The Banglijian Ziv-206 is the newer, bigger brother of the very popular Banglijian Ziv-201 hearing amplifier. Where the Ziv-201 has established a reputation in the hearing amplifier space, the Ziv-206 has to start from scratch. Or does it? At first sight, it has a remarkable resemblance to the Ziv-201P, the powerful version of this company’s staple.
In this review for the Banglijian Ziv-206, I’ll examine what the differences are. Not only will I compare the Banglijian Ziv-206 to the Ziv-201P, I’ll also discuss this model’s key features, how well it works, and any downsides I discover. Before I move on to a final buying recommendation, I’ll present some alternatives you might want to consider.
As always, I’ve included a visual 30-second review at the bottom of this review that sums up everything below in one image. To skip the reading and go straight to the visual summary, click here.
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Key features of the Banglijian Ziv-206
The most distinctive feature of the Banglijian Ziv-206 is its power. With a 53 dB peak gain, this hearing amplifier is suitable for people suffering from moderate to severe hearing loss. Most models (especially in this price range) will combat moderate hearing loss at best.
The Banglijian Ziv-206 is featured in our post listing the post powerful hearing amplifiers.
Another key feature is that the Ziv-206 is rechargeable, like all other Banglijian models. This means you don’t have to shop for batteries, and you never run out. While you only need a two-hour charge for a 24-hour battery, you don’t have to anxiously time your charges. Banglijian batteries are equipped with a ‘smart charger’, meaning you don’t ruin the battery after charging it too long once. The USB cable means that you also don’t have to worry about losing your charger. It can be charged just as easily as a mobile phone.
The upgraded chip inside the Ziv-206 ensures you have the best possible sound quality (again, in the price range). Because Banglijian regularly updates their models, you don’t run the risk of buying outdated hardware with subpar sound quality.
Who is this hearing amplifier for?
As we mentioned in the above paragraph, the Banglijian Ziv-206 combats moderate to severe hearing loss. This means it’s particularly well-suited for two groups of people: those looking for an upgrade after their first hearing amplifier and people who should have bought their first hearing amplifier a while ago.
How well does the Banglijian Ziv-206 work?
The Ziv-206 ticks many boxes. Not only does the upgraded chip help you get a good sound quality, you also get four channels, five volume settings, and three listening programs that are built in. These listening programs let you switch between everyday, moderate noise reduction, and noisy. The adaptive layered noise reduction and acoustic feedback cancellation help clear up the sound.
You can wear this hearing amplifier in either ear, but it’s not fully ambidextrous. Switching ears takes a while and means you need to replace the listening tube. In practice, it means one hearing amplifier may do for a while, but you can’t just switch ears in a conversation.
Lastly, Banglijian offers great customer service. With non-American companies, service can differ per provider, but Banglijian is lauded for their responses. Their team responds fast, are willing to work with you, and the products come with a good warranty.
What’s not to like about the Banglijian Ziv-206?
There aren’t any real downsides to the Banglijian Ziv-206. The four channels it features aren’t revolutionary, but very acceptable for its price (generally below $150). Its biggest drawback is that the model as a whole feels somewhat redundant. The Banglijian Ziv-206 is essentially the same model as the Ziv-201P, but with different volume buttons. Are the volume buttons an improvement? Yes. Are they worth the 20% price increase? I’ll leave that up to you, but I would have hoped for something extra to create a bigger difference between the Banglijian Ziv-206 and the Banglijian Ziv-201P.
Hearing amplifiers that are good alternatives
That also means the Banglijian Ziv-201P is a great alternative for the Ziv-206. You essentially get the same model, and save around $20 by picking old-fashioned volume buttons. For people looking to get a better model overall, the ZVOX VB20 hearing aids might offer a good alternative. This model is a bit pricier, but gives you an upgrade on all fronts.
For even more alternatives, read up on the best hearing amplifiers for 2020 or visit our 30-second reviews page.
Should you buy the Banglijian Ziv-206?
There really isn’t a good reason not to buy the Banglijian Ziv-206. It offers a good sound quality, an impressive dB peak gain, and all the benefits you get with other Banglijian models, too. If only it didn’t have a twin brother that was a bit cheaper, it might be the top-shelf pick when it comes to Banglijian models.
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