TV Ears Headset System
See it at Amazon.com for $99.99Average Customer Rating
(3.0 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
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(4 out of 5)Keeps peace in our home
My elderly mother kept turing the volume up on her TV, it was a major distraction in our home. She initially resisted our "gift" of TV Ears, but now that she has gotten used to them she seems pleased with the ease of use and the sound quality.
(1 out of 5)Painful, fragile and expensive
Being an insomniac of some skill and standing, I bought this so that I can watch T.V. in bed while the bride, She Who Must Be Obeyed, sleeps. Works as well as any infrared system to transmit T.V. sound in line of sight, though the odd under-the-chin configuration means that the signal is easily blocked by the bedclothes. The unit is most uncomfortable and the earpieces come off and are easily lost. Discomfort arises from two factors: [1] the headset is inflexible and much too narrow for my head (look at the picture -- are YOUR ears that close together?), with the result that there is constant firm pressure on my ears that becomes painful after a short period of use; [2] the newer, "noise reducing" earpieces are small and offer no cushion to ameliorate the pressure of the headset. The unit came with the older white plastic earpieces; one soon fell off and was not to be found. I sent for the new earpiece style (they were not cheap) and they arrived without the pointy little adapters needed to attach them (the web site makes no mention of these adapters; first I knew I needed them was when I tried to attach the new earpieces). The company sent the adapters when I called them, but one of them cracked when I attached it, and so does not securely hold the earpiece, which falls off nightly. The other adapter, the one that did not crack, held its earpiece for a few weeks, but now they've started to fall off that one, too. These little foam earpieces are so small that the other day I was on the train heading for work before I realized that I had one lodged in my ear. Two nights ago I dozed off with the headset on and must have rolled over heavily onto my side, because my left ear is bruised from the hard plastic headset and the pointy little adapter. All in all, for me, definitely not worth the premium price that they charge for this unit.
(5 out of 5)Best thing since closed captioning
I'm hearing impaired, and very often television shows (especially older ones) don't have closed captioning. This is also maddeningly true with some of the newer movies, even from big studios. There's a law regarding closed captioning, but sometimes producers simply don't follow it. It's frustrating.
I have tried several headsets over the years with varying degrees of success. Bringing the sound directly to your ear vastly improves your ability to understand what is being said (it actually helps to use a headset instead of a hearing aid when trying to improve comprehension - I don't understand the physiology of it, but it works). 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 comprehension, they lessen it.
That's where TV Ears comes in. Yes, the name is a bit silly, but these things really do work. The first time I used them I had the silliest smile on my face, because for the very first time I was understanding what was being said *perfectly*. The sound quality was magnificent, and the voice enhancement that the product brags about is spot-on.
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. 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 the TV Ears. They worked. Instead of simply "booming" the sound, it was just like at home. They enhanced what was being said. I go to movies all the time, so now I "never leave home without" them. They're better than American Express.
(1 out of 5)Poor Product + High Price + Costly Upkeep = Bad Deal
TV Ears, 2.3 MHz, #10341
Poor Product + High Price + Costly Upkeep = Bad Deal
An Audiologist recommended this product to me saying she had "heard no complaints on them". She can't say that any more. This product has not lived up to its "billing" on any particular for me, and judging from some of the other reviews it is certainly not a blockbuster hit for everyone.
I have a hearing "problem" (loss but not Deaf), and have had an expensive Hearing Aid that does not solve my TV/Audio listening problem. Portable Earphones have helped immensely in the past, and this product looked very promising. The documentation is clear and easy to understand.
However, TV Ears Sound Quality is mediocre to poor 90% of the time, and the tone adjustment does not correct that. If you are out of sight of the Transmitter the "Noise Reduction" you get is nothing but loud static, and low level static if you pause the Sound Source when you are "in range". I remove them to deal with this.
The TV Ears Headset itself is uncomfortable mainly due to the Ear Tips that fit into your Ears, and the weight of the Battery dangling below your Chin. They have never been comfortable for me in the 75+ days I've had these things. Several reviewers mention this discomfort but added [it was OK] ".. after I got used to them". Some of these got their TV Ears as Gifts.
Also, these little Ear Tip Devils are high cost (at least to me) & they recommend replacing them every 30 to 60 days. An Optimist (60 days) would pay $19.95 plus S&H for 5 Pair which works out to about $5.00 + every 2 months (or twice that if you're not so optimistic -- or don't wash your Ears often enough I suppose). Note, they do give you a coupon for $5 off on your first Order. Snap Tip Adapters (that the Tips fit over) are $ 8.00 for one pair + S&H with an unknown life-expectancy.
The Battery has a life-expectancy of 1-2 years (depending on what literature you are reading). Replacements are also $19.95 plus S&H.
If you need a hearing assist, you really need it, but TV Ears has not worked for me. I wish I'd had a chance at a "Try before you Buy" program.
I'm going back to my Jensen JW120 (900 MHz) Headphone Set that has a range of 150 feet in any direction with no static, period and Big Time superior sound. And, it uses my choice of very comfortable, light weight, and cheap Radio Shack Earphones. Some times "newer Technology" is not such a good idea. At least for me.
(4 out of 5)Work Super,
You can hear every word while watching a movie or whatever. The only negative are the ear buds, they start to bug you after having them in your ears for a while, otherwise their nice and not just for the hard of hearing.