10R Volume Level Totally Inadequate
Its seems I am far from being the only one that think the level of volume is totally inadequate based on posts here and doing a Google search.
Above 80 KPH (50 MPH) I can barely hear any audio: MP3, radio or GPS. If I open the overhead helmet vents, forget it.
So I have the 10R radio ON in the absolute tranquility of my home and stepped through all volume steps; there are 12 including end point beeps.
Tell me, where exactly would anyone use the bottom 4 or 5 volume steps, the volume is that low? In a church as the sole occupant? lol
A firmware update (V1.1.2 months ago and now V1.2) has been done numerous times as well as all resets. So lets not even discuss those aspects.
The so-called better 20S speakers that come with the 10R have been installed in the speaker pockets on my new Shoei Neotec, a helmet that is well enclosed with a chin curtain. The thick foam and glue residue from the plastic covers that came with the helmet have been removed. All that is between the speakers and my ear is the helmet lining and removing them make absolutely no different to the volume so they are not a cause of reduced volume level.
I wear yellow foam EAR brand plugs and I am not going to ride without them. I am not about to jeopardize my hearing. I have used them since my days as a flight instructor and despite the noisy environment of a C150 which were muffled by the ear plugs, I simply turned up the communications radio in the aircraft. That is what you normally have to do when you are suppressing noise when using ear plugs. Motorcycle is a totally stock 2016 BMW R1200 GSA LC.
So either change the firmware to drastically increase volume control or take this unit back. And no, there is nothing wrong with my hearing.
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I've had a similar experience. I upgraded from the SMH10R to the 10R. The 10R supposedly has better speakers which do sound richer at stop lights, but they don't cut through the wind noise as well as the cheaper SMH10R speakers which means the sound disappears above certain speeds.
I may have found a fix, though. Under the settings section of the device manager you can change a default volume setting. This should boost the volume. I just changed this setting on mine, but have not yet tested it.
I'd prefer to change out the 10R speaker with the ones that came with the SMH10R, but I read that they have different connectors. What a shame.
EDIT: The setting is called "Audio Boost". It's the first option. Description: When audio boost is enabled, you can hear audio at a louder maximum volume level.
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Thank you for the feedback, Michael.
What "fix" did you find exactly? What setting using the Senna Bluetooth Device Manager did you change.
On another forum, one of the members spoke to a Sena rep at one of the shows.
According to the rep, "improper positioning of the ear pieces was the #1 cause of poor audio inside any helmet" and "they should 'touch' the outer ear - not just come close".
Please Sena, stop with the excuses. If the latter was truly the case, the 10U speakers that custom fits certain helmets would not be snapped into the speaker pockets of the Shoei Neotec. And that is exactly where I have mine installed in my Shoei Neotec.
These are the 10U speakers that snap into the speaker pockets of a Shoei Neotec helmet.
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What I would also like are speaker specifications from Sena.
Impedance.
Efficiency dB/mW.And what is the audio output power of my 10R?
I am not worried about "10 hours of talk time" which is useless if I cannot hear what is said.
Up the audio output power if the electrical components can handle it and if the amplifier does not go into clipping. I'll live with 7 hours of talk time.
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Audio Boost. It's the first option. "When audio boost is enabled, you can hear audio at a louder maximum volume level"
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I'm having the exact same problem. Have volume all the way up, audio boost on, and at hwy speeds I can barley hear my music. I'm very very disappointed. I had the smh10r and it worked decent, upgraded to the "10r"and have less volume. IS THERE A FIX??
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Is there a fix? Not really Rand.
Sena was good enough to replace my 10R under warranty. Unfortunately, the new unit was no better.
Sena needs to test these communicators by everyday people before they go to market.
I have spoken to users of various brands of communicators and almost every single one said volume is an issue.
Yet you never hear them say that on forums.
I will NEVER buy another communicator again unless I can try it out first.
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I had the same issue right away, but found that if you turn up the volume on your phone/mp3 it adjusts separately than the Sena 10R. Therefore, use the volume buttons on your phone first to go up to max volume, then use the volume control on the sena. I can hear my music perfectly going 80 down the freeway and I too wear ear plugs.
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That works when getting the signal from another device such as your phone/mp3, but not from the built-in FM radio in the Sena.
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I've only had the 10R for a few weeks and a 20S for a few years up to 3 months ago when my helmet was stolen. I'm careful not to expect the same features from both devices.
This volume issue is a big problem. Also, when the volume is at full, it distorts. It seems the best it can do it one click down from full.
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I have had my 10R for a while now and there are several things that make the volume much better.
One is to make sure they are spaced correctly and touching your ear/earplug.
Next is the position, my helmet has cutouts for speakers, but the cutouts are way too far back, I have to position the speakers full forward in the slot to get them close to my ear canal.
Don't use foam earplugs. Get some good custom plugs that mold to your ears. The harder material does better to transmit the sound from the speaker.
On the phone use the max volume with audio boost and set up a custom EQ then tweak the levels until you get it so that the distortion is gone.
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For what it's worth, I installed a 10R on my cheap and noisy HJC CLMax2 and had the same problem-- could barely hear it. I moved the speakers around multiple times and found that even a small movement made a big difference. Now without earplugs it can easily get to uncomfortable levels if I crank it up. Also was able to carry on a normal phone conversation at 85+ MPH wind speed (70 into at least a 15 MPH wind). Play with the speaker location--- seems like it wouldn't make a huge diff, but my experience is that it does.
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I second Paul's advice. The positioning of the speakers is critical. Your ear canal must align with the center of the speaker. Even just a 1/4" off will noticeably reduce the volume level. I had to actually move the speakers slightly out of the ear pocket of the helmet. Volume is more than adequate.
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