How is PROXY different from other neck speakers?

You may have seen other products that use the same form factor as BeHear PROXY. However, although the industrial design is the same, the electronics inside, feature set, and audio performance are different.

PROXY supports the following features which are non-existent in the generic products with the same form factor:

  • ListenThroughTM for ambient sound transparency during music playback, keeping you safe and alert
  • SonicVibranceTM which enriches the stereo listening experience during music playback
  • EasyListenTM which slows down speech during phone calls for improved intelligibility
  • Alango’s personal hearing technology for ambient sound amplification

In addition, PROXY uses Alango’s proprietary DSP software for remote voice communication (mobile phone calls) with significant improvement of sound quality compared to standard solutions used in generic products. This is especially important for phone conversations heard through loudspeakers.

Does the BeHear PROXY need Bluetooth to work?

The primary functions of the BeHear PROXY neck speaker are:

1. To provide a comfortable and convenient way to listen to streamed audio (from a television, smartphone, laptop, gaming console, music player, etc.).

2. To allow you to participate in mobile/video calls.

For these use cases Bluetooth is required, and both “ears free” loudspeaker mode and earphones mode are supported.

A secondary function of the BeHear PROXY is to provide hearing amplification for live conversations and ambient sounds. No Bluetooth is required for this functionality, which is supported in earphones mode only. For best results, however, we recommend personalizing what you hear by performing the Hearing Assessment in the W&H BeHear app, which requires a Bluetooth connection to the smartphone on which it is installed. Upon completion of the assessment your unique hearing profile will be programmed into the BeHear PROXY neck speaker, and the Bluetooth connection will no longer be needed.

How heavy is the BeHear PROXY neck speaker?

BeHear PROXY weighs 9 ounces (256g). It fits comfortably around your neck and rests on your collar bone.

How do I turn the BeHear PROXY on and off?

On the inside of the neck band, on the right-hand side, there is a Power switch. Shift it towards the back and hold it until the unit vibrates. The LED on the top side will shine light blue, and a voice prompt will be played. The same action will turn the unit OFF.

Which features are supported in the BeHear PROXY when the earbuds are not in use?

When the earbuds in the BeHear PROXY have been retracted into the neck speaker, and the mode switch on the neck speaker is in the loudspeaker position, the following features are available:

  • Audio play from any Bluetooth-connected source (TV, game console, smartphone, etc.)
  • Hands-free mobile and video calls
  • EasyListenTM for slowing down incoming speech
  • SonicVibranceTM for rich stereo sound during audio play

Which features are supported in the BeHear PROXY when the earbuds are in use?

When using the retractable earbuds in BeHear PROXY, and the mode switch on the neck speaker is in the earbud position, the following features are available:

  • Personalized amplification based on the results of the Hearing Assessment
  • Audio play from any Bluetooth-connected source (TV, game console, smartphone, etc.)
  • Hands-free mobile and video calls
  • EasyListenTM for slowing down incoming speech
  • ListenThroughTM for hearing important ambient sounds above audio play