Sena SMH5 intercom, any good? - SV650.org

admin · 04-01-17, 08:11 PM

As per the subject line. I'm toying with buying these for an upcoming trip. I don't want to spend a fortune on an intercom, so I'm interested in getting opinions.
Tia
John

Nutsinatin · 05-01-17, 06:43 PM

For a reasonably cheap headset for phone/satnav/radio/music/pillion it's fine, for group riding it's not the best as the range is short, you can only remember three other head sets (and be connected to one at a time - quite often it takes a few goes to connect so you don't really want to keep trying to connect to more than one person, you also need to update the firmware to connect to any other brand).

Battery life is several days if you're just using it for satnav or even that and pillion. If you're playing music constantly I normally get less that 4 hours.

Basically - Just for phone/sat nav or pillion - Buy it.
For music or group riding look for something else.

admin · 05-01-17, 06:53 PM

Cheers for that.

chris8886 · 07-01-17, 08:27 PM

how do these things work if you wear earplugs?

Nutsinatin · 07-01-17, 08:46 PM

I wear filtered plugs and it's just fine, have used it with normal plugs and it was audiable up to around 70/80 for satnav but it was more like 60/70 for pillion coms with my Shoei GT Air II.

chris8886 · 07-01-17, 10:30 PM

filtered plugs? I wear custom ones....

carelesschucca · 08-01-17, 12:49 AM

John I'd need to go check, I think I've got a sena intercom. The charge lasts about 5/6 hours. It's great but you need to make sure the speaker is aligned properly to make it work...

I'll check in the morning when I'm slightly less inebriated...

maviczap · 08-01-17, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris8886

filtered plugs? I wear custom ones....

Filtered ones have a ceramic filter which cuts out the harmful levels, but lets you hear normal levels, so speech & voice.

You can get custom plugs with these ceramic filters

chris8886 · 09-01-17, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maviczap

Filtered ones have a ceramic filter which cuts out the harmful levels, but lets you hear normal levels, so speech & voice.

You can get custom plugs with these ceramic filters

so I would need to buy new ear plugs for this sort of thing to work properly?

maviczap · 09-01-17, 09:48 PM

I would try it with your current ear plugs first, and if you can;t hear well enough, then buy some with filters.

Seems false economy to buy new custom ear plugs if you can hear what you need to hear?

04-01-17, 08:11 PM	#1
admin John T Mega Poster Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shrewsbury, Shrops, UK Posts: 2,455	Sena SMH5 intercom, any good? As per the subject line. I'm toying with buying these for an upcoming trip. I don't want to spend a fortune on an intercom, so I'm interested in getting opinions. Tia John __________________ Admin for this forum and the main site. John@sv650.org

05-01-17, 06:43 PM	#2
Nutsinatin Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Lyne, Surrey Posts: 570	Re: Sena SMH5 intercom, any good? For a reasonably cheap headset for phone/satnav/radio/music/pillion it's fine, for group riding it's not the best as the range is short, you can only remember three other head sets (and be connected to one at a time - quite often it takes a few goes to connect so you don't really want to keep trying to connect to more than one person, you also need to update the firmware to connect to any other brand). Battery life is several days if you're just using it for satnav or even that and pillion. If you're playing music constantly I normally get less that 4 hours. Basically - Just for phone/sat nav or pillion - Buy it. For music or group riding look for something else. __________________ Blue K9 Pointy - Squished by a car/kerb/wall Blue K9 Pointy #2 - Nearly at 120,000 miles!

05-01-17, 06:53 PM	#3
admin John T Mega Poster Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shrewsbury, Shrops, UK Posts: 2,455	Re: Sena SMH5 intercom, any good? Cheers for that. __________________ Admin for this forum and the main site. John@sv650.org

07-01-17, 08:27 PM	#4
chris8886 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 2,797	Re: Sena SMH5 intercom, any good? how do these things work if you wear earplugs? __________________ AR08 to AR13-QUALITY! 650s: '52 curvy in yellow, was my baby cbr600rr: Mivv exhaust and a bagster tank cover. Now gone to a new home. Daytona 675: Arrow can (with a baffle that's gone missing in action....), quickshifter, shorty levers, custom paintjob

07-01-17, 08:46 PM	#5
Nutsinatin Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Lyne, Surrey Posts: 570	Re: Sena SMH5 intercom, any good? I wear filtered plugs and it's just fine, have used it with normal plugs and it was audiable up to around 70/80 for satnav but it was more like 60/70 for pillion coms with my Shoei GT Air II. __________________ Blue K9 Pointy - Squished by a car/kerb/wall Blue K9 Pointy #2 - Nearly at 120,000 miles!

07-01-17, 10:30 PM	#6
chris8886 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 2,797	Re: Sena SMH5 intercom, any good? filtered plugs? I wear custom ones.... __________________ AR08 to AR13-QUALITY! 650s: '52 curvy in yellow, was my baby cbr600rr: Mivv exhaust and a bagster tank cover. Now gone to a new home. Daytona 675: Arrow can (with a baffle that's gone missing in action....), quickshifter, shorty levers, custom paintjob

08-01-17, 12:49 AM	#7
carelesschucca Member Mega Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Kilsyth - Bonnie Scotland Posts: 2,727	Re: Sena SMH5 intercom, any good? John I'd need to go check, I think I've got a sena intercom. The charge lasts about 5/6 hours. It's great but you need to make sure the speaker is aligned properly to make it work... I'll check in the morning when I'm slightly less inebriated... __________________ Innuendo - it's great when you get it. sv650s (gone) gsx-r600 (gone) Street R675 (now living in Inbhir Nis )

09-01-17, 09:48 PM	#10
maviczap Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 9,096	Re: Sena SMH5 intercom, any good? I would try it with your current ear plugs first, and if you can;t hear well enough, then buy some with filters. Seems false economy to buy new custom ear plugs if you can hear what you need to hear? __________________ We're riding out tonight to case the promised land Make everyday count RIP Reeder - Jolly Green Giant and comedy genius

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