You do not need AirPods for Live Listen. Live Listen is a feature that allows you to use your iPhone as a remote microphone, transmitting sound to your Made for iPhone (MFi) hearing aids or headphones. While AirPods offer a convenient one-tap access to Live Listen through the Control Center, you can still use Live Listen with other MFi devices.
To set up Live Listen with MFi hearing aids or headphones, you need to go to the Settings app on your iPhone and navigate to Accessibility. From there, select “MFi Hearing Devices” or “Headphone Accommodations” depending on your device. Follow the on-screen instructions to pair your device and enable Live Listen.
It’s worth noting that Live Listen works best with MFi hearing aids or headphones that have been specifically designed for this feature. These devices often provide better audio quality and compatibility with Live Listen compared to regular Made for iPhone accessories.
I personally have used Live Listen with MFi hearing aids and found it to be a helpful tool in certain situations. For example, in noisy environments or when someone is speaking from a distance, Live Listen allows me to focus on the audio coming from my iPhone, which is closer to the source of the sound. It can be especially useful in crowded restaurants, classrooms, or during conversations in a noisy setting.
While AirPods offer seamless one-tap access to Live Listen, you can still use Live Listen with other MFi hearing aids or headphones. Simply set them up through the Accessibility settings on your iPhone.