Review on Sena SPH10 Bluetooth Stereo Headset / Intercom for Outdoor Sports - Black by Anthony Mcgarry

In 2013, I purchased a pair of Sena SPH 10 headphones from Revain so that my wife and I could communicate during docking maneuvers on our 40-foot motorboat. Before the Sena we had two versions of the Eartec that still worked great after 7 and 10 years when they were replaced. Sena was perfect for our purpose. They are lightweight and easy to use. At least 10 boating friends bought the same headsets on our recommendation. Unfortunately after 5 years the head strap on a headset broke during a 2 month cruise rendering it unusable. These headsets are poorly designed or manufactured. The U-shaped headband, worn over the head, has a metal reinforcement. The connection between the U-shaped headband and the headphones is made of thin, non-reinforced plastic. The plastic connection is C-shaped, allowing the cables to pass through from one earpiece to the other. In order to put the headset on your head, the headphones must be moved apart so that your ears are free. The strong resistance of the steel-reinforced U-shaped headband will cause the plastic joint to bend and twist, eventually causing the plastic to break. I contacted Sena to order a replacement for a broken plastic joint and found that no replacement part was available. SPH 10 costs $179. A $360 pair of headsets advertised as suitable for outdoor, industrial, bicycling, and motorcycling use must be powerful enough to last more than 5 years, or replacement parts must be available for purchase. We use headphones on our boat about 50 times a year which I don't think is an exaggeration. We are cautious, mature people and do not overspread or overstrain the bandage. A few of my friends had a bandage that ruptured shortly after the two-year warranty expired. A friend bought a replacement for a broken set and a second pair also broke recently. A google search turned up too many complaints about the broken SPH10 headband connector. Many have reported defective connectors after a use or two, and Sena replaced them under warranty. They report that the replacement SPH 10 quickly broke in the same place. Some of the complaints were on the Sena website. Before ordering the SPH 10, I read several reviews that reported broken headbands, so I contacted Sena before ordering the SPH10 to inquire about broken headband issues. The Sena rep assured me that the connector was redesigned to make it stronger. I do not recommend buying Sena SPH10. If you already have one, carefully inspect the headgear connectors for cracks or twisted plastic. If you find any deformation or cracking of the plastic connector during the warranty period, file a warranty claim and return the set to Sena. If you are still within the Revains return period, I strongly recommend returning the headset for a refund and purchasing from a different manufacturer. If you have a defective SPH 10 and it's out of warranty I will still contact Sena and make a complaint. Also, please describe your experience with the Sena SPH 10 on Revain, Facebook, forums, blogs and anywhere else you can think of. Report Sen to the Boat Consumer Protection Department. Perhaps if we had enough dissatisfied Sena SPH 10 owners to complain, it might convince Sena to change the connector design and/or make additional connectors to sell through their parts division. We cannot let Sena get away with a poor quality product and irresponsible product support. An ethical manufacturer will redesign the plug and offer a replacement to their customers. I have no problem buying a replacement part for a 5 year old product. I have an issue with a company that knows there is a problem with one of their products and is not doing anything to fix it.