Choosing the right Bluetooth headset can be confusing.
We thought we’d do a breakdown on the feature list of Sena’s 10s and 20s products, hopefully making your choice a little easier.
SENA 20S Dual Pack
Premium Headset
Well worth considering if you want premium features and connectivity to up to 7 other riders.
Sena 10S
Quality Entry Level Headset
The Sena 10S is a quality piece of kit and a perfect jumping-off point for a first-time Bluetooth headset buyer.
Save Money On Your Motorcycle Insurance
- You could pay less than £195*
- Compare quotes from 25+ UK providers
- Fill in one form to compare top bike insurers
Sena 10s vs 20s Quick Comparison Table
| Sena 10s | Sena 20s | |
|---|---|---|
| Range for rider connection | 1 mile | 1.2 mile |
| Number Of Riders connected | 3 | 7 |
| Multi Tasking | Single input | Multiple inputs |
| Weight | 58 grams | 60 grams |
| Price | ££ | ££££ |
| Charging time | 3 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Check Prices | Amazon | Amazon |
What’s In The Box
Both the 20s and the 10s ship with the main unit (with integrated helmet clamp), a wired boom mic (for open-face helmets), a wired mic, two speakers and lots of adhesive pads to stick things in place.
Read: Sena 10s Review
Read: Sena 20s Review
Winner: The only difference is the main unit, so this one is a tie
Installation and Mounting
Both headsets mount similarly, with the main unit clamping onto the outside of your helmet shell.
In the 20s box, rubber spacers are included if your helmet has an unusually shaped shell.
From there, the mic is connected and usually placed next to a cheek pad.
A boom mic is included with both units and can be connected to the outside of an open-face helmet using an adhesive pad.
Most UK riders will use the wired mic inside their helmets.
Speakers for both options fit inside your helmet’s cutouts, and the cables run behind the padding.
With the 20s, foam spacers are included to help push the speakers out towards your ears. This might be necessary if the cutouts in your helmet are deeper than usual.
The 20s also includes a variety of foam speaker covers so that you can find a perfect fit.
The 10s only ships with a single set.
Winner: 20s edges this one out. They’re both simple to install, but the 20s has better customisation options.
Size and Weight
The 20s comes in at 60 grams compared to the 10s’ 58 grams.
Neither weighs enough to make any appreciable difference to your helmet’s overall feel.
The 20s is noticeably slimmer, however. If you’re going for a streamlined look, its low profile and shark fin design are probably what you’re after.
Winner: We’ll give this to the 20s. It’s sleeker, has a lower visual impact when mounted and is slightly lighter.
Helmet Compatibility
Both headsets mount on the outer shell using an integrated clamp, meaning the main unit will fit almost any helmet.
The 20s includes adhesive rubber spacers to fill out very slim helmet shells, but you could easily make something yourself from an inner tube if you buy a 10s.
Including two mic types and a range of adhesive pads mean both units also support open-face helmets.
If your helmet doesn’t include speaker cutouts, you won’t be able to fit either headset’s speakers.
Winner: A tie; both units will fit almost any lid.
Controls and App
Both units use a jog dial with a central button for control.
The scheme is identical for both – the button acts as pause/play for audio, answer/hang up for calls, and the jog dial acts as skip forward/backward for audio and is used to scroll through options in the menu.
It’s certainly intuitive.
Sena has gone for a chunkier design in the last few generations of gear.
The jog dial and button on both sets have a nice, tactile feel with enough feedback to know when you’ve pressed a button – even with gloved hands.
Simple, easy-to-understand controls are a hallmark of Sena, and why many of us are willing to pay a bit more for a brand-name headset.
Neither unit lets the company down in this regard.
Within a day of using either set, you’ll answer calls and skip tracks without thinking about it.
The Sena app is the same for both headsets and is excellent.
One of the best reasons to buy a name-brand headset is that the app will be intuitive and in native English.
The Sena app is both of these things, and we have no complaints.
Winner: While we’re giving this to the 20s, it’s worth pointing out that the control/input scheme is identical for both. The 20s just has a few extra features, and a little bit more of a premium feel.
Bluetooth Pairing
Both headsets connect to phones/GPS units/other headsets using the same process as domestic Bluetooth devices.
Hold the button for a set number of seconds to enter pairing mode, then select the device from the available options on your phone or GPS device.
Most people agree that all this is best handled through the Sena app.
The jog wheel is great for on-the-move adjustments, but the app is best for getting everything set up before riding.
One nice feature of the 20s is the ‘shake to pair’ function.
Simply shaking your helmet (assuming your 20s is installed) will cause it to pair with its last known device.
Most of the time, just picking up my helmet with the unit powered on is enough to pair it to my phone – not essential, but super convenient.
Another significant advantage of the 20s is that it can simultaneously handle multiple audio inputs.
This means you can listen to music and take a call or receive navigation prompts simultaneously.
With the 10s, you have to choose one or the other.
Once paired with your phone, answering incoming calls on both headsets means pressing the central button.
This works perfectly well for calls, and Sena’s noise-cancelling tech means there’s no need to crank up the volume.
Winner: The 20s is the clear winner here. The shake-to-pair function and multiple audio inputs are only present in the more expensive headset.
Sound Quality
The audio for both devices is crystal clear.
Sena speaker sets feature noise cancelling, and though the 20s has slightly superior sound – the 10s is no slouch.
To some extent, the quality of incoming calls will depend on the caller’s mic and the signal strength.
But provided neither of these factors is abysmal, both sets of speakers deliver crystal clear, mid-range frequencies, meaning speech is crisp and natural sounding.
If you’re after a better music listening experience out of the box, buy the 20s.
Its superior speaker and customisable fit options mean you can dial in a set of speakers that sit snug against your ears like a decent set of 1970s ‘can’ style headphones.
That’s not to say the 10s speakers are bad, though.
And the option in both units to plug in any speakers or earbuds through the auxiliary port is a nice touch.
If you already own a high-end, audiophile set of earbuds and want to enjoy them while riding, both the 10s and 20s have you covered.
Winner: 20s – but if you’re on a budget, the 10s is good enough
Range
The 20s has a range of 1.2 miles compared to the 10s’ 1 mile.
Both distances are measured without taking elevation into account, and hills, mountains and valleys will have a significant impact.
Both units perform well within these ranges.
If another rider is in sight, they will almost certainly be audible no matter the elevation change.
Winner: The 20s by a whisker
Number Of Riders
The 10s allows users to connect to three other riders compared to the 20s’ 7 other riders.
Most people don’t ride in groups larger than four.
But for people who tour in big groups, the 20s is probably the right choice.
Winner: 20s is the best option for larger groups.
Battery Time/Charging
With the 20s, 2.5 hours of charging gives you 13 hours of talk time.
Whereas the 10s charges in about 3 hours, giving a talk time of 13 hours.
Winner: With a slightly faster charging time, the 20s takes this.
Waterproofing
Both units are listed as water resistant.
We’ve used both in fairly heavy rain without any issue, and from what we understand, anything short of total immersion in water should be OK.
Winner: Tie
Price
For most riders, the cheaper option is recommended here.
The 10s regularly sells for a good chunk cheaper than the 20s, and unless you’re riding in large groups, Sena’s mid-range offering is more than enough headset.
Both models are sold at a discount when bought as dual packs.
Check with friends before paying out for a more expensive single unit.
Buy Online
Sena 10s
- Dual pack (better value)
Sena 20s
- Dual pack (better value)
Conclusion
Most features of the 20s are slightly improved over the 10s, but none so much to make a massive difference. If you are on a budget, the 10s is a fine piece of kit.
If you want to ride with a large group or feel flush, the 20s will serve you well.
Whichever way you go, both are tried and true Bluetooth headsets.