Question for those who've taken the plunge and own a Sena SMH10

[Dj Brady]

I picked up a twin pack and my wife and I absolutely love them, however, I splurged for the helmet mount that allows for external headphones to be plugged in and after a week of use, I started hearing a crackling in the right earbud (like it was blown) and an intermittent buzzing in the system. I popped the unit off the helmet base for charging yesterday and noticed the 'pin impressions' in the base unit seemed to be very misaligned with the metal pads, in fact, drifting up and completely off the metal pads to the left. I've received an RMA to return all pieces I think might be defective (I'm thinking it's the unit itself since both bases, both original and the one with the earbud plug) exhibit the same "too high on the left side" indentations, but I'm going to send all 3 pieces back.

Does anyone else have a similar experience? I've read reviews where people have had interference or other noise issues that were cleared up through a reset or and exchange of hardware but I've not read anything about a misalignment of pins.

I know Sena's hardware is relatively new to the game and I REALLY like their implementation so I'm wanting to work this issue out.

 

[ngarider]

They still have some quality issues just like yours. But all accounts are that they take care of you pretty quick after you report a problem.

I have the headset and the same clamp, no problems with alignment or function.

 

[Dj Brady]

Yeah, I've heard the customer service is awesome and so far my experience has been nothing short.

I'm glad to hear that my issue is real and can be taken care of.

 

[user 17635]

I've had my Sena headsets for about a month now. No problems whatsoever with noise or poor connections. Once I had an issue with a lost intercom connection between headsets, but a couple of on/off cycles seemed to fix it.

 

[Dj Brady]

yeah. I realized I was really having an issue the other day when I snapped it on and the boom mic wasn't working... pulled it off and put it back on a couple times and the mic started working, that's when I investigated the mount and could see where the pins weren't pressing in the centers of the contact pads.

I shipped them off this afternoon and I'm looking forward to trying out a new set to see how it works..

My wife has absolutely no complaints with hers, so it should be all good.

 

[FiveG]

Sound quality -- awesome. Phone connections -- awesome. Interbike helmet communications quality - awesome when they work.

Here's my issue: I've had mine for about 4 months. I found that once I set it up between another person's unit (and this is with two different other users) it works fine but then suddenly it drops out. easily to make it come back on by a tap on the jog dial, but it will do it randomly -- sometimes while we're talking; sometimes when we're not. Sometimes when we're silent for a while it stays on, but I actually had it happen that I started to remark, "Gee it's staying on a long time" and before I finished the sentence, it dropped out.

I'm still trying to figure out whether it's my unit or someone else's, or whether I'm not smart enough to understand how the controls work. I've got some more tinkering before I give up.

But if anyone else had that problem and knows what the "fix" is, please let me know.

To go back to the initial question: the range, sound quality, and ability to listen to music (on which it never drops out) are all great. So long as you're not having my issue, highly recommended.

 

[Dj Brady]

Have you verified that it's not in Vox mode?

 

[FiveG]

Have you verified that it's not in Vox mode?

I thought I had. It also isn't behaving the way Vox mode is supposed to work -- it's cutting out in mid-sentence. I'll check it again, tho'.

 

[Dj Brady]

I've not used vox yet.. just left it open for the duration of our rides so far... but what you described made me wonder if after the 'time out' period of vox, if you weren't sustaining enough volume, it would cut off.. unlikely, but it's possible.