Bose is launching into hearing aids for the first time, and they promise a big change in the way you buy assistive audio equipment. The company has introduced SoundControl portable devices are the first FDA approved hearing aids sold direct to customers. You don’t need to see a doctor, get a prescription, or talk to an expert to buy and use them.
Not surprisingly, helpers take advantage of Bose personal audio experience. They’re centered around a companion mobile app’s CustomTune feature that customizes volume, tone, treble, and bass levels for your ears in 30 minutes. You can amplify quiet sounds to avoid tension or highlight voice frequencies to hear people around you better. A focus feature lets you focus on specific areas, such as the front when you’re in a conversation or all around you as you walk through the park.
You can always schedule free video dates if you need help, Bose added.
You can expect a familiar, lightweight (0.1 oz) behind-the-ear design that uses the same zinc-air batteries you typically buy for other hearing aids. Bose expects about four days of use with a typical count of 14 hours per day. They are resistant to rain and other “light exposure” to water. And no, they don’t play music or handle calls – they’re very focused on improving hearing.
Bose will begin selling SoundControl in Massachusetts, Montana, the Carolinas and Texas on May 18 for 850 $. More states are coming, the company said. It’s not a trivial expense, but it can be justified if you’d rather not travel across town (especially during a pandemic) to regain your hearing.
The audio giant’s entry into hearing aids is not entirely surprising. Jabra parent GN Group is a hearing aid manufacturer and has launched a hearing test in recent headphones. Sennheiser, meanwhile, just sold its consumer audio business. to a hearing care professional. The audio assist market has been heating up for some time, and Bose is entering the field on the verge of becoming particularly competitive.
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