| Best Overall |
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Sena 50R-01 | CHECK LATEST PRICE |
This helmet speaker does just about everything you could ask for. It features mesh 2.0 and Bluetooth V5.0, enabling you to connect with up to 24 riders. Its fast-charging capability means you only need a quick stop to recharge. |
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| Best Value |
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VR-Robot Wireless Motorcycle Helmet Headset | CHECK LATEST PRICE |
This helmet speaker is unmatched when it comes to value for money. It uses Bluetooth V5.0 and has good battery life. Unfortunately, it only has basic features and a limited communication range of 20-23 meters. |
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| Honorable Mention |
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Cardo Packtalk Special Edition | CHECK LATEST PRICE |
This helmet speaker ups the ante in just about every way. Its 45-mm JBL drivers are the largest on the list and offer unparalleled sound quality. It has a range of up to 1600 meters and can connect with up to 15 riders. |
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Motorcycling is one of the best ways to get out of your head in a true solo experience. Sometimes, however, you want to share your thoughts with the other riders around you or with your passenger. Motorcycle helmet speakers enable you to have private one-on-one conversations or group chats with other motorcyclists while you’re on the move. You’ll also be able to take calls, listen to music, and have directions called out to you via your GPS navigation system.
Whether you’re more of a lone wolf or love group rides, a motorcycle helmet speaker can take your experience to the next level. Choosing the right system will depend entirely on the type of riding you do, so we’ve put together a list of all the top motorcycle helmet speakers on the market and ranked them under a variety of categories.
Best Motorcycle Helmet Speakers Reviews & Recommendations
In terms of helmet speaker features, the Sena 50R-01 has practically everything you could ask for. This model uses a Mesh 2.0 intercom system, which enables you to communicate with riders up to five miles away. If you’re riding in a pack of six, however, you can expect a one-mile range. The group Mesh feature allows you to communicate with up to 24 participants in a private group, which is more than any other model on the market. Since this headset uses Bluetooth V5.0, it has great connectivity and fast connection times.
Between the Sena 50 app and near-flawless voice command system, this headset is one of the most intuitive and easy to use on the market. You can expect eight hours of talk time when using the mesh network and 13 hours when using just Bluetooth. Another of this model’s standout features is its fast-charging ability. Charging it for just 20 minutes will give more than three hours of Mesh talk time or six hours of Bluetooth talk time. Sena has upgraded the HD speakers on this model, much to the delight of users.
- Brand Sena
- Model 50 Series
- Weight 0.35 ounces
Mesh 2.0
Bluetooth V5.0
Great battery life
Fast charging
Up to 24 participants
At the high end of the price range
Anyone who’s trying to figure out if helmet speakers are for them can test the waters with the VR-Robot Wireless Motorcycle Helmet Headset. While this headset doesn’t perform especially well in any area, it’s hard to fault it, thanks to its exceptionally low price. This device has a maximum effective communication range of 20-23 meters. There’s no intercom feature, so you’ll need to download an app to communicate with another rider via Bluetooth. On the plus side, this model uses Bluetooth V5.0, so it has an impressive battery life and is quick to connect to your device. It will last for up to 160 hours in standby mode and up to eight hours in use. When it’s time to recharge it, you’ll only need to wait two hours.
The most common complaint from users is that the audio quality is poor when traveling at high speeds or if it’s a windy day. So, if you need a helmet speaker mainly for highway use, you should find one with better earphones. This model uses a three-button setup, which some users have found to be on the small side.
- Brand VR-Robot
- Model 4330244144
- Weight 1.94 ounces
Great value for money
Good battery life
Bluetooth V5.0
Very limited range
No intercom feature
If only the best of the best will do when it comes to motorcycling, then the Cardo Packtalk Special Edition is for you. This model shines in just about every way a helmet speaker can. The 45-mm headphone drivers are the largest on this list, made by JBL, and arguably provide the best sound quality. These speakers are perfect for riders who have to deal with a lot of wind noise. This device can communicate via Bluetooth or Dynamic Mesh Communication. Dynamic Mesh Communication allows the intercom to be used over all other forms of audio, including phone calls, music, and GPS instructions.
Another of this model’s standout features is that it can be used with up to 15 riders in a group chat. If you’re tired of all the chatter, you can choose to communicate privately with just one member of the group. In perfect conditions, this communication has a 1,600-meter range, but it’ll be more like 1,000 meters in real-life conditions. Although this model is at the higher end of the price spectrum, it’s totally waterproof and comes with a three-year warranty, so you know it’s built to last.
- Brand Cardo
- Model Packtalk Special Edition Single
- Weight 4 ounces
Fantastic sound quality thanks to JBL drivers
Mesh connectivity
Up to 1,600-meter range
Connect with up to 15 riders
Waterproof
One of the most expensive models on the market
The Motorcycle Helmet Bluetooth Headset is perfect for people who don’t like charging their devices frequently. This headset’s 900-mAh lithium-ion battery gives it an amazing 60 hours of continuous talking and playing time and up to 500 hours of standby time. In terms of battery life, this headset is in a league of its own, and there’s no doubt that’s due to the fact it uses Bluetooth V5.0. When it does come time to recharge these speakers, it’ll take just two hours.
Unfortunately, if you go for this headset, you’ll need to sacrifice some connectivity since the device has an effective range of just 20 meters, which is the lowest on this list. You’ll only be able to talk to one person at a time since this model has no intercom feature and needs an app to support communication. If you often ride in wet weather, you won’t have much to worry about thanks to this model’s IPX7 rating. Realistically, this product is better suited to riders who want to listen to music and their GPS navigation rather than those who go on chatty group rides, but this is reflected by its low price point.
- Brand JZAQ
- Weight 3.87 ounces
Ultra-long battery life
Great value for money
IPX7 rating
20-meter range
No intercom
If your trips take you to places where the temperature drops below freezing and possibly riding through snow, check out the Gelaten Motorcycle Bluetooth Headset. This model is covered by a silicone shell, which means it’ll work without issue in the rain and snow. Even extreme temperatures won’t be a problem, as the headset’s operating temperature is between 14 and 131 degrees Fahrenheit. The downside to choosing this model is that it uses Bluetooth V3.0. It’ll take longer to connect to your device and could lose connection more frequently than headsets that use newer versions of Bluetooth.
The lithium-polymer battery gives the device six hours of intercom time, eight hours of talk time, and 300 hours of standby time. It uses DSP echo cancellation and noise suppression technology, which seems to work well at speeds of less than 70 mph. In optimum conditions, this headset has a range of 800-1000 meters, but you can expect quite a bit less than this. Although the operating range is somewhat low, this model’s price point is equally as low, so it’s a fair tradeoff. Even though this is an inexpensive product, it comes with a one-year warranty so you can buy with confidence.
- Brand Gelaten
- Model 4350307822
- Weight 11.2 ounces
Waterproof
Broad operating temperatures
Great value for money
Bluetooth V3.0 is quite outdated
Range could be better
How We Selected the Products
We considered dozens of helmet speakers before choosing our top contenders. Some brands are already well established in this niche, and priority was given to their products. Other lesser-known brands were also evaluated. The main features taken into consideration were security, durability, mechanical soundness, price, protection method, secondary protection features, and reliability. We avoided products that have poor structural integrity.
Our product selections, rankings, and awards for this story are based on research. While we haven’t conducted real-world testing on all of these products yet, we’ve looked at consumer testimonials and data, tutorials, and general discussions on social media and in forums. We also consider price and specification in the context of the segment. And, of course, we rely on our institutional knowledge of the automotive landscape to weed out weak products.
Best Motorcycle Helmet Speaker Buying Guide And FAQs
Whether you need a way to communicate with your partner while riding two-up or to chat with your friends on a group ride, a helmet speaker will have you covered. But there’s much more to these devices than just talking to other riders. You’ll be able to take calls and listen to music without taking your focus off the road. For anyone who explores unknown routes, your GPS navigation system will give you audible instructions to guide you through your trip.
This guide will explain what to consider before purchasing.
What To Consider Before Buying Motorcycle Helmet Speakers
- Bluetooth
Like all forms of technology, Bluetooth is constantly improving. To know what iteration of Bluetooth a device uses, you’ll need to check out the version. For example, you might see Bluetooth V4.0, meaning the device has version 4.0. The higher the version number is, the newer the technology is. The latest form of Bluetooth available is V5.0, so you should aim for this. Newer versions of Bluetooth are less draining on your battery, connect to your devices quicker, have a more stable connection, and tend to have a longer range.
- Mesh technology
Most high-end helmet speakers have some form of mesh technology. If you ride out of range when using a Bluetooth-only network or lose connectivity because of an obstacle, you’ll need to stop and reconnect to the network. Sometimes this means stopping a whole group of riders, and that can be a real pain. With a mesh network, you’ll automatically be reconnected to the other devices on your network as soon as you’re back in range. If you ride in relatively large groups and can afford it, our advice is to go for a device with mesh technology.
- High-quality audio
You’re going to want good sound quality from your helmet speakers, so you can enjoy the best possible listening experience. The size of the drivers in the speakers will be the main thing to look for. For example, 45-mm drivers should provide a better listening experience than 40-mm drivers. Noise-canceling technology is arguably the most important feature when it comes to making sure the audio your mic picks up is crystal clear.
- Intercom
As well as allowing you to listen to music and GPS navigation, another advantage of Bluetooth motorcycle speakers is that they can allow you to connect to nearby riders via a universal intercom. This means that you can talk to your riding companions whilst you’re on the road, and it allows you to talk to multiple riders at once. Some helmet speakers don’t have an intercom feature and rely on an app to pair cellphones, which makes them work more like walkie-talkies.
- Operational range
Each model of helmet headphones has a different range. Of just the speakers featured here, this varies from 20 meters to five miles, so there’s quite a difference. If you want to use this feature, consider how far you and your riding partner or friends are usually apart from each other and what kind of range you would need.
- Easy controls
You need to make sure your helmet headset is easy to use while riding to minimize distractions from the road. Most good headsets with a built-in microphone allow you to use voice commands to control your audio. Many also have buttons to control volume or other functions. Look for a design with large and easily accessible buttons designed to be used by gloved hands.
- Fit
Make sure you purchase speakers suitable for your style of helmet and are the correct size to fit the space available. Don’t choose speakers that are too big and bulky. These may be uncomfortable when pressed against your ears inside the helmet.
Best Motorcycle Helmet Speaker FAQ:
The intercom range of motorcycle helmet speakers varies from model to model. Some cheaper designs will have a range of only 20 meters, while higher-end models can have a range of several miles. The Sena 50R-01 has one of the longest operational ranges at up to five miles.
Yes, absolutely. Enabling you to listen to music whilst riding your motorcycle is one of the best functions of helmet speakers. Usually, you can do this by connecting your speakers to your cellphone via Bluetooth and playing music through your phone. Some headsets also have a built-in FM radio, allowing you to tune in to the airwaves at the push of a button.
Most motorcycle speakers allow you to connect to your cellphone via Bluetooth technology. This enables you to hear anything playing through your phone, such as music or GPS navigation instructions. You can also make and receive phone calls using your cellphone’s hands-free feature.
There are certain steps you can take to extend the life of your headset. Find out whether your headset is waterproof. If not, make sure never to use it in rain or extreme weather. Even if it is, you should still treat it with care and not expose it unnecessarily. If you’re not going to be using your headset for a while (for example, if you’re leaving your motorcycle parked up for winter) remove the speakers from the helmet and place the device and all accessories somewhere safe and dry to store.
Our Top Pick
We’ve chosen the Sena 50R-01 as our overall best motorcycle helmet speaker. Whether you like riding two-up or are involved in big group rides, this device will have you covered. Outside of communication, you can expect crystal-clear audio from the upgraded HD speakers, which are a treat for music lovers. Sena is one of the biggest names in the game and is touted for its product’s reliability.
