You ever wonder what people are saying across the room? The Magic Ear may be your solution!
It's supposed to give you super hearing instantly. In fact, you’re supposed to even hear a pin drop from across the room.
The claim is that the new technology enhances vocals while canceling background noise.
It looks like an oversized pager, but to others, it just looks like you're wearing a headset.
We paid $19.99 at Fry's Electronics, so let's see if it's worth the cash.
Just add two AAA batteries, turn on the power and you’re ready to turn on your super hearing powers.
I tried listening to several conversations across several rooms. I couldn’t hear them without the Magic Ear, and I couldn’t hear them with it.
I will say, I did hear sounds from another room, but more echoes and paper crumbling than anything.
The biggest claim is that it will filter out background noise, so I took the test to our assignment desk, where there are lots of conversations and scanners.
I heard the scanners loud and clear, but I couldn’t hear the conversations. I even tried it with someone standing nearly next to me and they sounded better without the Magic Ear.
Final test: the TV.
The infomercial showed a man sitting in the chair with the tv blasting. He turned down the volume and the Magic Ear turned up the volume in his ear.
When I tried it, not the same results; The TV was a little amplified, but not a super hearing experience.
So, is the Magic Ear 'Bull or No Bull'?
I have to go with Bull, there was no magic happening.
There was a lot of feedback, which hurt more than it helped. In some cases, sounds were intensified, but I had no control over which sounds to filter out.
What products would you like me to try? Email me at smartshopper@abc15.com/SmartShopper.