Williams SoundPKT D1 EH Pocketalker Ultra Duo Pack Amplifier with Single Mini Earbud and Folding Headphone

So far our impressions of this little hearing assist are that it is AWESOME.That said we both hear fine and got this as a gift for a loved one. A slightly stubborn person who has used cheaper, quick to break, versions of this style of hearing assist in the past. However after her third or fourth or maybe even fifth one broke (some 20.00 unit she was picking up some where, NOT this) we decided to do some research.Amazon reviews pointed us in the direction of this device.What WE liked, as her guests, we liked the idea of a longer microphone cord option so that the person she has the most trouble of hearing could possibly just set it by them or even hold it. Also at restaurant tables she can't hear anything so, while sad, we have all become used to just talking around her because she can't hear....frustrating for all parties involved. We haven't tested this yet but I assume that she could pass the corded mic about the table to hear people.....it may not be the most convenient option but as I mentioned there's a bit of stubbornness involved that means going to get fitted for a hearing aid is OUT OF THE QUESTION (sigh) She started to declare her hearing was just gone and gave up on replacing her little 20 dollar units that, while breaking quickly, DID let her hear...also batteries were mysteriously never charged or purchased...I also liked that this unit has a degree of control over the sound beyond volume. I tested it listening to my husband's voice, who is the hardest for her to hear, and pre-set it to what made it sound sharpest and clearest before we gifted her this unit.Long story made a wee bit shorter...it worked! She popped the ear buds in (we purchased some more comfortable ones), fiddled with volume a bit and could hear us all well enough to actually converse.If you do something like this for a loved one I suggest doing as we did and purchasing a ginormous pack of the Amazon basics AAA batteries that are required to go along with it. If it works for your loved one at all removing that apparently insurmountable hassle of battery maintenance with recharging etc can go a long way I suspect towards easing tensions and allowing them the freedom to just pop a new set in when ever they need.I would like to point out that I did as another reviewer (I think the one voted most helpful in this item's feedback) and purchased some panasonic ear buds, a noise canceling lavalier mic for another mic option and the little connector thingy. As I said check out their in depth review, their suggested additional purchases were spot on.I removed all the extra packaging, tidied the cords and presented it all in a nice box for her, so she can keep all her ear assist goodies in one place.Anyways, WORTH THE MONEY.We actually suggested, months ago, she look in to getting this unit but as I mentioned there was some degree of stubborness...a sort of giving up/acceptance that she was now "deaf"If it had not worked out, well...it's worth the small investment to help. We suspected she could make use of it and she was delighted with it.I'll post an update if she shares any long term notes on her personal experience with the whole thing.So far though, pretty great for a right out of the box device.As I said, it was the first time in agggges that we talked and she heard and talked back and made for a lively, entertaining get together.She used the lavalier mic option we added to this and it has a 3 foot cord and we just popped it in the middle of the kitchen table and she apparently heard and acted and responded as if she could hear all 3 of us sitting there with her! Success!!!!We kind of feel..and this is regular hearing persons point of view so maybe take it with a large grain of salt, that this sort of pocketalker hearing assist unit could be superior for some one with a hearing disadvantage as compared to a traditional hearing aid. The sort that goes in/behind the ear.In that sound waves have to go in the ear and this unit has a corded mic, what could be better for increasing the chances of hearing correctly than having the option of poking a mic right by a person's mouth, rather than have their sound waves carry to your ear?I realize this doesn't fit every one's situation, and having a long cord may not be convenient but it's certainly not as inconvenient and heart breaking as just NOT hearing......Edit:Here is the list of additional items I purchased (based on a helpful reviewer's suggestion) as well as which batteries, to go with the pockettalker:Olympus ME-52W Noise Canceling MicrophonePanasonic RPHJE120S In-Ear Headphone, SilverC2G / Cables to Go 03174 3.5mm Stereo Female to 3.5mm Mono Male AdapterAmazonBasics AAA Performance Alkaline Batteries (36-Pack)I got them all on Amazon at once so I'd have a complete kit. They work great with this unit. The ear buds especially are really nice.

This item works as described, so I gave it five stars. I know they use this instrument in hospitals and care facilities for people with hearing problems, and that it is highly regarded for doing what it says. However, I want to tell about some things they don't mention or aren't clear in the description of the product. This device is an amplifier only. Nothing else. As such, it amplifies both wanted sound, and noise. One key feature is that the microphone removes from the unit, and you can install the supplied 12' long extension cord that connects the microphone to the Pocketalker. This feature works great. You can place the microphone in the middle of a table, close to a TV, or hand it to a person you want to listen to. I use mine most by setting the mic on the table next to the TV so that I can hear the TV at normal volumes that do not disturb others in the house. The disadvantages I found are as follows. If you leave the microphone in the pocket talker, it will pick up speech and noise at a distance, but when you talk, your speech is close to the microphone, and your voice is very loud when you talk. If the microphone is at a distance, you hear yourself at normal volume. And, since the Pocketalker is an amplifier only, it amplifies noise as well as speech. When I place the microphone by the TV, I can hear the TV fine. I can also hear the air noise when the air conditioning fan comes on, and I can hear water running in the kitchen, etc., in addition to the TV speech. This isn't bad, but I wasn't expecting it. I also researched the available units, and found two versions of the Pocketalker. This one has tone control in addition to volume control. Tone control is a must-have for me. I was able to adjust the tone just a little toward treble, and it made a huge difference in my ability to understand the speech. I have serious hearing loss, and only have to use this unit at about 1/3 volume. It has plenty more amplification power than I need. I don't agree that the ear bud or headphones are not good quality as some reviews indicate. I prefer the headphones because they are more comfortable, and I think the sound quality is better. They are very light and comfortable. He headphones are not like ear muffs. You can still hear sound from others talking to you through the headphones. I'm getting hearing aids soon, but I plan to keep this Pocketalker. I have read that it can be used with hearing aids for severe hearing loss, and I might use it when not wearing my future hearing aids. It would be simply perfect for a person taking the microphone to tell you something, as in a noisy car, or to whisper to you in a quiet environment. In closing, this product is great, and I know it is what they use in medical and long-term care facilities for people with hearing deficits, so it must be the best. The Amazon price is a fraction of retail, and other online sellers. Understanding that it is an amplifier, and does not filter out noise, it provides comfortable hearing when watching TV, and works great for speech communication with others! It is a great product! It is a blessing in affordable hearing!

Works ok. Not great for TV. Must use special extension. Over all I like this product.

This is amazing. My dad who is hard of hearing needed something while we were getting him fitted for a new hearing aid. This was recommended by his doctor and does miracles, especially with the earbuds that go directly into his ear. He can hear SO WELL out of these.