IQbuds is compatible with Bluetooth 4.2 and above. Please make sure that your machine has compatible Bluetooth You will need to check your speaker settings. This can be done by right-clicking the speaker icon in the notification of the Windows and select Playback devices. IQbuds BOOST is the most advanced assistive listening device on the market today. It incorporates Ear ID, an App based audiometric hearing assessment that calibrates the IQbuds to your unique hearing profile, using NAL-NL2 calibration algorithms. IQbuds BOOST enhances how you hear your world with your unique hearing needs in mind. Nuheara Support; App and Software - Updates and FAQ's Menu App and Software - Updates and FAQ's.
Ease of Use
The IQbuds can be set up and controlled on both Android and iPhone through the IQbuds App, while the Airpods can only be set up and controlled on an iPhone. If you’re an Android user, you can set up the Airpods on a friend or family’s iPhone, however you won’t be able to control amplification volume on the go. So Android users, the IQbuds may be a better option for you.
Iqbuds Updater Application
The Airpods are easy and intuitive to use, with great Bluetooth stability and a single squeeze button on the stem. A short squeeze will play/pause music or answer/hang up a call, while a long squeeze switches between transparency and active noise cancellation modes. It does lack additional controls like directionality and speech-in-noise, which available on the IQbuds, but I found just having volume control was adequate.
In contrast, I found the IQbuds quite confusing to use. Their controls and interface were not intuitive, requiring both buds to be inserted to use the hearing aid mode. If you removed one earbud from your ears, it would mute both but not pause music and overall I found the experience quite unrefined. This, in conjunction with a number of other issues we will discuss, makes them hard to recommend, especially given the Airpods for the most part, just work!
Iqbuds App For Ipad
Music Quality
Music playback sounds fantastic on both earbuds, with the Airpods packing a bit more bass and the IQbuds bringing better mid and high clarity. In my opinion, you will be happy with the sound quality either one you go for, and further adjustments to the sound profile can be made in the equalizers. Because of the more occluding fit and larger driver sizes (on both sets of buds), they definitely sound better than any traditional hearing aid for music playback.
Additionally, although the Airpods Pro do customize your music playback to your hearing loss, the IQbuds Max do not. Meaning you may get better music clarity and fidelity out of the Airpods if you have a hearing loss.
In January 2020, at CES in Las Vegas, Nuheara unveiled its next generation advanced hearing buds–the IQbuds2 MAX. The company’s latest generation devices are built upon Nuheara’s new technical platform, offering a number of improvements and features to personalize the user’s listening experience.
After having set company sales records for pre-orders of the new IQbuds2 MAX following its unveiling in January, Nuheara began delivering devices to customers this past week.
First Impressions
The earbuds arrived in a well-designed package, consistent with what you might expect when opening a new smartphone or other premium electronics.
The charging case and the buds themselves were actually smaller than expected.
An eartip tray, included in the box, helps to ensure a proper fit for a range of ear canal sizes–in both silicone and soft foam (Small, Medium and Large). Replacing the eartips was found to be a simple task and a brief demonstration video can even be accessed on the App.
The buds themselves are specifically marked (L&R), to distinguish between ears and ensure an appropriate and comfortable fit
Insertion into the canal was intuitive and even with significant head movement, the buds felt securely in place–ensuring the buds wouldn’t be at risk of falling out, even during a strenuous exercise. Removing the the buds from the ears was just as easy and straightforward.
Placing the buds in the charging case is made simple by a magnetic system that “grabs” the buds and sets them in the right position to charge. The charging case can easily fit in a pocket or purse, and holds up to 3 full charges.
A full charge takes about 2 hours.
Personalized Sound Experience with IQbuds App
The IQbuds App can be downloaded for both iOS and Android and allows the user to personalize their sound experience. The app offers the user a simple tutorial of pairing their new buds to their phone and then allows them to customize the listening experience, as well as modifying the tap controls found on the buds.
The user begins the customization process by answering some questions, such as whether they’ve had a professional hearing test or wear hearing aids. Like earlier versions of the company’s buds, the IQbuds2 MAX utilize the Ear ID hearing assessment, for sound customization.
The Ear ID assessment was found to be a more thorough test than what was expected. After monitoring the environment for sound level, it walks the user through a test of 6 frequencies, from 20 to 70 dB, in each ear: 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 3000 Hz, 4000 Hz, and 6000 Hz.
The buds utilize the NAL-NL2 fitting formula (the most popular fitting formula used in hearing aids today) to customize the sound following completion of the Ear ID process.
Sound Quality
Following the completion of the Ear ID assessment, the overall quality of sound was evaluated. A quick tour through different genres of music via a popular music streaming service found a rich and high-fidelity sound, with deep bass and crisp treble.
After a brief period familiarizing with how the device’s tap controls work–which can be modified within the app itself–phone calls were easy and came through very clearly. Connecting with Siri was simple, through the use of a quick double tap on the buds.
The “World Off” feature–which turns the outside mics on/off–is especially useful when on a call or streaming music, to reduce noise from the outside world if desired.
Testing out the 7 different manual program settings available in the app, found distinct differences between programs in terms of sound quality, similar to what might be expected with a traditional hearing aid (such as a more focused mic directionality setting in ‘restaurant’ mode).
A walk outdoors with the buds discovered the noise reduction features to be quite effective at reducing steady-state noise from a water fountain and a neighbor’s lawn mower.
After only a short time of listening through the various program settings in different environments, one could easily see how these buds could quite effectively be used for situational hearing enhancement and not simply for music or calls.
Other Noteworthy Features
There are several notable features found on the IQbuds2 MAX, of interest to both hearing professionals and end users. Such as:
- 12 channel processing
- Wide Dynamic Range Compression (WDRC)
- Directional microphones
- 7 manual program options via app – 4 stored on device
- Bluetooth 5.o compatible
- Hybrid Active Noise cancellation
- 8.5 hours hearing processing time
- 5 hours music playback time (world off, streaming active)
- NMFi ear-to-ear connectivity
For those interested in a deep dive of the technical specs, a full specification sheet can be viewed here.
Verdict
The IQbuds2 MAX provide the high fidelity sound expected from a premium wireless headset, but also offer users a unique and compelling set of features not found in traditional wired or wireless headphones.
With hearing processing time at approximately 8.5 hours when not streaming, they aren’t intended for all day use like a traditional hearing aid, but for less than $400 a pair the IQbuds2 MAX offer a premium set of features and sound amplification adjustments that could help with situational hearing difficulty for some people and perhaps get them started on the path to seeking professional hearing care.
More information on the IQbuds2 MAX can be found on the company’s website here.