Bose Releases FDA-Approved SoundControl Hearing Aid

Audio gear giant Bose has now jumped into the hearing aid industry with the launch of its first-ever SoundControl wearables that are cleared by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). The best thing about the SoundControl hearing aids is that these are their first direct-to-customer version. This means that you can purchase them directly online without any prescription from an audiologist, doctor, or any hearing test.

These new hearing aids are aimed at people who suffer from mild to moderate hearing issues. It also has audio calibration as one of its standout features. It enables the users to get desired sound as per their special requirements.

Hearing Aid Features

Bose SoundControl signal processing contains 12-channel wide dynamic range compression amplification along with compression thresholds that are fixed at speech-equivalent 52 decibels (dB) sound pressure level (SPL). Even noise reduction is active constantly for reducing environmental noise and minimizing amplification of the user’s own voice.

The hearing aid comes in three different sizes of your ear tips with both closed and open domes. Unlike wireless earbuds, this hearing aid is not rechargeable. It comes integrated with a 312 zinc-air battery.

The hearing aid includes eight batteries with the device - each lasting for around four days when utilized for 14 hours per day. These are also water-resistant to survive rain, light, or water exposure. Plus, these come in a carry case that’s easy to move in your pocket or handbag.

Additional features include:

• Steady-state noise reduction
• Feedback cancellation
• Directionality (three modes controllable by user)
• Left/Right balance
• Impulse noise control
• Microphone array for clarifying voices on phone calls
• Bluetooth-compliant 2.4 GHz wireless radio to stream telephony, audio, and control
• Volume-optimized audio equalization
• Battery life up to 10 hours
• Voice prompts
• NFC pairing for compatible iOS and Android devices

Comes With Different Settings

The hearing aid is easy to set up this device for different settings. It comes with only two controls for handling sound. Its World Volume feature amplifies quiet sounds to make them more audible, whereas the Treble/Bass enables the user to adjust its tone to increase or diminish its vocal frequencies. Due to treble everything becomes brighter and crisper, whereas Bass helps in adding more depth and richness to the sound quality.

It also includes a Focus feature for helping you zone in during conversations or handles certain situations. You need to select the Front setting to laser in on the interactions, which will be useful in busy environments. Its Everywhere setting enhances sounds from anywhere, so it is great to use during walks, a day at a park, or working around your house.

This means you can set and store your hearing aids for different activities and places for better audible access.

Bose Hear Smartphone App

The Bose SoundControl hearing aid can be controlled using the Bose Hear mobile smartphone app. This app is suitable for both iOS and Android smartphones. Using this smartphone app, users can easily change its configurations, including “Treble/Bass” and "World Volume" gain settings.

Besides that, a set of manual buttons are available on the cables to adjust both directional mode and the "World Volume".

Price and Availability

The hearing aid kid comes at a 90-day risk-free trial. So, if you don’t like them, you can return the device. They are available for purchase for $849 on the company’s official website. For now, it will be available only in five US states - North Carolina, Massachusetts, Montana, Texas, and South Carolina. But Bose has promised for nationwide rollout soon.