Pocket-Size Stereo Amplified Listener

Comments about RadioShack Pocket-Size Stereo Amplified Listener:

I had rupture both ear drums couldn't hear this really help a lot with my hearing until it was better. You do need to buy a headset tho or if you have one around the house that fits is fine. The first one I bought I had to take back after just a week. Second I hope keeps working great idea until ears get better.

Comments about RadioShack Pocket-Size Stereo Amplified Listener:

I have just put this unit to a fourth use: I cannabilized it to use the circuit board as the innards for a home-brew interpreter's control console. Each unit contains two complete mike-to-earphone amplifiers. Two units working in tandem provide the four channels needed for two interpreters to listen to one signal (the "floor" language) and produce another one (the interpretation into a new language for tranmission through a wireless broadcast system). I found it very easy to open and remove the circuit board and redeploy it in my new device--much more easily than building the circuit from scratch, something I have done in the past using ICs, transistores, etc. I'm glad to see that it is back in stock--thought it might have been discontinued.

Comments about RadioShack Pocket-Size Stereo Amplified Listener:

As a speech pathologist who works in a hospital, I have used this product for many years. My hospital serves a predominantly poor population who cannot afford hearing aids, and this affordable product works very well for many people. I have one I carry with me as I work to use with patients who are hearing impaired and either do not have their aids at the hospital or don't own them. It saves my voice-something to consider for family members of hearing impaired people. It lets patients understand what is happening and decreases their fear and anxiety. I have also taken some of these to third world countries on mission trips and been able to give the gift of hearing to people who never thought it possible. They work best with headphones that cover the ear rather than ear buds. The head phones can also be cleaned better for multiple users.
I hope you never discontinue this product as you provide a great service to many people who cannot afford conventional hearing aids.

Comments about RadioShack Pocket-Size Stereo Amplified Listener:

This amazing little box is much more than a cheap hearing aid, which is how it seems to be marketed. It might work for that but I find it exremely useful in my interpretation and electronics business. I have used it in the following three ways:

1) For interpreting to a single person (or more by doubling up headsets). The interpreter speaks into the 33-1096 and the listener (non-English speaker) listens on headphones plugged into the box through an extension cord. Much better than trying to whisper into his ear. Can be across the room.

2) While interpreting where there is no sound pickup provided for the interpreter to hear the speaker, this box will greatly amplify ambient sound and provide it to the interpreter's headphones, allowing him (or her) to talk on the interpreter's mike without drowning out the speaker he is trying to hear. By using an extension cord, the box can be placed close to the spoeaker or even on the lectern;

3) When you have only a high-level (line) input in a piece of electronics (e.g. an interpreter FM transmitter) this box will work as an "amplified mïke" providing a signal that will drive a line input. A most handy device.

I HOPE RS NEVER TAKES IT OUT OF STOCK. I HAVE BOOUGHT MANY OF THESE OVER THE YEARS IN DIFFERENT VERSIONS. THEY WERE EVEN USED IN FEDERAL COURT INTERPRETING IN THE 1980'S WHERE I FIRST SAW IT. IT IS A CHEAP ALTERNATIVE TO SOME EXPENSIVE AND BULKY STUFF.

Comments about RadioShack Pocket-Size Stereo Amplified Listener:

This is the fourth one of these I have purchased for my mom in 5 years. That may seem like a short life-span but my mom cannot wear conventional hearing aides. She is 80 and almost completely deaf. She uses this device every day. It's much cheaper than hearing aides, even when replacing it once a year. The sound quality is very good and it doesn't pick up too much noise that drowns out conversation. Just don't clang your silverware during dinner.

Comments about RadioShack Pocket-Size Stereo Amplified Listener:

It works! No need for the equalizer version in my opinion. If you had more high frequencies they would just amplify the high freq noise around you that much more and would not help understanding conversation.
Don't waste your money on "in line volume controls" or earbuds equipped with such. Those do not amplify the unit; rather they are only a remote way to adjust volume and it is easier to do so on the unit IMO rather than trying to grab for something on a loose chord.
I bought RS 3.99 in-store generic stereo earbuds and they work perfectly and even come with 2 extra sets of ear bud pads in case you loose one. Expensive ear buds are a waste for something like this.
For my use with a slight hearing loss, being able to understand someone better who is close to me and talking softly, it works well. I use it with the enclosed lanyard hung around my neck.
I can't wait to try this out at a movie theater or in front of the TV when someone else has it softer than I need it.

Comments about RadioShack Pocket-Size Stereo Amplified Listener:

Earbuds do not work well.
Use at least a decent quality full size around the ear headphones.
My wife is badly hearing impaired and she has been using this device for many years now with full size Sony headphones.
Also she uses AAA rechargeable batteries.

Comments about RadioShack Pocket-Size Stereo Amplified Listener:

This really helps our hearing impaired participants that do not have a hearing aid.

Comments about RadioShack Pocket-Size Stereo Amplified Listener:

I returned it.

Comments about RadioShack Pocket-Size Stereo Amplified Listener:

My Mother bought this amplifier to better hear conversations and the TV. No matter how the unit is set it picks up accessive hiss. I even built a cone for it to concentrate only the sound of the TV--the hiss stills overrides the TV.
Lousy product.