Customer Reviews

TV Ears 10041 Original System (Black)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

Television shows (especially older ones), too often aren't captioned. This is also true with current DVD releases, even from the big studios: no captions or subtitles. There's a law that requires closed captioning on newly released media, but studios sometimes ignore it. As I'm hearing impaired and rely heavily on closed captioning, this is particularly frustrating.

I have tried several headsets over the years with varying degrees of success. What's unfortunate is that most headsets aren't designed for the hearing impaired. They're designed for people who want to listen to music as they roam around the house. This means that the headsets aren't optimized for voice enhancement, and instead deliver quite a bit of bass. Bass tones don't improve speech comprehension, they lessen it.

That's where TV Ears comes in. Yes, the name is a bit silly, but this headset really works. The first time I used them I had the silliest smile on my face, because for the very first time I understood what was being said *perfectly*. English accents - long a bane of my TV experience, especially as I love British humor - were no longer a problem. The sound quality is magnificent, and the speech enhancement that the product brags about is spot-on. You can adjust the tone of the sound being delivered to your ears, so you can get just the right amount of bass/treble to give you, essentially, a custom-fit headset.

There's an added bonus.

TV Ears says that most theaters use the same technology that they do. I wasn't sure I believed that, so continued to use the (most often) old and sometimes dysfunctional headsets that theaters provide that don't allow for adjusting the tone to improve speech comprehension. Fed up with watching theater employees throw headsets into bins, and at least a 50/50 shot that when the movie started I was going to have to go back and exchange the headset, I tried my TV Ears in the theater. They worked. Instead of simply "booming" the sound, it was just like at home: The headsets enhanced what was being said. Whenever I go to the movies, I "never leave home without" them. They're more reliable than American Express. <wink>

I just purchased TV Ears from my audiologist. They are fantastic. Some say they are uncomfortable to wear. I watch TV from a recliner and, therefore, do not sit precisely upright. The base rests on my chest so maybe that's the reason they are not uncomfortable to me. In fact, I consider them light and much more comfortable to the large ambient sound blocking earphones that are available.

Some said the output jack on the TV was used for speakers which they were not willing to give up. I simply lay the microphone that comes with the TV Ears below the TV speaker and haven't worried about hooking anything to the TV. The side benefit is that I don't have to choose between hearing the TV and my wife. My wife says "MUTE" loudly and I mute the TV. I can hear her through the same mike through which I hear the TV. Both the TV and voices are clear and as loud as I like since I control the volume from my receiver around my neck.

For comparison, without hearing aids I have to turn the TV volume to 35 to hear it (I have a severe hearing problem). I can hear it fine at 15 with my hearing aids ($3,200 each). With TV ears, I turn the volume to 9 and can hear the TV better than I can with my expensive hearing aids. Since I control my own volume, my wife can set the TV to her own comfort level and I can adjust my volume to match her preferred level. This is the first time in 10 years that we can watch TV comfortably together.

One person criticized the cheap earpieces. Of course they're cheap because they're disposable. You can buy a 5-pack for $20. I would much rather have a clean disposable earpiece covering than a filthy high-quality permanent earpiece covering.

Those criticizing this device are not using it correctly.

I will probably buy another mike, another base, another set of ears (this time with the optional input jack and a mike I can put in my pocket). I suspect I save 4-6 hours of hearing aid use per day with TV Ears. A over $6,000 a pair this investment will pay for itself if it extends the life of my hearing aids a month.

Pros:

1. No installation, use the mike.
2. Portable. Since there's no installation, it's easy to move it from place to place or take it with you traveling.
3. Loud. I cannot max the decibels. It's too loud. My earing aids are maxed out and my doctor tells me I've reached the hearing aid limit.
4. Buy the pro headset and you can attach cell phone, Ipod, telephone, computer, and external microphone adapters.
5. Disposable ear piece covers

Cons:

TV Ears explanations are bad. I wish I had purchased the professional version for the external attachments that are possible but didn't know about them. Their web site does not explain the benefits of the external speakers well.

John

TV Ears do not just amplify the sound. They have a circuit that emphasizes treble, which makes voices much clearer. This works. As an older male user, my hearing is impared mainly in the upper regions. When I use the TV ears, I can understand speech much better. The battery/charger seems to be very good. I can listen all evening without running out of battery. Just remember to put the ears on the charger the next morning. There is plenty of volume - much more than I need. I guess this means they will work for people with more severe hearing problems. There are separate volume and tone controls on the headset receiver, making it easy to tune the sound to your liking. The only down side is that the headset band doesn't go over the head. The apparatus is suspended from your ears. This is a little bit uncomfortable. This only dampens my enthusiasm a little, because the ears do such a great job! The price is pretty steep, and I was worried about spending so much. But, I am very satisfied with this product.

I love TV Ears. The sound quality is so good that I can't tell I have them on. They are also comfortable in my ears though a bit combersome. Overall this is a excellent product.

Very uncomfortable to wear after a half an hour, the weight of the unit pulling on your ears gets painful. I normally wear earphones to listen to T V as I have a hearing problem; I use the Chaparral dB 50 listening device which is a lot clearer and a lot more comfortable. The dB 50 that I use is getting old and I would like to replace it, that is why I purchased T V ears since it seems that the dB 50 is no longer available. The T V ear's is going back and I will continue to look for a replacement for the dB 50

Tvears do work as stated on the website, so that is why I'm giving it 2 stars.

I have to agree with a few of the other reviewers the Tvears are very uncomfortable to wear for any length of time. After trying them for a week, back in the box they went to be returned.

If you have a loved one that is bedridden I think these would work fine. But any movement causes them to "swing" from the ears and becomes painful after a little while.

For now, a moderate priced pair of wireless headphones will do.

My husband and I use to argue over the TV bedroom noise at night. TV ears has stopped that. He likes a loud TV and I don't. Plus I like to watch TV after he goes to sleep at night. TV ears has given both of us peace of mind and no more arguments. I get to stay in bed and watch TV. Which he likes.

I recommend them highly.

Please don't waste your money on this product. I purchased 2 sets for my parents as a gift. They were terribly disappointed, the tvears are very poorly made..cheap, cheap, cheap. The earplug covers are actually a joke..the foam is just that a hunk of foam with a hole punched in it. They are very uncomfortable to wear. The weight of the tvears after 10 minutes is very uncomfortable. The only way they have found to tolerate the tvears is wear it on top of their head but it barely reaches the ear canal.

Also, the customer service at tvears is not helpful and I stated all the above to them. Their response "what do you mean by cheap?" After I took the time to write and explain...I have yet to hear from them.

I replaced the tvears with two pairs of wireless headphones I purchased from amazon, the cost was half and the reception is great...you can even walk around the yard and work while listening to news, music or whatever.

SAVE YOUR MONEY, Don't be RIPPED OFF like I was!

I bought one of these and my father-in-law bought two. One worked immediately, one required an hour with tech support, and one is defective. The defective one has a short in the headset. If I wiggle it just right, it will work for awhile, then it cuts out or is just static.

The overall construction is cheap. The headset sits precariously in the charging cradle. There is no positive connection. It just sort of balances there loosely, like it could fall out.

The connector pins in the base unit just stick up -- easy to break or bend. The instructions even warn about this. They should be recessed.

The female connector is too large so that the pins do not make a solid connection. Was this designed by a rookie?

The base unit has space to charge 2 headsets. There is a light indicating whether it is charging. But just one light for both headsets. If the headset is in one slot, the light turns green. If it's in the other one, it turns red. Red? To show trhat it is working? What genius thought this up? If it's both headsets afre charging, it turns amber. Why not 2 lights? Duh?

Then there is a bunch of lights (5-6) along the base that glow very dimly sometimes. The instructions

Then there are a bunch of lights across the front. The manual says they will be on sometimes. Not sure what they are for.

One positive note. Tech support is very patient. My father-in-law spent well over an hour on the phone and said the guy was helpful. Didn't get it working, but he was pleasant.

It's a great idea. The headset is light, so should permit wearing for long periods of time, unlike heavy headsets.

I am concerned that IR is not the way to go. RF might be better. When I get my replacement unit (I'm still waiting on Electronica Direct, who I am not impressed with so far), I plan to use it across the room and through a doorway while riding a stationary bike.

I think someone needs to make a unit that is just a receiver and allow me to plug in my own headset. Then I could use heavy ear phones or light ear buds as I prefer.

I have been using this brand for several years. They do a pretty good job, but there is better technology, build quality, and customer service available.

First, if you ever crack a piece of the plastic housings (very easy to do as the housings are quite cheaply made) not many parts are available from the company. And When the batteries go toes up, count on replacing large assemblies. You might as well consider these dispose and replace.

Second, all of the models I have tried are not even stereo. What's with that? Other companies (CLARITY C120 comes in lower priced with much better design and quality) offer stereo and detachable battery packs!

The old adage applies here...Shop Around!