Sena recently introduced a dynamic duo for ADV riders, a feature-rich 20S intercom system and their foray into the “GoPro” market, the Prism. We’d need a book to cover all the features and benefits, so this review will focus on only a few of the less discussed, finer points of using the combo.

Both devices are the first of their kind to utilize advanced Bluetooth 4.0 technology. The 20S, in particular, responds noticeably faster than previous Sena intercoms, and features such as sound playback and recording quality are substantially improved. Cool smartphone apps make it easy to set and adjust these devices. And even better, the Prism can be run in remote mode through the 20S.

In remote, the Prism delivers informative voice prompts for video, burst or still shot modes, and voice declarations for such actions as when it’s recording video, taking a photo still, in standby, or about to run out of battery power.

Controlling the Prism via the 20S comes in handy not only when the camera is attached to the helmet but also from a distance. It’s an especially useful feature for solo riders, making it easy to get oneself into shots, do ride-bys, and execute many other creative possibilities when there’s no one around to act as cameraman. I’ve used the remote function up to about 50 feet from the camera. Step outside that range and a voice prompt states the camera is disconnected—step back in and it automatically reconnects.

Both products come with an array of mounting options. In the boxes are several helmet attachment choices and, in the case of the Prism, a weatherproof case and alternative mounts for the bike. Unlike the GoPro, the Prism’s lens is on the narrow side of the camera, like larger video cameras, making it more aerodynamic with less tendency to get in the way, protrude where it could get damaged, or catch as much bug splat.

Recording sound is an area in which Sena clearly excels. The Prism has a built-in microphone, that’s a given. But running through the 20S mic the features expand considerably, including full duplex communication with other riders, noise cancellation and Ultra HD Recording mode. You still have to be careful about how and where the mics are set to prevent wind or engine noise, or the crackle of other riders’ mics that are improperly shielded, but it’s a quantum leap ahead of what we’ve had in the past.

An innovative and extremely useful feature of the 20S is the “Ambient Mode Button.” Press it and the helmet’s internal mic switches to and amplifies what’s going on outside the helmet. If the Prism is in remote mode, it’ll capture the external audio, too.

One of the great joys of the 20S is that it audio multitasks. Intercom feeds are no longer cut off by, say, navi voice instructions—easily one of the most annoying issues with older systems. Meanwhile, the Prism can be recording it all (stereo music, cell phone conversations and intercom chatter)—providing an ongoing narrative of the ride, capturing the experience, and making it so much easier to remember what was going on at any given moment for later editing.

A sample still from the Prism camera.Both devices were engineered to be user firmware upgradeable. This essentially means that when Sena comes up with bug fixes or new features, they only have to be installed through a PC-based app. For example, the 20S may also be controlled through a rich set of voice commands, but a similar ability for the Prism is still in beta—a likely implementation for upcoming releases. We’re also expecting Sena to provide the much-needed ability to view what the camera sees through the smartphone soon.

Indeed, not being able to preview exactly how the camera frames and what’s being captured in real time is the only major issue with the Prism—preventing it from more professional uses. But again, we know that Sena is on this and it should be resolved soon. The other issue is more subjective: It’s a complex rig with many commands, variations, and ways to access them. It can take quite an effort to commit everything to memory. I don’t see any way around this, it’s just the nature of the beast—but well worth the effort to master.

Sena has been focusing heavily on the adventure motorcycling community, really listening to us, and it’s clear they’re doing an excellent job. I rarely come across other intercom-using riders who don’t use Sena products. The 20S all by itself is an outstanding piece of engineering, but in combination with the Prism, there’s little reason to look elsewhere. MSRP: 20S: $225 | Prism: $360 SENA.com

SENA 20S Intercom	SENA Prism Camera

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