One of the most efficient methods to connect with nature is through the sound it produces.
We’re talking about the wind blowing on the trees, the animals running through the woods, and the rivers. Can you hear those sounds? No?
Well, don’t worry, we’ve got the perfect tool for you.
With the best listening devices included in our reviews, you’ll be able to listen to all of those sounds from a safe distance.
These tools are not only great for that purpose but for recording many other tasks as well.
That’s why we’re reviewing the 5 best listening devices available in the market. Continue reading to find out more!
Table of Contents
The best Listening Devices
We’ve selected five different picks that may be good or bad for people depending on what they need. Make sure to check them all out before making your call.
1. HAUSBELL Listening Device
Considering this device has a lot to offer, it is difficult to know what to mention first. You can tell how well-made this listening device is from the moment you lay your eyes on it. Let us take a moment to contemplate the beautiful black finish for both the earphones and the amplifier.
The manufacturer mentions that you’ll be able to use it to hear from long distances, going as far as hundreds of feet away. For once, it is pleasant to know that this statement is not an exaggeration, as the device truly amplifies the sound produced by people, objects, and wildlife at a long distance.
Kids, teenagers, and everyone interested in wildlife will enjoy the quality sound caught by this device. However, there are some restraints that you should know before deciding to invest in these pieces.
First, the recording is not necessarily a professional system. The sound quality is not that good. Also, the frequency control is not necessarily so, but rather the volume control.
But then again, these two issues are not really a problem considering that this listening device meets most of the expectations for basic tasks like enjoying the wildlife or child’s play.
Of course, if you get one for your child, the plastic pieces will not turn out to be reliable in the slightest. Upon sudden falls or drops, the materials will not withstand the impact, breaking in the process.
A real issue with this device is that it may catch background noises that you can’t ignore. For a child’s toy, it requires some degree of skills to get the right frequency.
Pros
- Beautiful listening device
- It receives sounds from far distances
- Affordable
- Perfect for children to play and adults to enjoy the wildlife
Cons
- It catches background noises hard to ignore
- The plastic pieces are not durable
2. EX ELECTRONIX EXPRESS Listening Device
While the previous and the next device fall short in audio recording, this listening device offers a quick solution to that issue. It is not much, but you’ll be able to record 120 seconds, approximately. This capacity is a slight improvement to the other tools that offer less than a single minute.
The headphones meet our expectations as well. When the device starts receiving audio, it transfers at a comfortable volume to the earpiece, providing a sound-quality without interferences. Whether you’re catching soundwaves from long or short distances, the audio received is pretty clear.
For more convenience, the purchase also includes a 10X prism, which is ideal to use at outdoor activities, as it allows us to spot what is causing the audio we’re currently receiving on the device. For wildlife, it is an outstanding accessory to catch animals following their routines.
One consideration to keep in mind is that, while this device is affordable, that comes with its own disadvantages as well. The most noticeable issue is the poor construction materials, which almost guarantees the device will not last long.
You may want to use this device in considerably controlled environments too. If you use it in areas with loud noises coming from all angles, the audio quality gets reduced by a lot. In most cases, you won’t even be able to hear what you were trying to capture in the first place.
But those are small issues that don’t take anything away from the device. It is affordable, works well for the most basic tasks, and it is capable of recording two minutes of audio approximately. There’s nothing much we can ask from it, really.
Pros
- Records around 2 minutes of audio
- High-quality sound quality when picking up the intended frequency
- Picks up sounds between long distances
- Affordable device
Cons
- Not durable
- When used in loud areas, it will not pick up the audio correctly
3. CampCo Uzi Uzi-OD-1 Listening Device
Like only the best are capable of doing, this listening device also catches sound produced at ridiculously long distances. The parabolic dish used to collect the audio is pretty accurate, reducing background noise to improve the quality, providing better hearing performance.
The item is as described by the manufacturer. After ordering, it doesn’t take long before the package arrives at your doorstep, which is already a plus as it shows how thoughtful the brand is. For the price, you will hardly find any listening device as good as this one.
As for the design, the pieces have an outstanding black design ideal for those spy adventures in the dark. What about its performance? After testing it out in different scenarios, the results were satisfactory.
First, we discovered that it does well through obstacles. So, even if you’re trying to receive audio from behind a wall, it will come through in a crystal clear quality. Not only that, but the parabolic dish makes it possible to catch sound produced at a low level.
As a power source, the device uses a 9-Volt battery, which does not come with the purchase. When fully charged, the battery powers through several hours a day, making this device a listening tool that you can easily take with you for outdoor activities.
Where does this device fail? It fails in the recording feature, unfortunately. You see, while you can record audio using this tool, it is not that much.
Also, the recording time often varies, with customers mentioning between 15 and 30 seconds. Either way, if you want to save a long recording, you’ll need a separate device for that specific purpose.
Pros
- Parabolic dish reduces noise interference
- Works at hundreds of feet away from the audio source
- It includes many additional features like microphone and monoculars, among others
Cons
- The recording time capacity is too low
4. Bionic Ear And Booster Set
Have you ever dreamed about being a spy from the previous century? Because that’s what you’ll look like using this listening device. It is not the best, and it lacks plenty of standard functionalities we’ve seen in the previous picks.
Does that make it a useless device? Not quite. We could go on talking about every negative element of this tool, but for the sake of keeping your interest in reading, we’ll discuss the positive factors first.
When it comes to performance, this device performs well as long as you’re between 30 to 40 yards away from the audio source.
It will not receive sound through concrete walls and other obstacles in the way, but as long as the device establishes a direct connection to the soundwave, it will catch the frequencies.
Even then, when the device receives sound, there will be background noise interfering, most likely. There’s no way to fix this issue, so be prepared to deal with it every time you use this tool.
Upon receiving the sound, the volume displayed by the earpieces could be pretty loud if needed. Naturally, you can reduce it for more comfort. The volume range and quality are a few of the benefits provided by this device.
Because, as you’ll quickly notice, this device is relatively expensive if you consider that it can’t compete against what the alternatives have to offer.
So, who benefits from having this tool? Children, more than anyone else. If you plan to use it on the wildlife to catch the wonderful noise of mother nature, there are audio devices more suitable for that purpose.
Pros
- Old-style look
- High volume
- Clear sound quality from short distances
- Lightweight listening device
Cons
- It catches soundwaves in a limited range
- If there are obstacles in the way, like a wall, the sound will not come through
- Expensive listening audio device
5. HDATronics Slim Voice Recorder
This listening device is unlike anything you’ve seen before. For starters, it doesn’t require the classic two pieces that you’d use to amplify and receive the audio.
Instead, it is a unique piece similar to USB memories. Thanks to the Smart Dual Connector technology, users are capable of connecting it to USB 2.0 and as a micro-USB port as well.
However, it is not fair to compare this tool to the previous devices. This listening device activates as soon as it starts receiving sound by voice, reducing blank noise and mumbling that whispering often produces.
While you use the other picks to catch wildlife sounds, this one is more suitable to record meetings and conferences in closed spaces.
As to how much you can record, well, the device can store around 94 hours of audio. Then, you can use the USB port technology we mentioned earlier to listen to your recorded sessions on different equipment such as PC, Mac, and even on phones thanks to the Micro-USB plug.
When fully charged, the battery goes on for about a day, approximately. Then, once it runs low, you can recharge its energy in an hour. Overall, there are no complaints possible when it comes to the device’s internal battery. It offers a reliable performance throughout.
Naturally, customers must accept this device for what it is; people can’t expect it to do any miracle like recording audio when the source is too far out of reach. For better quality, it is better to use this device for small tasks in a confined space.
Since the device is identical to USB memory, keeping it stored in your bag or backpack, and even in your pocket should be easy.
Pros
- Portable listening device
- Long-lasting battery life and performance
- Records plenty of hours of audio
- Reduces background noises
Cons
- Better to be used in closed room
What to Look for Before Buying a Listening Device
Here’s a list of features you should keep in mind to find the right listening device for your purposes.
High-Quality Parabolic Dish
The most crucial element of these devices is the parabolic dish, as it is the responsible element to catch the frequencies and translate them into eligible sounds. An efficient parabolic mechanism should also be able to work through the interference and background sound.
The Headphone
An adjustable headphone will allow you to set the volume at the perfect frequency to understand every bit of sound received. The HAUSBELL listening device sets the bar as to what an incredible earphone should be.
Even though the earpiece is often an extra accessory, it is an essential element if you need the best listening devices through walls and other obstacles.
Recording Time
While using the listening device, you may encounter sounds you may want to save for another time. Fortunately, some of these devices offer the option to record the sound it receives. The recording time varies between brands, but they mostly provide 12-120 seconds of audio saving.
Long vs. Short Distance
Figuring out what you want to do with the listening device will narrow down your options quickly. If you want a tool to record sound in closed spaces, perhaps our pick number five is the best choice.
However, you may want to consider a complete set like the HAUSBELL pick for long-distance listening devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a long-range listening device?
Hundreds of long-range listening devices are available on the market. The purpose of bionic ears, laser microphones, optical listening devices, and parabolic listening devices is the same: to capture audio from a distance.
How far away can a listening device work?
Depending on the type of listening device used, some of these devices can hear a conversation from 100 yards away, while others have a range of 300 yards.
Do listening devices require Wi-Fi?
Most modern Covert Listening Devices send signals over GSM, but some can also send signals over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Older and less expensive ones send signals over UHF or FM.
Is it possible to use an iPhone as a listening device?
With Live Listen, your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch can act as a microphone that sends sound to your AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Powerbeats Pro, or Beats Fit Pro. Live Listen can help you in hearing a conversation in a crowded place or even someone speaking across the room.
Final Words
There are many tools to record audio out there, but only the best listening devices included in this list proved to be the most efficient among all of them. You can categorize them for specific tasks too.
The first three picks are suitable for receiving audio between long distances, making them suitable for outdoor activities.
On the other hand, our fourth pick is more suitable as a kid’s toy. It is good, albeit poorly made.
And the final pick is the ideal tool to record audio in closed spaces, like classrooms and office conferences.
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