@@tbugofficial lmao how does it feel to be so confidently incorrect? Yes, they can connect but there is no mesh capability. There is a difference between a straight up peer to peer connection and a mesh connection.
The most useful comparison review between these two Cardo units that I have seen. Helped me decide to go with the Freecom 4X. Don’t ride in groups and the Edge is big and sticks out too much for my taste. Thank you.
Had a cheap Amazon set for a few years but the constant having to plug in the micro usb cable took it's toll on the connector, causing drop outs and finally giving up. Last December purchased the Freecom 4x and what a difference. Excellent sound quality as you said. Great battery life and nice to have a cradle with contacts so no plugging in. Didn't really need a Mesh system for just the two of us. Good range with quick re connect if get separated.
thanks for the great comparison. really answered a lot of my doubts regarding these two. i would go for freecom since i ride solo most of the time and listening to music is no 1 for me👍🏻👍🏻
Great comparison video! You covered pretty much everything I needed to know about both units so now I can make an informed decision and pick up the best unit for me. Thanks!
The trick is to register your Cardo “external device” on your iPhone as an external speaker rather than earphones. This avoids the safety limits on earphones.
@@VicB325 On an iPhone go to “Settings”, then “Bluetooth”, then click the “i” next to your Cardo device name, then “Device Type” and then set this to “External Speaker”. Good luck!
I've owned the Freecom for quite awhile. It's been solid and works pretty well between myself and my passenger. However, I had to relocate it on our helmets because when wearing a jacket with a collar, the collar would hit the wheel causing some interruptions. We've also had (rarely) just unknown intercom disconnects. That can be frustrating. But overall, I would buy it again. That said, I am taking advantage of the sale on the Edge with the new mount and with the wheel more integrated. We've friends who are using it so we can also expand our ride group with ease!
Agree. I had the freedom 4, but same here. The wheel kept hitting my jacket collar when doing head checks or just even looking left while riding.. swapped it out for the slim. Now looking at the edge.
Just want to echo the compliments of every one else. great video. Never really wanted to buy one but myself a mate and my son in law are both off to France next month and they have Sena's. I initially thought of buying a Sena Spider but worried about its water resistance decided to push the envelope and brought for the extra money a FC 4 X. Seems given your video it wasn't a bad chose.
Really can’t see these days why anyone would like a headset without Mesh. It’s just a shame that Cardo and Sena don’t talk to each other on Mesh. Resolving this would be so much better for all those who use comms and can talk to anyone then. Good review though Tony, thanks.
I think it differs for people. Like me, I try to stay away from groups of people as I enjoy solo riding so my headset to just listen to music would be all I need.
Must admit I use the voice control all the time on the Bold! Find that a really useful function. Hands free is definitely very helpful. And sound is good.
My husband and I have used the Freedom 4X but we only get about 4 hours out of the batteries because it's constant use. He rides a bike and I have a sxs and we are constantly chattering while following each other on the trails. We just purchased the packtalk edge for me so we can have a couple extra to switch to while the other is charging. That was a real downer finding out the battery isn't as good as many have said while in constant use.
Hi Tony, great review. Thank you. I purchased the Pactalk bold black edition as I wanted the 45 mm speakers. However, still disappointed with the sound. Your in ear system has got me think and I’ll now be looking at this option. Very happy. Apart from me not being a huge fan of the speakers the voice control is superb.
Thanks, yes that can be a problem, I had the same issue with a Sena unit in a Shoei helmet. The good thing about the speaker pockets on Arai helmets is that it doesnt seem to matter what size they atre, they still fit!
Pretty much most of the people I ride with or meet have Cardo. Having someone onboard who fully understands the link up with bluetooth is important. Another tear or so and Mesh will be the norm. For now Bluetooth is whats out there.
I have a Cardo Packtalk Bold and it's a brilliant unit. I have 3 mates and we all bought the same unit so the connection is great. I have another mate who has a Bluetooth version of Sena and we were able to connect. But it was a bit clunky at his end to connect and we had to muck around a bit but we eventually had it up. Not ideal but worked. The Mesh technology for the Cardo is brilliant. I probably go to the Packtalk Edge if I had to change.
I have the Cardo PackTalk edge for my son and I (both riders) but my wife is stuck with an old Sena 20 behind me. The connectivity with the Cardos is amazing, note if only we could easily talk with her… I’d I win, that’s what I would fix, plus maybe get a spare for my dad… 😉
I have the Packtalk Edge and honestly wish I kept my Packtalk Bold. 8 of us ride with the Edge and we all bought them at the same time. All of us have complained of connectivity issues, dropping in and out and the range between the Packtalk Edge's seems worse than the Bold. Firmware and or software felt more stable on the Bold and reliable. I'm planning to sell the Edge as it's not fit for purpose
If I'm being honest, if the main point of a communication system is to actually be able to talk to others reliably over distance, then the edge is head and shoulders above the other 😊
I had a Sena Outrush and recently got the Freecom 2x and it is like night and day. I would love to get the Packtalk Edge for the dynamic mesh technology.
FYI those Sound Ear Pros are probably illegal in France, so if you visit beware. Speakers in the helmet are fine but not when there's separate wired earbuds.
Yes, that was brought in quite a few years ago. Obviously its only going to be 'visible' if you get stopped and have to remove your helmet, but youre right it could be a risk.
I wouldnt make another video comparing the Neo to the Freecom, as theres not a big difference between the Neo and the Edge. You can compare the specs here cardosystems.com/pages/product-comparison
This might be a dumb question but regarding your in-ear headset, how do you wear it? Do you wear it first before putting on the helmet? Great video mate, loved listening to you as I’m experienced with Cardo Bold
@@mancavemoto I see, that’s interesting! I was confused a bit because he wire seemed like it was short but apparently you can just wear it underneath a balaclava or what not. Makes sense! Btw, a fellow Arai tourcross user and adventure rider here. The mesh is really useful for us because we ride in groups of 20-30 riders. So for those of you in a chill group, dmc is the way!
Seriously awesome comparison review! Only wished you added one more thing and that was just a visual on how the freecom would dismount from the helmet. Would you have to take the mount off the helmet completely? Or can the mount stay installed on the helmet and the freecom come off the mount?
Interesting. My missus loves the music and call facility on her comms, whereas I won't wear one. It's one occasion when I can just put my earplugs in and switch off from the modern world with It's constant bombardment to my thoughts. Just me and the bike. We communicate with handsignals and she yells over my shoulder at slow speed.. Some of the group I sometimes travel with won't ride without them. I must be getting old. We are all different m Interesting though Safe, happy travels 👍
Cheers, Remember, you don't have to alwasy switch it on ;) 👍 Sometimes nothing beats being along with your own thoughts on the bike. I was never that bothered by them a few years back, but then started riding with a buddy using a set and it was a bit of a revelation. Now we find it hard to ride together without them, we dont always talk, but just being able to change routes or stop if theres a problem etc etc
I got the packtalk neo because its a bit cheaper than the edge and only different is it snaps on instead of magnets which doesnt matter to me... And its black vs the grey haha
Absolutely great video, but I have one question. If I choose to save some money and go with the freecom 4x, does it still work with 3 other riders if only I have a Freecom4? My son will ride Pillion occasionally and my Girlfriend rides but just has a basic bluetooth device. If I get a cheap one for my son can we all still talk? I'd rather not spend a fortune on a twin pack for the few times he joins us! Thanks
Awesome review as always! I always ride with a pillon but I occasionally ride in small groups. Is the freecom 4x able to connect with the mesh device? Or is it limited to connect only with bluetooth devices. My last question is if you can listen to music while having a live chat or listening to music with the navigator on. Thanks a lot!
Cheers, it will connect to a comms unit that has a combination bluetooth and mesh. Yes you can listen to music which automatically mutes when talking to another unit or getting a navigation prompt
Sportsbikeshop were doing a special on the Packtalk Edge Duo pack last year which made the price difference over the Freecom 4x not even worth thinking about. I've been very happy with mine. I had concerns about the magnetic mount, but there's absolutely no way that thing is going to come off without pressing the clip. One other point is that the dual packs do actually have 2 of everything. I went halves with a chap I never ride with, and there's no dependency or shared objects to argue about.
Great vids. Wondering if the paktalk edge speakers fit in the shoei glamster 06 without pushing on your ears? Wasn't clear whether there was a speaker cutout in the new glamster. You mentioned a gap in the cheekpads in the Glamster review.
Cheers, maybe I’ve fitted a Sena 5s to one and the speakers were fine. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WjG4ry0n6Jg.htmlsi=BkIwUiia2xyBUVEw
Very informative video, thank you. I'll be getting a BMW F850 GS Adv. soon and wondered if either of these systems will work/ sync up with the BMW TFT display & BMW connect ride cradle with an iPhone? I have an Arai Tour X4 helmet. I did ask my local BMW Motorrad dealer but the salesman said he wasn't sure about compatibility, he just recommend the BMW comms, but as a music listener the JBL headphones sound good on the Cardo system. Thanks to anyone who can help.
@@mancavemoto thank you for your response and advice, much appreciated 👍🏼. I like the Packtalk but I don’t do much group riding so I think for my needs as a solo rider the Freecom 4x should be sufficient. I assume the music quality is the same on both units seeing as they use the same headphones or is there a difference?
Thats a much asked question, and it really depends on what you're looking at. I've used both and I would say I prefer the overall user experience of Cardo, but in terms of sound quality and everyday use, they both work very well
If you want to talk to another rider just get the packtalk, even it it's just your own passenger. Pairing is awful on the Freecom. Also with everything being Bluetooth, the intercom on the Freecom series cuts out every time your GPS has anything to say. If you have more than 2 riders forget the Freecom entirely. You will spend your whole ride fighting with the intercom.
Hello to all.I just receive 2 days ago my Freecom 4x.However i cannot activate cardos voice commands.If i say ok google what's the weather tomorrow , google works,but none from the list of cardo commands.I saw on the net on a video that problem fixed if you change language from english USA to english UK.I did it but still voice not working.Any ideas?? please help.
5 месяцев назад
Great video! Would you happen to know the Cardo speakers impedance or your intraauricular phones impedance? Mines are all high impedance types (chinese KZs).👍
Hi Tony, Thank you very much for the review. Can you please attach a link to the earphone you use? Is it easy to put on and after to wear the helmet? Thank you in advance Cheers Ami
Great video. I have never owned a comms system so im researching. Can i ask if when you get a phone call do both you and your connections hear the call? Also with the satnav instructions, does everyone connected hear it?
It depends on how you share the connection, you can choose to do it or keep the music, instructions and phone calls to yuourself. Thats usually the default setting
Hi Tony, is the sound good if you are wearing standard moulded ear plugs, I run an Autocom with my pillion but not done ant more and getting old hat now. Regards Robert
Not a feature many use and it rarely gets a mention in reviews but did you spot any difference in the FM radio performance between the two units? Currently use a G9X which has a easy to use FM radio but it's getting on.
An under-the-radar solution is get some FRS, or better yet, GMRS radios amongst your group. Be sure they are able to pair to (multiple) bluetooth devices (phone & Cardo/Sena), and you have immediate universal connectivity-irregardless of Cardo/Sena-and a *HUGE* increase in range, something that BT or mesh systems don’t have. I would see this as an advantage to using your phones with discord (or Zello) because the radios are dedicated to just comms.
How do they compare to sena? Looking to get a Shoei Neotec and they’re sena ready but reviews seem better for the cardo. For touring I’m concerned I won’t hear fa above 70. 🤔
Theres been a long 'battle' between Cardo and Sena users which i find a little amusing. I use both, and for the most the performance as been pretty much the same, its largely down to what operating system and features you prefer. I've also had the Sena made units in the integrated helmet systems and they've been fine.
@@mancavemoto Ah ok cheers. I do wanna go with sena as integrated etc. Shame Shoei didn’t make blank plates or something for the option. Currently got a fodsports on an AGV and works ok. Just quiet above 70 with plugs on a tiger 1200 with a big screen. Agghhhh decisions 😂
I have the Cardo Freecom 4x and when using Google directions initially receive sound but the directions stop coming in over the speakers. Any suggestions?
Have you got the phone connected to another bluetooth device that might interfere? if not its worth double checking the advanced audio settings via the app
I have a spirit hd. A couple of people I am going to ride with have packtalk ede. Question if all the packtalk edges are connected with each other on a group ride, can I also connect with one of them with my spirit hd at the same time? I just want to stay connected to one of the other packtalks in the group whilst they are all connected with each other. Will that work?
Yes it will work and you’ll also be in hear the group, called bridging. Just stay close to the one you’re paired to. Sprit is good also for pillion comms unit. I have one on my pillion helmet and it works great.
Ah ok, I only ask as sometimes there’s a volume control on certain devices, so if you try and turn up the Cardo it will only go as loud as the sat nav is set for example. The only thing I can think of is going into the Cardo connect app and checking that the volume levels are set high. Also if you use and iPhone there is a headphone safety setting in Sounds & Haptics which might keep it lower than you’d want
Is the mounting between the 2 the same? So im just after the unit itself really don't want to go through the whole install process again My freecom 4+ fell out (user error)
Have you tried fitting the speakers in the profile V? I want to get a cardo and i have a profile V, however the helmet does not have cutouts for the speaker inside the helmet. Do the speakers fit? Did you feel any discomfort having them inside the profile V?
Try another brand, this system will give you headaches to pair your phone, to pair to another rider, connectivity will lose any moment. Not even mentioning price is ridiculous for this unreliable device.
I purchased the freecom2 duel set......received today. installed in helmet- mic wire broke, very easier I might add too, ordered another, just the part with the wires. The app,, Pain in the F'ing ass! One of my emails said I needed to register my cardo for the warranty. I searched cardo website, I searched the internet. Could NOT find anything on this subject. There is no phone on cardo website OR any contact information. WHERE IN HELL AM I TO REGISTER WHEN CARDO IS HIDING THE REGISTRATION PAGE(S) !!! WHY WOULD CARDO HIDE THIS FROM ITS CUSTOMERS?????????? Maybe this is why you hide the registration caz yall know shit going to break before you can register it. I am one PISSED OFF CUSTOMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those "max ranges" are absolute bullshit. None of them will get over about 300 yards between riders. Slick marketing does not overcome the laws of physics. They won't tell you this, but there's a 99.99% chance that all of these different mesh intercoms just connect over bluetooth mesh. They just use their own protocols over the connection for voice and control - which is why the Cardo and Sena and whatever are not interoperable. There's literally no reason these mesh networks can't interop other than "but we can sell more units like this".
Well I would argue that point, because I did a real world test with the Sena 30k five years ago and we got a really good range. Plus things have moved on since then technology wise. There is also now cross comparability across brands, not all but Cardo and Sena play nicely. As ever my findings and reviews are based on actual use, by me. I can vouch for them
@@mancavemoto I'm not saying they're junk, they're bad ass. They just don't come close to the 1600m they claim. That's like those blister pack radios that claim "up to 36 mile range!" on the package. You get about a mile out of those on flat ground with no obstructions with a 6 foot antenna height (holding them up to your face to talk). Those are anywhere from 0.5w to 2w with more space for a better antenna. They all use Bluetooth as the network connectivity layer, and for the mesh part. Bluetooth is a 2.4ghz technology, pushing 100mw of output power max. You'd have to have a 10db gain antenna to "theoretically" get possibly up to 1000m - but that's to get a connection, not pass data. There's no way you're passing even thin bandwidth digital audio signal optimized for weak signals that far in real world conditions. That's assuming a 10db gain antenna, which would not physically fit in that unit. Im not saying they aren't really badass units, because they absolutely are. When you say "really good range" I don't doubt that either - but "really good" isn't necessarily 1600 meters like they claim. I don't doubt that with the right digital voice protocol, they could possibly eek out 1/4 mile (about 400m) with a well optimized antenna that would fit in that unit under optimal conditions. But that's a far cry from 1600 meters - that's a full mile, and there's just no way. Technology cannot overcome the laws of physics. Again -they're bad ass, and have a LOT of great features, but that range claim is inflated by something like 4x reality.
@@mancavemoto Ok - so ... I did make a mistake, I was comparing to analog audio radios, not digital for one, and also mixing up mi / km in my head :D DERP! Been a long day... So those 30k's have a flip up antenna, that does help, also a very optimized and narrow bandwidth digital voice signal helps - gets about twice as far as analog voice. The Cardo might get close without a flip up antenna. It definitely gets further than I'd expect - almost to the theroetical limit. I'm impressed they got basically the theoretical limit. You were talking about trees, and undulating terrain, and "out of sight" - line of sight in radio is a bit beyond the visual horizon (about 5 miles) - so you were well within the radio line of sight, and there wasn't anything between you - trees aren't a factor unless they're directly between you. Impressed that you got a 100mw signal that far out with such a small antenna. That's outstanding. That range would shorten if you were on a highway with a lot of traffic, but - outstanding regardless. I've gone much further than that (about 4000m) with 200mw on 2.4ghz, but that was with directional antennas - dishes pointed at each other, and on tall buildings with nothing between.
