Expensive Troubleshooting

Who is deaf, knows the problem: simply attach only headphones and turn louder does not bring it. A headphone amplifier must specifically raise the inner ear damaged, high frequencies, and the cleaner in quality with minimal distortion - only then you have a chance to be seen as hard of hearing have film dialogues. But that alone is not enough. The level range in which one does not understand language as acoustic hearing impaired is quite narrow. Consequently, you have to turn on silent dialogues far to be able to understand them - and then like lightning down to turn back when the director has then come up with a "bang" with maximum level can be, the one else shouts with ear-damaging volume in the anyway already damaged ears , So you constantly hangs in alarm mood on the volume control and can thus impossible to enjoy a movie. You need a Limiter, which raises quiet passages to a manageable level and beyond all reaching peaks cuts.

This is exactly what the Pötter MAX12 EL - in principle. In practice, I found only times that although the equalizer works well; the limiter (it has to be leveled with the "Gain" control) was not to bring the manual function, and for a mere mini amplifier with equalizer, the small little device is clearly too expensive. A call to the manufacturer revealed that the output of my smartphone (a Samsung Note 2) provides too low a level to address the limiter. They promised me by a free, factory modification to increase the sensitivity of the device, so the limiter will work with my smartphone. After all, it was assumed to prompt and friendly of the problem and did not try to rid myself as already rather is the rule elsewhere.

Unfortunately, the modification was not crowned with a convincing success: my smartphone brings the limiter still even with maximum level (which should indeed need not just because of the distortion) not to respond. Only the going through the auxiliary input and headphone output between a smartphone and headphone amplifier connected, old audio amplifier finally brought the desired success: so I can finally level the listening volume to a usable level. Since the Pötter MAX12 to function needs a power supply unit, the additionally required (pre-) no longer plays amplifier also the important role mobility can I forget so anyway. Ugly is the fact that the Pötter with his "tuned" sensitivity now intersperses a clearly audible even for me hearing impaired hum - of HiFi can not because of the question. And a limiter that suppresses signal peaks to a bit too fast again high, which "pump" leads to a sometimes disturbing volume.

Nonetheless - and despite the fact outrageous price for the small little device - I have kept the Pötter MAX12 because he now nevertheless satisfied in principle with a few minor flaws its purpose; another, possibly cheaper and mobile device usable with battery operation could not be found despite intensive search for this purpose. So after all, three stars, in recognition of the honest efforts of the manufacturer and as an encouragement in this direction to develop and market: there is still considerable unmet need.