Using one of the BeHear headsets on its own in Personal Hearing mode will pick up sound from the television and amplify it according to your hearing profile (if you have performed the Hearing Assessment in our W&H BeHear app to personalize the device). This may be sufficient for your needs. However, the benefit of the HearLink (or HearLink PLUS) transmitter is that it captures the TV audio and transmits it directly to the personalized headset, eliminating distractions (such as room reverberation, and ambient noise). Additionally, since your headset can pair simultaneously with two Bluetooth devices, if you receive a phone call on your paired mobile phone while watching television the TV audio will be muted automatically, and then resume once you disconnect the call. Yes, the EasyListen function to slow down conversations on a mobile phone also works for the various cloud platforms. However, for video calls and conferences there will be a noticeable lip sync problem. You can use the BeHear headset to listen to the TV even without the HearLink PLUS transmitter, but HearLink PLUS will provide better sound quality, as the audio will be streamed directly to the headset. In the box you have the BeHear headset, a charging cable, 3 different sizes of ear hooks and 9 different pairs of ear tips. BeHear NOW comes with a travel case and BeHear ACCESS comes with a travel bag and a charging cradle. The W&H BeHear smartphone application supports both Android (from version 4.4 and up) and iOS (from version 9 and up). Yes, it does. You have 30 calendar days to return any item you purchased from the WearAndHear.com site (from the date you received it). To be eligible for a return, your item must be in good condition, in the original packaging. Your item needs to include the receipt or proof of purchase. Products ordered to North American addresses are shipped from our logistics center in the USA and are typically delivered within one week. Orders to the European Union are shipped from our logistics center in the U.K. or The Netherlands and are typically delivered within a week to ten days. Orders for the rest of the world are shipped from Israel and are typically delivered within a week to ten days. Yes, our assistive hearing headsets are designed to give you personalized amplification for computer-generated audio and conference calls, as well as live conversations. For conference calls with apps such as Skype, Zoom, MS Teams, Google Meet, and WebEx, you will simply need to pair the BeHear headset with the sound source (smartphone or computer) and select BeHear in the conference platform’s audio settings. If you would like to purchase any W&H product locally, please refer to our Contact page to see a list of authorized partners, worldwide. While both products look and function like a Bluetooth® stereo headset, and also include fully customizable hearing amplification and noise reduction for live conversations, mobile phone calls, music play, and ambient sounds, AND clarify speech (and if needed during mobile phone calls, slow it down!), AND enhance music, there are four basic differences. As opposed to BeHear NOW, BeHear ACCESS: We developed BeHear headsets to help people hear better in various situations, taking into account individual preferences and the uniqueness of each person’s auditory system. Hearing loss is an example of “uniqueness” that can be addressed by BeHear headsets, and compensated to some extent depending on the listening/hearing conditions. BeHear was designed to help people with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, who may not need amplification in every hearing situation (although customers with severe hearing loss also report their satisfaction). It can help clarify dialogue, enhance music appreciation, and improve intelligibility of phone conversations. While BeHear headsets use the same digital signal processing algorithms as most advanced hearing aids, they are not hearing aids (nor are they medical devices). While the advanced algorithms used in BeHear headsets can improve the hearing/listening experience, they cannot restore hearing completely. BeHear headsets are supplied with numerous sets of silicone ear tips and ear hooks in different sizes and styles. We trust that you will be able to find the right combination for your ears. Absolutely! The earbuds are “in ear”, with nothing resting on the back of your ear (where your glasses sit). Yes, we offer a limited 1-year product warranty against manufacturing defects. You can use the BeHear and control its basic functions even if you don’t have a smartphone. However, if you want to make sure the BeHear amplification matches your hearing profile, we highly recommend that you take our hearing assessment using a smartphone and our app. The hearing assessment results will be saved in the BeHear headset, so you can use it later without a smartphone. The smartphone is also instrumental in fine-tuning the hearing environment in real time. However, the headset itself includes seven built-in control buttons that allow you to use it autonomously. So, if you want to use the device for ambient hearing only (not mobile phone calls or audio streaming from a phone), you do not need a smartphone. Note: If you don’t follow the sequence detailed above, and instead start searching for new device in the PC while your headset is simply ON (not in pairing mode), BeHear will appear in the list as unknown device, with no “audio” under the name and no “headphone” icon next to it. Connecting to this device will not activate BeHear as a headphone/headset. Make sure that the Bluetooth option on your computer is set to “on”. This option is usually found in the “Settings” section, “Bluetooth and Other Devices” sub-section. On Windows computers you can quickly access the Bluetooth settings from the action center in the system tray. If you don’t see the Bluetooth icon here it may be an indication that Bluetooth is not active. In this case, go to the computer Settings → Devices and make sure the Bluetooth switch is ON. If it is not, slide it to the right to activate Bluetooth. Yes. A long press on the middle button of the right-hand control box will toggle between “Telecoil” and “Personal Hearing” modes. Short presses in either of those modes will scroll through their options (Telecoil Exclusive and Telecoil Transparent in the “Telecoil” mode, and Indoor, Outdoor, Crowd, and Live Music in the “Personal Hearing” modes). Voice prompts after each click will announce the name of the current mode. Additionally, you can choose any of the six above-mentioned hearing modes with a tap on the relevant icon in the “Home” menu of the W&H BeHear app. The answer is yes. When you are in Personal Hearing mode, tap the equalizer button under the hearing environment icons. Scroll down until you reach the “Balance” section. You can adjust the balance between ears here, and it will apply to all hearing environments (Indoor, Outdoor, Crowd, and Live Music) as well as the hearing modes (Personal Hearing, Mobile Calls, and Audio Streaming). If you have a set top box you may be able to use it to bypass the television’s audio output jack. Many set top boxes (cable boxes) have an analog audio output jack and/or an optical (digital) audio output jack. If you connect the HearLink/HearLink PLUS TV transmitter directly to the set top box the audio may transmit simultaneously to the BeHear headset and the television speakers. If you have a set top box you can use it instead, as many set top boxes (cable boxes) have an analog audio output jack and/or an optical (digital) audio output jack. In this case, connect the HearLink/HearLink PLUS TV transmitter directly to the audio output jack on the set top box. Sure! BeHear products connect to practically any Bluetooth-supported device (such as an iPad, music player, or other tablet) to stream audio directly to your headset. For tips on connecting multiple Bluetooth devices to your headset see this video (for BeHear NOW) and this video (for BeHear ACCESS). Most phone apps play a tone for keystrokes and notifications, which are interpreted by the BeHear headset as sounds to be personalized for your hearing. You can solve this “muting” problem by turning off system-wide notifications on your phone, such as keyboard touch key sounds. To reset an unresponsive HearLink transmitter, connect it to the charger while pressing the MFB (Multi-Function Button). A grayed-out Home button indicates that the headset is not connected to the app. Go to Settings->Connection and verify that the headset is in the Paired Devices list. If you don’t see the BeHear device in the list you’ll need to pair it — see the video links below for instructions. When the headset is connected properly a checkmark will appear. If there is no checkmark, tap the name of the headset in the list of Paired devices to re-connect the headset. Another way to reinstate the connection is with a short press on the headset’s Power button. For more information about pairing your headset with the app, watch these videos: The Basic hearing assessment, which checks audible hearing levels for six frequencies for each ear, is the default setting in the W&H BeHear app. The Advanced hearing assessment, which checks for most comfortable level in addition to audible level for these six frequencies, can be selected as follows: Watch this video for step-by-step instructions. The battery in the BeHear headset is rechargeable (tested up to 600 cycles) but not replaceable. We designed it this way to provide protection against water and dust damage for the life of the product, as well as to keep the price down. Our BeHear headsets have technology for enhancing nearby speech while dampening down distracting background noise. These are displayed on the “Personal Hearing” screen: There are four microphones in the headset (two in the ear buds and two in the control boxes, which lie near your collarbone). These microphones pick up ambient, nearby sounds, like your conversation. Use the grid to focus on your conversation partner by choosing a square that sounds best to your ears (depending on the pitch of the partner’s voice). Each square in the grid defines a specific sound level which is a unique combination of frequency (left to right is low to high) and amplitude (bottom to top is low to high). The edges of the grid represent the extreme combinations. For more information about this grid, read this post. If the background noise is bothering you, the Noise Reduction levels will help screen those out. Watch this video for more information about Personal Hearing mode. In the Settings screen there is a balance option. You can slide the silver dot right or left to set the desired amplification balance between left and right ears. This setting is applied to the volume control, in addition to the results of the built-in hearing assessment, and will be active in all operation modes of the headset: phone calls, audio playback and personal hearing amplification. For more information, use this link to see the video instructions, or this link to read the manual. For Android phones, download the “W&H BeHear” application from the Google Play Store. The iOS version is available from the Apple Store. For more information, use this link to see the video instructions, or this link to read the manual. Yes. You do not need Bluetooth to benefit from the ambient hearing functionality. However, without Bluetooth you will not be able to stream audio from your mobile phone or music player directly to the BeHear headset. Absolutely! BeHear headsets can support multiple audio sources simultaneously. For example, you can listen to media on your laptop, and still be connected to your mobile phone. For each additional Bluetooth device you would like to link to the BeHear headset you will need to perform the pairing procedure (placing the headset into “Pairing Mode” by turning it OFF, and then pressing the power button for several seconds until the LED flashes red/blue). For more information, use this link to see the video instructions, or this link to read the manual. There are two ways to customize BeHear: Use this link to see the video instructions for the Hearing Assessment, or this link for Customizing in Real-Time, or this link to read the manual. The EasyListen feature is built into every BeHear headset. It slows down phone speech dynamically and intelligently to improve comprehension, without distorting it, or disrupting the natural rhythm of conversation. Use this link to see the video instructions, or this link to read the manual. The BeHear headset will continue to operate as a personal hearing amplifier, even without any connection to any smartphone (the parameters are saved in the headset). The smartphone is necessary if you want to run the BeHear control application, but the headset itself includes seven built-in control buttons that allow you to use it autonomously. You can watch this video for specific instructions. Have you used the W&H BeHear smartphone application to run the hearing test assessment? If so, note that the results are applied to the personal hearing presets (Indoor, Outdoor, Crowd and Live Music), and are programmed into the headset itself. Still, we recommend downloading and pairing your new smartphone with the headset so that you can get maximum benefit. Watch this video for detailed instructions. All W&H BeHear “How to” videos support captions. For release 000F (for Hardware Version 1.0.0) and release 000E (for Hardware Version 1.0.1) upgrade time for Android phones is approximately 10-15 minutes. Upgrade time for iOS phones is several hours (therefore, nighttime upgrade with the phone attached to a charger is recommended). The long upgrade process is due to the Bluetooth connectivity framework on iOS and how our headset functions within it. Our developers are working to reduce the amount of time needed to perform the upgrade. The results of the hearing assessment (presented in graph and tabular formats) are stored in the headset, not the app. Therefore, uninstalling the app, or connecting to the headset with a different Bluetooth device, will not affect the results. If you are using the W&H BeHear app on an iPhone the Bluetooth option in the “Settings” screen will show two connections for your headset: one for an audio device, the other for the BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) control. Although it is confusing, it is the way iPhone works with BeHear. EasyListen can only be activated for mobile phone calls and voice messages. Think how disconcerting it would be to watch television when the actors’ lips are not synchronized with their speech… HearLink Plus may be helpful in this case, however. Because it sends the audio signal directly to the paired BeHear headset it eliminates ambient noise, room reverberation, and other types of sound interference which hamper understanding of speech from the television. The W&H BeHear smartphone application supports both Android (from version 4.4 and up) and iOS (from version 9 and up). The BeHear NOW and BeHear ACCESS headsets are Bluetooth Class II devices, while the HearLink PLUS is a Bluetooth Class I device. As a result, you many wonder what kind of transmission range you can expect with this product combination. Here is a detailed explanation: The Bluetooth version in BeHear headsets is v. 4.2 and in the HearLink PLUS it is v. 5. However, the range depends on the class of the Bluetooth device (Class I or Class II) rather than on its version (v. 4.2 or v. 5). BeHear are Class II devices while HearLink PLUS are Class I. Operation range between these two devices is larger than for two Class II devices (10m or 40ft) though less than for two Class I devices (100m or 400ft). We expect that for the BeHear + HearLink PLUS combination you can get a 20m or 80ft range, in open spaces. The HearLink PLUS Bluetooth transmitter (using the aptX-LL CODEC) achieves low latency of only 40ms, avoiding lip sync issues. The current versions of both our headsets (BeHear NOW and BeHear ACCESS) support both the Qualcomm aptX “classic” and aptX-LL (low latency) codecs. Notes:
There are many audio transmitters on the market, but HearLink PLUS has some unique features that set it apart as the transmitter of choice for assistive hearing. The box includes a headset, a USB charging cable, a travel pouch, three types of silicon ear tips in different sizes, three pairs of ear hooks in varying sizes, 2 pairs of wind protection covers, and a printed Quick Start Guide. Notes: The maximal gain provided by BeHear headsets is approximately 42dB. The W&H BeHear smartphone application supports both Android (from version 4.4 and up) and iOS (from version 9 and up). No. Current BeHear headsets are not waterproof. This is a known issue. Until the next software release, we recommend performing the following reset, which will remove the Bluetooth connection and restart the headset. Yes, although you can fully charge the headset’s battery within 2-3 hours, it is not damaging to the battery to keep it in the charger overnight. This noise, which sounds like a whistle and is also known as feedback, can be the result of one or more issues. There are a few things you can do: If your HearLink or HearLink PLUS isn’t operating to your satisfaction, check possible causes below: This sometimes happens when two Bluetooth devices (e.g., your smartphone and a computer) are both connected to the BeHear headset. We are currently working to fix this problem. Until we do, our suggestion is to disconnect the device which is not currently in use for the purposes of the call. First, verify that you are within Bluetooth range (~10 feet, 3.5 meters for HearLink; ~200 feet, 60 meters for HearLink PLUS). If that is not the issue, and a long time has passed between uses, or if the smartphone has been playing an audio stream, the headset may not automatically reconnect with the HearLink or HearLink PLUS transmitter when you are within range. In this case, a short press on the headset’s Power button should re-establish the connection with the transmitter. The serial number is printed on a white label on the inside of the neckband: Try the following: If the TV sound is unclear or distorted, try turning ListenThrough mode OFF, or reducing the transparency of ambient sounds via the ListenThrough microphones using the headset’s right-hand volume button. This sometimes happens when ListenThrough is activated on a high transparency setting (the dot on the scale is set far on the right). In this instance, slide the dot to the left until the strange sound disappears. Alternatively, turn off ListenThrough completely by sliding the dot all the way to the left (or tapping the mute button to the left of the scale), or by pressing the middle button on the headset’s right-hand control box. You can also change the default settings for ListenThrough so that it will not be activated until you choose to do so. To change the default settings: Depending on the application, BeHear may appear either as a headset or as a headphone, just like most other Bluetooth headphones. For most music players it will be listed as a “headphone” while for messaging services, such as Skype/Viber/WeChat etc., it will be listed as a “headset”. For each additional Bluetooth device you would like to link to the BeHear headset you will need to perform the pairing procedure (placing the headset into “Pairing Mode” by turning it OFF, and then pressing the power button for several seconds until the LED flashes red/blue). You should see the BeHear headset in the “Audio Devices” section of the Bluetooth pairing screen. For more information, view one of these videos: All models of the BeHear personalized hearing amplifier have their own microphones, four in total. Two are located in the ear buds, and two in the control boxes on the cables. BeHear doesn’t use the cell phone as a microphone. The lag/processing time is about 20 (out of 1000) milliseconds. This depends on your specific TV. Some televisions support dual audio output devices while others do not. One way around this is to purchase the Wear & Hear “Harmony Bundle” which includes two headsets and one HearLink. Both you and the other person will then be able to hear the TV without ambient noise and optimized for your own hearing (while staying aware of important sounds, and able to speak to and hear one another). Here is more information about the bundle: https://wearandhear.com/product/hearing-harmony-bundle/ Depending on the application, BeHear may appear either as a headset or as a headphone, just like most other Bluetooth headphones. For most music players it will be listed as a “headphone” while for messaging services, such as Skype/Viber/WeChat etc., it will be listed as a “headset”. Use this link to see the video instructions, or this link to download the appropriate manual. If your BeHear headset behaves unexpectedly there are three ways to reset it: you can restart it, remove the Bluetooth connection data, and/or restore the original factory configuration. Use this link to see the video instructions, or this link to read the manual. Yes, it is possible to change the volume of the headset notification sounds (for all BeHear ACCESS headsets, and for BeHear NOW version 0103 and above). To adjust this setting, once the headset is paired and activated go to the “Settings” menu at the bottom of the screen and choose “Device”. Scroll down until you see the “Notification Tones Volume” section. BeHear does not integrate Active Noise Cancellation because that technology is not helpful for listening to ambient sounds. Actually, the purpose of Active Noise Cancellation is to cancel out all sounds that come from the environment, while for hearing enhancement we strive to identify and clarify important sounds. So, the noise reduction technique in BeHear uses our field-proven algorithms on the microphone signals that are later amplified, according to the customer’s hearing loss parameters. Yes, we have some support for directionality:General - Pre-Sales Questions
If you are unable to insert even the smallest silicone buds into your ears you can remove the ear bud completely, only leaving the ear hook in place.Operating Instructions
You may find this setting useful for situations in which annoying sounds are coming from a specific direction, and you are unable to change your physical position. Otherwise, there may be no need, since once you have applied the results from your hearing assessment to the headset the balance should then be optimal for your unique hearing profile.
to access the “Sound Tuning” section to fine-tune gain across frequencies, and below the grid determine the amount of noise reduction you prefer. Click here to learn more about the sound tuning grid.
To see closed captions from the W&H BeHear app
To see closed captions on your laptop/desktop computer
Product Specifications
a. From a Class I transmitter to a Class II receiver – up to 60m (see paragraph #2)
b. From a Class II transmitter to Class I receiver – up to 15m (see paragraph #3)
c. For a bi-directional it is ~15m, based on the shortest range of #a and #b.What kind of range can I expect from a BeHear headset when used with the HearLink PLUS transmitter?
Technical
It is possible to adjust the volume of the voice prompts and the system notification tones. You can also decide whether the vibration alert should be set to ON or OFF. All of these functions are located in the same screen of the W&H BeHear smartphone app.
(middle and lower buttons on the right-hand control box, and the power button)
BeHear ACCESS
BeHear NOW
See one of these videos for details:
BeHear ACCESS
BeHear NOW
The name that appears should be “BeHear” and not “Speakers”. If you see the name “Speakers” click the ^ (arrow). If the BeHear is connected properly you will be able to see it listed under the list of playback devices. Choose the “Headset” option.
It can also be seen in the W&H BeHear app, in the “Connections” screen of the “Settings” menu:
For more on this topic, see our blog post about active noise cancellation.
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