Williams AV | Top Hearing Aids Company 2022

MedTech Outlook Magazine

Williams AV
Creating Inclusive Environments with Innovative Assistive Listening Systems

The feeling of being involved in a conversation that one cannot understand is frustrating. It takes away one’s confidence and the opportunity to engage with others. Unfortunately, this is the reality that individuals with hearing challenges often face. While these individuals could use hearing aids, the shortcomings associated with them, such as high cost, multiple visits to audiologists, and the hassle of operating them and changing batteries, dissuade many, leaving them with no other viable option to deal with their hearing impairment. This scenario compelled Minnesota-based Williams AV to innovate with technology to offer products designed for assistive listening to encourage faster inclusion and engagement for its clientele. “When people have difficulty hearing, they are less confident to participate in a discussion or ask questions. The goal is to provide them more intelligible audio and clearer images so they can engage and collaborate. That is what Williams AV is all about,” adds Tony Braun, VP – global sales and marketing at Williams AV.



The company started its journey in the assistive listening device segment more than four decades ago on realizing the needs of people suffering from hearing loss. Ever since, the firm has been employing different technologies to help individuals improve their ability to hear intelligible sounds without a hearing aid. Williams AV instead offers a device called Pocketalker® that amplifies sounds closest to the listener while reducing background noise. Pocketalker has been no less than a marvel for those who haven’t been able to do anything to improve their hearing ability for years. While hearing aids have always been available for these people, many consider them a conventional product, more suitable for seniors. Pocketalker can easily be used by seniors as well as youth alike. “People are more comfortable with technology now, so, there is less resistance about seeking out a piece of technology that may be able to help them hear in a variety of environments,” explains Braun.
Williams AV’s Pocketalker is a user-friendly device with an ergonomic design, fits in hand, and is easy to clean. Williams AV has two models—Pocketalker Ultra and Pocketalker 2.0. Both the models efficiently amplify the sounds closest to the microphone and, more importantly, save the users from hearing distorted sounds.

What makes Pocketalker stand out is that by quickly adjusting the volume and tone control, users can easily improve intelligibility as they listen to sounds in their environment. As the training required to use the device is minimal, individuals get comfortable with it in minutes. The Pocketalker 2.0 includes an internal microphone and balance control which elevates the experience for those using it. The in-built telecoil further enhances its usability. “When users at a venue see the sign indicating that a hearing loop is present, they can simply click a button on the Pocketalker and receive the signals directly from the sound source without the background noise directly from the hearing loop to their ears,” adds Braun.

  • Williams AV’s Pocketalker efficiently amplifies the sounds closest to the microphone and, more importantly, saves the users from hearing distorted sounds


Williams AV also offers other products to help its users address hearing challenges in a wide variety of environments. For instance, the company has a line of FM products that operate on a frequency range of 72 to 76 Megahertz. It allows organizations to install FM equipment in churches, stadiums, and convention centers and carry out affordable broadcasts that help make these venues compliant with ADA requirements. Williams AV has a complete range of FM systems and can even leverage a venues in-house Wi-Fi to facilitate the audio broadcast. “If a venue has a commercial grade Wi-Fi system, the Williams FM+ system either allows someone to visit an information desk to check out a receiver for listening, or join the Wi-Fi and listen to the broadcast using their own smartphone,” elaborates Braun.

Over the years, the usage of Williams AV’s products has significantly increased as the company continually develops functionalities and features that enhance how they can impact individuals’ lives. The company also offers interpretation and translation technology and video annotation to further improve individuals’ communications in their environment. Ultimately, every move that Williams AV makes aims to help individuals hear the important things in life.

Top 10 Hearing Aids Companies - 2022

Company
Williams AV

Management
Tony Braun, VP - global sales and marketing at Williams AV.

Description
Headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Williams AV designs and manufactures professional audio-video assistive communication technology. The company improves lives by breaking down communication barriers to understanding and helping people hear, see and engage. The company’s portfolio of products enhances interpersonal communications and understanding.

Williams AV News

Williams AV Unveils Three New Products at InfoComm 2024

New Lineup Includes Hearing Loop Amplifier, Production Intercom, and Infrared Transmitter for Assistive Listening and Team Communication.
EDEN PRAIRIE - Williams AV, announced its technology lineup for InfoComm 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company is debuting three new products at InfoComm, the largest Pro AV trade show in North America, that expand their existing hearing loop, intercom, and infrared audio product lines
At this year's InfoComm, visitors to Williams AV’s booth C5533 can get a demo of their latest innovations, including the new Digi-Loop 104 small room hearing loop amplifier, the Digi-Wave ACM production intercom, and the SoundPlus T3 infrared transmitter for assistive listening.
Digi-Loop® 104 – Small Room, Perimeter Hearing Loop
Williams AV expands its assistive listening solutions with the addition of the Digi-Loop 104, an ultra-compact, budget-friendly perimeter loop amplifier for small rooms. This Class D amplifier features high-efficiency technology for lower power consumption and natural cooling, and its user-friendly interface and clear status indicators make it easy for admins to monitor. It also features automatic gain control for superior sound quality and intelligibility. The Digi-Loop 104 is perfect for venues looking to make meeting rooms, waiting rooms, reception areas, and assisted living facilities more inclusive for those with hearing loss and compliant with hearing legislation. more inclusive for those with hearing loss and compliant with hearing legislation.
Digi-Wave® ACM – Production Intercom
The latest addition to the popular Digi-Wave product line, the Digi-Wave ACM (Advanced Comms Module) is designed to meet the evolving needs of professional wireless production intercoms. Unlike many wireless intercoms that rely on a fixed base station, the ACM allows users to designate a centralized unit as a flexible access point, ensuring seamless coverage even when teams are on the move. The full-duplex ACM supports up to four subgroups (or channels) and offers customizable subgroup naming as well as pre-programmed names. Key features include an All Call function for simultaneous communication with subgroups and a Private Call function for direct messaging by a team member to a leader.
SoundPlus® T3 – Medium-Area Infrared Transmitter
The new SoundPlus T3 is the latest addition to Williams AV's infrared product line, offering unrivaled coverage, a discreet form factor, and professional AV inputs. It stands out as one of the industry's only infrared transmitters that integrates with third-party room systems, allowing AV professionals to control and monitor the device using Telnet commands via Ethernet. Utilizing the newest generation LEDs, the T3 provides 50 percent greater coverage than the existing T2 model, with a coverage pattern designed to flood the room with audio. Its sleek, compact footprint makes it ideal for assistive listening and language interpretation in commercial spaces such as conference rooms, assisted living facilities, cinemas/theaters, classrooms, and courtrooms.

Williams AV Acquires TeachLogic

Williams AV, the Eden Prairie, Minn.-based, provider of assistive communication technology, has acquired TeachLogic. The company specializes in sound reinforcement solutions for K-12 classrooms. TeachLogic’s products complement Williams AV’s assistive communication portfolio and mission to empower connections and create inclusive spaces, says Williams AV.
For 30 years, TeachLogic has been addressing a critical barrier to learning — poor room acoustics. Serving the U.S. education market, its advanced audio systems ensure all students have equal access to the teacher’s voice and other classroom audio sources, providing clear instruction throughout the classroom. Academic studies have shown when teachers use properly installed soundfield systems, academic gains include up to a 15% increase in students’ math and reading scores and a 30% improvement in comprehension for ELL students.
“A teacher’s voice volume decreases almost 30% by the time it reaches the back of the room,” says Brad Kautzer, President and CEO of Williams AV. Kautzer adds. “The TeachLogic system evenly distributes sound across the classroom, aiding in classroom management and audio intelligibility and reducing the need for repetition. This benefits all students, regardless of whether they have hearing loss.”
Williams AV has led the assistive communication market for nearly 50 years. Initially known for its assistive listening products often used by older adults with hearing loss, the company has since expanded its offerings to solutions that address audio challenges in various environments and applications. Today, Williams AV provides assistive communication not only for assistive listening but also offers products that deliver intelligible audio for language interpretation and intercom applications, as well as for guided tours and entertainment applications.
Ron Canfield, VP of Education Business Development, says, “The combined business accelerates TeachLogic’s capacity to innovate and enhance our product offerings for our customers, while expanding our market reach in the education market.”
Kautzer says the acquisition aligns perfectly with Williams AV’s strategic objectives. He continues, “Both companies are passionate about creating inclusive spaces with intelligible audio. This underscores our commitment to growth and innovation. We look forward to expanding our footprint in the education market with TeachLogic products in the U.S. and internationally.”