Like our readers, we’re discerning in relation to the bikes we experience and the gear we use. So, by extension, we’re additionally selective in regards to the merchandise we evaluation. Type and high quality rank excessive, however so does usability—particularly in relation to tech accessories.
Including a gadget to your arsenal ought to improve your driving expertise, not hinder it. That goes as a lot for the way straightforward it’s to arrange, as for whether or not it blends with the remainder of your get-up or stands proud like a sore thumb. All that counts for double while you’re evaluating a Bluetooth comms system just like the Cardo Packtalk Professional.
Comparatively new to Cardo’s line-up, the Packtalk Professional sits simply above the model’s Packtalk Edge as a extra feature-rich, and costlier, model. The 2 items look virtually similar, besides that the Packtalk Professional trades the Edge’s two-tone gray end for an all-matte-black vibe (proper all the way down to the Cardo brand). On the within, the Professional provides an computerized on/off characteristic, crash detection, and larger 45 mm JBL audio system to its arsenal.
The Professional will set you again $459 v the Edge’s $399.95 price ticket. However when you think about that the outsized JBL audio system promote for $99.95 on their very own, it takes the sting out of that further premium.
As first impressions go, the Packtalk Professional is available in sizzling. Its recyclable packaging is just not solely elegant however nicely thought-out too. The unit, and a QR code to obtain Cardo’s app, are offered first, with the remaining elements buried deeper.
Although it may appear trivial, this element hints at an overarching theme: ease of use. Earlier than I obtained to the rigmarole of stripping my helmet’s padding out to put in the Packtalk Professional system, I had the app put in, the unit activated and paired with my telephone, and its firmware up to date, in a matter of minutes. (Firmware updates will be performed over the air by way of the app, negating the trouble of getting to replace the Packtalk Professional with a cable.)
Packaged with the precise Packtalk Professional module are Cardo’s proprietary ‘Air-Mount’ cradle, two completely different mounts for attaching it to a helmet, a pair of 45 mm JBL audio system, a increase mic, and a wired mic. You additionally get a pair of spherical velcro stickers for securing the audio system, a pair of ‘booster’ pads in the event you want some padding between the audio system and your helmet, and a pair of rectangular velcro stickers for putting the mic. Alcohol pads are included too, to make sure surfaces are clear earlier than you stick issues to them.
A small set up guide illustrates the way to plug the system into your helmet—however I skipped it and went straight to Cardo’s complete tutorial video, as a result of I like having issues over-explained. Zac Herndon at Cardo’s advertising firm, The Model Amp, additionally despatched me a helmet cushion, which made the method considerably much less cumbersome.
Putting in the Packtalk Professional is useless straightforward. The one pace bumps I encountered needed to do with the Shoei NXR2 [the European version of the RF-1400] helmet I used to be working with, slightly than the Cardo system itself. For starters, the NXR2’s layered neck padding and contoured sides make it difficult to put in any comm system apart from the Shoei-specific one which Sena produces.
The Packtalk module’s cradle will be hooked up by way of a clamp mount in case your helmet’s shell permits it, or a stick-on mount. I went with the latter—however regardless of the mount’s flexibility, it ended up a bit additional ahead than I might have appreciated, with one nook of it not fairly making contact due to the rippled sides of the NXR2. Nonetheless, the 3M stuff on the again of the mount is hella sticky, so it has stayed put thus far.
[For comparison, I mounted a second Packtalk system to another helmet—the Icon Variant Pro—and had a far breezier time finding a good spot for the cradle mount.]
The one different fiddly features of the set up have been cramming the outsized 45 mm JBL audio system into the NXR2’s slightly-too-small speaker recesses, and, like every comms setup, discovering nooks to tuck the wires into. Fortunately the Packtalk’s wiring is minimal, tidy, and straightforward to attach, and the entire setup was over in document time.
As soon as every little thing’s attached, attaching the Packtalk Professional module includes merely bringing it shut sufficient to the cradle for the Air-Mount magnetic latching system to take over. As soon as it snaps into place it’s immovable; detaching it requires pushing a tab on the entrance of the cradle down and sliding the unit ahead. The system is each intelligent and dependable.
The Packtalk Professional provides minimal mass to the surface of the helmet. Tapered in direction of the entrance, it’s round 85 mm [3.35”] lengthy at its longest level, 45 mm [1.77”] excessive at its highest, and stands proud not more than 35 mm [1.38”]. Packtalk features a cute branded mushy bag with the unit too, so that you’ve someplace to stash it when it’s not hooked up to your helmet.
Regardless of how compact it’s, the Packtalk unit is remarkably straightforward to function with gloves on. Cardo nailed the structure, putting a channel down the center of the module that makes it straightforward to find the minimal controls. There are three buttons; positioned above, under, and in direction of the entrance of the channel, and a scroll wheel behind it. A slim multi-colored LED signifies what mode the unit is in.
The rubberized buttons are designed with sharp edges—so though they’ve a small footprint, they’re straightforward to find and supply tangible suggestions when pressed. Every button is tied to a particular set of features (media, telephone, and intercom), and behaves otherwise when pressed as soon as, twice, or held in for a predetermined period of time. I’m nonetheless studying the module’s full characteristic set, but it surely didn’t take lengthy to understand the fundamentals (carrying the pocket information round for the primary few rides helped).
After you’ve paired your telephone as soon as, the Packtalk Professional will hook up with it mechanically each time you turn it on. From there, you may instantly hearken to music and take calls by way of your smartphone’s common music and name apps, such as you would with every other Bluetooth system. Nevertheless it pays to dig deeper into the Cardo Join app.
The app’s house display screen gives entry to the Packtalk’s central features by way of chunky buttons, with the flexibility to dig deeper by way of the settings button. Tapping the ‘fast entry’ button hundreds a dashboard of types, which helps you to management telephone, music, and intercom features on the fly. (After all, every little thing you see on the display screen will be achieved by way of the module’s onboard controls too.)
There’s an excessive amount of occurring within the app’s settings menu to enter element, so we’ll gloss over the essential bits. From right here, you may arrange the Packtalk Professional’s crash detection and auto on/off options, swap it to ‘eco’ mode to preserve battery, replace the firmware, and extra. You can too modify myriad audio settings—together with how loud calls, music, the intercom, and the built-in FM radio are in relation to one another, and the way a lot background noise is filtered out.
I take advantage of the Packtalk Professional largely for listening to music whereas driving; right here, the 45 mm JBL audio system shine. The audio is crisper than you’d count on from an in-helmet headset, and it has greater than sufficient quantity for driving at freeway speeds. (It’s value noting that the Shoei NXR2 is a reasonably quiet helmet, which helps too.)
There’s an possibility for the Packtalk to chop and enhance its quantity based mostly on how a lot wind noise there may be, but it surely’s a bit overzealous for my liking. The machine’s scroll wheel is tremendous straightforward to make use of whereas driving, so I ended up leaving that possibility off and setting the headset’s quantity manually as wanted.
The app additionally consists of three JBL-designed ‘sound profiles.’ The system is ready to ‘bass enhance’ by default, which does the job—however the punchy audio system beg for a extra in-depth equalizer.
Calls on the Packtalk Professional are equally crisp—each for you and the particular person on the opposite aspect of the road. One switchable characteristic mechanically cuts your mic while you’re not talking in an effort to scale back background noise. Though it’s a bit of unnerving for whoever you’re chatting with at first, it’s a nifty characteristic—so I left it on.
It’s straightforward to reply (or ignore) a name by way of the module’s push buttons, or redial a quantity, and the app’s dashboard has house so as to add your favourite contacts for fast dialing. There’s a set of voice instructions built-in too, plus the flexibility to set off Siri or Google Assistant, relying in your telephone.
I examined the app’s built-in voice recorder on the go, which is useful for recording memos on the go, with ample readability.
The Packtalk Professional consists of two choices for speaking along with your driving buddy(ies) and/or a passenger. A DMC mesh intercom system can hyperlink something from two to fifteen Packtalk methods collectively, whereas a Bluetooth system permits the Packtalk to speak to comms methods from different manufacturers.
Establishing a mesh group is best by way of the app, however it may be performed with out it too. Cardo claims a variety of as much as 1.6 km [1 mi], however in my expertise, the precise vary relies upon closely on line of sight. Weaving by means of leafy suburbs with my driving buddy, we discovered that our Packtalk methods would lose contact with one another as quickly as sufficient bushes or homes got here between us.
I additionally skilled some static on my aspect of the road, however communication remained clear each methods. The one actual trouble I had, was that I couldn’t concurrently play music and use the intercom the primary time I attempted it. I by no means did handle to determine precisely why, however restarting Spotify, the Cardo app, and the Packtalk unit fastened the issue, and it’s labored okay since.
The Packtalk Professional’s upgraded 45 mm JBL audio system are a boon for audio lovers. However are its different two distinctive options—crash detection and auto on/off—extra than simply gimmicks? Yessir. The auto on/off works flawlessly, powering the unit down in case your helmet is left alone for lengthy sufficient, and instantly powering again up when it detects movement. Granted, it’s a small perk, but it surely helps mitigate battery drain while you’re not actively utilizing the system.
It’s additionally value noting that the Packtalk Professional’s battery lasts remarkably lengthy. Though I didn’t take a look at its full 13-hour capability, a day-long experience and several other shorter journeys solely drained 25% of the battery. The Cardo Join app reveals a readout of the present battery capability, and the module will be recharged by way of a USB-C port hidden behind a water-resistant rubber cowl. The entire unit is IP67-rated for waterproofness—which, mixed with its capability, makes the system greater than viable for touring.
The one factor I couldn’t take a look at, for apparent causes, was Cardo’s new crash detection system. It’s presently solely accessible in sure areas, however Cardo says that they’re progressively increasing their checklist. Any violent motion of the helmet triggers an alert, which, if not canceled in time, sends a message to a contact of your selecting. I hope I by no means have to make use of it—however I really like that it exists.
All advised, the Cardo Packtalk Pro ticks quite a lot of bins with minimal fuss, and with out getting in the way in which of your driving expertise. And in the long run, that’s most likely its very best quality.
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