Customer Reviews

Cardo Scala Cellphone and Intercom Wireless Headsets

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4 star:		(4)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've had this piece of kit for just over a week now and, I have to say, it does exactly what it says on the box. No problems with set-up and only a brief read of the (simple) manual allowed all facilities to be used. Intercom, voice dial, 3-way conference all work fine and people I talk to on the 'phone tell me that all they can hear is my voice, with ambient noise effectively cancelled. The auto-volume adjustment also seems to work well in all conditions I have tried so far.

However..... there are a few drawbacks! I ride three types of motorcycle; a moped (for to and from work), a big trailie and a Harley. I also have a Garmin ZUMO GPS which I have used on all three bikes with both a wired connection and now the bluetooth connection of the Scala. With the wired connection of a really cheap intercom system (£4.99 from Lidl), the audio quality for 'phone and MP3 and are pretty good, with workable but noisy intercom. In comparison, the Scala is OK on 'phone and intercom, but apalling on MP3 and voice directions from the GPS. The speakers are very tinny with no bass and no depth; MP3 is a joke and voice directions are completely drowned out by the tinny whine of the moped, the wind noise on the trailie and the deep rumble of the Harley. Fitting better speakers might be a solution but I don't know what this would do to the battery life and there is no 12V charging facility so, when touring or camping, battery life may become an issue.

A good set-up for communication but, if you want MP3 and voice guidance for cruising, long trips and those relaxed rides, look elsewhere.

The Bluetooth connection between Pillion and Rider is loud and clear. Also the Bluetooth to SatNav is great. A word of warning though. If you are trying to connect to a Bluetooth Satnav, then be aware it only connects to TomTom Rider 1 and 2, and a couple of Garmin Zumo devices. Even if other SatNavs have a voice enabled Bluetooth option they do not work. For these devices the Scala comes with a cable that can be plugged into a 3mm jack.

Having had a solo Cardo unit in the past, and being happy with its performance, it was an obvious choice for me to choose the Teamset when I wanted to change to rider/pillion communication facility.
The installation was easy and neat to both my Shoei Multitech and my partners X-Lite full face helmet.
The function of the units is good with clear audio quality, although it is important to ensure that the speakers are close enough to your ear in order to gain full benefit
The Cardo Scala works well with my Tom Tom Euro 2 Sat nav system.
The 'Bluetooth' system means that hard connection cables are not required and are therefore, in my opinion, less 'messy' on the bike.
Good quality equipment with long battery life......Recommended

I found the pairing with my Nokia N85 and E51 quite good but it does not pair with the TomTom GO 730 at all. The reason is TomTom to whom I wrote and their miserable reply is that
quote
"Unfortunately, Bluetooth headsets are not compatible with our devices...
...The market is using different protocols to connect devices. That, in combination with different software that the various phone manufacturers are using, and a lack of a single generic set of connectivity standards, it makes it difficult to support all phones with all functionalities..."
unquote

I tried to buy this item from both WebNet Retail and SenderCity. Both suppliers failed to supply the item, and both refused to reply to any emails I sent. SenderCity eventually just cancelled the order due to a stock error, after making me wait ages, and Webnet Retail just sent out a package with the other items I ordered and some sort of charger, that obviously wasn't even a stock item in the place of the headset, and refused to answer any emails. Eventually I had to resort to an A2Z claim, which still left me out of pocket and without the christmas gift I had promised! Amazon were no help, their Customer Care just didn't care!

I have had this unit now for 6 months, It`s not the most expensive bit of kit on the market, but it does what it says on the box!!
Having just completed my second weekend biking trip with my wife this year, I would not do without it.
The voice quality at varying speeds is fine, and I cannot imagine touring without it, we have 3 kids and this is about the best way to catch up on what`s going on at home!! So much for the great escape!!
Additionally it`s great to share the ride and things that you see with your pillion, otherwise it must be pretty boring just sitting on the back of a bike!!