Best Motorcycle Helmet Speakers: Ride to Your Rhythm

To choose the best motorcycle helmet speakers on the market, I employed The Drive’s comprehensive research methodology and evaluated dozens of pairs of helmet speakers before choosing the top contenders. Although I haven’t personally tested these products, my selection is informed by consumer testimonials, expert reviews, discussions on relevant online forums, and my institutional knowledge of the automotive industry. I visited the Motorcycle subreddit to get a more informed opinion of what motorcyclists felt about the products on the market and RevZilla to see what the experts had to say after their hands-on tests.

Best Overall: Cardo Packtalk Edge

Best Budget: Lexin B4fm

Honorable Mention: Sena 50S

Best Camera and Headset: Sena 50C Harman Kardon Intercom and Camera

Best Mesh-Only Headset: Sena Spider ST1

Best for Small Groups: Cardo Freecom 4X

The Cardo Packtalk Edge is unmatched in terms of audio quality, voice recognition technology, and digital sound processing. This headset also has one of the sleekest designs on the market. Anyone who’s working off a tight budget should consider the Lexin B4fm Motorcycle Bluetooth Headset, as it’s a good entry point into the world of motorcycle helmet speakers.

When we start shopping for tools and products, we never overlook the secondhand market. In fact, it’s usually the first place I look. Whether you’re scrolling through Amazon’s Renewed section, eBay for car parts or tools, or flipping through the pages of Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, you have hundreds of thousands of used tools, parts, and gear ready to be shipped to your doorstep. Refurbished to like-new status, they’ll be willing to give you many more years of faithful service all while saving you money. 

To make your secondhand search easier, here are two tips to finding the best deals and making sure your new-to-you stuff wasn’t destroyed by the previous owner. 

Motorcycle headsets will either use Bluetooth or mesh technology to communicate, and high-end models will have both forms of communication. Mesh technology is undoubtedly the future and enables more riders to communicate over a greater distance. If you fall out of range and disconnect from your buddies, mesh technology also has the benefit of seamless reconnection once you’re back in range.

Bluetooth-only headsets are fine for people who ride in small groups and relatively close together. These headsets are less expensive and usually have better battery life. If you can afford it, I would spring for a headset that allows you to use Bluetooth and mesh technology.

Sena and Cardo dominate this niche. Unfortunately, the two don’t work very well with each other. A Sena headset will work with a Cardo but not as efficiently as it does with another Sena. If you’re using a Cardo Freecom 4X headset, for example, you can only connect it with one Sena device even though it has the potential to connect to three other devices. So, if most of your riding partners use a particular headset brand, it’s probably best to opt for that brand.

Not all headsets have natural voice-control technology. The ones that don’t feature this technology require you to use the buttons and dials on the side while you’re riding, which isn’t ideal. I would always pay extra for a headset that has voice control, so you can seamlessly make a call or change your route on the fly. Most agree that the best voice-control technology on the market comes from Cardo. 

Motorcycle helmet speakers that aren’t loud enough or are distorted aren’t much use for anyone. Likewise, if the headset’s microphone picks up too much wind noise, it’s a pain for other riders when you talk to them. Make sure that you buy a headset with high-quality speakers and microphones. You should also check that the headset package includes a sticky and a boom microphone so you can fit it to various helmet types.

Headsets for $150 or less will be fine for listening to music and talking at low speeds but not much else. The $150 to $300 price range is where you'll find most helmet speakers. Devices in this range will use Bluetooth or mesh technology to communicate with other riders, can be used to make calls and listen to music, and generally offer better quality and performance than lower-priced models. If you spend more than $300, you’ll get a headset that features mesh and Bluetooth technology, a significant bump in audio and microphone quality, and natural voice recognition technology.

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.