ReSound’s TV-Streamer+ is a massive upgrade on the TV streamers that hearing aid users have relied on for years.
Once about the size of a paperback book and confined to the manufacturer’s walled garden and locking people in to their ecosystem, they were an essential add-on purchase when buying a hearing aid.
Now, thanks to Auracast, streamers are platform-neutral, cheaper, and much smaller.
And in the case of the TV-Streamer+, much, much smaller.
This is slightly bigger than a box of matches.
It’s lightweight, discreet and can be powered by the USB ports on the back of a television. It is a straightforward device to install and, once in place, it can be invisible.
The picture on the box shows the ReSound’s TV-Streamer+ on its side. However, it has curved edges, so this is not physically possible. A Velcro strap included with the TV-Streamer+ can be attached to its sides, with the corresponding pad adhered to the rear of the TV: quite literally, out of sight and out of mind.
Initially, I was concerned that this would affect the Auracast signal, as electrical interference can compromise the sound quality. Quite the opposite. It’s all loud and clear. Very clear, and the signal carries well across the house.
What’s in the TV-Streamer+ box?
The box is compact and well-made. You lift out each of the three sections to access the appropriate items; the contents of each are outlined with a line drawing.
The first section contains the streamer itself, which is small, compact, and feels very high-tech.
The second and third contain all the cables needed to connect to a television, including the USB-C to USB-A power cable, and the TOSLINK cables. There is no plug in the box, which is standard nowadays. Don’t forget that the ReSound’s TV-Streamer+ can be powered by the USB ports on the television itself, but if a plug is needed, it will be a standard phone charger that many have lying around the house.
A helpful user guide and a carry pouch for the ReSound’s TV-Streamer+ are the additional items. This little bag is only big enough for the streamer, not the wires. We have found the same problem with the MultiMic+ where the 3.5mm cables we use to connect to computers and tablets won’t fit in that pouch.
If you are taking the ReSound TV-Streamer+ to another location, chances are you will also take the TOSLINK and power cables with you to avoid any disappointment upon arrival. Therefore, having a pouch large enough to hold these would be helpful. It’s a minor niggle as most customers will install the streamer straight to their television and then forget all about it.
How easy is it to set up?
The instruction booklet is incredibly clear. Step-by-step instructions with great diagrams mean it should take minutes to get up and running. The hardest decision will be where to attach the Velcro.
Those who own ReSound hearing aids with Auracast enabled will need to pair their aids to the streamer. The video above shows how easy it is: put the hearing aids in pairing mode, press the button and away you go. It takes around 12 to 15 seconds for the pairing to happen … but be warned, it might not happen the first time.
Once the aids have been paired, the ReSound’s TV-Streamer+ can be controlled via the ReSound phone app, which works on both Android and iPhone – having the Auracast Assistant built into the app is convenient. It means that users don’t need to wait for Android 16 to drop or for Apple to jump on board the Auracast train.
The ReSound’s TV-Streamer+ also appears as a stream on an Auracast Assistant app. It can be set as a public broadcast or a password-protected private broadcast. The password can be set via the ReSound phone app, and is secure.
Up and running, we found that the initial volume level was too loud, unpleasantly so, even when the app had been set to the lowest possible volume. Thankfully, the solution was relatively low-tech: there are volume controls on the front of the TV-Streamer+, and it was simply a matter of pressing the volume down switch to a comfortable level.
This is probably a better solution than having the volume too low when first switched on, as some will think the unit is faulty.
Some audio setups have slight delays in transmitting the sound, which can cause issues with lip reading. To overcome this, a delay mode can be activated to adjust the time between streams. In our setup, this wasn’t necessary.
Is it true Auracast, or a walled garden?
As already mentioned, we have successfully connected the TV-Streamer+ to ReSound Vivia hearing aids via its app, as well as the Auracast Assistant on a Samsung S25 phone. The Auracast Assistant also worked with our Starkey Edge AI hearing aids and the EarisMAX Bluetooth 5.3 headphones.
The ReSound TV-Streamer+ also appears in the EarisMAX app, allowing us to connect the headphones to it from there.
So, yes, this is true Auracast, and it works with hearing aids – unsurprisingly so.
And that means the sound quality is incredible. The clarity of speech is great, the full range of musical cues is heard well, and the bangs and flashes from action scenes are well represented.
If the sound mix isn’t quite what you’re looking for, the ReSound app allows for easy adjustments.
Popping out of the room to make a cuppa? Unless you are in a Faraday cage, you should still be able to pick up the Auracast. We have been able to go to the bottom of the garden and still hear the sound without any drop in connection.
What flaws are there in the ReSound TV-Streamer+?
Remarkably few.
It is a cinch to set up, and once installed, it just works.
We have not experienced any lags in sound, nor has it been overridden when a phone alert comes in. The sound quality is terrific, and it is very easy to use.
However, if you have a soundbar and want to use it simultaneously, it requires some consideration of your setup: the TV-Streamer+ only has sound input. There is no output, which means it has to be at the end of a chain. This could affect the placement of the streamer or add another unsightly wire to the jungle behind a television system.
While many soundbars are now Bluetooth-enabled, it would be good to see future updates include a TOSLINK out option.
The TOSLINK (digital audio) cable has a miniplug connection into the TV-Streamer+ box itself, so it is not TOSLINK to TOSLINK. While the correct wires are supplied in the box, it’s worth bearing this in mind if you need to replace them at some point.
What are the benefits of the ReSound TV-Streamer+
It’s small. And that means it’s portable, so you can take it when visiting friends or on holiday. It’s no hassle to plug it into the back of a television and hear the same as everyone else. Just don’t forget to bring the right cables.
It has Auracast built in as standard, which provides the best possible sound quality and ensures it’s accessible to many people. The system can also be locked down and password-protected, allowing only those you want to hear to do so.
And the sound quality? Just sublime. We’ve already mentioned this, but the ability to hear in perfect clarity is not to be sniffed at.
How much is the ReSound TV-Streamer+ and where can it be bought from?
When purchasing a ReSound hearing aid, your audiologist should be able to order the TV-Streamer+ simultaneously.
It costs around £200, and can be bought from specialist firms such as Connevans (not an affiliate link).
For more on the ReSound TV Streamer+, visit ReSound’s website: https://www.resound.com/en-gb/hearing-aids/accessories/tv-hearing-aid
Our review unit was provided by GN, which makes a range of hearing products including hearing aids such as the Enzo and Vivia, and associated devices. For our review policy, click here
