SENA 30K vs. Cardo PACKTALK...Phone Pairing Test (Bold/Slim)

Bought the 30Ks because I've been a long-time Sena user and this was their latest/best offered. Some of the guys I ride with, however, went with the Cardo Packtalks. We decided to do some friendly head-to-head comparisons, and to make a long story short, my 30Ks went back. And it wasn't a difficult decision. Made as many videos as I had time to do before the return date for my 30Ks passed, so here they are!

Tried to be as accurate, informative, and raw as possible so I hope they're helpful.

[vinnieb]

I bought the Sena 30K and returned it because it had so many problems. Everyone is buying it for the mesh...but first off, the Sena 30K CANNOT play music and have you be in the mesh also. It is one or the other. Meaning if you are in a mesh with friends and want to be a part of the conversation you will never, repeat never, get to listen to music unless you have an infotainment center on your motorcycle an people want you to pipe your music to every rider. Next, if no one is talking while in the mesh, you get to hear wind noise through the speakers the entire trip, unless everyone takes the time to mute their microphone. When I muted my microphone it disconnected me from the entire group. Yes, my microphone was muted, but I also could not hear them. This problem is only in my unit. Everyone else who muted their mic could still hear if someone decided to talk and unmuted their Sena 30K. I also own a pair of Packtalk Bold's (which is the improved version of the "Packtalk" which has been on the market for 3 years with improvements the entire time). They are awesome in every way. Problem is the whole group I ride with own Sena 30K and I could not get mine to pair with them. I should have tried harder, because every time I use the 30K I kick myself in the butt for buying this inferior Sena product. Get the Packtalk Bold. I can listen to music and hear someone talking over the intercom. The music volume on the Packtalk will lower, but keep playing and you will hear what has to be said over the comm. Crystal clear up to 60 MPH talking at normal speaking level as if you and the other person where in a quiet room, but then on you will have to raise you voice so they can hear when riding any faster. Also, with the Packtalk Bold, if no one is talking there is no wind noise. You will swear the Packtalk Bold is not on. This is not the case for the Sena 30K in mesh mode. Wind noise remains constant even when not talking. I showed our group last week that you can mute the Sena by pressing the mesh button for one second, but why should you have too? Get the Packtalk Bold, persuade everyone in your group to get the Packtalk Bold. You will be happy if you do. SENA SUCKS!!!! PACKTALK BOLD RULES!!!! If you set up Packtalk Bold to play music and set up mesh and that is all you know, you can have a great ride. Sena 30K can't even do that. Two things...Music and Mesh. The reason we buy mesh is so don't get disconnected from other riders, but I think I should be able to listen to music, and if no one is talking have peace and quiet if I choose. Apparently Sena wants to get by with just their name. You create to many inferior products you will lose your customer base. STRIKE ONE SENA...and it was a doozy. People are scared of change for a reason, but I will let you know, the Packtalk Bold took about an hour to put on a half helmet and read the instructions to have a good foundation of how to work it. Other people said the product was hard to learn. I think that was pre-Packtalk Bold. I can't speak for the Packtalk, but the Packtalk Bold with voice commands is easy. FYI, I am not an IT guy and I figured it out...wrench turner here....

[mayersinsuranceagencyllc]

It would be nice if you could compare the two based on distance for communicating for each system.

[OrganizedMud]

Great videos! Thank you! Do you use your Bold with a half helmet? If so what is your setup?

[ChosenBlood]

Looks like the cardo is miles ahead... on every test.. unbelievable.

[thomas]

Where can I buy the cardo Packtalk cheap?