Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsCompensating for hearing loss (long)
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2018
Music has been my life. From playing in a rock band growing up to 32 years in broadcasting, it's been what I do. But, after so many years of loud headphones and concert promotion, time has caught up with me and I now have a pretty significant high frequency hearing loss that requires that I wear hearing aids. Because music is so important to me, I have been spending quite a bit of money chasing something that works for me for headphones. At this point in time, I'm tired of wires, and the quality of Bluetooth has vastly improved. Plus, with a lot of travel, noise cancelling is important to me.
There is a vast range of quality BT with ANC headphones out there, and I've tried many of them. I've had Bose, Sennheiser, JBL, Sony, Bowers and Wilkins, and B&O, as well as the Even H2's, which administer a hearing test. The issue is adjusting the EQ to compensate for my HF loss. With almost all of them, you have to either use the manufacturer app or an app like EQu or n7player. That's fine for music, but when you watch YouTube videos or movies, you lose the EQ. In addition, I have a couple last generation BT iPod Nanos loaded with different types of music for travel, and the only EQ available is what Apple gives you, which stinks. Prior to my purchase of the Nuraphone, I had settled on the B&O H9i, which I will deal with a little later.
In regard to the EVEN headphones, there are some advantages because you take a hearing test and it saves your settings into the firmware of the phones. The H2's are on ear phones which were very uncomfortable for me. Plus, the sound, while better EQ'd, still fell short of my expectations. After two sets also had stuck power switch issues, I returned them for a refund.
In ear phones have worked best for travel for me. The natural noise isolation of a good fit works well on airplanes. I have settled on the Jaybird X3 and Freedom phones, as well as the B&O E8s, which are my go to phones for domestic travel. Good noise isolation, easy to EQ, and the EQ stays in the earphones if you switch to video or other apps on the phone, including phone calls. But, I carry the Jaybirds with me because the battery life is just 3-4 hours and then you have to put them in the charging case. The E8s also have a transparency mode with is excellent for terminals and planes - a tap shuts off the music and opens the mike to hear announcements or to talk to an attendant without removing the phones. Jaybird EQs are saved to the earphones' firmware and are great for all listening sources, but you have to pull them out for outside info.
While in ear buds can sound good, and the form factor is convenient, they still can't match the sound (and battery life) of a good set of over the ears headphones. Thus my expensive search for the best headphones for someone who likes great sound and has HF hearing loss.
If you have normal hearing, there are so many options out there. Just find the phones with the sound profile you like and go! Even so, the Nura phones should be high on your list. For those with hearing loss, the options narrow for all around use with music and video. I commented on the EVEN H2 phones. They are a step in the right direction, but I felt they fell short on sound. With the way they keep the EQ profile active for each session, the B&O are close, but the H9i's were a step back in sound quality from previous versions and introduced a real sibilant sound when pushing the HF that is very distracting.
I looked at the Nura phones when they were a Kickstarter project. While the technology they were using was interesting, I shied away because I've also been burned a couple times with projects that were never delivered. By the time they came out, I had the B&Os. But, I've been so frustrated with the H9i's that I started looking again. Nura had just introduced the G2 upgrade. Several reviews talked about the "smoke and mirrors" of the headphones because the default settings were so poor. And there were comments about how the setup would vary so much for the same users. But finally, I pulled the plug and purchased a pair. This review will echo some of the reviews here, but are worth reporting from a hearing loss perspective.
I have worn these for several weeks to make sure my initial reactions held up. When I first got the phones, the app walked me through the initial setup, as well as the downloading of the G2 update. Prepare yourself to spend a little time getting these set up. Once the update was loaded, it walked me through the hearing process. I went into my bedroom, which was a pretty quiet setting for the test. When it was done, I was thrilled with what I heard. The A/B is not a good test, because the default sound of the phones is poor. But, the real world test of listening on several devices was clearly a home run. I was finally hearing clean acoustic guitar and good sound staging all around.
Having read the reviews about different results at different times, I went ahead and ran the test again, since you can save three profiles. This time, I went into a closet and closed the door. It was extremely quiet with clothes also deadening the sound. This time, the A/B was with the prior settings. Wow, the quieter setting for the test made a big difference! I immediately ditched the first settings and have been listening to the second settings since that time. For the record, over the next several days I did the test 2 more times, in the same closet. I could see very minor differences in the visual display, but could not discern any difference in sound. Very consistent. You owe it to yourself to lock yourself in a quiet closet for the setup of these phones to get the best profile. Dura's technology is the REAL DEAL! No smoke and mirrors here.
These are unusual phones. The combination of in ear and over the ear technology brings out the best in sound. Very clean mid and upper frequencies, and by using a separate speaker for the lows, you can dial in your bass fix clearly. When EQing normal phones, as you move the bass higher or lower you also force a change in the in the mids and highs. Not so with the Dura. They call the bass adjustment the Immersion mode. I call it a subwoofer for my ears. I have adjusted to listening at lower volumes. With other phones, as you reduce volume you lose bass volume more quickly than you do with mids and highs. With the Immersion mode, you retain a pleasing bottom end, even at low volume. Folks, these headphones are excellent and the sound and sound staging is incredible.
The comfort level is good, despite being heavier than normal in weight. I can wear these for a long period of time without a problem. Because you have the in-ear element of the Nura, lots of movement can shift them, so I wouldn't wear these for long walks or working out. These take a bit of time to get adjusted to, but hang in there, the payoff is great! Yes, you have to occasionally readjust them on your ears, but this is no big deal to get the quality of sound they offer.
I'm very pleased with the ANC, transparency mode (they call it Social mode), and the addition of double tap options. The sound isolation is great to begin with, so I've never used the ANC other than to test it. The transparency mode works well and has become something of a "must" on phones for me. The single and double tap options on each side give me plenty of options for adjustment without pulling out my phone. I purchased the phones after the update came out, but I can imagine the kudos you have received from the first generation buyers.
I want to echo the other positive comments in reviews here without going in depth. But, I do want to make a clear point about the commitment of Dura to their customers. It can be reflected in the following upgrade path:
1. B&Os. Great quality. H7 phones were $399. The H9 came out, introducing ANC, for another $499 purchase. Not long after I purchased the H9's, they brought out the H9i's, which introduced transparency mode and a couple other minor improvements (but degrading the sound), at $499 once again. I still have the H7s, which my wife and I would fight over at home (not now with Nura as my phones). I sold the H9s at a big loss to get the H9i's. Two additional features required two additional purchases. Lots of money invested $1,400 for three sets.
2. Nura. 1st Generation purchasers paid $399. Then they introduced Gen 2 with ANC, transparency and more tap options. First Gen purchasers had to pay how much to get these features? Absolutely nothing! It was a firmware update. How crazy is that? Nura is setting a new standard for their customers.
Now, a couple suggestions for the next physical version of the Nura:
1. Lose the proprietary cables. After I received these, I immediately ordered a second USB-A charging cable, because if I misplaced the original, I can't even recharge the phones. To get an analog or lightning cable also requires an additional purchase. I have a travel kit with a couple cables that each have lightning, mini-USB and USB-C connectors. That covers everything I carry with me, from iPhone, iPad, headphones and a USB-C portable BT speaker. On your next headphone, make the charging jack USB-C or mini USB, and allow for a standard analog jack.
2. Make the phones and case more travel friendly. Either a folded design or allow the phones to fold flat to reduce the size of the case, which is huge when you have to stick it in a carry on. I love your case, but how about a handle or ring that I can use to connect the case to the outside of my carry on or backpack with a strap or carabiner?
3. Give us a little more headroom. I never push the volume while listening to music, but because of the varying sound levels in movies and YouTube video, I've found that several times I wished I could push the volume higher.
4. Fix the default sound profile. Your phones sound every bit as good (or better) than high end B&O, Sennheiser, Sony or Bowers and Wilkens phones. As a Nura fan, I'd love to demonstrate these to others, but the default profile sounds no better than much less expensive phones. Wow them with a great default sound profile - the Immersion mode and other features will bring them in! Let us help you sell these phones! If they are so good for people with normal hearing that they don't have to use the hearing technology, that's OK. When they get around to it, it will sound even better for them. As it is, in the places I would normally share the phones, it is too noisy and time consuming to have them run the set up. Give us something great out of the gate.
Oh, and when you make these changes, and develop the next generation sleek design, I will not hesitate to buy a new physical set - I'll be first in line. In the meantime, keep the firmware tweaks coming. You are building a lot of loyalty with your customers.
As one who has spent too much money trying to find the right solution, especially with HF hearing issues, it feels good to finally find the final solution. I will still use earbuds for walking and exercise, but these are my go-to phones. Your hearing technology is excellent. I wish I could get my hearing aids set up the same way, rather than the "push the button when you hear the tone" technology.
I know this has been a long post, but I want to make some final comments. There are a lot of features packed into these phones. A few need a little refinement, but what I appreciate is the creativity and innovation that Dura brings. I really believe that this is the greatest advance in technology in headphones that we have seen in many years!!! They are a big step forward. The phones themselves are First Generation, with the firmware Second Generation. I can't imagine how awesome these will be as development continues. I believe this is a company worth investing in.
Both the company's site and Amazon offer a 30 day money back guarantee. That's why I felt comfortable buying them. My advice to you is to buy them and take the time to get them set up correctly. Whether you have hearing issues or not, I think you'll find these will exceed your expectations. The in/over the ear design might not be a fit for everybody, but I suspect that many of you will be greatly surprised after you use these a few times. You really don't have anything to risk, but you sure have a lot to gain. I look forward to being able to wear these and I'm listening to more music and watching more video than I ever have. Thanks, Nura.
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