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Philips Audio Clip

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Philips Audio Clip Experience?

Hello, I’m planning to buy Philips Audio Clip to pair my Hearing Aid 9050 with my computer. Has anyone used this device? Share your thoughts and feedback.

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I have paired mine with two windows computers. The first one paired OK. I could stream with it. I did not try the microphone function.

I had to make multiple attempts with the second computer before I got it to work in both ears. I did try to use the microphone but it never worked. The computer saw the microphone and offered it as an input choice in the sound menu, but there was never any sound from it.

Out of all the MFI connection devices that I have used/tried the Philips/Oticon connect clip worked the best, I have the Starkey version and its so unreliable compared to this.

I’ve been using the Philips Audio Clip for the past few weeks and I’m thoroughly impressed. Its versatility offers three key benefits:

  1. Seamless connection between my Philips 9050 hearing aid and computer.
  2. Reliable Bluetooth connectivity to my Sony TV.
  3. Functions as a when placed near the TV speaker.

Notably, the Bluetooth connection is significantly more stable and stronger than my previous experience with the KS10.

It’s nice to hear your AudioClip is working well. What kind of computer do you have–PC or Mac?

I use a couple of Windows 11 PCs. My Philips Clip works well on both for playing sound from the PC to the aids. But the Clip does not transmit microphone sounds though the PC. That means I cannot do a Zoom session without using some other microphone. I have emailed the Philips support people about this. They have not replied. I hope there is a fix.

The Oticon ConnectClip I used with my previous aids did work for sending microphone sounds through the PC.

On my PCs, when I do select the AudioClip as the microphone source in Zoom, it simply does not work. The PC does not get audio from the clip.

I got an email back from Philps today. Their answer to the PC/AudioClilp microphone problem is to spend more money, to buy a BTD800 bluetooth adapter.

I am disappointed by their answer. I really wonder if they deliberately downgraded the bluetooth function in the AudioClip compared to the Oticon-branded ConnectClip, to help distinguish the premium brand from the Costco offering.

Not sure if it helps, but have you seen this video.

In reply to @stevepriceloco

@stevepriceloco said:

I got an email back from Philps today. Their answer to the PC/AudioClilp microphone problem is to spend more money, to buy a BTD800 bluetooth adapter.

That’s the automatic answer for poor or no connectivity, but it seems off-base in your situation, since it is working for everything but voice transmission.
The AudioClip is the same piece of harware as the CClip, so the only difference is the firmware.
Can you make hands-free calls from your phone with the clip? If so, it’s something in your pc settings, either your sound card or device manager, or zoom settings.
If you have skype or google voice, you can test with those to eliminate the pc.

Well Steve, at this point I’d say you got a defective AudioClip.
Tell Costco to exchange it for a new one, pronto!

In reply to @stevepriceloco

@stevepriceloco said:

I am disappointed by their answer. I really wonder if they deliberately downgraded the bluetooth function in the AudioClip compared to the Oticon-branded ConnectClip, to help distinguish the premium brand from the Costco offering.

No, the Oticon version has issues if the bluetooth implementation in the computer/software (OS and/or application) isn’t correct. My Oticon ConnectClip (I got one many years ago with OPN aids) came with a BTD800 USB dongle - it shows up as an audio device to the computer (in both Windows and macOS). It fixed issues with an iMac Pro but wasn’t needed with various MacBook Pro machines. It was needed for a Dell Precision workstation at work …

I don’t know if Philips publishes a similar document but Oticon has the following as the last item on the first page of their “Technical Data sheet” for the ConnectClip:

PC/Laptop/Computer
It can at times be difficult to pair/connect directly to a computer’s built-in
Bluetooth. To overcome any issues, ConnectClip can be used with the
BTD800 USB dongle for easy/hassle-free connectivity.

In reply to @stevepriceloco

Have you tested it with a USB cable or is the communication to the PC only via Bluetooth and the cable only for charging?

Did the mic driver install when you initially paired to the PC? You could try unpairing it and repairing with the AudioClip very close to the PC Bluetooth antenna. Then see if the mic shows up in the PC.

@user490 said:

Have you tested it with a USB cable or is the communication to the PC only via Bluetooth and the cable only for charging?

I expect it is the same as the Oticon ConnectClip in capabilities. Bluetooth connection to the phone/computer for audio. The USB port is for charging and things like firmware update using Genie. I don’t know if Philips has an equivalent to the Oticon Edumic - that has audio input via a 3.5 mm stereo connector.

Edited

EduMic is different. There’s a spec sheet that says it works with various Demant brands - think it says “Oticon, Bernafon and the Ponto 4 processor.” But one should confirm before purchasing it. Possibly someone here can confirm.

As for Velox S it sounds like EduMic has more onboard sound processing than ConnectClip/AudioClip and has its own Velox S processor. That says nothing about which hearing aids work with EduMic as obviously More/Real/Intent are compatible with EduMic and do not have a Velox S processor.

This is what I get from the Oticon FAQ:
You need an Oticon 2.4 GHz Bluetooth® low energy receiver to stream from EduMic. This receiver is only in Oticon’s hearing aids (and Ponto 4 from Oticon Medical, and Bernafon and Sonic hearing aids as well). We do not offer a 2.4 GHz universal receiver like the Amigo R2 universal receiver.
My CClip from the original series when I had the OPN works with my Intents, as well.

These statements might be from before Philips hit the market. The only way to be certain is for someone who has access to an EduMic and Philips aids to try. It is interesting that Costco doesn’t sell EduMic (I think) but they also just can’t order many Demant items that are compatible with Philips. Costco may have decided to offer AudioClip and not anything more.

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