3.3 in x 2.2 in x 1.5 in) Clamp unit 223.8 mm x 85.5 mm x 30.6mm (8.8 in x 3.4 in x 1.2 in) Headset weight 60g (2.11 oz) Clamp unit 84g (2.96 oz) Bluetooth Profiles Headset Profile, Hand-Free Profile (HFP), Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) Bluetooth v3.0+EDR Audio Built-in SBC Codec Voice promts Conference phone call with intercom participant Noise cancellation Wind noise reduction Wide volume control Sample rate 48kHz (DAC) Auxiliary audio-in connection via 3.5mm jack Battery Charging time 2.5 hours Type Lithium polymer battery Please Note Some of the above features require updating the firmware to the latest v4.1. The firmware is a free download from Sena Technologies .
Overall rating
Not Perfect, but better than most
PostedMarch 9, 2013
dmcconnaughy
From Houston
State:TX
Rider Type:Road Warrior
Age:35-44
Gender:male
Bang for the Buck
5
/
5
Ease of Install
5
/
5
Durability
2
/
5
Sound Clarity
4
/
5
Ease of Use
5
/
5
I held of reviewing this product until I had used it for a couple weeks so after about 800 miles on the road using the unit here is what I think.
The units themselves are easy to use, easy to install, and easy to upgrade the firmware.....I have read several reviews where people were complaining about difficulty upgrading the firmware and either they are "techtarded" or their computer must be ancient because when I did it I experienced ZERO difficulty....just download the software, install it on your computer (I use a Mac so for my fellow Mac users YES there is a Mac version of the software) and click upgrade then wait a few minutes and BAM it is done. Also worth mentioning I used the unit before and after I upgraded the firmware and I did notice that the upgrade seemed to have an impact on performance....the unit seemed to do everything a little faster as well as an improvement in sound quality.
The Speakers:
Speaker placement is absolutely crucial. Make sure the speakers rest right over your ears and are not cockeyed and make sure both speakers are over your ear the same way. If you do not get them aligned properly the result is that one side is going to sound louder than the other when you are listening to music. Which I think is annoying as can be! I had to adjust my speakers several times till they were in the right spot but once you have them in the correct place they sound phenomenal!
Speaker placement is absolutely crucial. Make sure the speakers rest right over your ears and are not cockeyed and make sure both speakers are over your ear the same way. If you do not get them aligned properly the result is that one side is going to sound louder than the other when you are listening to music. Which I think is annoying as can be! I had to adjust my speakers several times till they were in the right spot but once you have them in the correct place they sound phenomenal!
The downside.....there is little or no bass in the speakers, but again all systems are like that. Several times while using the system it has actually been a bit painful to answer a phone call and get someone blasting in your ear and it is all treble....so my advice is watch the volume if you don't want to end up deaf! I've been up to 100MPH on my bike and could still hear my music over the wind noise and the loud pipes on my Harley. Did it sound crystal clear??? HECK NO! Could I hear it though? YES I could! Any system you buy is going to have sound issues at speeds over 70MPH that is just the nature of riding a bike...if you want crystal clear audio with tons of bass and zero wind noise then stick to driving your car because you will never get that in a helmet I promise....nuff said.
One last thing to mention about the speakers....having an intercom conversation and a phone conversation sound completely different when sound quality is concerned. My wife and I are able to have an intercom session while riding at highway speeds of 70 to 80 MPH with little static and an extreme amount of clarity in the sound.....however when I call her on the phone and I am riding that fast for some odd reason the quality is degraded noticeably on my end. Unfortunately I have not been able to determine if this is an issue with the headset itself, or an issue with my carrier(Verizon), or lastly an issue with my phone(iPhone4).
The Intercom:
By far, in my opinion, the stand out feature of this system is the intercom. My wife and I have been absolutely blown away at how nice it is having the ability to speak with one another while riding....while we have become great at communicating via hand signals having the ability to speak to each other is just flat out awesome.
By far, in my opinion, the stand out feature of this system is the intercom. My wife and I have been absolutely blown away at how nice it is having the ability to speak with one another while riding....while we have become great at communicating via hand signals having the ability to speak to each other is just flat out awesome.
I had reservations at first about having her in my ear the whole trip, or vice versa, but it has truly been a blessing. To talk about our ride while we are taking it rather than recap what we saw at each gas stop and at the end of the ride is pretty cool....literally we take rides together now sharing the experience rather than each of us drifting off into our own world as we did before. For any other couples that ride together I highly suggest buying this system just for that purpose.
The Microphone:
The microphone on the Sena is AMAZING!!! When I am talking to my wife I hear nothing but her voice in my ear (via the intercom)....no wind, no bike noise, NOTHING!!!!! I have received phone calls on the road at 70MPH and no one on the other end had a clue I was on my bike.....believe what others have said.... the mic really is that good.
The microphone on the Sena is AMAZING!!! When I am talking to my wife I hear nothing but her voice in my ear (via the intercom)....no wind, no bike noise, NOTHING!!!!! I have received phone calls on the road at 70MPH and no one on the other end had a clue I was on my bike.....believe what others have said.... the mic really is that good.
One piece of advice, use the included mic sock. I attempted to not use mine because I did not want that piece of foam rubbing on my face while I was riding but there is a noticeable difference in noise cancellation with it off....mainly with wind noise as without the wind sock you start to hear some wind whistle on the other end.
The Jog Dial:
Here is a feature that I am both impressed with but disappointed in at the same time.
Here is a feature that I am both impressed with but disappointed in at the same time.
As far as ease of use the jog dial is wicked cool. Turn the dial for volume control, press and hold to start music, press once quickly to start an intercom session, press and rotate to skip songs.....it is that simple!
Several people have complained that the controls on these units are difficult to use and to be honest I don't understand that at all....you will need to read the manual and memorize some button combinations, but once you learn what to press and when it is easy peasy to find them on the road even with gloves on.
The downside to the jog dial, and maybe I am the only one having this issue, is that several times in high wind the dial has started to move and in the process it will make the volume start to creep up in my ear. Also I wear hoodies while I am riding and my hood has bumped the dial and turned my music off.
My jog dial seems to be UBER sensitive and my wife has not had that issue, however my wife does not use her for listening to music her experience has only been via the intercom or phone calls.
Installation:
Installing the speakers is pretty easy, I made it a little more difficult because I wanted to really hide all the wires on our helmets but even then it only took me about 15 minutes per helmet.
Installing the speakers is pretty easy, I made it a little more difficult because I wanted to really hide all the wires on our helmets but even then it only took me about 15 minutes per helmet.
Only piece of advice I have on the installation is that if you use the 3M tape pads be extremely careful if you ever have to separate the speakers from the 3M pads. The speakers attach to the pads using velcro but I swear the velcro is made of super glue! LOL When I removed one of the speakers the velcro was attached so well that it actually started to pull the back side of the speaker off. And the 3M tape adheres like no other. So if you have to use the 3M I would suggest making darn sure you find where you want the speakers to be BEFORE you place the sticky stuff inside your helmet.
Tech Issues:
Now I have to be the bearer of bad news and point out that despite the fact the Sena blows other units out of the water it is not without it's issues. Biggest issue is the way it attaches to the helmet clamp. The pod has 12 pins on the back of it that match up to 12 little receiver plates on the microphone clamp unit that attaches to the helmet. If the pins do not match up to the receiver in perfect alignment you will start to have some serious issues with the unit.
Now I have to be the bearer of bad news and point out that despite the fact the Sena blows other units out of the water it is not without it's issues. Biggest issue is the way it attaches to the helmet clamp. The pod has 12 pins on the back of it that match up to 12 little receiver plates on the microphone clamp unit that attaches to the helmet. If the pins do not match up to the receiver in perfect alignment you will start to have some serious issues with the unit.
Mine was jacked up straight out of the box. Since we ordered the dual pack I knew something was not right as one unit worked great but the other was messing up. The problems I noticed pertained to the sound through the speakers as well as the unit not controlling my iPhone the way it should. I emailed Revzilla (who by the way are the gods of customer service) and they told me to send the unit back for a replacement. The second pod I received worked fine.
Second tech issue has to do with taking or making phone calls while listening to music. Normally when you are jamming to tunes and take or make a call the unit shuts off your music and then when you end the call the music starts up again. Several times when I have tried to make a call or take a call it has not done that but rather I hear the call and my music is playing in the background.....kinda like a soundtrack for your phone call! LOL This has only happened a couple times though so while it does happen, and it is worth mentioning, it is for the most part a non-issue.
Third tech issue is the VOX (voice activation). I only have the VOX activated to assist me in making phone calls....for the most part it works flawlessly but occasionally it is either slow, or just does not work at all! If you use the VOX the key word is patience.
Fourth tech issue is those darn pins I mentioned earlier. Anytime you attach the pod to the microphone clamp be EXTREMELY careful! Make absolutely sure that you seat the pod all the way in before you snap it into place. If you don't get the thing aligned just right it will wreak havoc on your system. My advice is clip the thing in place when you first get it and leave the thing alone....lol
Final note:
I would highly recommend this system but If you do not have patience for technology, or you are "techtarded", this is not the system for you. The Sena is a system with some quirks, but every system is like that and the quirks with the Sena are all things that are minor or can be avoided. If you receive yours and it is not functioning properly before you give up one Sena I suggest having another unit sent to you and see if you have better luck. I was told that many of the units are messed up right out of the box and it all stems from those pins I spoke of earlier. However, the same person told me that when you get one that works it will work a long, long time with no issues....so if you get one of the lemons don't give up!
I would highly recommend this system but If you do not have patience for technology, or you are "techtarded", this is not the system for you. The Sena is a system with some quirks, but every system is like that and the quirks with the Sena are all things that are minor or can be avoided. If you receive yours and it is not functioning properly before you give up one Sena I suggest having another unit sent to you and see if you have better luck. I was told that many of the units are messed up right out of the box and it all stems from those pins I spoke of earlier. However, the same person told me that when you get one that works it will work a long, long time with no issues....so if you get one of the lemons don't give up!
While it is a gamble as to whether yours will work out of the box or not once you get one that doesn't have the issue with those pins then you are golden.....while normally a product that was this hit and miss would be something I tell people to avoid in this case I say just be patient and persistent until you receive a unit that works. The pros of this system far outweigh the cons and in the long run you will be glad you stuck it out.
Rides: 2011 Harley Davidson FLSTC/I Heritage Softail Classic
Yes, I recommend this product.
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Advanced Polycarbonate Composite Shell Includes adjustable polycarbonate chin bar Single-Button Chinbar/Faceshield Release Open with one hand, even with gloves on ACS Advanced Channeling Ventilation System Full front-to-back airflow flushes heat and humidity out of the interior Bioceramic Nylex Interior Anti-bacterial, removable and washable Ready for Bluetooth Communication Bluetooth unit sold separately QuickSlide Shield Replacement System Quick, secure, tool-less removal and installation of HJ-17 shield Optically Superior Face Shield 95 UV protection Construction Injection-Molded Thermoplastic shell with ABS / Polycarbonate Alloy chin bar DOT Approved Weight 3.63 lbs / 1650 grams (approx, based on Size Medium Solid Color)
Overall rating
Kept me alive
PostedOctober 16, 2012
dmcconnaughy
From Houston
State:TX
Rider Type:Road Warrior
Age:35-44
Gender:male
Bang for the Buck
3
/
5
Style
3
/
5
Comfort
3
/
5
Protection & Durability
5
/
5
Air Flow
2
/
5
Features
1
/
5
Fit
Small
Large
Noise Level
Quiet
Loud
Weight
Light
Heavy
Shape
Narrow
Round
Vision
Narrow
Wide
I am a big boy, 6'5 550lbs, so as you can imagine finding any gear to fit me is a pain in the hind quarter! When I went in search of a helmet the HJC CL-Max2 was basically my only choice as it is one of the only helmets for sale in size 5XL.
I will be honest I think this helmet is lacking in features, it is noisy, and the airflow is severely lacking, HOWEVER it does it's job and keeps your melon safe and sound. I had a get off in July and my HJC kept me safe and sound through a 100 foot skid and multiple bounces off the pavement face first! (see attached pics).
For the money I think this helmet is adequate provided you buy it on sale....I wouldn't pay the $189 price tags I have seen at some dealerships, but for the price here on Revzilla it is worth it, especially if you are in need of a 4XL or 5XL helmet.
Special note to any and all Harley riders.....Harley sells a version of this helmet as well and they charge $40 more for their version. The ONLY difference is that they tag it with an HD symbol on the front and the back, other than that it is the same helmet.....DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THEIR VERSION!!! You can buy the HJC here, peel off the HJC stickers (they come off real easy), then buy some HD stickers and put them on your self and save $40!
I would also strongly recommend buying a smoke or mirrored shield, please not though the mirrored shield scratches REAL easy!!!
Revzilla shipped my helmet in record time, have no reservations about ordering from these guys as they are the bomb!
Rides: 2011 Harley Davidson FLSTC/I Heritage Softail Classic
Yes, I recommend this product.
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dmcconnaughy's Answers
Sena SMH-10 Bluetooth Headset Dual Pack The SMH10 is a Bluetooth v3.0+EDR Class 1 Stereo Headset with long-range Bluetooth Intercom designed specifically for motorcycles. With the SMH10 on your helmet, you can call hands-free on your Bluetooth mobile phone, listen to stereo music or voice instructions of GPS navigations by Bluetooth wirelessly, and have intercom conversations in full duplex with a passenger or other motorcycle riders. Thanks to the latest Bluetooth v3.0+EDR and the advanced digital processing technology, the Sena SMH10 bluetooth helmet communication system offers the best sound quality for both incoming and outgoing sound in its class. Also, the easy-to-access and intuitive button operations make the SMH10 a perfect companion for motorcycles. System Features Audio Booster Individual Volume Control Versatile Jog Dial Use while charging Upgradable firmware General Talk time 12 hours Standby time 10 days Working Distance (Intercom) up to 900 meters (980 yards) in open terrain 4-way conference intercom Dimensions Headset 84.1 mm x 56.5 mm x 38.6 mm (3.3 in x 2.2 in x 1.5 in) Clamp unit 223.8 mm x 85.5 mm x 30.6mm (8.8 in x 3.4 in x 1.2 in) Headset weight 60g (2.11 oz) Clamp unit 84g (2.96 oz) Bluetooth Profiles Headset Profile, Hand-Free Profile (HFP), Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) Bluetooth v3.0+EDR Audio Built-in SBC Codec Voice promts Conference phone call with intercom participant Noise cancellation Wind noise reduction Wide volume control Sample rate 48kHz (DAC) Auxiliary audio-in connection via 3.5mm jack Battery Charging time 2.5 hours Type Lithium polymer battery Please Note Some of the above features require updating the firmware to the latest v4.1. The firmware is a free download from Sena Technologies .
What does the note "Without Wall Charger" mean?
Do I need to order an additional part? How does this unit charge?
The unit comes with a cable only to charge it. It is a USB connector on one end and then the other end attaches to the Sena bluetooth pod. SInce it has a USB on one end it needs to be connected to a computer to charge, or a USB charger. What I did with ours was to use our iPod charging plug which allows me to charge the pod using a wall outlet.
3 months, 1 week ago
by
dmcconnaughy
Age: 35-44
Gender: male
Houston