My 2020 FLHTKSE came with a SENA 30K. It worked reasonably well for a while, but took a dump last year at the beginning of a long ride. I had brought my old SENA 20K as a
spare but never thought it'd be the main unit for a while.
When I returned, the 30K seemed like it sorted itself out, but the battery life was terrible. 4-5 hours at the most. So, instead of immediatly replacing it, I bought a replacement battery. It seemed to work, but no audio out of it.
Being me, I tried a few different things, verified the mounting base with my good ol 20K. Checked my 30K on my wife's 20K base. I also tried multiple attempts at the pinout connector, as it pulls directly out. It never worked, so I was posed with the same question:
Go HD SENA, or try a Cardo unit [non-HD or HD].
All of my research said the Cardo would not give stereo audio - If I used the WHIM. I suppose not a complete deal breaker, but a little crappy. My two riding buddies bought HD SENA units, one on my "insistence" for the MESH capability. I suppose we could have gone BT, but whatever. Other buddy's SENA also took a dump, so he went 50K [R?] HD branded. He uses the WHIM and lots of voice commands.
Dumping the SENA / WHIM means no Apple CarPlay. Who cares..? Well, the Google Maps are constantly updated, whereas the InfoTainment are updated annually at $149 USD. [I'm Canadian, so add exchange]. I like CarPlay for WAZE going through cities, and the occasional speed tax collector indication is nice also. I never use the CB - but would like to try it out. CB is pretty dead in Canada, so perhaps on the US Interstates..?
Where am I at?... Since I'm not buying a 2025 CVO, [or standard], and if I want CarPlay, WHIM, and ability to talk to my riding group, I needed to go HD SENA. I bought one of the old stock SENA 50 units so it'll work
for this years big ride.
Next one, I might consider divorcing the WHIM, as it doesn't exist in the newer units, so a Cardo would make sense. I see the SENA 60 is out, but WTH. J&B has a unit, that is created in the USA, Built in the USA, so another potential.
Anyhow, apologies for the thread hijack,

but just thought I'd mention the route I took. Oh, there is discussion on the audio getting messed up after the iOS 18 update, not a 'fix' but a workaround is to use the Siri button, and stereo audio returns to clear and normal...
Come.
On.
SPRING!!