I'm currently thinking of upgrading my Aldi Signify Bluetooth headset fitted to a AGV K1 helmet.  I wear Alpine Touring headset compatible earplugs and above 70KPH it's pretty hard to hear GPS instructions. I have been trying to increase the volume by packing out the speakers to get them closer to my ears, however I don't think it will be enough. I have been looking at Sena or Cardo units, I need one with auto adjust volume and one that has a good amount of volume as I do have slight hearing loss. I'm currently looking at a Cardo Spirit HD headset has anyone had any experience with the Cardo or any suggestions for alternatives.
Regards Martin.

I've been using Cardo since 2013. I started with the basic Q1 set but upgraded to a much better Smartpack set by 2016. I now also have a Packtalk Slim for an Arai I use frequently. I sprung for the optional JBL 45mm speakers (over the stock 30mm versions) in the Smartpack set, which disappointed. They made the audio wonderful in my helmet at the kitchen table, but I honestly couldn't identify any song for thirty seconds at 100km/h. I stopped listening to music. I use them solely as intercoms when riding with pillion or for answering, rarely making, telephone calls. I can hear the spoken word (a passenger, phone call or GPS) clearly even with custom molded earplugs, which I never ride without. 

Software updates are a cinch on a laptop. They have a mobile app, too, which I rarely use, to control the units. They want you to sign in to 'track your rides' and make friends with other riders. I don't need anyone riding another bike to talk to me. However, you can engage up to 30 others using their proprietary DMC (Dynamic Mesh something or other). Imagine the madness of that! Batteries last 6 hours when yabbering all day, or listening to music, 8 hours when just 'on' all day with a bit of GPS instruction, a bit more if you're not chatting with a pillion. The Packtalk Slim battery will easily last 10 hours. They are not replaceable when they fail, but you can find them easily (Amazon or eBay) and solder a new one in. All of my unit's batteries have lasted for six or more years if you run 'em down regularly and fully charge 'em after use.  A soothing female (American) voice comes on and purrs out 'low bad-a-ree' as the battery fades while riding. The units go from warning to fully flat after about an hour. The girl stops talking after one or two suggestions, then you get single beeps 'til it's karked it fully. Charge ups vary (USB micro) in two or so hours.

The audio for volume and for sensing your voice when you speak can easily be set to overcome ambient noise, in steps, like a quality dashboard stereo. They also receive FM signals, tho' I rarely use that feature. You get both a mic on a stem with a windsock for noise cancellation for flippy uppy helmets, and a small, stick on mic for fixed chinbar hats. Installation is easy and fun in modern helmets, most of which are made with sizable indentations for speakers. Various size (thickness) Velcro pads come with the Cardo units to custom fit to your ears and your helmet. Controls are fiddly with thick gloves, and control locations vary between units, but you get used to which multi-function button does what.

I would buy another Cardo unit again but for the ridiculous price. Even the Smartpack sets bought 8 years ago are functioning beautifully for how I use them. Even the Q1 set are still in use. One unit went to my 'son in law' here in Washington state, and one unit to a dear friend in Barnawartha, Victoria. Both batteries lasted nearly a decade in those old Q1 units. You can still even update their software on Cardo's website.

I sold both Sena and Cardo for years in dealerships, but haven't touched a Sena unit in a decade.

Thanks for the information it's making things a bit clearer. Our group is pretty anti social (We probably don't even like each other)and we don't want to talk to each other while riding. I've got Spotify on my Apple and while I do listen to music while in the car I probably will rarely if ever listen to music on the Brick. It will be mainly used for GPS and incoming phone calls from the Honorable Minister for Sport and Recreation. I've been reading reviews and I'm leaning to one of the Cardo's at the moment with a possible speaker/earbud upgrade. There's too many options out there.  
Regards Martin.

Talking to each other is for the youngsters. Us old and bold riders would rather listen to the engine just in case it's about to blow up...

Second vote for the Cardo. Still using a Cardo Q1 duo, with passenger, that I bought 8 years ago.  Replaced the battery as a precaution this year. All instructions on youtube and batteries can be picked up on amazon/ebay.

They still operated flawlessly for a 3 week holiday with my wife, so lots of rider to passenger communication (or should that be passenger to rider   ).  Also listened to music downloaded from spotify on the phone and streamed it to my wife's helmet for a long boring motorway day.

Can't fault them.

One issue is the newer version of Bluetooth on my phone occasionally shuts the unit off on initial pairing but will pair successfully after a few attempts. But that's the only issue. You probably wouldn't have that on the new units. 

Would buy a spirit HD duo if my one ever fails.

Dai wrote:Talking to each other is for the youngsters. Us old and bold riders would rather listen to the engine just in case it's about to blow up...

I'm with you . I tried music when I was riding once and found it was a big distraction. After 59 years of riding a motorcycle, I guess I'm just set in my ways. When I'm riding my brain sort of melds with the bike. I know every little sound and vibration. When something changes I take that as an early warning and focus on it.

yamaguzzi wrote:

Dai wrote:Talking to each other is for the youngsters. Us old and bold riders would rather listen to the engine just in case it's about to blow up...

I'm with you . I tried music when I was riding once and found it was a big distraction. After 59 years of riding a motorcycle, I guess I'm just set in my ways. When I'm riding my brain sort of melds with the bike. I know every little sound and vibration. When something changes I take that as an early warning and focus on it.

Exactly!

I bought the Cardo unit for the Schubert system 3 helmet and was thoroughly disappointed with their incompatability to pair to non Cardo systems. My next purchase was a basic set of Bluetooth units for Pillion intercom and I have used those very successfully. My most recent purchase was the SENA Evo10 system with a built in helmet cam which i mostly run in dash cam. mode. 

The Sena is the best if the lot I can listen to music and take phone calls up to 120kph no problem. The only negative I have is that it is bulky and therefore a bit noisy on the side of the helmet.

All current Cardo and Sena headsets can maintain a Bluetooth 'bridge' to one another, once connected, up to 100+ metres/yards, and will reconnect automatically if that distance is briefly broken. Several years back, yeah, most units wouldn't connect easily to another. I recall it was Sena who broke the barrier first. BTW, Cardo introduced the first functioning Bluetooth motorbike headset back in '04. That was back in the day when we thought the massive hoses coming from out of the British-built units were the thing. I sold them and had one. I don't recall their name just now. It was a large cigar box you had to hide beneath the seat or in a tankbag.

Two Wheels Better wrote:That was back in the day when we thought the massive hoses coming from out of the British-built units were the thing. I sold them and had one. I don't recall their name just now. It was a large cigar box you had to hide beneath the seat or in a tankbag.

Autocom?

Corkboy wrote:

Two Wheels Better wrote:That was back in the day when we thought the massive hoses coming from out of the British-built units were the thing. I sold them and had one. I don't recall their name just now. It was a large cigar box you had to hide beneath the seat or in a tankbag.

Autocom?

That's the one. At Beemer shops in the mid 2000s they were the rage. Every K1200LT rider had one. They're still in business.

http://www.museum.alibaba.sk/MUSEUM/COMMS/voicepipe/voicepipe.htm

    
Not far off.

Corkboy wrote:
http://www.museum.alibaba.sk/MUSEUM/COMMS/voicepipe/voicepipe.htm

    
Not far off.

I hope that comms set includes an all inclusive dental plan…she’s going to need it when he brakes hard or changes gear roughly  At least her ‘Shepards crook’ around his neck should stop her falling off though.

I have used the Cardo packtalk units for a few years now. Seem ok. As TWB says you can use as Bluetooth headset for navigation instructions, music and phone and intercom with 4 riders, allegedly up to 1.6km apart….or Dynamic Mech Communication (DMC) with up to 10 riders up to 15km. The long range assumes you’re all riding about 1.5km apart so pretty sceptical of that functionality! Mostly I use mine for nav and music…I do like a good sing along as I’m sweeping those twisty curves. It has the FM radio receiver too, but I found that frustrating on long rides as you move between radio transmitters and slightly different frequencies. Voice recognition is a bit suspect too. You can shout ‘music’ into the mic and it will play your music (from your paired device) however, mine is bit hard of hearing. If I curse out loud at some tin box, for example I say “W*nker”…Cardo starts playing my music. “F*ing C**t!” for those closer encounters is interpreted by Cardo as ‘play radio’ which usually improves my mood instantly with the raucous hiss of static from a non-tuned in radio channel.

After reviewing heaps of headsets I narrowed it down to three, a cheap Fodsport M1S-Pro $106.99 Au heaps of features including voice command and very good reviews. Mid range Cardo Spirit HD $268.99 Au solid performer not as many features very good reviews. High end Cardo Freecom 4X $479.95 heaps of features including voice control and wireless up dates also very good reviews. I ended up going the Cardo Freecom 4X so does anyone want to buy a Kidney??
Regards Martin.

Goodonya. You'll still be using it years from now. Check for a software update the moment you charge the battery and it's ready to install. There'll likely be one, even when new in the box. I check my Cardo units about every three months all year long, about when I'm checking the Garmin BMW Nav 5 & 6 for updates.

Ordered yesterday it arrived today. can't complain about the service. I nearly ordered it from cardo direct as the price was slightly lower, but the Honorable Minister for Sport and recreation advised me to go local. It'll take me a couple of days to sort out the paperwork. And bonus for spending all that money I got a Cardo sticker.
Regards Martin

Good luck with that Martin. Post up a bit of a review once you've had a chance to use 'em.

I have tried a few BT headsets. I am now using a Balcony unit which works well. An advantage is a built in camera, it functions as a "dash cam" if needed. I admit I don't use it as an intercom, but for music, navigation plus the occasional phone calls it works very well.