Hard of hearing best TV sound setup?
Discussion
My Dad is getting on a bit and even with hearing aids has to have the TV up pretty loud to hear it. He does have a cheap soundbar but it just distorts beyond a certain volume. He's still pretty with it, so multiple remotes etc aren't a problem if going down a AV receiver and 5.1 is the best option. He has a pretty good hifi setup so he knows the score with Amps etc.
The environment isn't really condusive to 5.1 though. Corner TV, big living room that he sits in the middle of and very high ceilings.
Not too relevant as you can get converters but he does like his VHS and DVDs and has a multi player which I think only outputs in SCART. Old TV too but if he needs to replace that it's no hardship as it's pretty crap.
Freeview only, no Sky or Virgin or broadband.
I'm pretty comfortable going out and buying an amp, speakers etc but if it's not going to help him it would just be a waste of money.
The environment isn't really condusive to 5.1 though. Corner TV, big living room that he sits in the middle of and very high ceilings.
Not too relevant as you can get converters but he does like his VHS and DVDs and has a multi player which I think only outputs in SCART. Old TV too but if he needs to replace that it's no hardship as it's pretty crap.
Freeview only, no Sky or Virgin or broadband.
I'm pretty comfortable going out and buying an amp, speakers etc but if it's not going to help him it would just be a waste of money.
bunchofkeys said:
Would wireless headphones be an option?
Yes, but that also needs a change of kit as there's no 3.5mm/USB output on the TV. Easiest for that would be to swap the TV I guess. My eldest could donate his and I'd replace it with a 4k unit which would be a better match for his xbox or whatever console he has when the new ones hit the shops.Fat chance of him hearing his phone with those on though!
Edit: He has wired headphones already, maybe this plus new TV:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neoteck-Aluminum-Converte...
Edited by toastyhamster on Saturday 18th July 16:14
https://en-uk.sennheiser.com/headphones-assistive-...
They did used to list a neckloop version which was ideal for hearing aid wearers, i'd look at his frequency loss and work from there.
They did used to list a neckloop version which was ideal for hearing aid wearers, i'd look at his frequency loss and work from there.
Or you could consider a pair of active monitors as speakers either side of the tv.
That would do away with the need for an amp, headphone, optical or even HDMI Arc out direct to the speakers means you can maintain volume control via the Tv.
Lots of brands do active speakers now, two I know of are SVS Prime Wireless and Klipsch ‘the fives’
V.
That would do away with the need for an amp, headphone, optical or even HDMI Arc out direct to the speakers means you can maintain volume control via the Tv.
Lots of brands do active speakers now, two I know of are SVS Prime Wireless and Klipsch ‘the fives’
V.
I would probably be looking at headphones too, but if you're worried about him not hearing something important, and less about sound quality, consider getting him a set of Aftershockz bone conduction earphones. However, I'm unsure how well they work with people with hearing loss (I assume just as well).
Thanks for the replies. I think I have a cheap (for him anyway!) intermediate step we can try first. Eldests TV has Scart IN and 3.5mm stereo out, plus it's a better TV than the one he has now. So I can just do a straight replacement and see how he gets on with his current wired set of headphones. Means I have to upgrade eldests TV but that was on the cards anyway.
I'll print off the Sennheiser stuff for him to have a look at. He spent a lot of money on some custom hearing aids, which look remarkably like pebbles, he has a gravel drive, guess where they ended up. £2-300 on a decent set of wireless headphones may well be tempting for him.
I'll print off the Sennheiser stuff for him to have a look at. He spent a lot of money on some custom hearing aids, which look remarkably like pebbles, he has a gravel drive, guess where they ended up. £2-300 on a decent set of wireless headphones may well be tempting for him.
SCART often supply audio out from the TV (depending what level is supplied), means buying a shell and wiring out to a wifi head phone base station. Even if the TV had a 3.5mm socket, often they would cut the audio to the TV speakers meaning no one else could hear the TV.
Knocked a few up for people but it needs checking the set up will work SCART out and if you want wifi headphone option.
Knocked a few up for people but it needs checking the set up will work SCART out and if you want wifi headphone option.
toastyhamster said:
...He spent a lot of money on some custom hearing aids...
My hearing aids are NHS supplied Oticon Spirit Synergy which have a built in wireless functionality. Through the NHS I purchased an Oticon Streamer Pro which allows me to link my mobile phone and hearing aids via bluetooth. There is an adapter box for TVs which allows the sound to be streamed directly to to the hearing aids. I don't have the TV adapter but it can be connected to the TV using TOSLINK, a SCART adapter, Phono plugs or a headphone socket.https://www.oticon.com/solutions/accessories/conne...
FlossyThePig said:
toastyhamster said:
...He spent a lot of money on some custom hearing aids...
My hearing aids are NHS supplied Oticon Spirit Synergy which have a built in wireless functionality. Through the NHS I purchased an Oticon Streamer Pro which allows me to link my mobile phone and hearing aids via bluetooth. There is an adapter box for TVs which allows the sound to be streamed directly to to the hearing aids. I don't have the TV adapter but it can be connected to the TV using TOSLINK, a SCART adapter, Phono plugs or a headphone socket.https://www.oticon.com/solutions/accessories/conne...
Aaaahhhhhhhh update
Change of TV allowing 3.5mm headphone connection worked brilliantly, very happy.
Until......
Tried to use a different remote, turns out even with his magnifier the input changes (DVD player) on the LG remote are too tricky for him so I had to swap back and try and find another option.
I was thinking of BIG universal remotes that I could perhaps programme the input change he was struggling with, but my experience with any programmable remote is that you occasionally end up with a partially missed sequence and that could potentially leave him without TV.
Latest thoughts, HDMI splitter with a 3.5mm stereo out - would work perfectly if I could find one without a tiny tiny button that either allows the audio to HDMI pass through or to the 3.5mm jack. Anybody know of one that preferably auto switches or with a big f*ck off button?
Change of TV allowing 3.5mm headphone connection worked brilliantly, very happy.
Until......
Tried to use a different remote, turns out even with his magnifier the input changes (DVD player) on the LG remote are too tricky for him so I had to swap back and try and find another option.
I was thinking of BIG universal remotes that I could perhaps programme the input change he was struggling with, but my experience with any programmable remote is that you occasionally end up with a partially missed sequence and that could potentially leave him without TV.
Latest thoughts, HDMI splitter with a 3.5mm stereo out - would work perfectly if I could find one without a tiny tiny button that either allows the audio to HDMI pass through or to the 3.5mm jack. Anybody know of one that preferably auto switches or with a big f*ck off button?
If you can look at private hearing aids you can access the latest tv boxes which feed the signal direct into the hearing aids. They are often better than the NHS product and the tv boxes range from about £150 to about £200. If you go down this route you can often trial the system first though there might be a small charge with some independents.
If you go down this route virtually all of the manufacturers products direct link to mobile phones and a company called Widex has a home telephone that will connect automatically to the hearing aids.
Just be careful who you buy from and do your research as often the most important aspect is the audiologist you are dealing with and their level of care and experience in the fitting.
If you go down this route virtually all of the manufacturers products direct link to mobile phones and a company called Widex has a home telephone that will connect automatically to the hearing aids.
Just be careful who you buy from and do your research as often the most important aspect is the audiologist you are dealing with and their level of care and experience in the fitting.
OP: have you thought about voice control using Alexa? Another poster has just installed this for an elderly relative & he says it works very well. He ended up with a Hisense TV but some LGs & other brands have the ability to connect with Alexa.
There's a fair bit of information over on AVForums:
https://www.avforums.com/search/786240/?q=alexa+co...
There's a fair bit of information over on AVForums:
https://www.avforums.com/search/786240/?q=alexa+co...
Thanks, he's got an appointment coming up so he'll ask about it then.
Hopefully solved the TV sound anyway, got an HDMI splitter (thought it was SCART, was wrong), so one HDMI output can go to the TV and the other one can go to another HDMI splitter, this one for audio with a 3.5mm output for his headphones. So both the TV and the headphones should have audio at the same time and he can choose what to listen to. No buttons to press, just turn the volume down on the TV or not.
Hopefully solved the TV sound anyway, got an HDMI splitter (thought it was SCART, was wrong), so one HDMI output can go to the TV and the other one can go to another HDMI splitter, this one for audio with a 3.5mm output for his headphones. So both the TV and the headphones should have audio at the same time and he can choose what to listen to. No buttons to press, just turn the volume down on the TV or not.
pherlopolus said:
I have the phonak TV link and compilot for my aids. Really helps with hearing on TV conversations etc.
If he bought state of the art aids, they may have Bluetooth built in now? (Having a free trial of them when my warranty runs out next year)
Phonak launched Marvel about 18 months ago and its a fantastic product. The tv link is bluetooth so no need to wear the compilot and if you go to the audeo range you can get them rechargeable. With the Sonva group ( phonak and Unitron ) their products will work with android phones too. If he bought state of the art aids, they may have Bluetooth built in now? (Having a free trial of them when my warranty runs out next year)
toastyhamster said:
My Dad is getting on a bit and even with hearing aids has to have the TV up pretty loud to hear it.
He needs some GN Resound hearing aids coupled with a Cochlear TV Streamer. He can then stream the tv sound via bluetooth directly to his hearing aids, although he will need an IPhone to control all the settings. He can adjust the ratio betwenn TV sound and the room, so he can just have the tv and not hear anyone else in the room, or 75/25, 50/50, whatever ratio suits. It's not a cheap solution, but it's the best one by a mile.
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