The Cardo PACKTALK-S for Shoei Gen 3 is not a universal intercom. Instead it was developed specifically for three helmet families, the Shoei GT Air 3, the Shoei Neotec 3 and the Shoei J Cruise 3. The fact that it is focused on those specific helmets can be seen in every aspect of the development. Unlike most headsets that simply attach themselves to whichever helmet shell you happen to have on your head, and then fight you for a perfect fit from the very beginning, the PACKTALK-S was developed with how those three gen 3 shells are shaped, how the ear cups sit in them, and how the chin bar folds back to accommodate each model. If you currently wear one of these three helmets, you can find it now on amazon.
If you've ever tried to mount a universal intercom into a Shoei helmet, you probably already understand the problem. The clamp presses into the shell, the boom microphone fights with the chin bar and the speakers don't always settle on your ears perfectly. Cardo came after that issue directly. The PACKTALK-S features second generation DMC mesh, the same type of dynamic mesh communication technology used by the full size PACKTALK systems. But everything else about it, the housing, where the speakers are located and how close the mic is to your mouth, were all adjusted for the GEN 3 Shoei helmet line. That's the whole argument. It's also a very narrow one. Only 4 customers have left Amazon reviews and they've given it a rating of 4.7. You can compare it to other options on our intercom comparisons page.
Specs and Build Quality
The big specification is the mesh. Second Generation DMC intercom allows up to 15 riders to share one group, and Cardo claims that rider to rider distance is approximately 1 mile (open terrain). That is serious range for a helmet-specific device like this. It arrives pre-wired as a single unit capable of allowing two riders to communicate with each other, which represents the most popular usage case, a person riding alone with their passenger or two riders who are both riding their motorcycles together. If your group includes more than two people, you'll be able to scale up to 15 using the DMC mesh without needing to "daisy chain" through another rider.
The audio comes courtesy of two 40mm JBL speakers. They are the exact same speaker family that Cardo relies on throughout its product line. The natural voice command function is something that riders will likely take note of immediately. You speak wake words and/or commands out loud and the device responds. There's no need to hunt for buttons while wearing gloves, which is important at speed since finding a button requires looking down from your view.
Because it is designed around the shape of those three gen 3 shoei shells, the packaging around the unit and its positioning within those shells provides the build quality for this product. In essence, because of that design approach, Cardo sells the packtalk s for shoei gen 3 as a purpose built solution versus an aftermarket accessory, which is why you'd choose it over a generic clamp on. Also, anyone who owns a previous Cardo device will easily recognize the control interface. Therefore, there isn't much of a learning curve for new users.
Audio and Microphone Performance
As we mentioned previously, the audio is delivered via two 40 mm JBL drivers. JBL is NOT a nameplate slapped on by Cardo for marketing purposes, they appear in all of the higher-end devices made by Cardo and numerous reviewers report clean and loud audio that stands up to wind noise when mounted in a full face shell. Additionally, since the ear pockets on the gen 3 shoeis are deep and positioned correctly relative to your ears, the speakers tend to sit closer to your ears than they do on other similar products. That positioning advantage outweighs the importance of raw power.
How well a microphone performs will depend entirely upon how effectively the microphone is integrated with the chin bar on the helmet. On the modular neotec 3, a boom mic works fine. However, on the full face gt-air 3, the wired mic installs neatly into the shell. Of course, cardo's dsp based wind noise reduction algorithms help greatly with regards to keeping voices clear during high speed travel, which is what typically causes issues with microphones mounted to floating chin bars.
In terms of music/navigating, pack talk s pairs phones similarly to all current cardo products. Once paired to your phone, it handles music calls and turn-by-turn directions via the same speakers as pack talk s. Audio multitasking continues to allow navigation prompts to remain audible above music.
If you want further details regarding how jbl drivers perform in various cardo products, please visit our coverage of cardo for complete information.
What Amazon Reviewers Are Saying
At this juncture, we're dealing with an extremely small sampling of user reviews, just four amazon customer reviews thus far giving it a rating of 4.7 stars. That's a very small sample and I'd recommend treating this as early signals vs final verdicts. What appears to be consistent among early buyers is the fit. Buyers of gt air 3 or neotec 3 say the integration with their helmet is the primary reason to purchase this item, no clamp, no wobble and no mic fight with shell.
A major drawback to purchasing a helmet specific product such as this is that it only makes sense if you own one of the three gen 3 shoei helmets referenced earlier. Nobody buys this as a general-purpose intercom. Due to being an extremely new product, there is still uncertainty surrounding long term reliability. Having four users give a favorable review does not equate to having four hundred favorable reviews. If you'd prefer a proven track record of reliability for your purchases you may wish to shop cardo's universal products instead.
Who Is This Intercom For
As stated previously, this is an extremely specialized product and it acknowledges that fact. The PACKTALK S for Shoei GEN 3 is intended for riders who own a GT-AIR 3, a NEOtec 3, or a J-Cruise 3 and desire the cleanest possible integration with their helmet. If you are riding two-up or riding your motorcycle separately from your partner, the single unit two-rider configuration meets your needs right out-of-the-box. If your riding group exceeds two riders, the DMC mesh will enable conversations involving up to fifteen riders at any given time, which is more head room than most clubs will ever utilize.
While not inexpensive compared to some alternatives, you pay for fit. A universal unit at half of what you paid will accomplish essentially the same thing if you are willing to spend extra time adjusting clamps and mics positioning. Here, you get a communications unit that completely disappears into a premium shell and operates flawlessly. If mesh functionality along with JBL drivers and hands-free functionality are important to you. Consider this seriously available on Amazon. To see how it stacks up with others in cardo's product offering go to cardo for additional specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the PACKTALK-S work in any helmet?
No. This version is built specifically for the Shoei GT-Air 3, the Neotec 3, and the J-Cruise 3. If you ride a different helmet you want the universal Cardo models instead.
How many riders can join one group?
Second-generation DMC mesh supports up to 15 riders in a single group. The unit ships as a two-rider setup, so adding riders means adding more units to the mesh.
What is the real range between riders?
Cardo rates the rider-to-rider range at 1 mile in open terrain. As with any intercom, buildings, hills, and traffic cut into that number in the real world.
Are the speakers really JBL?
Yes. The PACKTALK-S uses 40mm JBL speakers, the same driver family Cardo uses across its premium intercom line.
Does it work hands-free?
Yes. Natural Voice Operation lets you control calls, music, and comms with spoken commands, which is a real advantage when you are wearing gloves.
How many reviews does it have so far?
Only four at the time of writing, holding a 4.7 star average. It is an early product, so treat the long-term reliability record as unproven.