LISTEN to MUSIC while you ride? | Freecom 4+ Review 

Man that’s some goals right there you and your wife (gf) riding with you just chillin and talking

That was actually one of the best, honest, informative, usable, “real world” reviews I’ve ever seen.

I have been using bluetooth for years on my motorcycle. I have used SENA and Cardo. I always ended up going back to my Cardo because the Sena is more difficult to use and the music sounds better on the Cardo.

I have been using a Cardo packtalk for 3 years now and love them. our whole group uses them and they work great. Its great for group rides!!

Damn you just had to mention the sound quality of the JBL's. My buddy and I are getting ready to pull the trigger on the 30K duo pack, but now after watching this....

Been riding with a packtalk for over 90k kms, never accidentally "ejected" it.

I'm thinking Chase bought a Yamaha Tracer. I know he wanted a street fighter like bike with a nice back seat. Those bars and bags look identical, and that low rev sound is so Yamaha.

Cardo all the way! Thanks for the review

Already have a freecom 4+ and I love it especially that you can be on the phone and have your music in the background

Heather needs to be in more videos! She's great, appreciated her comments on the devices.

I have a Cardo PackTalk Slim and I love that thing. Its sleek, the install was same as any other, the JBL speakers are FANTASTIC, love how it raises the volume at higher speeds automatically and lowers when you stop. I havent tried to connect to a Sena but PackTalk to PackTalk is a breeze. It always recognizes my voice commands and has different mic setups. I would suggest it to anyone. P.s. I can hear my buddy for about a half a mile down the road even with trucks in the way. And the buttons on the slim are easy to feel with my gloves on

Comment on older video. We “arborist/tree climbers” have used Sena for a couple years and recently all switched to Cardo. In tree com to crane operator, other climber, ground guy/ropeman has literally changed the game. Yelling over chainsaws, chipper, blowers... clear communication is huge! The cardo units are fantastic. Also there was a guy who had a hack for using discord chat for coms. It works awesome!👍🏽 been watching you strip bolts for a long while! Keep it up man!💪🏽🤙🏽

Chase, remember your house has wifi and other electromagnetic interference. Those devices are basically two way radio devices that use what is called a duplex system. That means you can transmit and receive at the same time. Which means it uses multi frequencies. Our cell phones use this same technology but on a higher level. At the end of the day it comes down to user preference. I am pretty sure the Freecom 4 plus is cheaper than the Seneca’s. The auto volume has been around for years in car radios. I am happy to hear they finally are using it for the Bluetooth communications devices.

I’ve been using cardo packtalk bold for a good year now and it’s awesome. Crystal clear, fast to pair, waterproof, etc. my dad and I ride all the time and I’ll show up to his house, put on helmet and it instantly connects like our last ride. Same for other groups I’ve made. Can easily add a Sena too if needed. Battery life lasts all day (all week if I’m just commuting to work listening to music). Either way, these companies are Donny great stuff with communicators. Great time to be a rider. Great review Chase!

Chase never disappoints. I've been ghosting your channel for years but don't comment much. Keep up the great work! I just ordered a Freecom 4+ for an early bday gift to myself to get ready for the riding season in Chicago.

heather is so honest, Chase probably pumped by Sena so has to talk it up

Nice review once again Chase. I just recently purchased the Freecom 2+ instead of the 4+. The sound is crisp and loud, like it very much. The 2+ is bang for the buck and perfect when you're riding 95% of the time solo. It differs in the JBL speakers, up to four riders and comm distance compared to the 4+. So when you're riding solo and you don't want to spend a lot of money, I recommend the 2+ over the 4+.

I use a Cardo Packtalk Bold. Easy to use with voice commands, great sound quality and mic clarity. Being waterproof to a standard is a must for this type of device (tested last week for 8 hours straight of riding in the rain on tour with no issues). For the fly you could find your inner zen and do a Mr Miyagi with chop sticks?

This is a great review. The fact it could easily pop off if you accidently hit the release button is a big no for me with the Cardo which is a shame because everything else about them seems so solid. I loved the fact that with my Sena 20S if I were to even dismount it, It has that vertical track piece that it has to travel up before coming lose. I think what your other half suggested though is a great idea. It'd be nice if Cardo changed their mount system or at the least, as your missus said, have a safety line so if it disconnects It's not going to go under the wheel of the vehicle behind you. Great vid!

I love how you both are taking times talking its great :)

Might not matter so much over there in ‘Sunny World’ but here in Scotland, Cardo being waterproof and the Sena only being water resistant is a pretty major detail you forgot to mention.

Finally a review on this thing. I have Been using it for about 6 months now. And i absolutely love it. Personally I never ride on the highway, so the ejection of the device doesn’t worry me that much. But the clip mount does annoy me. It keeps scrolling the volume wheel every time I turn my head. So I will definitely be mounting it with the 3m pad once I get a new helmet. Keep it up!

you REALLY sold the product there. So much for being a Senna guy who just happened to get a set of "try me" product.

Just transitioned from sena units to the packtalk bold. Packtalk is miles better. Faster pairing, JBL audio, voice commands. Awesome

Heather nailed all of the pros of the Cardo unit there.. The auto gain control is a great feature, I use my garmin for phone/music so I never really need to touch the unit when moving. I used medium setting and it just works, no dramas

I'm using interphone F3MC and my wife is using Cardo Freecom 2. We managed to sync the up. Problem is I don't know how to open communication when ever I want to chat. So I have to signal to her to open comms. I can confirm that the music volume and quality is a lot better (than the interphone). Looking forward to upgrading to Freecom 4

GOOD LORD. I USED TO HAVE THAT SHIRT OVER A DECADE AGO IN SOPHOMORE YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL. it was dope!

Slim pack talk review please. Need to add a portion of the first ride reviews with the wife. I love it when you have her with you. As for the flies the hands down, Best way to kill them, and it is really fun. Bug-A-Salt 2.0 FLY GUN

I can only agree! I bought two Cardo 4+ a few weeks ago and must say, that the sound, the functions etc. are just great. The only thing, I think Sena partially does better is the mount to the helmet (like you mentioned). All in all cardo will be the way to go for me, I think! ^^ P.S.: I actually thought, that that mechanism to remove was foolproof, cause instead of pressing the releasepin like the button, you need to pull it - so it's the exact opposite.

This review was one of the best I've seen. I love that you have real experience with both units that you compared. I just purchased the Cardo and was glad to hear your review and experience it in the ride along! Look forward to great adventures on my bike and communicating and listening to music via my Cardo!

I just picked one of these up the other day super loud on music you even have to turn it down sounds great even at 100mph love it phone calls super loud a 10 out of 10

The voice command that lets you use Seri to call, text etc. is the game changer. Have never touched the unit when riding

have a Cardo unit that is built in to my Bell helmet with a Bell adapter and it does everything I need a communicator to do. Connecting to other bluetooth units is easy, once you know the secret handshake. I also connect to my older Chinesium units with no problems. Audio quality on the provided headphone speakers is considerably better than any others I have used.

Hey Chase, How do you make both you and the passenger/co-vlogger sound so clear? Do you record all the talking through the external microphones or do you record it through the CARDO?

I absolutely love that Bell helmet! Is a review coming soon? :)

Look at chase using a caliper like he knows what he is doing xD Bryan teaching is working. Connecting Senna and Cardo via Bluetooth is horrible, our group switch all to cardo packtalk to get mesh and its been the best idea we had in years! having mesh is amazing for group rides.

Bit late on this, but I might as well explain the pairing with sena. Sena has software which excludes other brands from pairing. Sena will only connect with sena. Cardo can connect with all other brands. That's why I personally recommend cardo to customers.

I just got the Cardo Freecom 4+, I've not got to use it yet, but am looking forward to it after seeing video. Thanks for the review.

Cardo Packtalk bold FTW.

I have the cardo PakTalk Sim. Definitely love that thing. It automatically changes the volume on the ambient noise. When making a phone call, the ambient noise is canceled while you're not taking. Music sounds great. The only complaint is that when I am going high way speeds, my helmet is not the best at sound reduction so the wind makes it so I can't hear the music as we as if I had a really nice helmet. Cardo team, GO! =]

"It doesn't look like it came from 1984" 😅 Thanks for the honest review! Still contemplating the slim over this. That "eject" button has me worried about the Freecom model.

I see you use it with bell sta helmet like i do!but i thing that the noise cancellation is terrible.what is your opinion?i used to have sena srl 2 on shoei neotec 2 and no one realize that i am on my bike,even though when i ride with 140 km/h.but now,every one realize that i m on my bike

I have a Cardo Freecom 1+ on the way because I currently have a Sena 20s Evo and every time I turn my head the jog dial rubs my jacket and turns the volume up or down. Since I have the max volume set at a certain volume if the jog dial gets rubbed to the max volume it beeps at me and is incredibly annoying.

I am using the BT-S2 which I purchased for $25. It does everything unit does for less and it sounds great!

On the topic of linking to other units. A lot of people just use Discord group calls, or you could use any other conference call app and link up that way.

I just got my Cardo Freecom 4+, really enjoying the audio quality. I highly recommend using an EQ though, it makes quite a bit of difference. I also suggest using ear plugs as you won’t be able to hear anything on the highway without them. I have no experience with Senna, I chose Cardo after hearing all of my noob friends going on and on about Senna. Did a little research afterwards and it seems I made the right choice. I prefer music quality over popularity.

Well my card duo is on the way and the review made me happy. I chose cardo as my first system because I'm not a group rider and dont think I'd ever be. I mainly want it to listen to music and RU-vid like I do in my car, call the wife and be able to talk intercom with back rider. All this sounds like I made the right choice

You can super glue a loop to it and dummy cord it in case it falls off

Funny thing is you never even touched the voice commands. Those are a game changer in my opinion. Totally hands free assistant in your helmet is so much safer than fiddling with buttons. I can just tell Google to call my wife, or my dad, or play a certain song, or navigate to so and so. So useful.

Great review! It actually made me an informed buyer. Definitely has my subscription.

The other major player? Sorry but Cardo has been on top from the beginning. they started the whole motorcycle communicator market with the Scala rider.

"BUY THIS, BUY THAT" "Buy it so it works with your buddies" blah blah blah, we need an APP that just utilizes the phones connectivity and mic mapping that the COMMs systems already use and make an app that actually works and doesn't effect other sounds the phone is making (cough android cough)

Chase apparently also doesn't know what "mesh technology" is. It's not "repairing" your connection. It's enhancing it by being able to communicate with each device through other mesh capable devices, making the connection more stable.

Has nothing to do with the subject matter, but that T-Shirt is sick!!

Love cardo comms... I think you should do a review with the cardo app. You could do music sharing with Heather. I think the intercom function is simpler than button presses, if you get Luke and Brian in on it and do a 4 way ride.

Pairing Cardo and Sena is easy, download the app and pair it that way.

I wear ear plugs when I ride and no wind screen. Are thee JBL speakers loud enough with the ear plugs? Thanks Mark

Sweet! Since we all know riding a bike on roads populated with cars is super safe and only requires a small fraction of your attention, lets just fill up some of that attention with ...stuff.

Super review. I will soon be purchasing my first bluetooth device and found your video to be very informative and and impartial. thanks

The freecom 4 is a great unit. What let it down for me was the volume wheel on the bottom. Sometimes when i turned my head, the volume would increase/decrease due to the wheel position. Had to go to the packtalk bold to solve the problem, as i wanted the voice commands. A great unit apart from this one issue for me.

I have the Sena 20 Evo and it has ambient mode which means it will turn up the volume the faster you go or turn it down the slower you go. It will also tune out outside noise like other vehicles. I talk to my wife all the time and she can only hear me when I talk expect when I hit the throttle on my Daytona 675 because its stupid loud. If you download the Sena app you can control your module alot more and on the fly.

I have a Sena Calvary and I’m pretty happy with it.

I went with the pactalk bold w/JBL. I chose that unit because I wanted quality sound for my music when I commute. Haven't received it yet so I don't know if it is worth the extra $ or not but I would've chosen a cheaper unit but they got me with the JBL! Umm...Harbor Freight electronic fly swatter and the Bug-A-Salt fly shot gun work for me.

Great! I was in between this or the Cardo Slim... but at the end ended up buying the set of Cardo 4+ for $230 (115 each)💪👍🏼🏍 and I also have a Bell RaceStar

i got a packtalk with 1 of my buddys. After that i made all my riding buddy's get a packtalk. Now almost everyone i ride with has a packtalk. So sometimes we are paired up with like 6-7 people. Its great. Best purchase ever. So if you have the money peeps. Just go for the packtalk. Save yourself the regret that you can only pair with 3 people.

I have the cardo packtalk and love it so far. If you can find the packtalk instead of the packtalk bold it's about the same price as the freedom 4 but it won't have the JBL speakers.

I have a standard FREECOM 4 and it works and does everything I need it to, my buddy has one and his mate who rides with us sometimes has one as well, they are great but with an update in the last year, you cannot pair with more than one rider and have everyone paired to their phones because someone needs to be the bridge between the systems, so they cannot use something like spotify when riding, which is the only downfall I have seen now. Otherwise, great system and cannot wait to upgrade to the freecom 4+

I really like my freecom2+. Bought a duo for my helmets and it is so much better than the cheap one I had before.

Best review I've seen. Thank you.

They make a big zapper that looks like a tennis racket! Works great for flies and mosquitoes!!!

I have a cardo packtalk slim and hardly ever adjust my volume by hand the voice commands is awesome once you get use to the commands

re: Flies. I've found that if you have like a Windex bottle (or maybe just water, I dunno, Windex is what I had) if you can spray the fly in the air with it, it will land and be slower to take off if you swing at it, then you can swat it a lot easier.

this is why I love the Sena 10u: it has all the functionality I need without the bulk or price of the 20 and 30 series. It's designed to be a hidden / integrated unit so you don't get any wind buffeting either. I know, some people will think "wtf is he talking about - it's nothing that big" but trust me, when I got my Shark Spartan helmet it was soooooooooper quiet it until I added a headset. The Sena 10u is designed to fit perfectly with the Shoei NeoTec, Shoei J-Cruise, Schuberth C3 Pro, Shoei GT-Air, HJC IS-17 (10UPAD) and the Arai Full Face helmets. I have one each of the last 3 models for my Shark Spartan, AFX FX-41 DS and Speed & Strength SS4000 - while they're not designed for these helmets, the 10u is so easily customised. Plus the 10U units come with a handle-bar remote (except the 10UPAD). I haven't tried the Cardo units but the Sena unit does everything I need it to and I can't see why I would want to change. And if you're worried about wrecking your cheekpads when you customise for the 10UPAD unit … just buy another set of cheekpads for your helmet for 20 bucks. The other thing to note is that when I take phone calls on these units, people think the sound is clearer than when I'm in a quiet office holding the phone to my mouth. They just don't / won't / can't believe me when I say they're talking to me "in" my helmet. And even when I'm riding with my son on the Vespa and sidecar - talking back and forth is nowhere near as noisy as the Cardo are in your video. And no … I do not have any connection whatsoever with Sena :) Seriously, Sena 10U - just do it :)

Can you listen to music while on the intercom?

Awesome review. Was hesitating with the SENA SF4 or the 10r and... it´s decided. Thanks a lot

How is the noise cancellation with the freecom4+? Also what’s the big difference between the Cardo Pack talk bold vs the Cardo freecom4+?

A couple of questions about two years after you posted....1. Is it possible to speak on the phone and use nav system at the same time? 2. Seems to work well when communicating 12 inches apart but the elephant in the helmet is what ffin distance does it cut out?

It's voice ontrolled, therefore no need to touch whilst riding and possibly touching the eject button...

Well done. Very informative. Thanks !

I won't even wait until higher resolutions are available for this video, I'll watch it in 360p.

Hmmm. interested to see if you clicked the unit in all the way..my Freecom does not come off that easily. the button doesnt eject it, you have to hold it with one hand and remove it with the other...try pushing the button in when inserting it as opposed to snapping it on, it should stay on well. Nice review though, SENA is the name we historically associate with units, like Kleenex to tissues...but to be honest, Cardo, is 100% where its at.

Scorpion ST1400 Carbon review coming?!

What bike were you guys riding??

Hi Chase! Packtalk Bold review please. Since your have it in your studio for the shoots.

I own a Sena 20S and can't hear it most of the time due to wind noise and anemic speakers. I try to use it for music, navigation and audio books. I ride a Honda ST1300, a Kawasaki Concours 14, a Kawasaki Z1000 and a Buell XB9 Lightning. I ride with earplugs and that really makes it useless. The naked bikes are a little better. I thought the Bold was the one to get, but since I mostly talk to myself, it is probably overkill.

Hey chase, I have a freecom 4+, got before your review. Would have been nice if you mentioned the voice commands, which makes it a little less touch needed. I also have the problem with the roll dial, when I turn my head to look, it will raise or lower the volume. I have not had a problem with the disconnect button, knock on wood, as I just feel for the raised button on the, face/side, of my cardio. Any way loved the review.

Went to go buy one off the link in the description… says it’s out of stock and will not be coming back. But I’m determined to find one and get it

Thank you for video, I will go with Cardo

Jbl have been around for a few years. 👍 like 74 years

have a freecom 4+ dual on order now following accident with eyes on nav screens and no audio at 70 en route to Edinburgh Scotland on Sept 20th ... wrote 2017 gs te exclusive off & lucky to have walked away ... hope this now saves a repeat ! too many visual screen distractions...

Crossplane engine and the bags hum. Can you test the BTS2 cheap communicator? It supposedly pairs with Sena.

13:37 Oddly enough that's exactly what I say to my wife when she asks how long I'm going to ride...lol. Thanks for the review, it was really informative so I think I'm going to get a Cardo...

Actually on the sena side you need to “universal pair it” but the person who has a car do needs to search has “pairing phone”. So sena ftw in this matter because with my sena 20s I pair it with ANY other intercom any brand but with a cardo not so much

I bought the Cardo Freecom +2 should be here by next Tuesday. I usually ride solo so this +2 is right for me plus I don’t like talking to other people when I’m riding lol

For those of us who have a Sena and have never liked the audio from their provided speakers, have you tried the JBL speakers in your helmet with the Sena Bluetooth device? I belive the plug is compatable. Did that show any noticable improvement?

It turns out my Cardo Freecom 2 fell off but I found it. It cracked open and it worked fine for 2 more times and then it died. Now I ordered the Freecom 4+. Hope I don't mess it up again.

but someone please help how do you connect 4 people to one intercom

After dealing with both, my ultimate choice was Cardo Packtalk Bold.

One thing I would like to have seen you mention was whether all devices you talked about had the most up to date firmware as that can fix some of the non hardware related gripes. I would also really like to see a video with a head to head 30K vs packtalk Bold shootout.

Yamaha Niken, nice!