Intercoms have become more common in the past 10 years or so. Before that, there were walkie-talkies for motorcycles, but only a handful of people used them, and they weren't the "must-have" item for mass tourism enthusiasts that they are today.
The ability to chat while riding and share the excitement of the scenery was revolutionary, and when I first tried an intercom, I was impressed that it took the fun of touring with friends to a whole new level.
When I first tried intercoms, I was so impressed that it took the fun of touring with friends to a whole new level. In this article, I'll be giving my reviews of the latest and flagship models from B+COM, which has the largest market share in Japan.
- Compared with the latest low-cost intercoms.
- B+COM is a reliable domestic product that shows attention to detail.
- Review of the use of the product in touring.
- Communication distance test with B+COM, DAYTONA and SENA
- Superb sound quality with high power amplifier
- What do we know about "good intercom" when we try it?
Compared with the latest low-cost intercoms.
Although I began to write the beginning from the history of the intercom, if it is assumed that it suppresses it to the situation of the latest intercom in 2021, I have to touch the cheap intercom which is often called "the latest" and "2021 evolution version" in a certain huge mail order site.
I also tried it out out of curiosity when it was the latest version in 2020, but I lost money on it. I may have just drawn the wrong end of an abundant lineup, but at least the one I tried was so noisy and had no practical range that I couldn't use it.
What I have learned is that if you want a certain level of quality, the best way is to choose an intercom at a reasonable price. That's what I learned.
B+COM is a reliable domestic product that shows attention to detail.
Right photo is B+COM SB6X, left is ONE.
With that preamble out of the way, let's get right into using the B+COM series.
We borrowed two of B+COM's signature models, the SB6X and the ONE. These two models are so comparable that they could be called siblings, but the flagship SB6X does not have the Listen and Talk function (*) that the ONE has. The ONE also differentiates itself from the SB6X with specifications such as a slightly more forward button layout, an antenna-less design, and a narrower range of accessories.
Because the general setting method, button operation, etc. are the same, I will proceed with the article this time mainly by trying SB6X.
Listen-to-talk function: A function that allows you to make group calls while listening to music or navigation voice guidance on your smartphone.
Sober and happy installation method
It is interesting to note that the way of installation differs from one intercom manufacturer to another. Each company provides accessories that can be fixed with double-sided tape as a matter of course, but many riders may think that this is a last resort.
SENA and MIDLAND use a method of inserting clamps and fixing them with bolts, which allows them to be fixed tightly. However, this has a disadvantage that it cannot be installed unless the clamp shape and the R of the shell match.
In contrast, B+COM is a method of inserting a wire clip. It is easy to install, just insert the clip between the shell and the interior. I think it's the best solution for intercom mount because it doesn't slip or fall off and it's easy to attach and remove from the helmet if it's wire clip type.
The left photo shows the ONE, and the right photo shows the SB6X. The base plate of the later ONE was updated to make it even easier to attach and detach.
Comparing the base plate of SB6X and ONE, I found that the fixing method is also a little different. The SB6X is mounted to the base plate by sliding, but the ONE mounting method, which is about 2.5 years later than the SB6X, requires a button to be pressed and unlocked to slide, even though it looks like the same sliding method.
The fact that it won't come off even with an unintentional shock is quite a relief, isn't it?
Plain and simple Type C
The previous model SB5X had a micro USB connection, but the SB6X/ONE has a new USB Type-C connection. We no longer had to worry about the back and front of the terminal when inserting and removing, and the usability had been further improved.
This kind of attention to detail is a great point for users.
Review of the use of the product in touring.
We brought B+COM SB6X/ONE as well as SENA 50S and DAYTONA DT-E1 and tried to use them in actual touring.
How was the communication quality?
SB6X & ONE
The first thing I tried was SB6X and ONE. Because it is a current model by the same B+COM manufacture, the connection method can be done by pairing of the original standard called B+LINK.
And this pairing is so good! It pairs up easily in about a minute and the call quality is spot on!
The sound quality was close to that of actual speech, and the sound of wind rolling in was not a concern.
SB6X & external intercom
I used universal communication with 3 units configuration of SB6X (B+COM), 50S (SENA) and DT-E1 (DAYTONA).
It was easy to pair with DT-E1, and the volume was enough and the sound quality was clear while driving. I had the impression that the sound would be choppy at distances of up to 300 meters (with some shielding in between), but communication was fine at ranges below that.
On the other hand, pairing with the 50S is extremely difficult, and the signal between the two is unstable, or the sound is interrupted or becomes noise regardless of the distance or driving speed. I think we were able to communicate about 30% of the time during the whole trip.
After the test run, I asked a staff member who uses the DT-E1, and he said it worked well with the SB6X, and similarly paired with the 50S was hard to hear.
However, with a constant sense, there were times when the three units could make calls with clear sound quality. The distance between the cars was not too wide, nor was it blocked by a shield. If the sound quality is always clear, there is no impediment to use, but the result is bewildering because I don't know the conditions that make the communication stormy/worsen.
Communication distance test with B+COM, DAYTONA and SENA
SB6X, DT-E1, and 50S. We tested the communication strength with each other about 100m away. This seems to be the limit of the universal connection, and further away from this point, the noise increased and it became impossible to hear what was being said.
Even while driving, the sound is interrupted when interrupted by an obstruction such as a large truck, but I think that is unavoidable. Also, the only time I can hear the intercom without interference is when I'm stopped and about to start driving, and once I'm going the full speed limit, I have to consciously speak louder. I had the impression that it was difficult to communicate with each other.
Superb sound quality with high power amplifier
I mentioned above that the sound is close to the real voice. This is actually a great thing.
Good reproduction of the actual sound is a feat that can only be achieved if the output is well-balanced from low to high frequencies.
I tried it out and played music on my phone and the quality was good enough to use as a music player. Although they are inferior to sealed earbuds, the high quality of the sound is good enough to be called a good score even though the cheek pads are separated from the speakers to the ears.
What do we know about "good intercom" when we try it?
There are many different intercoms on the market from various manufacturers, but I felt that the most important thing was the ease of pairing, with sound quality coming in a close second. In this respect, both B+COM and DAYTONA models were easy to use with high affinity and simple buttons.
SENA seems to be easy to use with the same SENA, but the sound quality seems to be poor when pairing with other manufacturers and universal connection.
Do you take B+COM, which has the best features and the largest market share, or do you take the reasonable DAYTONA? Which intercom would you choose?
Recommended for those who value rich functions and ease of connection.
Inexpensive and recommended for first-time intercom users.
