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In-Depth Avantree Aria Me Headphones Review: Are They Worth The Hype?

In-Depth Avantree Aria Me Headphones Review: Are They Worth The Hype?

The Aria Me Headphones are specially designed for people with mild to moderate hearing loss and they personalize their audio settings for the user. There is a lot to love about them but are they the best headphones for you?
Avantree Aria Me Headphones Main
Avantree Aria Me Headphones Main
I independently choose all services and products but may earn a commission on any links clicked. Learn More.
I was provided a free pair of the Aria Me Headphones from Avantronics for the purpose of this review. However, I received no other compensation. The opinions are mine based on my own personal experience using the product.

Perhaps one of the most aggravating parts of aging is not hearing as well as you once did.

It gets embarrassing asking people to repeat themselves constantly or not understanding your favorite TV show because you keep missing out on important dialogue.

Maybe you don’t enjoy music as well as you used to because you can’t hear the full spectrum of sound.

Avantree, a brand of Avantronics LTD, created the Aria Me headphones to address these specific issues that older adults and other hearing-impaired people experience every day.

But, are they really good headphones for the hearing impaired? Let’s take a closer look and find out.

Review Summary

Just want the highlights? Here is a summary of my full review. Keep reading through for all the details.

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Avantree Aria Me Headphone Review Summary

from $119.99

The best thing about these headphones is that they customize themselves to give you the best hearing experience possible – even for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. Plus, they are comfortable and lightweight which makes them easy to wear for hours and hours. Easily adapted for use with TV, Bluetooth devices, computers, and more.

Pros:

Customizes audio with an app-based hearing test
Comfortable to wear for long periods of time
Multiple uses
Boom mic included
Long playtime & battery life
Excellent HD sound quality

Cons:

Buttons are small and may be hard to read for some
There are lots of buttons and can be accidentally pressed while using

What are the Avantree Aria Me Headphones?

Avantree is a global provider of audio products that are specifically designed to address the needs of people with less than perfect hearing. Their mission statement states that they create their products specifically to enhance people’s audio experiences to help them thrive socially and emotionally.

The Aria Me Headphones are over-the-ear wireless headphones especially made for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. They improve your ability to hear the sounds you are missing through the use of a hearing test app that identifies your hearing weaknesses and boosts those specifically.

It is a multi-use device too that can be used to play music from your favorite Bluetooth-enabled device, to boost sound while watching TV, or even as a wireless headset for phone calls.

How Do They Work?

The Aria Me Headphones work by pairing to your favorite Bluetooth-enabled devices like cell phones, tablets, computers, and even TVs. They modify and boost the sounds so that you are able to hear them better – and more clearly.

Initial Setup

The initial setup of the device is simple and just consists of a basic pairing procedure. My headphones paired perfectly the first time with no troubleshooting required.

Here is how to pair the Aria Me to your cell phone:

  1. Slide the headphone’s power switch as far as it will go to “Pair”. The tiny light next to it will begin flashing red and blue.
  2. Go into your phone or device settings to the Bluetooth settings. Make sure your Bluetooth isn’t turned off. You should see “Avantree Aria Me” in the device list.
  3. Select it from the device list and you should then hear “connected” in the headphones verifying they were paired correctly.

Setting Up Your Custom Audio Profile

To enable the best feature of these headphones (the custom audio profiles) you’ll need to download an app and take a basic hearing test. This will help the software personalize the sound playback just for you and your unique hearing profile.

  1. Download the app. The app is available in both the Google Play and Apple app stores. Search for “Avantree Audio” and download it as you normally would.
  2. Turn on the Aria Me. Slide the power switch to the middle “ON” position and make sure it is connected to your phone.
  3. Start the test. In the app menu, select “Create Audio Profile” and then select the “Avantree Aria Me” in the device menu. Next, you’ll get a screen telling you how to take the test.
  4. Take the hearing test. You’ll test each ear separately. The headphones will start playing a series of tones through the speakers. On the app, there will be a “volume knob” that you use to turn the volume down until you no longer hear the tone. This establishes your personal thresholds so the device knows which sounds it needs to boost for you.
  5. Save your custom profile. When the test is complete, you can save and name the profile. You can have multiple profiles for multiple people saved on the same device too. The profiles can also be turned on and off at the touch of a button too.

Charging the Aria Me

Charging the device is simple. It comes with a stand that you hang the headphones on when charging. Just make sure the contacts on the headphones line up with the ones on the stands. You’ll know this happened because the light on the charger will light up.

If you don’t want to use the charging stand, you can also plug the charging cable straight into the headphones instead. This option is handy if you want to charge them and use them at the same time.

Using the Aria Me Headset

To use the Aria Me, turn the headphones on by sliding the power switch in the middle “ON” position. You’ll hear a “Welcome to Avantree” message that lets you know they are on. Then, check your device to be sure they are paired and connected. You might want to make sure the volume is turned down initially to minimize the chance of a sudden burst of loud sound.

Next, slide the headphones over the top of your head and line the cups up with your ear. Note that each cup is labeled R for Right and L for Left on the inside. It’s important that you wear them correctly especially if you created a custom profile and because they are stereo headphones.

The headphone earpieces slide up and down on the main headphone frame. This helps you customize the fit and reduce the chance of them slipping or falling off.

From here, turn on or push play on your audio or entertainment device, adjust the volume up or down as needed, and enjoy!

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Close Up of Aria Me’s Control Buttons

Getting the Best Results

To get the best results when using the Aria Me, always take the time to complete the hearing test and custom audio setup. If you don’t have a phone or don’t feel like you are techy enough to go through the process, ask a friend or family member. They can put the app on their phone and help you out with the test.

How to Use the Aria Me for Music

To use the Aria Me for playing your favorite music, sync the headphones to your device using the pairing procedure above. They should pair with any Bluetooth device including phones, computers, tablets, MP3 players, audiobook players, etc. Once paired, just adjust the volume on the device or headphones and hit play.

How to Use the Aria Me As A TV Listening Device

There are a few ways to use the Aria Me as TV listening headphones depending on your setup. If your TV is Bluetooth-enabled, you just pair the device with your headphones. You might need to go into your TV settings and select them as your “output device.” Check your TV instruction booklet for more info.

Also, the Aria Me headphones are designed so that the audio will match the lip movements on the screen. No lag! We all know how annoying it is when they don’t match up, right?

Another option is plugging the headphones directly into the TV via a 3.5 mm audio cable. To do this, you plug one end of the cable into your TV’s audio out/headphone jack and the other end into the small, round jack on the headphones. Note that the headphones come with a 3.5 mm cable but it is only 3 feet long. Chances are your TV is farther away than that so you’ll probably need a longer one. Here is the one I used for my test.

There is a third option if you prefer to use the headphones wirelessly. You can get a Bluetooth transmitter and hook it to your TV. Most of these plug into the same headphone jack that the 3.5 mm cable above plugs into. You can then pair the headphones with this transmitter and enjoy the TV wirelessly. Avantree has its own line of Bluetooth transmitters for TVs that are guaranteed to work with their headphones and there are tons of third-party options out there too.

How to Use the Aria Me as a Phone Headset

To use the Aria Me headphones as a wireless phone headset, you will need to pair the headphones with your cell phone. If you will be using a VOIP (internet phone) connection, you’ll probably need to pair them with your computer instead.

With the Aria Me, Avantree includes a separate boom microphone that plugs into the audio port on the left earpiece. This mic is flexible and adjusts so that you can get it in the best position for you. There is also a mute button right on the tip of the mic for muting calls quickly plus a “hang up” button on the headset itself.

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Aria Me Headphones with Boom Mic Attached for Use as a Phone Headset

Features

The Aria Me headphones are loaded with features to make it easier for people with mild to moderate hearing loss to hear their favorite audio better. Here is a quick rundown of these features.

Optimized Audio

The Aria Me adjusts itself to help you hear those sounds you aren’t able to hear well by identifying them in the hearing test I described above. This means the headphones will customize themselves for you specifically by boosting the frequencies that you struggle to hear. The result? Even, clear, crisp audio. Personally, I think that’s pretty cool!

Easy to Setup

These headphones are easy to set up – especially if you have ever paired a Bluetooth device before. Mine paired up the first time I tried and they showed up in my device list immediately.

The app was easy to download and navigate too. It walks you right through the hearing test with clear, concise instructions and sets up your custom hearing profile for you.

Ease of Use

Most people will find that the Aria Me is easy to use – especially once connected to the device you’ll be using. Mostly, you’ll just be using the power switch and the volume up and down buttons.

Some people, however, may find the buttons hard to see because they are black with black indentions or have faded gray printing. They are a bit small for some seniors or elderly folks too. And, there are lots of them. I know I accidentally hit a button or two the first few times I used them but I eventually figured out how to avoid them.

Comfortable to Wear

The earpads are made of soft protein leather that fits nicely – and comfortably – against the ears. Plus, they are large enough that they don’t sit right on the ear so you won’t get that squeezed feeling.

The headband is adjustable and has 6 points of movement so that you can get a secure, custom fit. I wore my set for over 7 hours while working in the garden and doing yard work and they didn’t slip or slide and were comfortable to wear for the entire time.

They are lightweight too weighing only 8 ounces which is about 1/2 pound (230 g).

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Close Up of Aria Me’s Earpads

Supports Multiple Devices

The Aria Me headphones will work wirelessly with nearly any Bluetooth device. You can even use them as wired headphones with a 3.5 mm audio cable for other devices that don’t have Bluetooth. Plus, your custom hearing profile will work on any of these devices allowing you to hear what you want to hear more clearly.

It can pair with up to 8 devices at a time and play from 2 Bluetooth devices simultaneously which should be plenty for most users.

Hi-Definition Sound Quality

The headphones are designed to deliver HD sound over a Bluetooth connection. When combined with your custom hearing profile, you can hear even the smallest details that you might have been missing in the past. When I use them, I find music has exceptional sound and I can hear the bass thumps just as well as I can the higher pitches plus crystal clear lyrics.

Active Noise Cancellation

This technology reduces noises and sounds that come from outside of the headphones so that you can focus on the sounds you want to hear. If you are in a situation where you’d like to stay aware of what’s around you, it can be turned off with the flip of a switch.

Detachable Boom Microphone

The Aria Me comes with a separate microphone that plugs into the audio port on the left earpiece. This makes the headphones work as full-fledged phone headsets. It can be plugged or unplugged at any time and has a mute switch on the tip. There are also call-answer and hang-up buttons on the headphones themselves.

Charging Stand

These come with a charging stand that makes it easy to charge and even display the headphones attractively. By getting in the habit of always hanging them on the stand, you’ll always have charged batteries and you’ll know where they are.

If you don’t want to fool with the stand, you can plug the charging cable into the headphones directly. Note that you’ll need a USB port to charge them or you’ll have to get one of the USB wall “boxes” separately.

The batteries last about 24 hours if you are not using the Active Noise Cancellation feature and about 15 hours if you are.

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Aria Me Headphones Hanging on the Charging Stand

Customer Support

Avantree has robust support and questions are on each product’s page on their website. Many include instructional videos too. These areas are searchable too so you can see if your question might have been answered before.

If you need specific help, you can submit a support ticket online, use their online chat function or even schedule a time for the support team to call you for assistance. There are toll-free numbers for support on the warranty card in the package too.

Satisfaction Guarantee / Warranty

There is no specific “Satisfaction Guaranteed” statement on the website or on the promotional materials.

However, they do have a great warranty program to cover defective equipment. The standard warranty is 12 months but they extend this warranty to 24 months (at no additional cost) if you purchase the product at Avantree.com which includes automatic registration.

The warranty is also a replacement warranty meaning they will ship you a replacement product and you won’t have to try to get the existing one repaired.

Cost

The retail price of these headphones is $149 which is in the middle of the pack for higher-end headphones. However, most headphones in this price range don’t offer the custom hearing profile feature that makes this one of my favorites.

Pros & Cons: Are the Aria Me Headphones Right For You?

Based on my personal experiences with the Aria Me, here are some of the things they got right and a few things that could be improved.

What’s to Like?

  • They are extremely comfortable to wear.
  • The custom audio profile and hearing test personalize the sounds so that you can hear better and more clearly.
  • It’s a multiple-use device and can be used for music, TV listening, and even as a wireless headset.
  • The HD sound output is high quality especially when you set up the custom hearing profile.
  • It pairs easily with up to 8 different devices and can be used with 2 simultaneously.
  • They come with a detachable boom mic for phone and video calls.
  • Long playtime and battery life.

What’s Not to Like?

  • The buttons are small with black indentions or gray print. There are a lot of them too. I’d like to see buttons that are a bit bigger with contrasting white print on them. This would make them easier to use for older adults or people with arthritis.
  • Because there are so many buttons, I did find myself accidentally hitting them when adjusting the fit and putting them on. I even accidentally dialed my daughter once. After a few uses, I learned where the buttons were and this didn’t happen again. You could also wait and turn them on once you’re wearing them.

Featured Uses of the Aria Me Headphones

I featured these headphones in the following guides on this site:

Conclusion

Well, if you have read all or most of this review of Avantree’s Aria Me headphones, you know that I am a fan. Being able to customize the audio profile is a huge benefit for older adults and people who with mild or moderate hearing loss. Plus they sound awesome, are comfortable to wear, and have so many uses. They even look as cool as some of the more expensive models the “kids” are wearing today.

Really, the only drawback to them is that older adults who haven’t adapted to technology might find the number of buttons intimidating, and perhaps a bit difficult to see as well.

Tell me what you think about the Aria Me headphones in the comments below or let me know if you have any questions I haven’t answered.

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Scott Grant, CSA®, SHSS®

Scott Grant, CSA®, SHSS®

With over 20 years of experience and certifications as a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® and Senior Home Safety Specialist (SHSS)®, Scott Grant provides reliable recommendations to help seniors maintain independence through informed product and service choices for safe, comfortable living.

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