Sena SF4 Intercom Review

DaveM

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Published in: Gear

Sena SF4 Intercom Review intro

The SF4 is a mid-range intercom from Sena, which explains why you might not be familiar with it; it lacks the marketing hype of the flagship models. We purchased our units more than a year ago, a decision based on the SF4’s balance between price and features. It’s been a great group ride intercom, allowing long conversations and hours of enjoying music while at speed.

After about 1,000 hours of use, we’ve come to depend on the intercoms. But they did let us down more than a few times. There have been small glitches, like music playing on both our headsets or not being able to play music at all. We also experienced some charging issues, like getting low battery warnings when the LEDs indicated full charge. Sometimes this problem lasted a week or more, and then it would suddenly disappear. Rebooting usually fixed most problems.

What we like about the SF4 is the quality of the music and the intercom audio. The bigger speakers and microphone work very well. Even with good earplugs, music, and audiobooks are loud enough to be heard clearly. The controls are also very easy and straightforward, which is a big plus.

Sena SF4 Review Intro


Would we buy them again? Yes, but we’d prefer more range. So, we’re thinking of upgrading to Sena’s 50s, 50r, or 50c series. But we love our current intercoms, have come to rely on them, and would replace them immediately if they ever break.

Sena.com

MSRP:
$219

Where to Buy:


Official Site btn Moto Sport btn Amazon btn

PROS:

  • HD speakers included
  • Easy controls and pairing
  • Works with a straightforward app

CONS:

  • Sometimes encounters bugs
  • App has difficulty connecting with unit
  • Officially not waterproof

Continue reading...
 
Just bought a new Shoei GT Air II helmet and fitted the Sena SRL Mesh into it. The charging cable has a built in WiFi connector to update the unit, and most tasks can be handled with the Sena App on a smart phone. Pairing it with the SMH-10 in my old helmet was a snap, hold both jog buttons for 8 seconds, then when the lights are flashing red, tap one jog button and viola, connected.
 
I prefer Cardo.
 
I went the Sena rout because it's integrated with the helmet, no bulky bits bulging outside. No mike boom inside the helmet either. Everything tucked and neat. The Sena control unit is the diamond at the bottom, the MESH button is in the same location on the right side of the helmet.

1713262443482.jpeg
 
I like the integration idea; but I prefer the performance of Cardo and I have used both.
 
I'll bow to your broader experience, I just did not want to have dangly bits or having to move the mic around under the chin to avoid wind noise. I also like the sound quality of the Harmon-Kardon speakers in the SRL. It works well enough for me.
 
I'll bow to your broader experience, I just did not want to have dangly bits or having to move the mic around under the chin to avoid wind noise. I also like the sound quality of the Harmon-Kardon speakers in the SRL. It works well enough for me.
That's exactly why we have choices. TUP
 
Published in: Gear

Sena SF4 Intercom Review intro

The SF4 is a mid-range intercom from Sena, which explains why you might not be familiar with it; it lacks the marketing hype of the flagship models. We purchased our units more than a year ago, a decision based on the SF4’s balance between price and features. It’s been a great group ride intercom, allowing long conversations and hours of enjoying music while at speed.

After about 1,000 hours of use, we’ve come to depend on the intercoms. But they did let us down more than a few times. There have been small glitches, like music playing on both our headsets or not being able to play music at all. We also experienced some charging issues, like getting low battery warnings when the LEDs indicated full charge. Sometimes this problem lasted a week or more, and then it would suddenly disappear. Rebooting usually fixed most problems.

What we like about the SF4 is the quality of the music and the intercom audio. The bigger speakers and microphone work very well. Even with good earplugs, music, and audiobooks are loud enough to be heard clearly. The controls are also very easy and straightforward, which is a big plus.

Sena SF4 Review Intro


Would we buy them again? Yes, but we’d prefer more range. So, we’re thinking of upgrading to Sena’s 50s, 50r, or 50c series. But we love our current intercoms, have come to rely on them, and would replace them immediately if they ever break.

Sena.com

MSRP:
$219

Where to Buy:


Official Site btn Moto Sport btn Amazon btn

PROS:

  • HD speakers included
  • Easy controls and pairing
  • Works with a straightforward app

CONS:

  • Sometimes encounters bugs
  • App has difficulty connecting with unit
  • Officially not waterproof

Continue reading...
How can you have confidence in a unit that is clipped to your helmet when it is “not officially waterproof”?
 
How can you have confidence in a unit that is clipped to your helmet when it is “not officially waterproof”?
I have never had a problem with the rain with my Cardo and I've ridden in torrential downpours. I am on my 3rd Cardo. My second one was damaged in my crash. The Cardo may not be "officially waterproof"; but it is effectively waterproof.
 
I have a Shoei NXR helmet with the Cardo Freecom 4 with the 45 mm JBL speakers and a Shoei Neotec 2 with the built in Sena SRL system with the Harmon Kardon speakers. I find the NXR to be the slightly quieter helmet due mainly to it being a full face not a flip up. It is also a slightly tighter fit than the Neotec.
I find very little difference in sound quality or volume between the two. The voice command function seems to work SLIGHTLY better on the Cardo. If you do have to manually press control buttons when riding the Sena has the larger easier to find and press buttons.
I personally find the app for the Cardo to be more user friendly, that said it is also the comms unit I have had the longest so I am more familiar with it.
Both are excellent intercoms and if buying one again I would choose the one that I could get the best deal on, I would also bite the bullet and get the mesh technology (simply for the auto reconnection feature, I would never use or need the ability to connect to more than four people)
 
The Cardo units are touted as waterproof, the Sena, not as far as all I have read. One of the reasons why I went with the Cardo Packtalk. Have ridden in the rain with 0 issues.
All the helmet manufacturers seem to go with the Sena brand to incorporate their systems into the helmet, which makes for a nice tidy install and cleaner look.
Good choices for either.
 
I have never had a problem with the rain with my Cardo and I've ridden in torrential downpours. I am on my 3rd Cardo. My second one was damaged in my crash. The Cardo may not be "officially waterproof"; but it is effectively waterproof.
This thread is about Senna not Cardo. I use Cardo myself having now moved up from a Freecom 4 to a Cardo Packtalk Bold to get the advantages of Mesh.
 
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