Sena 50S & 50R Harman Kardon Mesh Intercom Review

[@CWJester]

I bought mine in-store at a Cycle Gear and was told it was waterproof. It is NOT. If you're an all-weather rider, look elsewhere because I RMA'd two due to getting water inside. If you ride only when nice out, then this is a great purchase! The jog wheel on the 50S is convenient and everything sounds good. Just about the only thing wrong with it is the app and how you install updates but that's not really a hindrance. If you expect to get caught in rain though, look into other options.

[@shegocrazy]

if they are like the 30k then they are rain resistant at least. I've had mine for years and often used them in torrential rain. no issues to date.

[@kenny8343]

are you using yours under water, bro mine been on a rain storm and it's still fine

[@nickc5341]

Works just fine in the rain in my experience

[@colemercer8832]

loving mine so far, but they really need to get their apps and software engineering in order

[@barneybailey4499]

Totally agree. Hardware is great. But software, app and UX is very poor and far from intuitive.

[@ThatGamerGuyNL]

hardware is great, the app is horrible, i cant control music volume separate from voice volume. its just one slider... totally annoying to not hear people because music is to loud, or the other way around...

[@gnesmond]

Try the sena control thingy for PC's its way better than the apps.

[@StillMansa]

I've had a 50s for about 1.5 years. The wifi charger is trash, I always have to connect it to the computer with a different USB-C cable.

[@arlogiroux8249]

Guys, jog dial or buttons? The decision is just too much for me to handle 😅

[@b14ckyy]

I just ordered a Interphone U-Com 16 that is fully Sena Mesh compatible and basically a 50R in a more compact form, IP67 and external battery to hide in the helmet or on the back. and much cheaper! Its my first intercom system and seemed to be the one that checks all boxes that Sena itself missed.

[@user-ry1uh]

Hi, how is the U-com 16? Does it work fine with sena or have any problems, can you play music together with sena users?

[@Msrverpilot]

I have the 50 r, and muting the mic while I'm riding will help on battery life,

[@epowell01]

What's the difference on hd branded Harmon Kardon speakers and Sena Harmon Kardon speakers? The look different.

[@nussiah1]

Here’s a question. Can you listen to music while meshed with your pillon passenger and have a conversation at the same time?

[@jgirtman012]

Indeed. My wife I do all of the time

[@nussiah1]

@@jgirtman012 Thanks

[@StillMansa]

Make sure you use multitasking

[@louisloong406]

There is a problem with meshing the sena HD speaker version and the Sena HK speaker version. The noise from the Harman Kardon mic can be very disturbing to user of the sena 50S HD speaker version when meshing. no problem with Sena HD speakers to HD speakers.

[@geoffhill3835]

Hi,would the speakers from a 10 r work with a 50 r 👊

[@P.M_M]

Still not waterproof. Be it a singular unit or a waterproof seal where the pins connect

[@a9503128]

In my humble opinion RevZilla are doing themselves brand damage stocking sud-par gear.

[@P.M_M]

@@a9503128 yup, my original 20s eventually died on me because I stupidly thought riding in the rain wasn’t going to be a problem. The software updates made the unit shiter and shiter to use then Gold pins eventually corroded. Switched to a packtalk slim JBL and haven’t looked back.

[@epowell01]

@@P.M_Mcan't do that on a Harley below a 24 year

[@P.M_M]

@@epowell01 what are you talking about ?

[@epowell01]

@@P.M_M if you have the whim (wireless headset interface module) on your bike you have to use sena

[@ThatGamerGuyNL]

hardware is great, the app is horrible, i cant control music volume separate from voice volume. its just one slider... totally annoying to not hear people because music is to loud, or the other way around.... PLS FIX

[@fransiskusgabriel9411]

So what do you guys think? Sena 50s or cardo pack bold?

[@Msrverpilot]

Can we charge the R from bike while going down the road??

[@RevZilla]

Yes you can

[@shegocrazy]

Are the HK speakers better than the HD speakers you can buy separately from Sena?

[@RevZilla]

Yes, their tier system would go Standard Speakers - HD Speakers - HK Speakers in their lineup.

[@epicmotorcyclechannel307]

I wonder if the ok google feature actually works. Cardo boasted that ability on the Packtalk Bold but it never worked!

[@hendrxx_]

It works for me with Siri although sometimes it takes 2 or 3 tries to get the robot lady to say hey siri.

[@NJMike67]

@@hendrxx_ my robot lady responds to random conversational bits that sound NOTHING like Hey Siri. Like..."hey dude...check out that dog over there" .... reply "I can't find any barbers in the area" or words to that effect.

[@NomadOnGS]

I have Sena Spider RT1 will also HK Speakers and Mic be compatible with it (firmware update required I know) ?

[@RevZilla]

Sena did tell us that the HK speakers would be for the 50 series only. However, that may change in the future.

[@panikosprokopiou9855]

nobody see that the base of the unit with the way is install, the helmet from one side stand on the bluetooth base.. is there any other way to dont use the base that grap the helmet?

[@b14ckyy]

get the R that does not use the base. But it has no 3.5mm speaker output though.

[@cyclechris6591]

i had a 50s. The issue was in mesh the mic would go hot from wind noise and I would loose the music because it thinks someone is talking. I bought the new hk 50s. Well the new hk mic is even more sensitive. Why cant they put a sensitivity control on the mesh like they do on Bluetooth?

[@patrickmchugh8039]

Are you using an open-face helmet or full face? Curious if you can move the microphone away from a vent to reduce the noise its picking up. Also - are you using the foam microphone covers that come in the box to help remove some of the surrounding noise being picked up?

[@cyclechris6591]

@@patrickmchugh8039 Well im using the rhpa 90s carbon in full face mode. I just did the v2.0.2 firmware update and sena fixed the issue by adding mesh sensitivity control in the app. Its called intercom audio multitasking sensitivity. Before the update it didn’t work on a mesh conversation. Now it does.

[@rschenkels]

I use the mic on / mic off option, so only when I want to talk I switch the mic on , it is just a one button press for 1s

[@cyclechris6591]

@@patrickmchugh8039 Yes using the foam deadcat. After an update sena added a sensitivity control in the app., Im using the super quiet Rpha 90s carbon, its the most quiet helmet ever tested by Champion helmets. It’s my fav lid, I also own the c3 pro, the sportmodular, the neotec and a bell srt. The rpha 90s carbon is my fav.

[@501blues6]

Are they any louder than the regular 50S&R ?

[@RevZilla]

Speaker max volume is still the same, but the EQ & HK speakers do make the quality of sound much better.

[@randyjedneak8698]

Placement of speakers is very important if there not in line with ears then not loud other wise they are loud in rite place in your helmit I end up turning mine down useing car play mesh very limited in the woods snowmobiling other wise works fine in straight line

[@randyjedneak8698]

I have both 10s motor cycle spyder set up snowmobiling

[@king__9690]

The worst Sinai model is the 50s, where the sound of the speakers is very bad

[@chickenthug0]

How does this new speaker system stack up against Cardo's JBL speakers music quality wise? My Freecom 4 has better sound for music when compared to my Sena 30k. Curious if Sena is now comparable if not better with these new speakers

[@RevZilla]

Since JBL is owned by Harman Kardon, the sound quality is very near identical in our testing opinions.

[@wekkimeif7720]

I don't think there is any way make the 40 mm speakers better than they are. Harman Kardon or not. So I take Cardo pack is safe and bit cheaper way to go just. Also Cardo says they are rain proof

[@davedonedis]

Noise canceling?

[@RevZilla]

Microphone, yes.

[@iansian829]

Cardo edge vs sena 50s

[@500sixtyfour]

Harman is owned by Samsung now

[@ttvilaxell2742]

bb talk n usa makes a water proof system if your like me and refuse to spend the money on a "water resistant" product

[@韦柳萍]

expect biz coorpertion

[@johnreggie7797]

REVZILLA, PLEASE tell me I can upgrade my speakers in my 50s that I bought 6 months ago… can I buy just the speakers?????

[@khalilismyname]

He stated the answer in the video.

[@alfredcen6159]

3:20

[@Rosscofat]

Yes but most out of stock for a while

[@johnreggie7797]

@@Rosscofat so it is compatible now? Did they fix it with a firmware update?

[@Rosscofat]

@@johnreggie7797 there is a firmware update march 2022

[@Aging2day]

Junk, and once installed you can’t return it, don’t buy it!

[@YnotDoit]

Not worth the upgrade. So unhappy with Sena 50s

[@informedcarpet]

Definitely is worth the upgrade

[@eye492]

same it’s so quiet such a pos for 350$

[@eye492]

@@informedcarpetnot

[@brad4690]

Garbage software. Stay away. These sena units are nothing but trouble. Struggling to update firmware right now. Won't even charge past 30%. About to toss a $300 unit and buy a Cardo. This thing has been nothing but trouble for years.

[@sd5458]

After my Sena 30k experience I will never buy another Sena product again. Terribly behind the times with their app, the sound quality is crap, the device is hard to update, the range is garbage ... just no. Done with Sena.

[@someguy5035]

Sena got too comfortable taking our money and giving us minimal value and quality. Now they are panicking because Cardo is taking over the market. I hope Sena goes bankrupt. And BOTH companies need to work on conferencing. They all keep pretending that isn't what we want despite that being exactly what we want. If I am riding with 3 people. I want to be able to talk and hear everyone. Why are they playing these stupid MESH games?

[@DarkInovator]

Cardo Bold is better and Cardo Edge is far better with bt 5.2, better mesh tech and a lot better software... why even bother with sena

[@bingbing2515]

I dont think Cardo has a simple one tap Open Mesh Channels system.

[@DarkInovator]

@@bingbing2515 waat... thats as bout as usefull as a third wheel. Gimmick features should never be a selling point of anything. Its all about the fundamentals. Is the audio quality better (yes). Is the noise detection and canceling far better (yes by a lot!). Is the communication between devices more stable (yes). Is the app better ( not only are they ahead with one app for all units since forever but also a solid yes). Battery is comparable between them and they both have quick charge so thats not a factor. And voice recognition is also far better (because of the noise detection tech), I use this quite a lot and I am impressed how well it works at speed of 180kmh+ (plugfones). Though I would say that voice commands is basically bordering gimmick status just because the google assistant cant handle noise at anything higher than 50kmh and siri is even worst. The tech is useful since the default cardo commands work amazingly well and basic things like volume next track battery status make it so I rarely touch the device while riding. If google would have a better noise voice detection algo the cardo platform would be basically a must for everyone. Controlling your phone with just voice while riding is a major win.

[@bingbing2515]

@@DarkInovator Open Mesh (even group Mesh) is about the ease of use and convenience.

[@DarkInovator]

@@bingbing2515 I wont disagree with you if yo use that feature. In my experience the Cardo group system is perfect. The open mesh feels kind of weard... how often you wana talk to strangers :)

[@MC-qj2zd]

Range on my cardo bold was trash. Sena is much better