Zepp Clarity One Hearing Aid Review

Zepp Clarity One Hearing Aid Review
(MSRP $699.00 - on sale now for $599.00)

     You might not be aware that just like you can now legally purchase reading glasses without a prescription, you can now also purchase over the counter (OTC) hearing aids without a hearing test or prescription. My normal press beat is new and emerging technologies. So, you might find it interesting how and why I selected to do a review of this OTC hearing aid.
     At the request of my children, I went to an audiologist for a hearing test to determine if I need a hearing aid. The tests indicated that I was borderline; which meant a hearing aid could be beneficial in certain situations. While mulling over whether or not to purchase a $1,600 to $4,000 hearing aid, I received an email from Zepp, the manufacturer of the Clarity One, asking if I would like to test the Clarity One and write a review.

Clarity One Physical Overview
     The Clarity One hearing aids are very small and fit completely inside your ear canals. See photo 1 and 2. Photo. 3 shows you their physical size when they are not hidden inside your ears or hidden inside their, extremely well designed, charging case. To get started with these hearing aids you first need to download the Zepp Hearing Aid app from the Apple or Android app stores.
     Each small hearing aid actually contains a rechargeable battery that powers its microphone, amplifier, micro computer chip, hearing programs, and speakers. They have the battery power to improve your hearing even if you wear them from early morning to late at night.
     Even though the Clarity One is extremely small, its left and right ear unit has 4 different hearing programs that you can switch between by double taping on your ear with an open hand. Each double tap will take you up to the next program and then back around again to hearing program 1. You can actually run a different program, if you wish, in your left ear than the one running in your right ear. You can only run 4 programs on the Clarity One. However, if you wish you can switch out any of the four preinstalled programs using the app. If you look at photo 4 you can see that I switched the preset program 4 to the theater program.
     The rechargeable battery in this case, see photo 1 again, has plenty of battery power for recharging the hearing aid for a number of days before you will need to plug it in for recharging. It is however recommended that you charge the hearing aids and case each night. You will also use the case in combination with the Zepp app to change the base, treble and volume or switch any of the 4 pre-installed hearing programs to others available in the app. Photo 4 and 5 shows you all the personalization changes that you can make. Photo 6 includes a link to the Zepp Clarion website to see current discounts.

Positives
     The Clarion One did improve my hearing when I tested it. The difference was most notable when I tested them while out to dinner in a noisy restaurant and at a live show at a local theatre production. Other positive features included the fact that when you switch from one program to another the hearing aid tells you which program you are on. Another positive feature is that you can run different programs in each ear and swap out the four preinstalled programs for others available in the app. See photo 4 again. They were comfortable to wear all day and easy to put in and take out. If you purchase them directly from the Zepp store (https://clarity.zepp.com/products/zepp-clarity-one) they will give you a 60-day trial period and if you find they do not meet your needs they will provide you with a full refund. Note the instruction manual that was included with the Clarion One only indicates a 45 day return policy. Perhaps a very good reason to purchase them directly from Zepp. See photo 6 again.

Negatives
     You connect the Zepp app to the case using Bluetooth on your Android or iPhone. The hearing aids themselves are not connected to your cellphone so all setting changes must be done while the hearing aides are in their case. I found the fact that you can’t stream music or phone calls to these hearing aids a major negative. Another negative is the app doesn’t include a hearing assessment test that you could use to help you decide which hearing program would be best for you. When double tapping my ear to go from one program to another I found sometimes, I needed to tap the same ear a number of times before it made the switch. The last negative that I need to bring to your attention is you can’t directly link into the sound system at Broadway shows.

The final word
     When I am at the gym, I stream music to my earbuds which is something you can’t do using the Clarion One Hearing Aid. If this wasn’t for me such a significant negative I would have given the Clarion One 5 stars.