General - Pre-Sales Questions

The BeHear ACCESS Model II hearing amplifier includes all the features of the BeHear ACCESS Model I. In addition, Model II includes:

  • Tone control: An option for emphasizing either low or high frequencies directly from the headset, enabling customization without using the BeHear app. Tone control is available for all listening modes: live hearing, cell phone calls, and music/audio streaming.
  • Bluetooth 5.0: A more stable connection than 4.2, it is easier to pair and supports “over the air” firmware updates for the BeHear device.
  • Increased loudness: A new amplification formula allows higher gain without feedback.
  • Tinnitus masking: A transparent masking noise can be generated through the headset to lessen tinnitus discomfort. Users can customize the volume, sharpness, pitch, balance, and modulation of the noise using the BeHear app.

The degree of latency is determined by the transmitter. Paired Bluetooth devices can only communicate by using the same audio CODEC. If your transmitter* does not support the aptX-LL low-latency Bluetooth audio CODEC, even though your BeHear headset does, you may sense a delay in the audio delivery.

  • aptX-LL provides the best performance with minimal latency. It is the recommended setting, and the BeHear default.
  • aptX is similar to aptX-LL but the latency is slightly longer.
  • SBC is the standard Bluetooth CODEC supported by all devices, latency is long and not fixed.

* The HearLink PLUS transmitter does support the aptX-LL low-latency audio CODEC, so you will not detect any audio delay when using it with your BeHear headset.

Bluetooth range for Class II devices like our BeHear NOW and ACCESS headsets is up to ~33 feet (10 meters). This holds true even if you leave the room.
Note: There may be interference from other electronic devices or objects which will affect that range.

Operating Instructions

If you have paired SMARTO to a TV or other Bluetooth device simply press the red “hang-up call” button on SMARTO to pause the audio stream. After a few seconds the LED will shine yellow to indicate that you are in Personal Hearing mode. To switch back to the streamed audio press the green “answer call” button on SMARTO. The LED will shine in blue to indicate the Bluetooth is active.

In this case we recommend placing your mobile phone in front of you or in your hand, but not in a tight pocket or otherwise pressed against your body, as the body blocks the Bluetooth signal.

Oftentimes, when you connect BeHear to your computer, you will see two BeHear entries: one as Headphone and one as Headset. For best results we recommend the following:

  • For 2-way communication – Use the headset entry if you are on a video or audio call and the headset communication is two-way (send and receive).
  • For 1-way communication (streaming only) – Use the headphone entry if you will be using BeHear for music/audio listening.
  1. Using your smartphone, download the free W&H BeHear app from Google Play Store or the Apple Store.
  2. Open the W&H BeHear app, and choose an interface language.
  3. You will be prompted to indicate which headset you have (either BeHear NOW or BeHear ACCESS).
  4. The app will then show you how to put the headset into pairing mode (your phone’s Bluetooth option must be active).
  5. Follow the app’s on-screen prompts to connect the headset to your phone.
  6. Once the connection is successful, the headset will be turned off automatically. You are instructed to press its power button to turn it back on.
  7. Once the headset is back on, the pairing process is complete and you should start the hearing assessment.
  1. To connect your BeHear headset to a Windows PC desktop computer, first you must place the headset into pairing mode (when the headset is OFF, press the power button for several seconds until the LED flashes alternating red and blue lights).
  2. Then (and only then!) go to Settings > Bluetooth & other devices on your Windows PC.
  3. Click the “Add Bluetooth or other device” option
    Add a Bluetooth device on Windows PC - part 1
  4. Click “Bluetooth”:
    Add a Bluetooth device on Windows PC - part 2
  5. Your BeHear headset will appear as an audio device in the list next to a “headphone” icon. Click on this device name to connect:
    Add a Bluetooth device on Windows PC - part 3

Note: If you don’t follow the sequence detailed above, and instead start searching for new device in the PC while your headset is simply ON (not in pairing mode), BeHear will appear in the list as unknown device, with no “audio” under the name and no “headphone” icon next to it. Connecting to this device will not activate BeHear as a headphone/headset.
Add a Bluetooth device on Windows PC - part 4

Make sure that the Bluetooth option on your computer is set to “on”. This option is usually found in the “Settings” section, “Bluetooth and Other Devices” sub-section.

On Windows computers you can quickly access the Bluetooth settings from the action center in the system tray.Bluetooth setting in Windows action center

If you don’t see the Bluetooth icon here it may be an indication that Bluetooth is not active. In this case, go to the computer Settings → Devices and make sure the Bluetooth switch is ON. If it is not, slide it to the right to activate Bluetooth.

If you have a set top box you may be able to use it to bypass the television’s audio output jack and solve this problem. Many set top boxes (cable boxes) have an analog audio output jack and/or an optical (digital) audio output jack. By connecting the HearLink PLUS TV transmitter directly to the set top box the audio may transmit simultaneously to the BeHear headset and the television speakers, allowing both the BeHear wearer and the other viewers to hear the audio.

If you have a set top box you can use it instead, as many set top boxes (cable boxes) have an analog audio output jack and/or an optical (digital) audio output jack. In this case, connect the HearLink/HearLink PLUS TV transmitter directly to the audio output jack on the set top box.

Sure! BeHear products connect to practically any Bluetooth-supported device (such as an iPad, music player, or other tablet) to stream audio directly to your headset. For tips on connecting multiple Bluetooth devices to your headset see this video (for BeHear NOW) and this video (for BeHear ACCESS).

A grayed-out Home button indicates that the headset is not connected to the app. Go to Settings->Connection and verify that the headset is in the Paired Devices list. If you don’t see the BeHear device in the list you’ll need to pair it — see the video links below for instructions.

screenshot of paired BeHear device
When a BeHear device is paired properly a checkmark will appear.

When the headset is connected properly a checkmark will appear. If there is no checkmark, tap the name of the headset in the list of Paired devices to re-connect the headset. Another way to reinstate the connection is with a short press on the headset’s Power button. For more information about pairing your headset with the app, watch these videos:

Absolutely! BeHear headsets can support multiple audio sources simultaneously. For example, you can listen to media on your laptop, and still be connected to your mobile phone.

For each additional Bluetooth device you would like to link to the BeHear headset you will need to perform the pairing procedure (placing the headset into “Pairing Mode” by turning it OFF, and then pressing the power button for several seconds until the LED flashes red/blue).

For more information, use this link to see the video instructions, or this link to read the manual.

Product Specifications

The degree of latency is determined by the transmitter. Paired Bluetooth devices can only communicate by using the same audio CODEC. If your transmitter* does not support the aptX-LL low-latency Bluetooth audio CODEC, even though your BeHear headset does, you may sense a delay in the audio delivery.

  • aptX-LL provides the best performance with minimal latency. It is the recommended setting, and the BeHear default.
  • aptX is similar to aptX-LL but the latency is slightly longer.
  • SBC is the standard Bluetooth CODEC supported by all devices, latency is long and not fixed.

* The HearLink PLUS transmitter does support the aptX-LL low-latency audio CODEC, so you will not detect any audio delay when using it with your BeHear headset.

The operational distance for the HearLink PLUS paired with a BeHear NOW or BeHear ACCESS is up to ~200ft (~60m).

If you are interested in a more detailed explanation, keep reading.

The BeHear NOW and BeHear ACCESS headsets are Bluetooth Class II devices, while the HearLink PLUS is a Bluetooth Class I device.

  1. A Bluetooth link between two devices is always bi-directional. The actual range depends on radio performance of the transmitter and the receiver on the both sides.
  2. The difference between Class I and Class II Bluetooth devices in radio transmitting power is 16dB (Class I – 20dBm, Class II – 4dBm). Consequently, the power transmitted by a Class I device is ~40 times greater than that of a Class II device (10^(16/10)). The distance is a function of the square root of the power, meaning that the distance can be increased by ~6 times (SQR(40)) from 10m for Class II to 60m for Class I.
  3. In addition, a Class I device has improved receiver sensitivity (by ~4dB), which leads to an increased distance of ~1.5 times. Consequently, typical distance for Class I is 100m vs. 10m for Class II.
  4. When a Class I device is connected to a Class II headset the expected distance is as follows:
    a. From a Class I transmitter to a Class II receiver – up to 60m (see paragraph #2)
    b. From a Class II transmitter to Class I receiver – up to 15m (see paragraph #3)
    c. For a bi-directional it is ~15m, based on the shortest range of #a and #b.
  5. HearLink PLUS as a Class I device provides additional improvements because of its dual-antenna design. The major effect is for the receiving part, since transmitting power is limited according to the standard. For communication with a Class II receiver, like our BeHear headsets, the distance is increased significantly because of this improvement. 

The current versions of both our headsets (BeHear NOW and BeHear ACCESS) support both the Qualcomm aptX “classic” and aptX-LL (low latency) codecs.

Technical

This depends on how you are using your BeHear ACCESS, and your specific TV.

  • If you are using BeHear in Personal Hearing mode to amplify nearby important sounds, others will be able to hear the TV as well.
  • If you are using BeHear as a Bluetooth receiver, paired with your television, others will probably not be able to hear the TV. However, if your television (or set top box) supports simultaneous sound output to optic/RCA/3.5mm and the TV speakers, we have a recommendation for a workaround (see below).

If your television doesn’t support Bluetooth, or if it doesn’t support dual audio output when a Bluetooth device is connected, we recommend using a Bluetooth transmitter, such as our HearLink PLUS, to enable the television audio to be transmitted to both your BeHear headset and the TV speakers.

In any event, you should check your television manual for information about Bluetooth connections and dual audio output.

First, verify that you are within Bluetooth range (~10 feet, 3.5 meters for HearLink; ~200 feet, 60 meters for HearLink PLUS).

If that is not the issue, and a long time has passed between uses, or if the smartphone has been playing an audio stream, the headset may not automatically reconnect with the HearLink or HearLink PLUS transmitter when you are within range. In this case, a short press on the headset’s Power button should re-establish the connection with the transmitter.

Yes, absolutely!

Depending on the application, BeHear may appear either as a headset or as a headphone, just like most other Bluetooth headphones.

For most music players it will be listed as a “headphone” while for messaging services, such as Skype/Viber/WeChat etc., it will be listed as a “headset”.

Depending on the application, BeHear may appear either as a headset or as a headphone, just like most other Bluetooth headphones.

For most music players it will be listed as a “headphone” while for messaging services, such as Skype/Viber/WeChat etc., it will be listed as a “headset”.