These Hearing Aids Are Big and Cheap—but the Audio Quality Is a Miss
Linner Nova: The Affordable Hearing Aid That Falls Short
The race to lower prices in the hearing aid market has reached new heights with the introduction of Linner Nova earbuds. Unlike the typical over-the-counter hearing aids priced around $1,000, the Nova set is available for just $300. However, there are several major downsides to this seemingly great deal.
In terms of design, the Nova earbuds appear bulky and resemble oversized Apple AirPods, with a prominent white tail hanging outside the ear. They even feature physical buttons for audio control, making them look more like traditional earbuds than actual hearing aids. Although the selling point of the Nova is their ability to amplify both recorded media and environmental sounds, they fail to deliver on both fronts.
When it comes to audio quality, the Nova earbuds fall short. They offer a mediocre listening experience, lacking immersive bass and clarity. The sound appears muddy and indistinct, regardless of the source. The amplified audio, intended for hearing aid purposes, also disappoints. It is filled with echo, booming sounds, and occasional feedback, particularly impairing voice amplification in the presence of multiple audio sources.
The most useful feature of the Nova earbuds is the volume buttons, allowing for individual adjustment of ambient sound levels; this, however, only applies to ambient sound and not recorded media. The earbuds continuously operate in an ambient sound mode, unlike noise-canceling headphones. And although the ability to fine-tune ambient amplification for each ear can be beneficial, the physical buttons do not control volume when media is playing. Additional adjustments can be made through the Linner HA app.
In conclusion, while the Linner Nova earbuds may seem like a budget-friendly option in the hearing aid market, their design and functionality fall short. The audio quality, both for recorded media and amplified sounds, is subpar. Although the ability to adjust ambient sound levels individually for each ear is a positive aspect, it is overshadowed by the numerous flaws of these seemingly cheap hearing aids.
