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Large over ear headphones with behind the ear aids

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Looking for some recommendations for large wired over the ear headphones that will not send my behind the ear hearing aid into a feedback frenzy. For use with tv, video calls and music. I do have streaming to the aid itself but this isn’t always suitable and I’d like to try some headphones and the main thing is to not be too tight around the aid causing the aid to whistle.

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Until you find the headphones you like - there is one trick you can try. Just unhook the aid from behind the ear and let it dangle within the headphone cup. This will have a big impact on the feedback threshold. Obviously be careful when you take the headphones off - in case the aid comes with it - pulling the receiver from your ear.

Hope this helps!

I have two pair of low-budget, wired audiophile-ish headphones that I love. One is an open-back design that is feedback-free (the Massdrop X Sennheiser HD6XX for $199 on the drop.com9 website) that I use for acoustic music primarily, and a closed-back pair that excels with ambient/techno type music (the Meze 99 Neo, also $200 at Crutchfield, Amazon, etc.). Drop has a comparable pair to the Neo called the Meze 99 Noir, btw.

The sealed Meze will definitely squeal unless you decrease the volume to around 25%, the turn up the music volume accordingly. Both are incredibly comfortable, sound great to my ears, and I would buy them again in a heartbeat. There are plenty of reviews of each online if you’d like to read other opinions. I use both with my Jabra Enhance Pro 20 aids.

@finovox said:

Looking for some recommendations for large wired over the ear headphones that will not send my behind the ear hearing aid into a feedback frenzy

Just follow the link @LarsRR posted for the HD6XX, they are basically the HD650 which sells for $430.00! MSRP is $499.00

I wonder if the sennheiser HD series of headphones would help you. They are open backed so they should stop some of the feedback issues. You would likely need a small headphone amp to power them, but you can buy these with inbuilt equalisation settings if memory serves so this migh really help your situation anyway, since you could tune them for what sounded best to you. It won’t be the cheapest option for sure but it’d sound nice.

Also FYI the sony alt wear or other sony wireless headphones, have an option to use wired, I do this all the time in fact as I write this. I’ve used these without issues of feedback they have big ear cups.

Big ear cups are a must! It’s nice that the HD series, and many other brands/models, have replaceable ear pads that are even more comfortable. The only issue with open-back headphones is there will be some sound leakage. My wife could hear whatever I was playing and thought I was ruining what hearing I had left. That’s why I bought the Meze. I also have the Sony WH1000XM4 headphones. They’re a little tighter around the ears but with careful positioning, reduced volume, and possibly reduced mids if you have EQ control, they sound nice and will also work (and give you a wired or wireless option).

I agree that a small headphone amp for your home or dongle dac/amp for your phone or tablet can make a big difference in the sound quality. The price/performance on these devices is pretty amazing these days, well, the price in the pre-tariff days anyway. I haven’t shopped lately but there are lots to choose from on Drop, Apos.Audio, and Amazon in the $50 range and up.

Small headphone amp recommendation: Fosi SK01
Affordable price, has Bass/Middle/Treble tone controls, internal rechargeable battery.

I have a pair of Bose QC35 II headphones that I like. I can wear my aids under them without feedback. I have heard from others that you may need to turn down the volume on your aids if you experience feedback.

I have a pair of Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro headphones (80 ohm) which I use to record music that I create using self-created backing tracks with my vocals, guitar, and harmonicas. I have Phonak spheres and have no problems no matter what the volume. I also used them successfully with Oticons. In addition, I bought a set of replacement ear protectors for the Bereldymanics (the soft cushion part of the head phones that surrounds the ear and glued them on a 40-year old pair of Yamaha headphones that had small ear cushions, and that worked as well. Since I already owned the Bereldynamic head phones I was able to remove the ear piece and test it on the Yamahas prior to ordering the replacement ear cushions (which I found on Ebay). You may just want to go to a store that sells head phones and just try some out.

In reply to @grantb5

Drop.com2 is retailer that works with brand names to customize products. You can pre-order some items and they regularly usually keep some popular items, like the HD6xx, in stock nearly all the time. Since the HD6xx and HD650 are supposed to be essentially the same thing, my guess is that what works for one will work for the other. The Q&A for the ‘Drop Earpads for HD 6XX and 58X’ listed on their website (and currently on sale) indicate they are interchangeable.

It’s definitely worthwhile to explore the site and read the reviews and Q&As for items of interest. If you don’t find your question answered, you can ask it there.

In reply to @grantb5

@grantb5 said:

I’m not familiar with the Massdrop vs regular feature set, but do you know if the replacement head band, ear pads and cables are compatible with those directly from Sennheiser?

Yes, everything is interchangeable between the 6XX and 650.
The only difference between them is the 6XXis supplied with a shorter 6’ cable with a 3.5mm jack vs the 650’s 10’ cable w/ 1/4".
The 6XX has a different colorway, but that’s it.

I have Sony WH1000XM3 over ear headphones. They are roomy and comfortable and fit easily over my ears and over ear aids -Phonac sphere90. These headphones with open domes allow hearing music clearly with excellent fidelity.

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