I just returned from my 2nd tour where I wasn't able to use my own.
It looks like VOX has updated their receivers, and although each of the 2 different brand earbuds I have previously used successfully connected just fine, the sound quality was bad and full of static.
The good news is that sound using the supplied earbud is much improved and there is little or no static.
I know nothing about wireless or hearing aid devices.
LIZinPA, I ran into the same issue last fall on the Village Italy tour. Apple wired ear buds would not work with the whisper system. On three previous tours they did. I was disappointed because I find the Apple ear buds more comfortable.
Thanks to both of you for the update. I had specifically kept my old earbuds with the round plug for whisper sets...(eyeroll emoji!).
Just fyi, was on the RS Portugal Tour this month and we used a different(new per guide) whisper brand(Red and White) than the blue Voxs used on our previous 9 tours. Your mileage may vary, but the overall reception and sound quality was improved over the older units, less static etc..
As for ear plugs, I have used the same pair of inexpensive wired Sony MDREX15LP for a number of years which have a sufficient long cord that you can carry the device in a jacket pocket without having to tether around your neck. Obviously, has two ear buds but I just tuck one away. Please note the model version I speak of is without a Mic. I think that is important for compatibility. I tried other models with a Mic over the years and they did not work, at least for me.
Has anyone used these new whispers with a bluetooth adapter? Just bought one mainly to use with the Whispers.
Thanks @Barbara I Have the same question.! I was hoping that something like an Airfly Bluetooth would work?
Not all ears are made in a shape that accepts in-ear headphones. I find open conduction headphones are the only thing that works well for my ears. I prefer to not have something that covers the full ear.
Anyone with recent experience?
See the reply stoutfella posted on this thread with some help:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/headphones-for-rick-steves-whispers
RS tours in 2016-2019 supplied me with an alternative earphone that slipped over the ear and sat over the ear canal instead of inside it. The tour guide collected them after the tour as they were used for those with hearing aids. They only had a limited number available. Then RS started using a different version that wasn't a good fit for me. They collected this newer version as well after tours.
You might try buying the original one and checking to see if it works (using your own MP3 player for instance) - I've used this for the past 4 tours: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W7YNG5M?ref_=ppx_hzod_title_dt_b_fed_asin_title_0_0
LIZinPA, thanks for the link to stoutfella. I got that adapter so hopefully the bluetooth device will work!
Because I was gifted Beats wireless ear buds, I bought the AirFly SE Bluetooth adapter for use on Best of Rome RST this past February and it worked beautifully. It was nice having comfortable to me buds in my ears, no wire to deal with plus didn't have to hang the receiver around my neck. I didn't experience poor connection, static or lag time and I thought my $33 with tax purchase well worth it. Also convenient using connecting wirelessly to inflight entertainment system.
Two questions
1) Wondering if wired neckloops are supplied with the Whisper prime plus systems? Neckloops make the device hearing aid and cochlear implant compatible. (neckloops are used with telecoils in hearing aids, cochlear implants, and bone-anchored devices).
2) It seems the newer Whisper-X or the Mini doesn't have a socket for a jack? If there's no socket, then wired headphones, wired earbuds, and wired neckloops cannot be used.
traveler77,
Our last tour mid-Oct '25 did not use a new Whisper-X system. It did use one that we had to charge via USB cord (no batteries).
The last 2 types used in our tours did not transmit stereo signals - I had to use a small mono-to-stereo converter to get my wired pods working - this is the adapter mentioned by stoutfella. Obviously both had jacks for wired earpieces.
Thank you so much for this post! My Bose headphones haven't worked on the past 2 tours with my Whisper system and I thought it was just me! I had the same issue with lots of static and had to use the provided headphone, which isn't very comfortable in my ear.
I have an old pair of headphones that I may bring on my next tour to see if they work any better.
LIZinPA, thanks for the link to stoutfella. I got that adapter so hopefully the bluetooth device will work!Blockquote
Barbara: Hope it helps. It did the trick for me.
I used AirFly Pro to pair with my AirPods in my last tour and it worked well. The user manual is tiny with tiny fonts; so I took photo screenshots of the pages in the user's guide I found online. If the pairing were to fail later for some reason and I forget the steps, I can refer to these photo easily.
