Have anyone compared Apple Airpods Pro 2 for music listening as an alternative to over ear headphones with your HA inside?
I know it probably is a matter of preference, but would love to get some pros and cons.
Stein Arne
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I’ve tried AirPods Max and Bose QC over my HAs (Phonak P90) and neither are anywhere near as good as AirPods Pro2 in my opinion. In addition, I found APM really uncomfortable.
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The Airpod Pro 2s are awesome for music.
As the Airpods are my first foray into hearing aids I cannot give you a comparison BUT I can hear high and mid frequencies that I didn’t know I’d lost until I had a hearing test at Costco a few months ago.
The Airpods are meant for people, with mild to medium hearing loss but I know of quite a few people with severe loss who love them for their music, phone, Facetime and TV capabilities.
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I should have added that AirPods Pro 2 need to have Headphone Accommodations (in the Accessibility settings for iPhone, iPad or Mac) enabled to enhance your listening. I have used a Mimi audiogram linked to Headphone Accommodations. (Apple hearing test isn’t yet available in the UK.)
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Using AirPods Pro 2 right now and I love them but I will not be keeping them. Removing my hearing aids to use always scares me of misplacing my hearing aids. Also, at work I have difficulty hearing my coworkers even with my audiogram loaded. I am awaiting my new hearing aids to sell them as my custom domes should fix my feedback issues my headphones. So yes, you might have feedback issues with some headphones.
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I read that the 18.1 update effectively deleted the use of any audiograms that were being used on Airpod Max and any other Airpods across the range I didn’t even realise that the whole range had the Transparency feature and I’d always assumed it was only for the Airpod Pro 2s.
I am still on 17.7.1 until they are finally approved here in the UK and I wont,be upgrading.
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I know the OG airpod pro (1) had transparency capability, but the occlusion effect kept me from enjoying them. I bought a pair of Airpod pro 2s at costco today for when I walk and in the morning before anyone else is up. So far, so good.
WH
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This is true - but not the whole story. If you have hearing aids with a Telecoil, you can use the telecoil program when wearing over-the-ear headphones and not get any feedback as the aid’s microphones are either reduced or can also be turned off entirely in that program. I do this all the time when recording or mixing music in a DAW. Unfortunately, it seems that new aids with telecoil are becoming a bit more difficult to get - Phonak Spheres do not have that option for instance. This is due to the (almost) advent of Auracast which is a shame.
A workaround that I used for a time was to unhook the aids from behind my ear so that they “dangle” in the main cavity of over-the-ear headphones. This also reduces the feedback propensity because it give more distance between the aid microphones and the headphone cushions. However using a telecoil is much better.
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My previous aids were Oticon Opns and I listened to music using Bose headphones over them. Fantastic.
Currently I have Phonak P90s. I gave my headphones to a relative because I wasn’t able to wear them over the Phonaks without having a lot of screeching from the hearing aids.
I haven’t tried the Airpods.
I hope this helps!
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Thank you for this helpful information!
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Richard. I am running IOS 18.1.1 on my iPhone 14 Pro and I can confirm that Headphone Accommodations is linked to the Mimi audiogram which embedded my latest test into the Health app…and the AirPods Pro 2 sound fantastic!
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Which country do you live in?
I use the Rexton Reach with headphones for my pc sound without feedback issues, having to removing my aids when ever i want to listen to pc is a not going to happen
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I live in the United Kingdom.
I am surprised to hear you say that. Can you double check the IOS your iPhone is running IOS 18.1.1 and not IOS 18.0.1?
The reason I ask is that IOS 18.1 in the UK prevents you an adding an audiogram in Headphone Accommodations. You have to add it in the new Hearing Test app in 18.1 and that doesn’t work in the UK, or isn’t meant to.
It’s the reason I am staying well away from it until the MHRA approves the Airpods as hearing aids.
I am really happy with 17.7.1 and my Airpods continue to work very, very well for me.
Are aware that if you try to set the Airpods up in 18.1 that a severe hearing test result will prevent you from using them as hearing aids? That was another regulation that Apple had to adhere to.
This is supposed to be fixable with molds. The sound is escaping your ear which is why there is feedback.
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Stein, I find the AirPods Pro 2s fantastic for music. I was able to tweak their responses for my hearing before the latest iOS upgrade (well, downgrade really) that stopped this ability, at least in my country and the UK.
I found the key to fidelity in audio was to make sure that you do the fitting/sealing test to get the degree of soundproofing from the outside environment right. This was very easy for me.
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Responding to the original question. I am a (very) recent user of hearing aids but my experience in the last month would be to use the Airpods Pro 2’s. Music sounds very good - both streamed to the Airpods but also listening to LPs etc through our "HiFi " (does anyone still say that?) speakers.
I also got a pair of Eargo 7’s this week and music sounds pretty good using over the ear headphones (using the open petals on the Eargo 7’s).
I could happily listen to both - but I think the Airpod Pro 2s do sound better overall. It is nice to have some hearing options!
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And I have molds. It was still a problem.
With Eargo 7’s I did hear feedback with over the ear headphones if the Eargo 7’s were in music mode. In normal mode no feedback - and sounded pretty good.
As I posted previously I am currently using the open petals to see if they sound more natural (allowing some external audio and reduce the sound of my voice) as suggested by Eargo support last week. The open petals will be more prone to feedback.
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