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General discussion

Anybody use a Voiis bluetooth device?

Jul 18, 2009 9:37AM PDT

My wife's audiologist sold her a Voiis 'Wireless Gateway' that she is supposed to connect to the stereo. It will broadcast the audio output to her hearing aids so she can hear the TV without turning the volume up excessively. It's a neat idea and it may even work, but I have a stupid question before I try to connect it.

The 'user manual' for the Voiis has a lot of pictures but not much explanation. I'm supposed to connect the unit to the stereo's output but it is not at all clear whether the intended connection is to an amplified output like the headphone jack or to a pre-amp level output. The picture looks like a pre-amp connection with RCA plugs but the unit also includes 3.5 mm stereo plugs like the ones for my iPod ear buds.

I've asked their tech support for clarification but then I wondered if any forum members are familiar with the Voiis devices.

I still have to solve another problem. I can't plug the Voiis into the headphone jack of the receiver because that will turn the speakers off. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to get a sound signal to the device once I know what type input it expects.

Discussion is locked

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It's very likely be use with the earphone jack, but...
Jul 18, 2009 1:57PM PDT

as you have ready found out it's not ideal. But you are in luck; the dongle should work connecting to line-out as well. The problem there...is that you have to reach back of the stereo to turn on/off the dongle.

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Oops .. I found another problem ...
Jul 18, 2009 9:24PM PDT

I don't think using an output on the back will be a major problem. It just requires a longer patch cord. However, I discovered a more difficult problem.

I had intended to use the Zone 2 output on the back. It can be set up as either powered or unpowered ... but the amplifier won't send a signal to Zone 2 for a digital input. Zone 2 can only process ANALOG inputs. I think it's related to some of the copy-protection issues for digital media. I've wired everything as HDMI for the entire sound system. I'd rather not have to switch everything back to analog sound but I guess it's either that or buy a receiver that allows headphones to be used at the same time as speakers and I don't know how hard they are to find.

This is proving to be quite an annoyance.

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Voiis
Sep 1, 2010 8:12AM PDT

This is a little late, but in December '09, I purchased a Voiis in a package deal with and iCom device and Bluetooth to allow me to listen to TV or Stereo without disturbing other listeners. From the very beginning my experience with the Voiis has not been satisfactory. As pointed out the owners manual was unclear and I finally figured out hot to hook it up and with a lot of effort Syncing it with the iCom. There are no independent volume controls on the Voiis and any volume increase would have to be by way of the hearing aids or from the TV. That is poor engineering and would not allow a Voiis user to listen independently. After several attempts at using the device, I unplugged it and tried to avoid blowing any other TV watchers out of the room while listening to the TV. The cost is also higher than most other devices that can be purchased from an electronics store. Don't waste your money.