http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 3:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 3:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/"your"
Oh the irony...]]>Mar 24th 2010 3:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 3:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 3:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
*sent to fail blog]]>Mar 24th 2010 6:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 7:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 11:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 3:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 3:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 3:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 3:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Meh, I commute with IEMs + music. Doesn't distract me at all. All you'd really hear is wind noise anyway. I would NOT want to be on the phone while riding though.]]>Mar 24th 2010 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
I don't normally ride with music at high volume, but even when I have, it's not really that different from being in a car with the radio cranked.

Personally, I like the "silent" time with ear plugs and only use music when I'm on really long rides. I view my inability to answer my phone on the bike a blessing.]]>Mar 24th 2010 4:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
Well I do personally believe that Loud pipes save bikers lives, and I cant hear anything other than wind and my own bike to begin with. If anything Music keeps my mind from wandering.]]>Mar 24th 2010 4:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
Even worse I have seen riders answer their phones while riding and then slide them up into their helmet.

Combine that with the fact that many motorcyclists listen to headphones on devices that they can't control with gloves on while riding (think of a super loud song coming on int he helmet when you can't turn down the volume, it is a hell of a distraction) I think that having something designed to answer calls handsfree while giving easy volume control that works with gloves could actually improve safety.

Disclaimer, I have a similar unit from Parrot, that actually has a handle grip mount controller that I use because I am on-call and cannot go long without being able to answer the phone.
]]>Mar 24th 2010 4:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
Its called volume leveling. All the modern music management programs have it.]]>Mar 24th 2010 5:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/The good news is, this cancels the scraping noise that the helmet makes when the rider instead decides to talk to the asphalt instead of the person on the line.]]>Mar 24th 2010 7:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 25th 2010 8:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 25th 2010 8:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
I have a scala rider teamset, that essentially does the same thing, but it is meant for the pillion and yourself, and the phone . It is a Gem as it takes the boredom out of the ride, especially when you have a pillion.

The dangerous part is not the talking, as this is done better than a regular bluetooth headset. It is the picking of the call that is trickier. There are voice commands, but they are not perfectly implemented. But this is handled through my zumo (garmin) and the number displays right in front of you and you can answer there. As for danger of other vehicles, it is better than pulling over or missing calls on long rides. The danger is no more than you would have while driving a car/truck.

All of the voice capabilities break down around 100mph, but that's ok, I guess :)]]>Mar 25th 2010 11:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
I also have the Parrot SK4000 helmet kit. This review never mentioned advanced features like Text-to-Speech synthesis CID announcement or Phone Book Access Protocol synchronization for voice-dialing, even on phones with no native voice dialing (like the iPhone 3G) and those that do (the iPhone 3GS), leaving me to believe that the Cardo G4 doesn't do any of this. Then again, the Parrot SK-4000 doesn't have an intercom function at all, so they are different enough. They both have FM, AUX in, multi-point BT connections w/ audio source priority, A2DP, etc, but I'm thankful for the AVRCP and handlebar remote with the Parrot kit, even if the volume up and previous track/disconnect buttons don't work without leaning my head close to it.

One thing that bothers me is that you can't charge it while you use it or carry a spare battery for those REALLY long rides where you'd REALLY want it, like when I crossed the USA with mine. Does the G4 allow it? The other thing was that the flat speakers assume your helmet doesn't have recessed areas with speaker pockets, but I solved that with 50mm leatherette earcups from eBay and stuffed the speaker pockets with tissue, forcing the attached Parrot speakers closer to my ears. My helmet (GM58S) is a whistling noisy nightmare so I really want to wear earplugs but the Parrot, though plenty loud enough on its own, can't overpower the noise AND earplugs.]]>Mar 25th 2010 2:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 3:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
By the way, we're all safe riders, even while listening to music. ]]>Mar 24th 2010 3:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Ugh, I have Sennheiser CX-300s and they SUCK. Sometimes I have to take my helmet off, re-seat them, put it on, take it off, re-seat them 5 times in a row to get a good seal. My Shure E2s were AWESOME, perfect seal.

I've got some Klipsch S4i on the way. I'm hoping if I hook them over my ears like the E2s they'll stay sealed. The CX300 Large tips just don't seem big enough.

I tend to just use earplugs when riding twisties, but on the commute, music is a must.]]>Mar 24th 2010 3:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
These are stuck on to the helmet, so not meant to be in touch with your ear, though closer placement to the ear would boost the volume a bit. The music quality on these speakers are pretty bad, they are mostly meant for communication. Donno about this version, but the older versions were not stereo!]]>Mar 25th 2010 11:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 3:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
These do look really cool, but I don't really like "noise" when riding, if anything I'll wear foam earplugs to cut down on wind noise, but other than that, the sound of the 08 R1 is enough :)
]]>Mar 24th 2010 7:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.senabluetooth.com/]]>Mar 24th 2010 3:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
Unless you want a mess on the inside of your faceshield, that is.]]>Mar 24th 2010 4:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 3:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/You can cancel out any noise in your house with this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO4YZeyl0I
Just don't come here when your family members hurt you to stop the music....]]>Mar 24th 2010 7:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/ Also, to me, riding in a well informed group is much safer than a group that can't communicate (other than esoteric hand signals)]]>Mar 24th 2010 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
+ to you my friend]]>Mar 25th 2010 11:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 3:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 3:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 4:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
I'd actually really like to know what video camera/recorder was being used for the on-bike footage. Last year I got a very nice bullet cam from Dogcamsport in the UK, and hooked it up to an Archos 405 to record, and the quality was good, but this footage looks better.]]>Mar 24th 2010 4:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
More details:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/16/gopro-HD-hero-review-and-helmet-cam-face-off/
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/29/vholdr-contourhd1080p-helmet-cam-announced-we-go-hands-on/]]>Mar 24th 2010 4:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/:) You know where I'm going with this ..]]>Mar 24th 2010 4:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
So, you wouldn't recommend it in the first place, but if you are gonna, might as well block out all extrernal cues. Right. I've had and used earlier Scalas, and they are quite remarkable in allowing that quick "traffic sucks, I'll be late, don't worry" phone call. Or 'can you stop and pick up hamburger buns?" Never intended it for a conference call. Some of the points made about a handlebar control make a lot of sense. Hope they consider that. If nothing else the capability might just be cool enough to make a couple more people buy and wear a helmet. ]]>Mar 24th 2010 4:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 26th 2010 6:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 4:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 4:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
Lets compare this to you driving down the road. You have your soft music and heater/ aircon with the windows closed. Does this mean that you cant hear anything, If so you are unsafe every time you are driving!]]>Mar 25th 2010 11:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/
I dont know why a company would spend so much time though trying to make noise canceling on the mic good, and not use it for noise canceling in speakers as well, It would be great if i also didn't have to hear the wind noise.

Also why not make a mic that wraps around my neck and uses my actual voice box vibrations? Wait I should of patented that before I said it.

Keep the motorcycle tech reviews coming too!]]>Mar 24th 2010 4:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 4:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Nice! I actually was about to post and ask if that was a Striple, since I couldn't be sure just from the view in the video. I'm riding a Daytona 675 at the moment. Love it!

Anyhow, regarding the actual product... I have a Chatterbox xBi that I picked up for about $150 that I think has a bit of a superior setup to it. You can attach a bracket to hold the device to the helmet with either a clamp or a really strong double-sided sticker (I just used the sticker), and the bracket is just a small plastic piece that you slide the unit into. The speakers and mic plug into the unit in a 3.5 slot (haven't tried plugging in anything else), but the entire setup just makes recharging the thing a lot easier, since I can just unplug the headset portion and slide the unit out, rather than having to have my entire helmet near a wall.

I bought it specifically to just have to listen to music and GPS directions, but I've tried out the call feature for the novelty of it twice and people said they could hear me pretty well. It also is made to do rider-to-rider communications but I only have one unit so I can't test that out by any means.

Anyhow, point being, it's a good deal cheaper than the Scala, and it definitely works for what I need it for, haha.]]>Mar 24th 2010 6:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 6:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/24/cardo-scala-rider-g4-headset-review-advanced-noise-cancellation/Mar 24th 2010 9:08PM