Please keep this thread for the noise fixes for the Sena SMH10 headsets. There are other threads that go into much depth on paring and connectivity. This subject gets brought up but gets lost in that thread. Background. My wife and I had Q2s and were extremely happy with them. However after five years and about 100K miles they were showing their age and we (I) figured it was about time to upgrade. We gave the Scalas away and no want them back. The Q2s replaced the wired headsets on an '82 Goldwing, what an improvement. They have been used in three sets of helmets and also used on my current ride, an R1150 GS with great success, and no loud background (wind) noise. The Q2s had great noise suppression and this is what I'm wanting out of the Senas. I have put the clip thingy over the back (fin side) of the microphone and turned down the microphone boost. What else can I do do make them as good as the Scalas in this respect? What have you done?
If there is, I'm not one of them. A couple of times I've made or taken a phone call while on the bike and the other person can't even tell. I'm on a V-Strom with a Scorpion EXO 410 helmet. I'd suggest moving the mic around... I don't really know. Jamie
Had my Sena for a few years now. Everyone that calls me doesn't realize I am riding while we talk. The best com system around in my book. Simple to operate, reliable, and at a decent price.
Agreed, same here. When I tell them I'm on my bike they're amazed. I'd suggest the OP try to determine where the wind is getting "to" the mic more than a change to the mic/software. I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but the only time our Senas are noisy is when one of us doesn't have the mic tucked up under the flipup or something.
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate them. I'm sure we'll come to like these Senas. It's just frustrating because the Scala Q2s were install and ride under the same circumstances (BMW R1150GS and Shark Evoline 2 helmets). There is no doubt that we probably have the worst blke/helmet combo for wind noise, but we like them both. I had some spare windsocks from Scala and they are double the thickness of the Sena windsocks so I am going to try them when a warmer day comes. I will also see if I can move the mic location for better results. Please keep the comments coming as I want to like these and have only heard good things as opposed to the competitions units. Thank you Tim
Tim, The previous poster had it right. It's the helmet, bike air deflection, or both. I have mine in a Shoei Neotec. I cant communicate well with the helmet flipped up. There may be others with better noise canceling capabilities but overall its a great setup. You probably already know this but there is also an arrow on the mic that dictates which way the mic should face for less noise.
When I have mine on my Shoie full face helmet people cannot tell I am even riding when I am below 50 mph. At freeway speed they can hear wind, but still have no trouble hearing me and having a conversation. When I go to my Shoie Hornet DS helmet I have to make sure that the vent in front of the microphone is closed and that the face shield is down. Otherwise they get a lot of wind noise at high speed and it is difficult to use. Lastly, when I go to my Fox motocross helmet, it is useless at freeway speed. The vent in front of the microphone stays open and cannot be closed. There is no face shield, just goggles. The wind noise is just too much for that helmet at freeway speeds. The other thing I noticed is that the microphone with the boom arm works quite a bit better than the one that simply velcros to the inside wall of the helmet. The mic on the articulating boom arm can be manipulated to be directly in front of your mouth greatly increasing the quality of your voice whether on intercom or phone. It even works better when using Siri if you have that feature on an iPhone. That is just my own experience with the helmets I use, it may vary with others.
I have a boom mike and no one knows I am on the bike at all, My buddy has the stick on Mike and unless he closes his shield the wind noise he generates drives me bonkers. I think if you have the stick on mike you need to put the wind sock on it THEN stick it on.
Are you sure you have the mic turned the right way? On the boom there is a small triangular indention on one side and a sharp pointy thing on the other. The pointy thing should be opposite your mouth and the triangle should be facing your mouth. I had a problem once with terrible sound from mine and realized the mic had gotten turned around while adjusting it. Otherwise, when I call people from the bike, they have no idea I'm riding until I tell them.
I had some complaints about wind noise until a few weeks ago. I did two things that helped out tremendously: 1) Upgrade the firmware. 5.0 came out 2/19, and cuts down wind noise quite a bit. The filter they put in works like a charm. 2) Started using my chin curtain. I don't think this worked nearly as well as the firmware upgrade, but it did make a significant difference.
There are a couple settings in the v5 that you can change the sensitivity and the VOX. I turned my phone VOX off and just tap the JoG button when someone calls. This keeps the mic from opening when I have my chin bar up.
I've upgraded to v5. It is now a lot better. I also have the Scala wind socks on, they are double the thickness of the Sena windsocks. The Senas have a little ways still to go to catch up with their competition in this regard. They have come a long way and I like them. A different bike and helmet may make a huge difference but that's not happening. The mike is the correct way with the fin away from the mouth.