You want all this for your own hörbert too? No problem! Please contact our service team in order to get an offer for an Upgrade.

Contact Serviceteam

Visual differences:
The new hörbert comes with a slightly different appearance and a brand new electronic interior.

The toggle switch for switching on/off no longer exists. Instead, the volume control can be pressed for electronic on/off.

The new hoerbert’s front panel has a small opening at the right bottom, behind which the microphone is hidden.

hörbert now has even less plastic. The coloured buttons on the front now also consist of wood!

New features:

• recording function:
  All sources hörbert knows, it can also record on the memory card: Microphone (if built in), Bluetooth streaming and Internet radio.
• Microfone:
  Record speech and music in CD quality with the microphone and play it back directly from the memory card.
• WiFi for Internet radio:
  Connect hörbert to your W-Lan to play Internet radio stations with hörbert’s buttons. With the recording function, radio broadcasts can then be recorded and played back later from the memory card.
• Pause function:
  hörbert continues playing exactly where you switched it off. There is no need to fast-forward to the right place.
• Even less plastics
  The colourful keys are now wooden turned parts. hörbert thus contains less than 5% plastic. Only the circuit board and the components on it. That can’t be improved any more.
• Even more space for replaying
  The storage space on the SD card now goes further, because hörbert can play native mp3 and m4a files. That’s why more hours fit on the same card. Each of your memory cards will then hold up to 5 times the amount of content compared to the previous format.
• Bluetooth Audio for headphones and Streaming
  You can use hörbert with Bluetooth headphones or as a Bluetooth speaker. Simultaneous listening with up to two wireless headphones is possible. With a mobile phone or tablet, you can listen to content from streaming services on hörbert, e.g. from Spotify or audible.
  This is already possible with your “hörbert 2011” if you have a built-in Bluetooth module.
  What is new is that you can also record everything that hörbert plays as a Bluetooth speaker so that you can play it back again and again from the memory card.
  What’s new is that you no longer have to pay anything extra for the Bluetooth functions. Bluetooth audio is now included in the price. Of course, the Bluetooth function can also be switched off completely, so that nothing transmits if you don’t want it to.

Proven and still available:

• Sleep Timer included
  Set how long hörbert can play before it switches itself off.
• Selectable additional volume limit included
  piano/forte

hörbert comes ready to play. 

Depending on your selection, a preloaded memory card is included with German, international, or Swiss German audio content for children. If you choose an accessible hörbert, you can also opt for a blank SD card or one with audio content for adults. The hörbert for seniors automatically includes the free memory card with content for adults. 

We provide over two hours of carefully selected songs and stories. 

Additionally, we include 4 AA batteries so you can start using hörbert right away after unpacking. 

You are also welcome to use 4 rechargeable AA batteries in hörbert’s battery clips. 

Important Note:

If you purchase a hörbert with an optional USB port and battery charging function, we also include a preloaded free memory card of your choice. 

However, to operate hörbert via a power outlet, you will need the following accessories: 

– USB power adapter 

– USB-C cable 

If you also want to use hörbert on the go, you will additionally need: 

– 4 x rechargeable AA batteries (1.2V HR6) 

You can find everything about hörbert’s USB port **HERE**. 

We’ll agree on a price with you, because it always depends on what is broken.
If something is wrong with your hoerbert, please send us a note along with photos (<1.9 MB in size) to service (at) hoerbert (dot) com

As long as the decorated part is not broken, we’ll replace only other parts and you’ll get your own hörbert back, of course.

You might want to replace the handle, the loudspeaker, the on/off switch and the volume knob yourself. That’s okay, if you have the know-how and the tools to perform such a repair. If you don’t, contact us, so you can send your hörbert in for a repair.

When batteries leak, you will find traces of battery chemistry on the electronics (circuit board). You must cleanly remove these traces in order to get your hörbert back in shape.

Cleaning after leaking batteries:

Important safety instructions

Take care of your safety and that of your surroundings in the following activities! Only work with safety glasses! Only work with protective gloves! Don't touch anything else with your gloves on! Work with an open window and sufficient fresh air supply! Do not work near flames or ignition sources! Keep chemicals and tools away from children! This manual does not apply to other devices! Leave the repair to us, if you don't think you can take a step!  Risk of injury: splashes of alcohol or battery chemistry in the eyes may cause serious eye injury. In the event of an accident, consult a doctor immediately. Fires may occur when working with high-proof alcohol. Have extinguishing agent ready. Alcohol can dry out your skin, so wear gloves! And again: Keep children away from chemicals and tools!

And so it goes:

1. Pull the memory card out of the memory card holder. Check the contacts on the memory card. It may need to be replaced when it has received battery chemistry. You can try cleaning them with alcohol.
2. Remove the electronics by loosening the 4 nuts on the board. Lift up the board and disconnect all 3 cables.
3. Find all traces of battery chemistry on the top AND bottom of the board. You’ll need to clean it very carefully to stop the corrosion.
4. Use plenty of isopropyl alcohol 70% (e.g. from the pharmacy): Drip the alcohol abundantly on all places where you find traces of battery chemistry. Soak everything. If the alcohol evaporates, drip more of it onto the board, even into the memory card holder.
5. Use your toothbrush to scrupulously remove all traces of battery chemistry. Cotton swabs can also help. Important: NEVER scratch! Because if you scratch a trace or destroy a small component, it is very likely that the board is finally broken.
6. When everything is clean, let the alcohol evaporate for an hour. Never use the electronics in wet condition.
7. Now you can plug all cables back in where they were, insert the board again and screw it tight.
8. Now insert the batteries and the memory card again and switch on audibly. Don’t forget to breathe.

There are two reasons for this: Either the contents of the memory card have got mixed up, or the remains of leaking batteries affect the electronics. (In this case: Problems with leaking batteries?)

• To compare problems with the memory card, you can use another suitable memory card, for example, or you can first back up all the contents of your hörbert card with the on-board resources of your computer: Simply copy all the contents of the memory card into a folder on your computer. You can use this backup later. Tip: The hörbert software can create a table of contents on page “2”, which you can save on your computer with the files on the memory card.
• The easiest way to”repair” a messed up memory card is to format it and reload it.
  • Start the hörbert software on the computer, and check if you have the latest version (at the left of the bottom of page “1”: “Search for newer hörbert software”). If necessary, install the latest software while you’re at it.
  • If you now insert your memory card into the computer and select it in the hörbert software, you can format the card with the “memory card tools”. Attention: By formatting all data on the memory card will be deleted irretrievably! Be especially careful not to select another drive of your computer or that may be plugged into your computer.
  • After formatting, you can reload the card with the hörbert software as usual. As a test, it is enough to play 2-3 songs on each playlist to test the card. If you want to try again with your previous content, simply copy your backup copy from your computer back to the card.

Yes, since 12/2020 the hörbert software is also available for Linux (tested on Ubuntu >16.0.4) for download here:

SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD

The publishers of our supplied content offer even more beautiful music and stories – in some cases even free of charge.

You can find the sources here: hörbert’s preregistered contents

In addition there are many contents which you can buy as MP3 download or M4a download and which really belong to you. In Amazon and iTunes you can find them under the category “”Music downloads””. There is not only music, but also stories to download.

You can find even more contents for your hörbert here on our website

hörbert 2011:
The included 4GB memory card offers capacity for 17 hours or about 1000 minutes of music and audio books.

The new hörbert 2021:
The included 4GB memory card offers capacity for 50 hours or about 1000 minutes of music and audio books.

Yes, the current hörbert model reads SD cards between 4GB and 512GB in size.

Necessary preparation steps for the SD card so that hörbert can play it

• Your own SD card must be formatted in FAT32 (or FAT, MSDOSFAT, EXFAT) format. Caution: Formatting irrevocably deletes all data on the selected storage medium. So make sure that you are really formatting the correct memory card and that you have either made a backup beforehand or can do without the data stored on it!
• You must then create 9 playlist folders with the names 0 to 8 on the SD card.

You can find out exactly how it all works here:

To make sure that the card contains the necessary FAT32 file system, you can format your memory card with the hörbert software and then read it in again with the hörbert software. The software will then recognise that the card has ‘never been used with hörbert’ and will prepare it and create the necessary folder structure for the playlists.

You can also format the memory card in FAT32 format using your computer’s on-board tools. If this format is not available in your hard disk utility for formatting the SD card, you can also select FAT, EXFAT or MSDOS-FAT. If you have formatted the SD card with your computer’s on-board tools, you can then read it in with the hörbert software. The hörbert software asks whether it should prepare the card for use in hörbert. Confirm this. The necessary folder structure for the playlists will then be created. You can then use the hörbert software to transfer new tracks or delete old tracks.

Create folder structure on the SD card

If you are not using the hörbert software, you must create 9 folders for the nine playlists in the main directory of your SD card and name them from 0 to 8.

0 = dark purple button, 1 = red button, 2 = dark blue button, 3 = light green button, 4 = yellow button, 5 = pigeon blue button, 6 = light blue button, 7 = orange button, 8 = dark green button. It looks like this:

Note: For a hörbert with only 3 playlist buttons, you only need to create three folders (1 = red, 6 = light blue, 8 = dark green)

You can now copy and paste or drag and drop your own audio files into the respective folders. Possible formats: mp3, m4a, wav, ogg, flac, cda/cdda, aif/aiff

The playback sequence can be resolved by numbering the track names accordingly, e.g. 1_track name 2_track name 3_track name etc. or with spaces between the number and track name: 1 track name 2 track name 3 track name etc. Done! Now you can eject the card properly, disconnect it from the computer and test it in hörbert.

Editing the SD card in browser set mode (without computer and without SD card reader)

If the Butterfly firmware is already installed on your hörbert, you can also transfer new audio files via the browser set mode (via tablet, smartphone or computer). Here it is recommended not to transfer more than 2-3 new files at the same time, as it takes a little longer to transfer data via hörbert’s own WLAN than via the SD card reader on the computer.

Select one of the colourful playlist buttons in the browser set mode, then select ‘Content of the playlist’ and click on the blue ‘FILE’ button to select and transfer new audio files. You can then use the icon with the three dashes (see image below) to move the file to another position in the playlist:

Attention: Please only ever use one method to edit the SD card, i.e. either the hörbert software or the browser set mode, as otherwise the contents of the card may get mixed up.

Note: Once you have edited or opened the playlist content on your SD card in browser set mode, hörbert creates a file called ‘playlist.m3u’ in the playlist. This ensures the correct playback sequence. New files that you then add to the playlist folders 0 to 8 via your computer’s file directory will always be played at the end of the playlist in alphabetical order.  Afterwards, you can change the playback sequence via the Browser Set Mode, as described above.

If you have an older hörbert of the 2011 model:

SDHC cards between 4 and 32 GB are compatible with this hörbert.

Tip: Please pay attention to the speed class when purchasing. hörbert 2011 can play Class 4 or 6 memory cards without any problems. With some Class 10 cards, there may be brief stuttering or dropouts during playback. This happens very irregularly and not in the same place. This is because the particularly fast memory cards ‘clean up’ on the side. Unfortunately, we cannot predict which cards from which manufacturers will exhibit this behaviour, and even then it only occurs sporadically.

The following applies to both hörbert models:

We have noticed that the power consumption of some third-party cards is significantly higher than that of our supplied Class4 SDHC card, which is manufactured according to our specifications. Unfortunately, it is generally not possible for us to make valid functional statements about individual brands or even individual batches within a brand, as the manufacturing processes vary too much and new controllers and processor chips are constantly being installed. We cannot know what is inside.

Each of the nine coloured buttons represents a list of songs or audio book chapters. By pressing the same button several times, you jump through that list track by track.

You find all details about hoerbert’s functions in our user manuals:
MANUALS

The metallic grey button is used for audible fast forward, the black button jumps back to the beginning of the current title. Pressing the black metallic button twice you will jump back one more title.

hörbert is made of natural materials, that’s why we can’t predict colors and texture of the wood, for example. Each hörbert is unique! Small discolorations or knot-holes leave their traces and are normal.

The answer is both yes and no.

The standard hörbert is a portable device and does not have a mains power connection. It runs on 4 x AA rechargeable or disposable batteries, which are widely available. A power adapter connection has been deliberately omitted to ensure that hörbert remains suitable for even the youngest users, always mobile, and free from the hazards of power sockets or cables.

However, since November 2024, there has also been a hörbert for seniors and a barrier-free hörbert. In this area, it is often necessary for hörbert to be used as a stationary device powered by mains electricity. Therefore, these models automatically come with a USB port and a battery charging function as standard.

For the hörbert designed for children, you also have the option to choose a USB port and compatible rechargeable batteries when purchasing.

Learn more about hörbert’s USB-C port in our BLOG ARTICLE ON THE USB CONNECTION.

Does hörbert have a USB port?

Yes, but not for USB sticks. It is used for operation via a USB-C cable and a USB power adapter plugged into a socket. If rechargeable batteries are also inserted in the internal battery compartment, they will be charged simultaneously when hörbert is connected to the socket via a USB-C cable. A practical feature. MORE INFO ABOUT THE USB PORT

Where are the audio contents stored?
hörbert works with a memory card in SD card format.

You need an SDHC card reader on your computer to save your own content to this memory card and to make changes to it.

Alternative option without a computer and without an SD card reader
Since the end of November, the Butterfly firmware has been available for all hörbert devices from October 2021 onwards. This is the model with a rotary knob for turning on and off. With this firmware, all settings for hörbert can be configured via the Browser Set Mode, a user-friendly web interface, which also allows you to add individual audio files or web radio URLs.

The wood, operating elements and electronics have been specifically selected and produced in a way to protect hoerbert and your children, when it gets a bit wild in the playroom. hörbert will go through interesting times and may even get some marks and scratches that can easily be corrected with a bit of sand paper. If hörbert should have an unfortunate fall and something gets broken, spare parts are available – because throwing hörbert away is out of the question. Of course, you can also send hörbert in for repair at any time, we will be happy to advise you.

Please always CONTACT US before sending your hoerbert in for repair.

hörbert is available in our online shop at https://www.hoerbert.com, as well as in selected customer shops, that you can also find on our homepage. No matter where you buy your hörbert, you can have it individually engraved. Just ask at your customer shop, we’ll engrave your hörbert for you while we produce it.

hörbert was designed to be operated by even small children (from the age of two years) themselves without the help of anybody. Only transferring content to hörbert and replacing batteries are tasks that are left to grown-ups. As hörbert already comes with lots of songs and audio books, you won’t have to sacrifice your first day with hörbert at your computer instead of giving it to your children.

We don’t recommend a minimum age for using hörbert. You may want to play lullabies to a baby, your two-year-old kid may be able to handle hörbert completely on his or her own. Maybe grandma or grandpa like to use hörbert as a pretty and simple music box, that’s also a task hörbert can handle.

Children use the colored buttons to select what to listen to next. Behind each of the nine colored buttons there can be several songs or chapters of a story. Skipping them works by pressing the same button several times. There’s one more grey button for an audible fast forward scan and one black one to jump right back to the beginning of the currently playing title. You can even jump further to the previous titles by pressing that ‘back’ button quickly in repeat. Finally, there is a rotary volume knob and a robust on/off switch.

Read all about hoerbert’s functions in our user manuals.

• Please insert a completely fresh set of new batteries or full batteries first, because even a poor power supply can be noticed by a croaking sound.
• Then we should exclude that it is only a loose screw, or that only the rear wall vibrates, because it should be tightened, for example. Therefore, please remove the sliding cover first. Then listen to the device at full volume with the rear panel open, whether it is still vibrating.

Is the problem still there?

• If yes, please try by laying it on the speaker grille by hand, whether it lies only on the speaker grille or the wooden frame on the speaker grille (and one of the 4 screws may be too loose there).

If you have a loose screw, you can tighten it yourself with feeling. This problem can be caused by differences in humidity and temperature when the wood”works” (expands or contracts slightly). Is the problem still there?

Yes. Small defects or scratches can even be removed with a fine sandpaper. The best way to repair major damage is to replace the affected parts so that stable and safe operation can be restored afterwards. For larger repairs you can send us your hörbert by prior arrangement. A complete housing replacement (i.e. replacement of the frame and the front using all your intact hörbert parts) can only be carried out in our workshop, as we can also carry out any necessary minor repairs – at the previously agreed flat-rate price, of course.