Does it Really Work? - Listen Up

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Story Published: Mar 27, 2008 at 9:47 AM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 7, 2008 at 1:20 PM MDT

By Tommy Noel

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Infomercial: "Do you sometimes disturb others when watching TV?"

"When we're watching TV, they're listening comfortably, I can't hear a lot, so I say turn it up. Then they'll say that's too loud," says Marlu Nelson.

So we'll let Marlu Nelson try out, Listen Up.

"It even comes with a battery," says Tommy Noel.

Infomercial: "The personal sound amplifier that lets you turn the volume up for yourself."

Our experiment begins with some average TV watching. First without Listen Up, then with.

"How does the TV sound," asks Tommy.

"I can hear fine. So far it's a little better than it was," replies Marlu.

And so far, Marlu is pretty sold on the device, and thinks her family should buy her one.

Time for another experiment.

"We're about 30 feet away from Marlu. I'm going to use my normal speaking voice. Raise your hand if you can hear me," says Tommy

(Marlu raises her hand.)

However there were some problems with the Listen Up. Other conversations interfered when Marlu was trying to focus on the TV.

"I can hear him better than I can her (on TV) now," says Marlu.

She also heard some people laughing down the hall.

"Can you tell what they're saying," asks Tommy.

"No. I missed the joke," replies Marlu.

Marlu is now pretty split on the personal sound amplifier. It made the TV louder but the other conversations were distracting.

"If you're in a room where nobody else is, that would be great," says Marlu.

Listen Up to Marlu's rating on the Spud-O-Meter.

"I would probably say 3 and a half," says Marlu.

You can get the Listen Up at Walgreen's for about 15 bucks.

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