Cardo Scala Rider Q2 & Volume

Joined
Jan 26, 2008
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318
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New Port Richey, Fl.
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'93 ST1100
Mick,
I have had my Scala Q2 since June, and use them year round with Florida weather.

There was only one post mentioning they had battery charging issues, and that was during a test period where they would try, and evaluate, and they might be guessing that the non-replaceable (?) battery would get worse over time.
How would they know results if they only borrowed a pair to test for a very short test, then returned them?
I agree with response from webbikeworld that the poster probably had a defective battery.
(I also don't know what the poster meant by needing to yell to activate. A slight cough is all it takes, or just do it manually).

In fact, the complete opposite battery life here.
What started off as maybe 6-7 hours, is now close to 10 hours of nearly constant open intercom channel (normally turn off VOX and just leave channel always open for talking).
The batteries seemed to condition themselves over time, and have only got better.
Sometimes I run them down all the way.
Other times I recharge after a couple hours use.
Never babied them.

Looking at others comments and a common thing does pop up.
Low audio.
You MUST get the speakers exactly right in your helmet, otherwise you will get very poor results.
I'm talking 1/2" off can mean double the audio sound that you will hear!
I have now used these in several helmets, and when properly positioned, you can talk and hear fine at highway speeds. On one ST1300, I did find that windshield up during phone calls helped a lot, and when up, we could do 85 MPH and still talk fine.
Also, when properly setup, FM does work great (for mono), and is one of the reasons to get a Q2.


Ed W.,
No, you can not pair to another pair. You can only use them as 1, 2 or 2 1/2 (I'll call it when a 3rd unit is tied in). The 3rd unit and 2nd unit can not talk to each other, they can only talk to unit 1, which is why I stated 2 1/2.
 
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MileHigh

Juvenile delinquent
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I was just recently looking at the Scala Q2.

One comment the vendor (BMW dealer) made to me, was about volume. Guess they spent some time with several units and the manufacturer, dealing with customers who where complaining about low speaker volume.

It seems that the Scala has an ambient noise sensor that adjusts speaker output. The key to setting up the system is to preform initial set up in a noisy environment.

Too many people where performing initial set up in their house where it was nice and quiet.

The dealer now provides to set them up, in their shop with one of those large fans blowing air & making lots of background noise. So far, all their customers are extremely satisfied with proper set up.
 
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Mick
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There was only one post mentioning they had battery charging issues,
Sitting here at lunch today I did some more research using google and found quite a number of posts and blogs that said the battery life was excellent, so it's probably a non-issue.

In fact, the complete opposite battery life here. What started off as maybe 6-7 hours, is now close to 10 hours of nearly constant open intercom
Thanks for your comment about battery life. It's helpful to have a positive data point based on experience.
 
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Mick
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Welp, just pulled the trigger on the Scala Q2 Multiset. Should be here by the weekend. God only knows how long it will take for me to figure out the pairing, etc.
 

fredz43

Fred Z
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My son and I bought the Q2 Multiset last Sept for a 4000 mile trip. We both wear ear plugs and the volume is fine while listening to each others voice calls, while listening to my Bluetooth phone and I also tune the FM receiver to the FM output of my Sirius satellite radio with great results.

However, the MP3 input is useless. It definitely has low volume. We tried 3 different MP3 players with each of our headsets and none put out enough volume to listen to while riding. I put that comment on my registration card when I sent it back to Cardo and hope they paid some attention. When we bought the Q2 Multisets last Sept, that was the first model with the MP3 input, which is one reason we got the latest model. Perhaps they have addressed that problem on newer units?

That being said, I still love the Q2. I use it on my KLR to listen to my Sirius and have Bluetooth phone connectivity, as well as bike to bike when travelling with my son. I use it exclusively on my ST1300, even though I have an Autocom setup in it that I used to have wired to the output of my Sirius and radar detector. The Autocom is stereo, but doesn't have Bluettoth, so I no longer use it.

Someone asked if 4 people with Q2's could talk to each other. As I read the instructions, you can only have 3 people linked to each other.
 
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Welp, just pulled the trigger on the Scala Q2 Multiset. Should be here by the weekend. God only knows how long it will take for me to figure out the pairing, etc.
The multi sets are already paired when you get them. You will only have to pair up the additional devices if needed.
 

fredz43

Fred Z
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The multi sets are already paired when you get them. You will only have to pair up the additional devices if needed.
Yes, they are paired, but that pair can only link up to one other Q2. You can link up to your Bluetooth phone, etc, but per the directions, you can only have one secondary Q2 linked to the original pair. You also have to tap a button on the Q2 to switch to the third Q2, whereas the original pair can talk via VOX control. In other words, I see no way that 4 people can talk to each other via Q2 unless they phone each other on their Bluetoth phones.
 
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Has anyone mounted one of these in the Shark RSI helmet? I'm thinking about getting a Shark RSI but there doesn't appear to be much room for helmet speakers.
 
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Just ordered a Scala Rider Q2 team set. Can't wait until it comes in. I found the following youtube video with a demonstration of the quality of a phone call. There is not wind noise or engine noise in the audio.[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVagrTbt4qs&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVagrTbt4qs&feature=related
 
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Not your business
My son and I bought the Q2 Multiset last Sept for a 4000 mile trip. We both wear ear plugs and the volume is fine while listening to each others voice calls, while listening to my Bluetooth phone and I also tune the FM receiver to the FM output of my Sirius satellite radio with great results.

However, the MP3 input is useless. It definitely has low volume. We tried 3 different MP3 players with each of our headsets and none put out enough volume to listen to while riding. I put that comment on my registration card when I sent it back to Cardo and hope they paid some attention. When we bought the Q2 Multisets last Sept, that was the first model with the MP3 input, which is one reason we got the latest model. Perhaps they have addressed that problem on newer units?

That being said, I still love the Q2. I use it on my KLR to listen to my Sirius and have Bluetooth phone connectivity, as well as bike to bike when travelling with my son. I use it exclusively on my ST1300, even though I have an Autocom setup in it that I used to have wired to the output of my Sirius and radar detector. The Autocom is stereo, but doesn't have Bluettoth, so I no longer use it.

Someone asked if 4 people with Q2's could talk to each other. As I read the instructions, you can only have 3 people linked to each other.
Fred, can you get your radar detector to alert you thru the Q2 ? Are you going to be at Moonshine next week ?:biker:
 

fredz43

Fred Z
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Fred, can you get your radar detector to alert you thru the Q2 ? Are you going to be at Moonshine next week ?:biker:
Hi Tom,

There may be a Bluetooth dongle that can be used with my Escort radar detector, but I haven pursued that option. Since I always obey speed laws, or at least stay within the Zone Of Tolerance, I don't miss the radar detector.

I'll miss Moonshine as I have a previuosly scheduled trip that weekend.
 
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Bradenton, Fla
Good Luck Mick, and happy chatting.
These things have changed motorcycle riding for me. Allways a solo time, lost in my thoughts. Now a time shared with my son, and only my son.

No CB chatter.

I have experienced safer riding using these comms. Beau will often spot a possible danger that I didnt see and alert me before it becomes a problem.

Once we have paired the units for the day, and turned off the vox, the allways on nature of these comms allow easy comunication.

One caveat for an old rider, Remember everything you say is heard on the other end........no more singing in my helmet. :eek:: I do listen to the stereo on the wing at the same time as we have these units on. Beau, dosent hear my stereo on his helmet speakers.

.............Don:TiWing1: .......and Beau:sbs1:
 
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Mick
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Well I've been looking around for awhile this system sounds like the best bang for the money. What dealers have the best price? I've only checked out a few places and the cost seems to be about the same.
Just got mine from JC Motors (NOT to be confused with JC Whitney). Site at:

www.jcmotors.com

I got the Cardo Scala Rider Multiset Q2 for $240. This is the cheapest I was able to find.
 

fredz43

Fred Z
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Twisted throttle 210...:07biker:
Be careful what you are ordering. That product for $210 at Twisted Throttle is the Teamset. This is not the newer Q2 and does not have near the range or battery life of the Q2. The Teamset is designed for rider to passenger. If you want to talk bike to bike, you want the Q2. If you are wanting to buy a set of 2, be sure you select the Q2 Multiset, not the Teamset.

Check out the Cardo Scala products here:http://www.cardowireless.com/Motorcycle_headsets
 
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Placement of the helmet speakers relative to the ear canal is important. But the gap between the speakers and the ear is very important too. I velcroed the speakers at the end of the ear cavity in the padding, but there was a 3/8 gap between my ear and the speakers. So I made a small pad with foam, and adjusted the thickness until the speaker was right against my ears without putting pressures on the ears. Since that mod, I have to lower the volume a couple of notches. I don't wear earplugs though.
 
Joined
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New Port Richey, Fl.
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After several months of problem free Scala Q2 use, I just recently started wearing earplugs.
I can happily report that if anything, the earplugs make it easier to hear the Q2.
Yes, it is quieter, but it is also much cleaner sounding without the wind noise.
I now find it hard to ride without earplugs.

BTW, has anyone found a distributor for the 12v dual charger (not the AC version)?
Google searching has given me a part number of CARCH06.
However, no US distributors using that part number.
 
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Joined
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I listen to MP3's using a $5 FM transmitter connected to MP3 players headphone jack, and tuning the Q2 to that FM channel as preset 6. That way, when I am out of my local area of FM presets, tuning to channel 6 will always bring back the tunes. Actually only use presets 1, 2 and 3 for locals, then set 4 and 5 as needed when traveling.
 
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