The Soundhawk is not a hearing aid per se, but an amplifier that looks much like a bluetooth that you wear in your ear. It involves two key elements, the “scoop” and the wireless microphone that can function at up to 33 feet away from the receiver. Basically, you place the wireless microphone wherever you need to listen in. You can then sit back and pick up everything from the microphone using the scoop (receiver) in your ear.
It can be used with the wireless microphone or simply by itself to amplify the sounds near you. On top of that, it also acts as a hands-free bluetooth device for your bluetooth phone and is capable of triggering Siri and Google Now (or Cortana) remotely for additional hands-free use.
Something not only for the hearing impaired, but also those simply trying to break through the noisy barriers around them that may be limiting their ability to listen (i.e., classroom or lecture hall, etc).
Along with the two pieces, you also find a neat case they fit into that acts as a charging station that keeps both juiced up when not in use, without having to plug them each into the wall separately. It also acts as a portable power source that can charge both pieces two times before having to be put back on a cable itself.
There is also a companion app for your smartphone that is used to adjust the listening experience to the frequencies your ear is looking for. The app allows you to also adjust the device to the environment you are in using built in settings such as indoors, outdoors, while driving or when you need to focus on only the sounds closest to you such as your significant other sitting across the table from you and nothing else
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There is a strong market for gadgets that assist the hearing impaired, but the fact that anyone can use it to get a closer listen to sound coming from a distance (i.e., an instructor at the front of a large classroom) takes it one step further. You don’t have to stop there though. What if you want to know what you child is talking about on the phone in the other room? A little devious? Sure, but you can’t say it isn’t at least a little tempting.
It has a battery life of anywhere from 2.5 to 9 hours depending on how you are using it (the listening device by itself, the microphone with it or as a hands-free device for your phone, etc).
Currently the Soundhawk can be found on their website or Amazon and comes with two color options (Graphite and Sand).
We haven’t given the device a listen personally, so we can’t tell you how clear it sounds exactly or how well it does at the microphone’s max distance. We can however say without doubt, that it sounds like a useful device for various types of situations and personal needs. A little pricey perhaps, but it really depends on how well it works.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMZnVE0j4es
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