Another reader question! What is a better communicator, the sena smh10r or cardo scala g9x?
Thx for your help, Patrick
So if I had to answer this question in a quick minute, I have to say the G9X. However, that answer is based solely on features and functionality when you compare the two side by side. But that is simply because the G9X is designed as the master of Group Riding, assuming all of the riders are using Cardo units. It's a robust bluetooth intercom to ride with a ton of people. Whereas the SMH10R is really a low profile unit designed to interact with maybe 3 riding friends, not all of the members of your local riding club.
I whipped up this chart to compare what features each unit has in common, and then who wins in certain categories so you can see how different these units are. In the first section "Shared Features", you can see they do have similar functionalities. In the "Cardo Wins" category, there are a few cool features that the SMH10R doesn't have. And then in the "Sena Wins" category, it has a few features that the G9X doesn't have.
SHARED FEATURES:
CARDO G9X
SENA SMH10R
4-Way Intercom Conferencing
yes
yes
A2DP Stereo
yes
yes
Answer Intercom Calls via VOX
yes
yes
Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
yes
yes
GPS Connectivity
yes
yes
Hot Dial
yes
yes
Make and Receive Mobile Calls via VOX
yes
yes
Mobile Phone Connectivity
yes
yes
MP3 Connectivity
yes
yes
Music-Sharing™(between Rider-Passenger)
yes
yes
Plug-In Speakers (3.5mm)
yes
yes (optional)
Replaceable Mics
yes
yes
Software Updates
yes
yes
Spoken Status Announcements
yes
yes
Voice Commands
yes
yes
CARDO WINS:
Web platform to change settings
yes
no
FM Radio with RDS
yes
no
Automatic Volume Adjustment (AGC)
yes
no
Click-to-Link®
yes
no
Flash Pairing®
yes
no
Group Signal
yes
no
Intercom Bike-to-Bike
Up to 1mile
Up to 0.55 mile
Intercom Toggling
between 9 bikers
between 4 bikers
Talk Time
13 hours
8 hours
Standby
7 days
7 days
SENA WINS:
Universal Intercom
no
yes
Ultralight Profile
no
yes
Cardo Scala G9
I would say that if you're looking for the Cardo version of the SMH10R, look at the Q3. Lower profile than the G9 and offers practically the same features as the SMH10R, with the exception of it's low profile, thin unit. For ME, this trumps everything else. It's aesthetics, and purely superficial. But it totally depends on what your priorities are as a rider. Having ridden with the SMH5 for so long, I really like the low profile look of the SMH10R and am getting comfortable with the controls each time I ride.
