The hearing amplifiers from Britzo inevitably catch your eye. These recognizable blue devices always come at an attractive price point, and with a good variety in products offer plenty to choose from. One of these choices is the Britzgo 902, which they affectionately call the Amo. This hearing amplifier promises some upgrades compared to more familiar models, such as the Britzgo 220. The advanced sound processing chip should reduce background noise and deliver a crisper sound.
Promises make me careful, though. Promises from hearing amplifier manufacturers usually run the risk of being little more than fancy marketing talk. In this review, we’ll scrutinize these promises and see if they’re just hollow phrases or an accurate description of a good hearing amplifier.
Britzgo won’t rock the world with the 902, but it might deliver a good listening experience for a good price. To find out, we’ll first take a look at the key features, then see how it works in daily life (and what doesn’t work as well) before I give you a buying recommendation and some alternative hearing amplifiers.
If you don’t care to read how I get to my conclusion, you can skip ahead to the visual 30-second review at the bottom of this post – no hard feelings.
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Key features of the Britzgo 902 (Amo)
The most notable feature of the Britzgo 902 is the digital chip that makes this device work. These chips process sound that comes in through the microphone, break it down into different channels, and filter out background noise before sending the sound waves through to your ear. A better chip equals better sound quality, and the Britzgo 902 is an improvement compared to earlier models from this manufacturer.
Another key feature is that the 902 is very efficient. One P13 battery will last about two weeks, provided you turn off the device when you’re not using it. There is no on/off button on the Britzgo, so to turn it off you simply open the battery compartment – a standard practice with hearing amplifiers.
Who is this for?
The Britzgo 902 has a 38 dB peak gain, meaning it compensates for a maximum of 38 dB of hearing loss. This compares to a mild hearing loss, where you have started to raise the volume on your TV and are starting to notice that you’re having trouble hearing people talk at times. Because most hearing amplifiers work best when they’re not stretched to the limit, the true gain might be a little lower.
Does it work?
The Britzgo 902 has two settings: sonority (a fancy way of saying ‘loud’) and soft. Switching programs is easy with a single button on the device itself. On top of these two settings, you can adjust the volume – there are eight volume settings in total. Just as the hearing amplifier works best when not stretched to the limit, most users seem to prefer the soft setting on the Britzgo 902.
Because the Britzgo focuses on compensating higher frequencies, it compensates for the frequencies lost with old age – the most common form of hearing loss. Other than this straightforward application, the Britzgo is best described as a no-thrills hearing amplifier. It works, especially for easy settings such as watching TV or easy conversations, but it doesn’t particularly impress.
What’s not to like?
Not being a spectacular hearing amplifier doesn’t have to be a problem. There are some problems with the Britzgo that other hearing amplifiers seem to avoid, though. The two listening settings feel bare bone. They’re not really listening programs, but rather a volume button on steroids. On top of that, the louder volume comes with a loss of sound quality.
Users report a slight whistling, especially on the sonority setting. A slight whistle isn’t uncommon on hearing amplifiers, but the reports are too prevalent to ignore this. For a hearing amplifier with a superior sound processing chip, the whistle is a big drawback.
As a last drawback, the Britzgo doesn’t work with generic ear domes. Replacing the ear domes is thus more expensive, as you have to order them through the Britzgo website. This may not reflect on how well the 902 works, but it should be a consideration in buying the Britzgo 902.
Should you buy the Britzgo 902?
Speaking of buying the Britzgo 902, I can’t recommend it. Even though it’s a fine hearing amplifier, it’s just not holding up to modern standards. For about the same price, you can have a hearing amplifier that delivers a better sound quality and a better overall experience. That doesn’t mean the Britzgo is bad, but since you can only spend a dollar once, it’s better spent elsewhere.
Alternatives for the Britzgo 902
Luckily, there are many alternatives for the Britzgo 902. Most of the alternatives I mention here are comparable models in price, but for a full overview, I recommend taking a look at all the reviews.
A real recommendation is the LAIWEN LP-01. This hearing amplifier does impress. It’s about the same price as the Britzgo 902 but offers a much better overall experience. In fact, the LAIWEN might be the best value for money since its update in the summer of 2019.
For other alternatives, I recommend looking into the TKING Mini Rechargeble J707, Banglijian Ziv-201 series or the Banglijian BLJ-109. All of these alternatives come with their own compromises, but offer an overall good experience. The rechargeable battery also sets these models apart from the other alternatives mentioned here.
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