Rabid Hedgehog's review of the Sena 10s and SMH10

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Looking to make your helmet an all-in-one communications center? Well look no further than a bluetooth device that can be added on aftermarket to allow this to happen! These are two of the best on the market, one the outgoing champion of the market, and the other the scrappy new comer. The SMH10 and the 10S both by Sena.
Current prices as found on Amazon (as of July 2016)
SMH10 Single $147.80
10S Single $167.99 (on sale) - $199.99

[@dbest1aVlogs]

I got my smh10 dual on a steal at eBay for little more than $200 . Really happy with it . I do like that they slimmed down the 10s, and the added range wow. Don't see myself upgrading, but the 10s is a great starting point. I couldn't spend 20s money, it's just rational for me.. I don't use it that much .

[@RabidHedgehog]

I was one the fence about it, and then I borrowed one from a random dude at a ride event for a ride around the block and the FM radio sold me. The SMH10 is a great unit though and still used by my wife and on my O'neal motocross helmet as well.

[@gatesb7757]

Thanks for the review and the nod to check out Amazon. I picked up a 10s from Amazon for the best price I've seen yet.

[@digsterdude]

nice review perched on the fence right now i bought a new v star tourer and got a pair of cheap intercoms (no group talk) for me & the wife.ready to upgrade.

[@RabidHedgehog]

These are great systems for sure. I need to see if I can get my hands on a Scala or some of the other brands. But so far everything I have is the Sena system and all of them work nicely.

[@dsp4392]

Thanks for the great review. Can't help but feel these things are way overpriced for the utility. At $200 for a single unit, they cost nearly as much as the average phone, which is ridiculous considering the electronics inside (the BOM certainly doesn't break $10). I understand Scala and Sena are tiny businesses that can't afford the enormous economies of scale of Google, Samsung or Apple, and consumers are mostly paying for marketing, tooling, and a bit of R&D, but still. At $400 for a minimal set, these things should at least offer crystal clear 44.1 kHz 16-bit audio through RF, so when the Bluetooth version gets outdated, you still have unbeatable audio quality using basic transmission means.

[@RabidHedgehog]

They are a bit pricey for sure, but I find that once you have them you'll never want to go back. I do wish they did have a better audio connection sometimes, but they have improved from the SMH 10 to 10s in terms of clarity and I do like the novel addition of the FM radio. But base price is high and I always look for bargains.

[@dsp4392]

Good to know. Hopefully prices will fall with time. I'll be waiting to snag one of these once they drop below $60/unit brand new. Thanks again for sharing your experience.

[@luiselizondo1038]

Hi Rabid, I get the differences between the two units and the FM radio really is of no interest to me. My real hangup is the speakers. is it worth getting the 10S versus the SMH10? are they really THAT much better? this will by my first BT addition. Thanks! Great review by the way!

[@viel.anthony]

With in-ear monitors, the earphone port is a must - The 10s is my only option, right? The base speakers look like they can be unplugged from the unit, but it looks like there would still be a bit of wire hanging? Also, I can't seem to find a review that mentions the range of the intercom beyond quoting the spec sheet; How is it with a dual pack when riding two separate bikes? It's the only reason I'm looking into those units. I don't care about FM radio, nor voice command. I also read back then that the 20s is not worth it over the 10s. Thanks

[@Deputyd0803]

Great review and comparison. I've been trying to decide if I wanted to buy a used device or just spring for the new. And I think you have talked me into the 10s. On a side note. How do you like the HJC Captain American helmet?

[@RabidHedgehog]

I think it is an excellent helmet. It cuts through the wind rather well and for the most part does so with little wind noise vs others in its price class. The 10S is a fine Bluetooth headset for sure and is a good price point. Since the 20S is being phased out it would be a good pickup as well if you can find one.

[@keithd4520]

Hey Rabid, nice review indeed! I have the SMH-10 and do like the idea of FM but I'm primarily interested in better sound from the helmet speakers. Are they better than the SMH-10? Also, What features does the 10S have that the SMH-10 doesn't or visa versa. Thank you.

[@RabidHedgehog]

Keith D The 10S does indeed have better speakers than the SMH10 series. The 10s also has Bluetooth 4.0 spec vs. 3.1 so better clarity through streaming as well and slightly enhanced range to near 1 mile total intercom (in theory of course) vs the little over .5 mile of the SMH10. Plus the added bonus of FM radio for 10s.

[@asessins7634]

Excellent video thanks very much 👌🏼👍🏼

[@oregonwinger64]

My 10S works on SMH10 base, but my 2 SMH10 head units don't work on the 10S base. On Purpose ?

[@smokey8400]

The 10S is incompatible with Samsung S7 and Android 7.0. Sena makes the unit work when it is first released then as you update your phone it doesn't work anymore with bluetooth apps.

[@RabidHedgehog]

Wayne L That is strange. Should still work just fine, but during those updates what may happen is the default apps get changed or replaced during those cycles. So it should be. I have the same Android version, but an older Samsung unit.

[@smokey8400]

What I find is I believe too many Bluetooth apps are trying to communicate with the Sena. Sometimes it is S-Voice replying and some times Google Search is. I tried to disable some and try Android Auto but similar results. AA would speak back only the first time then nothing just kept saying I didn't hear anything so cancelling. So neither the built-in phone apps work correctly or the Google based ones.

[@RabidHedgehog]

I had an issue were the update to 7.0 screwed with the pairing as well. I had to delete the paring and then redo it and it worked fine. I have only allowed Google to respond to the voice command.

[@tonyjosephster1]

Will the head unit connect to a 20s base. Lost my 20s headset, .But have the opportunity of picking up a smh10 for a low low price.

[@PoplarMechanic]

I was looking for this you answered some of my questions. Are the microphone and speaker wires the same length on smh10 as they are on s10?

[@RabidHedgehog]

They are a little different with the 10S being a bit longer.

[@PoplarMechanic]

@@RabidHedgehog thanks

[@wb4514]

You must have a small fortune invested in helmets, bluetooth headsets and camera equipment !

[@RabidHedgehog]

Eh, not really. The first camera was a gift, the others I catch on sale. But bluetooth and helmets... That's a different story.

[@notstevelam]

i wish sena made a specific 10s clamp kit for the bell qualifier dlx helmets. right now it seems you just have to use the bell smh10 clamp kit which doesnt have the upgraded speakers that come with the 10s. blah!!

[@justinwestphal6195]

Is the sena 10s the speaker you use for your motorcycle reviews when you ride?

[@RabidHedgehog]

I use a Sony ECMCS3 omnidirectional condenser microphone. The Sena is always on my helmet at all times and I do have the Bluetooth backpack now for the GoPro, but I'll wait to use it until I have a lens protector. Wish I would have used it this past weekend as we had a conference going during the Yamaha ride event.

[@brendabarrett747]

Can you make video to turn on FM on 10s

[@gorilla11100]

Hey Rabid. What are your thoughts on the 2016 Triumph Bonneville T120? Could you do a test ride/review for it?

[@RabidHedgehog]

Love the way it looks, want to ride it. Local dealers are not letting them leave unless you're buying pretty much right now.

[@tansilie1164]

May I ask if the 10s does allow concurrent music sharing and intercom?

[@RabidHedgehog]

It is one or the other sadly on the 10S. So it is either music or conversation.

[@tansilie1164]

I see. Thanks for the info!

[@quinoelleplaygroup4193]

Will the 10s work perfectly if I just use a smh10 clamp kit?

[@RabidHedgehog]

They are indeed compatible if you have them. Just check the wiring and such as we did this for a while and the internal wiring on the SMH10 had given up the ghost on the mic without any real warning.

[@Hapfletcher]

Have you ever used the 3.5 plug for earbuds on the 10S ? if you have how was it? if not can you try it and report back Thank you nice review

[@RabidHedgehog]

It works good but is a bit weird having some thumping from the aux cable blowing into the helmet, but that can be remedied with better cord placement. But the sound was good through it without any issues.

[@hyunjunshin731]

Thanks for the video. What helmet is that? I've never seen one with a built-in Sena port.

[@RabidHedgehog]

The one that has it built in is the Bell Qualifier DX. It can only use the SMH-10.

[@hyunjunshin731]

Rabid Hedgehog Thanks!

[@ericarroyo2730]

Rabid Hedgehog why do you say the dlx will only use smh-10 but you show that the 10s fits?

[@RabidHedgehog]

Eric Arroyo as a caution. For a weird reason several months after this video was made with the 10S docked it suddenly sprung out. Luckily I was stopped and was able to recover my unit. The 10S was always a smidge tighter in the hole on the qualifier. So it stressed that plastic clip and that is why it did eventually pop. It could be localized to only my helmet, but I am more cautious about advising it now.

[@ericarroyo2730]

Rabid Hedgehog oh man. I just bought the dlx and have the 10s. Will the 10s clamp fit on it? Like without using the SENA slot and doing it with the SENA 10s clamp? Thanks for the response! Great vid

[@kymmoulds]

Firstly you forgot to tell the viewers about the bullshit claim by SENA of the range of the units. Secondly, the 10S has a design flaw in the way that the unit attaches to the helmet mount in that the flexible part at the top which clips into the mount will fail. I have 2 of these units and I have just returned them for a warranty claim as the clips had broken completely on one unit and almost broken off on the second unit. This problem is well documented by many unhappy owners of the 10S on the SENA forum. Would I buy this particular model again? Never!!!!

[@RabidHedgehog]

Yes the 10S does not have good range as advertised. The clip I have no issue with as I do not transfer it often or at all, or detach from helmet to charge and it does fine at this time and the unit is well over a year old now with several thousand miles on it. It has served my purposes well.

[@drn4971]

Cardo smaller and better

[@RabidHedgehog]

I will need to try a Scala Rider out and try it out to be sure.