Oticon's ConnectLine hearing aid accessories stream your tunes right into your head

While we've seen plenty of prototype and conceptual aids that might some day revolutionize the lives of those struggling with hearing loss, it's rare that we see something real holding just as much potential. That's what we have here with the ConnectLine wireless streaming system from Oticon (no, gamers, not Otacon). We've seen the company tap into the Bluetooth craze before with aids that can be synced with mobile phones, and now it's taking that a step further, enabling them to be paired with a base station (pictured below) that can connect to your TV, stereo, or even a landline phone to send audio right into its compatible hearing aids. No word on cost, but just think: if ol' Snake had one of these Otacon might not have had to yell so much.

[Via MedGadget]

[Zeth Ethereal Posted Apr 9th 2009 8:29AM]

Crab Battle!

[emptythecache Posted Apr 9th 2009 8:34AM]

the real question is, if i don't have any hearing problems, and i buy this just so i can always listen to music, does that make me a douchebag?

[blash Posted Apr 9th 2009 11:37AM]

You'd lose a lot for the privelege - unlike with glasses, which can make your eyesight better than perfect (except perhaps in the peripheral areas), hearing aids cannot fully duplicate the sound qualities of the human ear, only imitation, which will leave you disadvantaged in areas where many people are speaking, a lot of wind, hard-walled environments where sound bounces off the walls, etc.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 9th 2009 2:22PM]

So instead of buying $50 bluetooth stereo headsets, you'd like to spend about $6000 on a pair of aids + streamer?

[Rumblejazz Posted Apr 9th 2009 8:37AM]

pardon?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 9th 2009 8:40AM]

I have this, sort of. I don't have anything that's ConnectLine-branded or a base station, but a month ago I bought two Oticon hearing aids with Bluetooth, and the Streamer device. The Streamer acts as a remote to adjust the volume in the hearing aids, and it also (optionally) streams audio -- phone calls or music -- from my Palm Centro directly into the aids. This is great in a work situation; whereas previously if I was listening to music through conventional earphones and someone came in to talk to me, I'd have to remove the earphones and put in my hearing aids. Now if someone comes in to see me and I'm listening to music, I push a button on the Streamer and the hearing aids go back to being hearing aids. As I said, I don't have a base station, but the the aids and the Streamer cost me $5,900.00. Mine may have been on the expensive side because I opted for the "in the canal" type, not the type (pictured above) that hangs over the back of the ear. The smaller they are, the more expensive they are.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 9th 2009 10:38AM]

Wow. I wish they'd had those 2.5 years ago when I got my Oticon Deltas for $6K. I haven't worn them in months because I listen to music so much, and I can't seem to find headphones that work with them in. I've only just finished paying for the first set, I sure can't buy another set yet.

[Joshs Red Pants Posted Apr 9th 2009 8:53AM]

badger badger badger badger

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 9th 2009 9:18AM]

mushroom.mushroom.

[superhobo Posted Apr 9th 2009 9:05AM]

OLIOLIOIOIOLIOLIOLIOLIOLIOLIOOOOOO

[nac300 Posted Apr 9th 2009 9:33AM]

lol!

[enginerd Posted Apr 9th 2009 9:37AM]

Otacon had to yell because Snake was dead.

[Melvin Posted Apr 9th 2009 9:40AM]

MGS FTW!

[hfm Posted Apr 9th 2009 9:50AM]

Suuunaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake!

[Triscuit Posted Apr 9th 2009 10:47AM]

This is quite interesting to me. My dad sells hearing aids, and it's not often that my love of geek-hood/technology and his profession cross paths. I'd seen his demo unit for the bluetooth streaming version of this, and I even thought, "It'd be better if it streamed music/movies." Lo and behold, here it is.

[(Unverified) Posted May 27th 2009 3:59PM]

you mentioned your dad sells hearing aids - I lost my streamer can you get a price from him for one, I am getting too high quotes - $295 ??? I can't believ eit woul dcost more than say a cell phone. it is oticon# 150-00-231-00 i have the wires would just need short cord with plastic attachment and a skin covering if available
please email me at [e-mail]
thanks

[petepete Posted Apr 9th 2009 10:55AM]

my dad wears hearing aids, and he refuses to buy the kind that wrap around your ear like a startrek prop. if they developed this tech with the in-ear kind, im sure it would be much more popular

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 16th 2009 6:05PM]

Phonak Hearing Systems also has this ability with their entire product line using a device much smaller than Oticon and Siemens. It is called an iCom. Also, the iCom is the only device to send a stereo signal to both ears. http:// www.phonak-us.com

[blash Posted Apr 9th 2009 11:40AM]

I have something like this for my Siemens Pure hearing aids, called a Tek -
https://hearing.siemens.com/en/04-products/19-tek/tek.jsp
and although it would actually send the audio over to the hearing aids, it's very soft, the sound quality is horrible, and the range is disgusting (I'll slip the remote into my pants pocket and I'll get static). I much prefer to simply slip a pair of large-cupped cans over my hearing aids and enjoy the music that way.

[fernando Posted Apr 9th 2009 12:11PM]

irl lol at that picture, now people are looking at me. thanks engadget :D

[cray Posted Apr 9th 2009 12:37PM]

As a hearing impaired reader, thanks for publishing this. I was unaware that Bluetooth had invaded hearing aids. I own an Oticon, it's rather old but it's been very reliable for me. I'm considering upgrading after reading this news.

[(Unverified) Posted May 5th 2009 10:23AM]

You totally should upgrade! I wear Oticon Epoqs and they're just fabuous. Directionality is unbelievable, and the XW model communicates between ears so you really get a natural hearing experience. It's amazing. Not to mention the Bluetooth capability (I have a streamer) is pretty badass. :)

[Bandigolo Posted Apr 9th 2009 2:00PM]

lol, nice pic.