I have paid the extra $$$$thousand and have a mini mike. It works well in small group settings. When my husband and I go out to eat he hooks it on his shirt pockets and then I have no problems hearing here above the rest of the noises going on. I have tried it in the middle of the table when there happens to be a group of us. At that time it helps some. The only thing is that I forget to take it along most of the time. It really works slick while watching TV.