Best Choice for Solo Rider?
I ride solo, so I only needed a way to listen to music and potentially take calls. Based on that, I wrote off the Cardo Packtalk Edge and other more expensive units since I don't need comms and the audio quality is the same. That left me deciding between Freecom 2x and 4x. The only difference as far as my use is concerned is the natural voice commands available with 4x. When I learned they both have a voice button you can use to activate your phone's voice assistant, I decided to save the money and go with the 2x. <br /><br />I'm very happy with that choice. When I wear moto specific earplugs, music and podcasts sound great in my full face helmet. Installation is simple. The bluetooth connects with my phone (pixel 7a) quickly, every time. I like how easy it is to control the volume with the wheel. Battery lasts for more than a week's worth of commuting. <br /><br />Last note in case anyone else is in my shoes: I work in a SCIF. I like to bring my helmet with me. It is very easy to detach the Cardo control unit and leave it with your phone. That just leaves the plastic bracket, metal contacts, wires, and speakers, so it's clear to bring with me. Obviously check with your security office, policies vary.
Not worth $130 more than spirit
I needed to upgrade from my spirit as the speakers started cutting out intermittently after 3 years. I decided on the freecom 2x as I wanted a boost in sound quality but didn't need mesh and multi rider functions. The sound quality is barely a step up from the spirit. The volume is the only thing helping me cope with the purchase. It is much louder than my spirit which is nice. For $130 more than the spirit, I'm kinda regretting my purchase. Cardo pushed the jbl speakers so much that I was expecting a big difference when in reality I could have just saved myself $130. Just ehh
Excellent, but...
My only complaint is that ALMOST EVERY TIME I turn it on to use it it has lost 75% volume on the left side.<br />The remedy is a factory reset with the app; which also means I have to pair the unit to my phone again. <br />It's not difficult, but it is time consuming and frustrating. A new product shouldn't behave like this.
Nice unit.
Installed on new RF1400 very easy, love the app.
Good headset for price!
Sound quality is pretty good when listening to music, even at speeds of 70mph. Easy to operate though youll have to get use to the feel with gloves. For price its a nice headset!
Great, but not great
This unit works great.<br />This unit sounds great.<br />But......<br />Whoever decided to put the volume/mute wheel sticking out the bottom of the unit should be FIRED.<br />It changes the volume or mutes every time I turn left or lift my left arm. <br />MAKES ME GO CRAZY!!!!!
Excellent value for money
Easy to use with gloves, long battery life, very loud speakers. Microphone is incredibly good, I can ride with my visor open at 75 mph and my caller can hear me clearly. I'm on a KLR 650 to boot. <br /><br />Speakers are very loud but lose clarity at high volumes. Electric guitars for example tend to dissappear at high volumes. No issue with human voices.
Pure shite
Nope! It's a pain in the butt to set up and it doesn't connect to Spotify. It wants to play music that's downloaded to your phone or play fm radio. Who actually listens to fm radio any more and who downloads music? Did I get teleported back to 1994? Wtf?! I will be returning these stat!
It's what you're looking for, stop comparing everything and get it.
Long battery, super quick phone pairing, clear Audio (don't expect to hear bass at highway speeds) Roll knob can be problematic sometimes with not understanding I'm spinning the volume up or down, eventually reacts but I'm dismissing it as normal. Only an issue 15% of the time. Quick charging. Phone calls are clear on both ends even while traveling @75mph highway. Install was simple. I have not found another rider to pair with yet, music, gps, and phone calls have been my only uses so far.
I like the sound.
The sound is good, the speakers come in clear, even the bass. The mic picks up my voice decently well; still don't want to be going too fast or the wind noise will be too much. The only real issue I've had so far is with the controls. They're a little difficult to feel through my gloves, and I still fumble trying to remember which button does what while I'm riding.
Best Bluetooth yet!
Super simple to install in my helmet! The helmet I put it in is a Scorpion EXO Covert FX. <br />Sound is great, easy to use and operate and adjust on your helmet if needed. I also like the fact I can open just the Bluetooth piece off and charge it or attach it to another helmet. <br />I like the option for extended mouth speaker or one stuck inside by my mouth vent. <br />Not that it matters, but all your moto babes out there, I usually have my husband help me with installing everything and I got this myself lol
"Get Cardo with JBL" Great choice!
My Cardo system works great! I've been down due to knee replacement surgery. I was able to get out (I'm at week 7) for a short ride just for a mental health bump and it was the first time using my new Cardo Freecom. I only listened to a radio station, but it made my new knee maiden voyage very enjoyable? the JBL speakers put out awesome sound! The group I ride with suggested "Cardo with JBL." I'm looking forward to great comms on rides, and now suggest the same.
Replacement for loss of previous Freecom 2
I'm pleased with the functionally of the device and feel the speakers are an upgrade in performance and fit over the previous model (the speaker actually fit in the recess on my Shoei RF1400).<br />What I'm not pleased with it is the same old spring clip on the bracket which when the spring finally gets weak or snaps causes the cardo to fly off going down the road never to be seen again. I guess I will attach this one to the bracket permanently with 3m tape as I did on my wife's helmet to keep from losing it.
Meh? should have stuck with earbuds?
Priced way too high. Should have just stuck with earbuds.
Audible even at high speeds with earplugs
I was worried about being able to hear this at high speeds, but I'm able to get like 90% of music and 85% of spoken word wearing earplugs inside the helmet at highway speeds (65 mph+). I might shell out for the speaker upgrade someday but this works for me fine considering price. <br /><br />Not interested in intercom and haven't tested it.
Best communicator I have owned!
Very light, easy to use. Incredible sound. The control wheel makes easy to control even with gloves on. The sound is impressive even at high speed with lots of wind. Battery lasts a long time. Longest ride has been over 5 hours with music playing non-stop and GPS guidance transmitting too. Pairs wiht no effort to other communicators. Phones-calls are loud and clear on both ends. I have been told that when I am not talking it is like the microphone was muted. They do not hear any noise or sound at all while they are talking. I ride a very loud Harley and people canhear me with no issues at all.
Great Comms
The unit is pricey but well worth the investment. The buttons are tactile and they work every time without fuss. I haven?t linked it to another rider but the clarity and ease of phone calls makes me think I would have no issues. The only thing I wish they would include with the directions is to wear earplugs. The quality audio is really so much better with plugs in so much so that I feel it?s a necessity.
It does what is expected
It does what I expected and needed. What more can you ask?
A big upgrade and a small downgrade
The volume button on my freecom 2 broke so I purchased the 2x to replace it. Some nice features (volume wheel instead of button) but I was a little disappointed that Cardo removed the ability to answer a phone call with voice. The old freecom 2 has that ability, but if you want it now, you have to buy the 4x.<br />Other than that, this is a very nice mid price comm unit. It pairs with my passengers freecom 2 so other than the above deletion, it's a fine unit
Good and bad !
I bought the 2X Duo pact, they worked great for while my wife and I started noticing problems turning the headsets on or off. Sometimes they would turn on sometimes they wouldn't , then we started having problems turning them off. Mine now won't turn on or off, it just plain died. Too bad the warranty has expired already. Now we have to invest on a new headset, don't know which one to replace them with, we definitely do need to have them when we travel. Oh well I hope the next ones we get will work longer than two years.
New Cardo
Installation was very easy. Audio quality is much better than my old unit
Decent, But Needs Work
Straight out of the box they were fantastic. Next time we tried to use them, it took about 10 minutes to get them re-paired. Everytime we would shut them off, we would have to re-pair them. That was OK once we knew what we needed to do.<br /><br />Then, my headset would fade in and out no matter if I listened to music, on the phone or on comms with my wife. When it would fade low, you can barely hear anything. When it would fade back, it was as ifbi was at a KISS concert. With it fading in and out, it also causes a problem with using a GPS. You can not hear the directions, so you end up missing turns. It took my wife and I 1½ hours to take a 20 minute ride because I could not hear the directions. <br /><br />Funny thing is that the set on my wife's helmet seems to work just fine except for the re-pairing everytime we want to use them.
Good unit
Good device. Purchased mainly for Bluetooth connectivity to my iPhone. Purchased second unit so I can communicate with my daughter when she is a passenger. Works well and no issues so far.
Good system
First, I purchased this unit at the San Antonio store and the guys who work there are always friendly and helpful. They should be commended. They installed this unit on the helmet after recommending it for my needs. It's on a Bell Qualifier helmet. The sound doesn't give as much base as I'd prefer but it might be the helmet because it is noisy, so I'm not knocking the Cardo for that and I use to have the Cardo Pack Talk which was great. I like the simple controls and Bluetooth connectivity. I use it for music and directions so it's perfect for my needs. I like that it updates over the air, no more updating using cables and a PC. I'm a happy camper.
This is my first coms set. I usually ride by myself so only really need something to hook up to my phone. This does that and the JBL speakers sound great. There's some background noise when on the phone, but heck, I'm riding a motorcycle so that's to be expected. Install was pretty straightforward. My only concern will be if the stick tape holds up on the exterior of my helmet. Overall, it's what I needed and I'm happy.
Not a bad choice for the price
Easy to use with gloves. easy to connect to phone. speakers that come with it are ok, volume adjusts well with road noise most of the time.<br />Even after a year of owning, I still struggle to remember the combination of buttons to press to change function. I always have to use the app to change source. The radio function works pretty well.<br />battery life seems much less than they say.<br />overall, not a bad system but a little expensive for what you get.
Very happy!
I bought this Freecom 2X mainly to interface with my Garmin ZumoXT nav system so that I could get turn by turn directions in my full-face helmet. It works GREAT! I always ride with soft earplugs to eliminate engine and road noise and I was able to clearly hear music, the nav directions and phone calls from my phone on my Softail that has a Rhinehart exhaust on it at 75MPH. The 40mm JBL speakers and mic installed easily into my HJC helmet.<br /> It took me a little while to figure out that to connect both my phone and the nav unit, you don't want to have the Freecom connect directly to the phone. You want to make the Garmin the device that you connect via Bluetooth to the Cardo, and then have the Garmin connect to the phone. In other words, on my iPhone, the Cardo should NOT be connected; it should show only the connection to the Garmin.<br /> If you don't have a nav unit to connect and you want to use Google or Apple maps for your directions, then you'd just just use the Garmin app.
Perry dang good
Works great, Sounds good<br />Battery life is more like 4-5 hours playing music in the real world. I ended up buying 2 to have longer rides. <br /><br />Warning: if you get the freecom system you can't load a bold into the freecom dock. If you want to upgrade - you have to unglued the freecom unit & glue in the new dock. If you want to ride with more then 2 or 4 people eventually I suggest moving up if you can
Great mid level Cardo
Got tired of fussing with my earbuds. Sounds decent as long as you don't expect deep immersive bass sound.<br /><br />If you want to rocket down the freeway listening to Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball this unit is for you!
works but tricky to get set up and optimized
It's pretty good for keeping up communication with other riders in the group. But linking the other riders is not as easy as turning it on, it requires quite a few steps on everyones part to get connected. also once connected there are quite a few adjustments to optimize the user experience, block out road noise from other helmets, how loud to set intercom voices from other helmets, how much music to leave active during intercom from other helmets, etc. Overall it will require a fair amount of tweaking to get it where you want it, so my advice would be to sit around with everyones helmet the night before a ride to get it set up. If you try to do it as you are pulling out you will end up frustrated about the process and then will probably leave late for your ride and may still not have communication.<br />The speakers are good and I have an excellent helmet (Shoei Neotec) but on a harley above 65mph it's pretty hard to hear anything at all. <br />Also, the way to remove the module from the helmet requires lifting a very small tab then pulling up on unit to remove it from the cradle. This unfortunately has a negative impact on the 2 sided tape holding the carriage in place and it will pull the whole thing off the helmet if you are not careful. I had this installed at the dealer so I know it was placed correctly, I just think cardo needs to have a better way to anchor the carriage and a better system for removing the module
Great system! I have been using the cardo freencom for two month now and no issues. If your pipes are not to loud you will enjoy listening to your favorite tones.
Outstanding!
Able to take calls while riding and sounds great!
Loud and clear music. Volume wheel is a nice touch
Bought this to replace my old Packtalk Slim after it broke while swapping out my helmet's pads. Using the 45mm JBLs I had this unit is definitely louder than my slim ever was and the scroll wheel for volume is super convenient and much easier to quickly lower or raise the volume. My only complaint would be the lack of a pause button, but I didn't have that before either. The slim also looked a bit better in my opinion, but this one isn't ugly, just sticks out more. <br /><br />I haven't yet used it to communicate with other riders, so idk how the shorter range will affect me but I plan to use a Bluetooth MRS radio in the future for adventure rides with a buddy, so if that works out the shorter talk range won't be an issue.
Great audio from JBL speakers!
Works great! Installed in my Schuberth E1 helmet and paired to iPhone and Zumo XT.
Great with the right set up.
Easy to use and set up, the only issue is the sound quality takes a hit at highway speeds above 55+. Invest in a good helmet or chin curtain to reduce wind buffeting and you'll be solid.
Review of Cardo 2X bluetooth system for motorcycle helmets
Excellent product,sound quality is excellent crystal clear,recommend buying it great bang fir the buck
Solid Single rider or Couples headset.
Perfect for a couple or single rider that wants some music while they ride. Install was easy, good battery life, and easy to charge and update. Speakers worked fine in my HJC. The only problem is I haven't been able to get the music to play on both headsets.
Not again
It's not loud enough like it purposely maxed out on low volume.
Bad sound
You can't hear anything while ridding.
IT FUNCTIONS AS ADVERTISED.<br />THE SOUND COMPARED TO MY 4X THAT I LOST <br />IN A WRECK IS JUST AS GOOD.
All you need.
Honestly, I wish I bought the more expensive one. but the cheap one is awesome.
Awesome for my X-14
Installed on my Shoei X-14. Easy instructions. Easy update process. Easy to install. Fully charged in no time. Took it for a test run. Performed flawlessly. JBLs sound awesome. Did Pandora and gps together. Worked perfectly. Excellent buy.
Amazing Product
works amazing, speakers are clear, sturdy, and a solid price def would recommend(this is my first comms system)
Love it
Just as described , love it great sound, battery long life, just used when in the rain, and just waterproof as discribed , love it for music and taking call. A must
Awesome unit
The sound quality is amazing. I was able to take a phone call while on the highway without issue. Easy to use, easy to install on my Scorpion EXO-T510.
Lacks bass
I bought this so I could listen to music and receive calls. I am using an iPhone and connection is quick and great. calls are good and set up is quick and easy although it may need some skills to hide the wires and setup. I have a com ready helmet so it wasn't hard to install since there's slots ready for the mic and speakers. practically a plug and play. My only complain is that the bass is weak.<br />I'm not sure if it was just my unit but I am a bit disappointed with the sound. It lacks bass considering it is an upgrade to the basic (branded as JBL speakers.) I know that it is a small speaker, but normally speakers in an enclosed helmet would sound great and wouldn't even need powerful bass at all but music isn't as satisfying with this unit.
Buy Sena
Useless, the boom microphone doesn't stay in place because of weak adhesive. People can't hear me even after troubleshooting. However the speakers can make a rock star deaf. If your not carefully with a gloved hand you can inadvertently release the outer half & to the ground it goes
Solid
Really happy, does take some time to master, but that's with every new piece of technology, the phone app is nice, personally went with the adhesive application, the clamp isn't very friendly with the rf-1400. There is some excess wires I'd like to see shorter
Cardo Freecom 2X Headset
Works great but once in a while it will take another try to properly connect the phone to it
By the top of the line, Cardo
Don't waste your time on this one. It doesn't connect well and the distance is terrible. By the most expensive Cardo ! You get the JBL speakers plus the crash detection with mesh !
Solid headset
Not familiar with the others but the quality and sound is really good
Bad mechanism can be very costly
Lost my unit on the freeway due to a weak spring mechanism that holds the unit onto the frame. Cardo gave gave me a measly 28% off a replacement unit. (28% of 229.00) The new one holds less securely than the original unit. <br />My Sena lasted 10 years. This unit hasn't lasted 1 year without major issues.
Filtering sw is not good for calls.
Sound is good but the during calls people hear all the wind noise when I talk. All sounds cuts out when I am not talking. I have to yell for people to understand me. I had a built in sena on my last helmet and nobody knew I was on my bike. I am not happy with this brand.
Great helmet
Excellent Head set for my Sedici helmet
Worth it
Worth it. Great sound quality. Good mic quality. Gets you the upgraded JBL speakers for the cheapest possible.
Good value
Easy to use. Easy to install. Quality sound. Would definitely recommend.
Great Unit but has some issues
This comm's system works very well. I especially like that it can communicate with one off brand unit. I mostly just listen to music from my phone. Where it shines is with comm's between other Cardo units. That works really well, is very clear just talking to other riders. What I don't like is that during some turns, the shoulder of my jacket or vest bumps up into the volume dial, sometimes enough to switch modes. It really can't helped, just something to be aware of when placing on your helmet. The answering phone feature works great too!
Cardo freecom2x
It's an awesome unit. I love it. A gamechanger.
Cardo
The JBL speakers these have sound great.
Easy to use. Easy to install. Could be louder. 2 sided tape did not stay stuck to helmet.
Great Sound
This is my second Cardo 2X. Have one for summer helmet and winter helmet. Very easy to Install and especially easy to operate.
Cardo 2x in Scorpion Helmet
Easy install on my Scorpion EXO AT960, Great Sound !!
It's great. Good sound coming out of the JBL speakers.
Cardo x2
Pretty good sound and battery last quite awhile!
I love my new Cardo unit what I like the most is its crystal clear can't beat that
It's easy to set up. And the sound is clear.and friends can actually hear me. When on the road.
Has every option one could want!!!
Has every option one could want!!! Battery life is excellent!!!! JBL speakers rock!
really nice, if you have a loud helmet the bass isn't too great, but it is possible to fix that with a bit of effort. 5 stars on everything 4 on sound clarity because the bass preset doesnt really help with the bass
its great out the box i cant wait to hear it on the road
Must buy
Nice works perfectly with music speakers are great, provides good surround sound, easy setup, good controls with changing music with 1 button control, crispy clear sound
Nice sound
Can hear my music a lot better.
Amazing sound quality. For the price, I feel like it doesn't get better. Definitely recommend, especially if just using for music, calls, and/or riding with a friend. Bigger groups, you may want to get the higher up models.
Excellent system speakers are outstanding great sound!
Cardo blutooth
This bluetooth everything push of a button I can answer call while riding not only that but it's crystal clear and the jbl speakers are insanely good
Love it, Love it, Love it.
This was one of the best purchases I've made. It's like having a mini concert in my helmet when I ride. Calling function is clear to hear and be heard and I would highly recommend it to other riders. It also has great battery life.
Great headset with superb sound quality.
I bought the Cardo Freecom 2X for the superb sound quality of the JBL speakers.<br />Having music on my rides is an absolute game changer!<br />Nice design. Easy to install in my HJC F70 helmet.<br />I cannot comment on the intercom as I have not used it.<br />Music was my priority.
Not convinced
Easy to use, very short life listening to music
Freecom 2x
Good headset. The operation takes some learning but its very capable. <br /> Good volume levels
Cardo
I would definitely recommend this product. Sound iz awesome.
So far, pretty good
So far it's been pretty good.<br />People i've talked to on the phone tell me they can hear me crystal clear. Music i listen to is nice and loud too!
Works great and easy installation
Nice unit, hard to volume knob works well. Very clear, music sound great! Nice unit
A godsend!
Works flawlessly. The speakers are nice and loud, and I can hear my other party, and they can hear me perfectly fine when on the phone.
It's a cardo, very good i love how long of the battery last, and very good sound.
Works great
Works well for the price I love it.
Great bluetooth device. Easy to install and use. Clear audio and app makes use easier than searching for buttons. I bought this for music while I ride. Good for the price.
Cardo Freecom 2X Headset
Great sound quality!! Worth every penny!
Freedom 2x
J B speakers are louder & clearer at higher speeds than my last sena.With a quality helmet you will only need minimum volume. I control this unit via cell phone much easier. After owning several intercoms, this by far is the best .
I can't imagine riding without this now.
Speaker quality is really good, the batter lasts a long long time if you are just using it for navigation, and still a pretty long time for music and or phone calls. <br />Install was super easy, my Sedici helmet even had grooves for the equipment already. <br />Easy to manipulate with gloves on, power on and power off sounds are really pleasant.<br />Made a phone call to test out while I was riding, the receiver said she could barely hear any road noise or wind and I could mostly hear her well (I was also wearing ear plugs)
Perfect fit
Awesome helmet, cancels wind noise perfectly and has a sleek fit. Perfect for all types of riding with its versatile build.
Cardo Freecom 2X Headset
Works really well. It paired up to my packtalk bold with no issues.
False Start
It wont recognize my phone even after Bluetooth is paired. I tried every forced delete or restart I could
nothing but looking for unit??
Great comms!
Better than expected! It works seamlessly, connection us great! Easy to set-up on helmet. I only have one complaint the volume KS not loud enough. But maybe my helmet is not great on keeping the wind noise to the minimum.
Great purchase
Great speakers, love the quality.
great product
What can I say this thing is awesome!! it is crystal clear both incoming and radio.
Goldwing connectivity
Works very well with no drops or hiccups. Unfortunately, the Goldwing does not integrate anything that well. Mine is a 2021 standard which has well documented problems with Bluetooth connectivity
.Cardo itself is a winner