CS50+ Personal Sound Amplifier Right Ear

Battery life is a disappointment. I ordered 2 sets of these that came with 6 batteries. All 4 stopped charging after 3-4 months. None of them charge and if they do it lasts less than an hour. They cost $100 to replace each 3-4 months with just an 8-10 hour use, as I did.Feedback and noise reduction is a problem. Some pots and pans noise from kitchen sounds like fire crackers. None of the modes and settings using iPhone app did not help with unwanted loud noises.

I bought a CS50 for my mother and then a CS50+ for myself; we both end up wearing them only in limited situations and generally only when prompted. They're good for cleaning up TV dialog and help a lot in a car but they have too many annoyances for them to be an everyday device: (1) sudden/sharp sounds get painfully amplified (e.g., ice-in-a-glass or newspaper rattling become a problem); (2) the little clear plastic ear tips that go into your ear can come off and stay in your ear canal which is scary - and they only ship one of each size so if you lose it (which we've done - they're clear plastic!) then it's $15 for three more, plus $3 shipping; (3) if you wear a too-large eartip the device will generate significant feedback when you cover it (don't wear it and turn your head so the chair top covers your ear - ouch!); (4) the clever magnetic-attach battery is easy to lose (we've lost two of the four so far) and expensive to replace; (5) the battery charges very slowly; (6) the bluetooth connection seems useful but when you get a notification the device switches into 'media' mode and you lose audio amplification for a unpredictable amount of time; (7) as a bluetooth headset the performance is marginal at best; (8) the little copper slider tube that connects the battery and the earpiece quickly becomes too loose ... well, you get the idea. This feels more like a prototype than a product.

Bought the CS50+ based on recommendation of a well-known Consumer magazine Report. Far less expensive than a hearing aid. Battery lasts most of the day while the second one is in the charger; easy to swap out. Smartphone app allows configuration and customization. Never had the ear piece get stuck in my ear, unlike the other review. I use the bluetooth feature only when using the smartphone for directions and it works well.