Hearing aid music accessories

All these posts are excellent. I am about to purchase my second set of H/A's, and will go with the Cobalts 12. As it regards to the fidelity expected from a H/A design to amplify specific frequencies to the point of a High End pair of headphones, I think it is too much to ask.

The normal use of H/A is to increase high frequencies, which are the first ones we lose (at least for 80% of us with hearing loss issues). Thus, the H/A receiver is not designed to handle (or boost) low frequencies. So, using it as headphones, you would expect to hear the music, with emphasis on the high frequencies (more than 1,000 Hz, or the singer's voices and higher pitches). The bass and low tones will be heard, but not as strong (or loud) as the mid and higher tones.

These Cobalt (which we now know are the Siemens Pure copies) are designed for the hearing impaired, to help us hear sounds others can, and they do their work excellently. We look for H/A that are as insconspicous as possible. In order to make them sound as good as a GREAT headphone set, they will need to be as BIG as those headphones are, which is in contradiction with the low profile design of the H/A.

Another point of clarification: The connection between the Blu RCU (TEK connect in Siemens) remote and the H/A is not via Bluetooth (BT). Siemens developed their own communication protocol to avoid interferences with other audio devices. The BT connection is between the Blu RCU and the other devices (phone, iPod, TV). And the only reason to have it hanging from your neck (or your shirt's pocket) is if you want the microphone close to your mouth (that is how you use the phone connection), otherwise, you can have it in your purse or your pocket, and the music will still be heard, WIRELESSLY, in your ears. That is the true convenience of it.

Bottom line: There are no device designed to allow you to connect wirelessly to your existing H/A. You will need to purchase new technology H/A that can connect your iPod wirelessly to your ears.

Best regards,
Ahmed

Sorry to disagree Ahmed. The cobalt is not ready for prime time. My audiologist agrees and said he won't sell them any more. We worked with many settings and could never get music beyond a clock radio quality. So the connection to ipod or tv is bad. Might as well buy wireless earphones for $100. You have to wear the box if you are using the phone a lot or even once. You suggest keeping it in my bag. Right. The phone rings and I am searching til the ring stops. There are a lot of batteries and buttons. Junk. I am a high tec person able to master all of my toys pretty quickly. This was not worth the effort. It is a good hearing aid without the bluetooth but a hefty part of the price is for the BT. Why not spend less on a comparable HA without BT? That's what I did when I returned them, spending $2k instead of $4k. And spent $100 on a jawbone. Be forewarned. Regards, helen

Hi everyone, I'm working on a story for the San Jose Mercury News about these new bluetooth hearing aide accessories. If you are willing to be interviewed about your experience please call me at 408-271-3774.
Thanks!
Elise Ackerman
San Jose Mercury News

Hi,

I was just browsing and I saw this discussion. I'm a hearing impaired student and I currently use the Phonak smartlink FM system which I use in conjunction with the Phonak iLink hearing aid. I mainly use the FM system for school, but it also comes with a cord that allows it to connect to any audio system that I often use with my ipod. Basically I can connect the two and it transmits my music wirelessly to my hearing aid. (which is fun because I can listen to my music and no one can tell, since i'm not wearing headphones)

I know that the hearing aid and smartlink are made to work together, but almost every hearing aid made in the last 10 years has a boot made to work with various FM systems (I used a boot for most of my elementary and middle school life). Through the boot, you can wirelessly connect to an FM system and listen to your music, provided the FM system is capable.

The smartlink is really expensive (my school helps pay for it). There are other alternatives. I think Phonak also sells a cheaper version called the easylink. It has less features in terms of being a microphone but still has the music option.

I don't know if this is what you were looking for. Hopefully this helps a little.

Oh, would I connect the ipod to the remove with a wire, then it transmits with bluetooth to the H/A?

Sony makes a vary small sterio bluetooth adapter that fits almost with all cases. I use it with motorola 505? handsfree with FM transmitter built in works 5*** bought it @ BEST BUY