by Neil Bauman, Ph.D.
A lady asked:
I’m currently trying out a loaner PockeTalker Pro. There’s also a PockeTalker Ultra. I’ve downloaded the spec sheets on both, but I’m still not clear on what the difference is between the two models. Do you know?
The Pro is the older PockeTalker model. Williams Sound didn’t think it looked sexy enough anymore, so they came up with a newer design and called it the Ultra. Basically, the differences are cosmetic. The amplifiers produce about the same volume. One difference is that the Ultra has an external tone control. With the Pro, you have to open it up and use a screwdriver to adjust the tone.
The Pro comes with a case which you wear on your belt. In contrast the Ultra has a lanyard so you can hang it around your neck. The batteries are different too. The Pro uses two double A batteries while the Ultra uses two triple A batteries. You can see the PockeTalker Ultra here.
Have Pocketalker Pro. Fantastic, can again watch and enjoy TV again, after many years of no sound. Wonderful. On a scale of 1 – 10, I’ll have go give a rating of 100 +. If you have ever lost your ability to hear, you’ll understand this rating.
Please urge Williams Sound to produce this ALD with two earphone ports each with it’s own volume control. This to allow people with different loss in each ear to set the volume correctly to accommodate the different loss level. Also pls put me on top of list for one of these models as soon as they are available. Thanks
Hi Lee:
When they were in the preliminary design stages for the PockeTalker Ultra, I strongly urged Williams Sound to do exactly that–and in their great “wisdom” they totally ignored me–so it is not going to happen any time soon.
I have also suggested to other manufacturers of personal amplifiers that they might want to do this and corner the market of people with unequal hearing in each ear, but so far no luck in that regard either.
Regards
Neil
Per the specs the Ultra has AVC the Pro does not.
Thank you for your comparison, I’ve been wondering what the difference is. Have you compared these against the PockeTalker 2.0 yet?
Hi Martin:
I wrote a comprehensive article on the PockeTalaker 2.0. You can read it at http://hearinglosshelp.com/blog/the-new-pocketalker-2-0-love-at-first-sound/.
This explains the features it has that I had wanted Williams Sound to put in the Ultra model, but didn’t include even one of them.
As compared to sound quality, volume and tone–all three are about the same. They are all excellent units–but of course, I love my model 2.0 the best, and have retired my other two previous models.
Cordially,
Neil
Hey Doc Neil. Kudos to you on your pocket talker article! What a magnificent device. I have been doing a lot of doctoring at Mayo Clinic in LaCrosse. Last few time there I had the good fortune to be allowed to use one of their pocket talkers. Aside from volume, the external tone control makes all the difference how well they work. You are also right about dual ear output controls. Although I am legally deaf in both ears, my left is a little bit better than my right. That really throws my balance off. I use touch points a lot for balance. Separate ear control would be a blessing. Again Kudos to you!
Mike Corcoran
Hi Mike:
I love my PockeTalker 2.0. It has all the features I need.
Incidentally, I don’t know of any law that defines “legal deafness”. I’ve heard people use the term, but I’ve asked lawyers to show me where hearing loss is legally defined and its just not there. So the term legal deafness is totally meaningless. Better just to say you have a mild/moderate/moderately severe/severe/profound hearing loss. Those values are defined (at least audiologically) and thus have some real meaning to them.
Cordially,
Neil