Phonak Introduces Virto Titanium Infinio…

Not sure on that one @Baltazard , I basically just glanced over the article… As you are no doubt aware, it’s not my thing, with my level of loss…They might be a size 10 battery? Cheers Kev

it looks like replaceable battery. Wonder when the in the ear rechargable will come out.

OK, that really IS intriguing! I’d seen the headline recently, but didn’t bother reading about the Virto cuz I thought it was the typical, Sphere-sized rechargeable.

No! It’s actually pretty cool! Not only would it offer some “discreet” insertion deep into the ear canal (aka IIC or “Invisible In Canal”), but the titanium shell is so thin and strong that it frees up 30% more space for electronics in those little puppies.

Phonak uses “biometric” calibration - or super-custom fit imaging to fashion these aids, so they would be comfy and fit the user’s ear canal like a bespoke pair of shoes (and probably for less money).

I must’ve been asleep at the wheel like Rip Van Winkle, cuz the first Virto was launched in 2017. But then again, with my cinderblock ears, I’m guessing that iteration would’ve been sub-optimal.

Even so! I’m intrigued about the custom ear canal measurements. Maybe that could be used to fashion a custom speaker “tip” for folks like me who wear RIEs? I’ve used the softer, silicone double domes for ages cuz my ear canals swell up and go down during the day, but I’d sure give this titanium shell a try if it could connect via wire to my 312-battery Lumity Life aids. I’m wearing the Caribbean Pirate teal color today - LOVE 'EM!!!

I’m wearing these right now. They do go in deep into the ear, the batteries at least for me last about 4 days. Yes they are disposable. The sound is… interesting. I am a totally blind user, I get incredible localisation from these. Meaning I can hear in front, side to side, behind and even up and down because they go in deep enough that they use your natural ear structure to help with sound imaging. The problem for me at least, is speech in noise. I have no problem with speech in noise normally, but with these babies, because they have omnidirectional mics, if you get in a loud place, everything near you gets massively amplified and then speech becomes very hard to process over the overall sound roar.
You can make speech in noise programs to deal with this somewhat, but for me, I don’t want to take my environment away because then I lose my world perception, so I try and avoid these if I can.
I’m on a trial with these at the moment, I may end up keeping them but still figuring this out, trying the Widex allures soon as well, totally different style.

be aware, very little control is possible with these devices. You can control volume up or down, not both. meaning you can go 1, 2, 3, 4,5, or, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. I have mine on the up setting 1 to 5. You can do that for each ear.
You can also control the program, you get 4 to choose from and your audi has to set these all up for you. Each program has its own memory for volume as well, so you can set program 1 to volume 3 manually, then go to another program, change that program, come back to your previous one and it remembers where you are.

There is no streaming, no blu tooth no other kind of connectivity on these. If you want a change, to the audi you go.
They are a really interesting little device. I’ve not decided if they’re quite right for me yet but they are certainly an interesting option.

@Xonic83 said:

There is no streaming, no blu tooth no other kind of connectivity on these.

OK. Deal breaker for me FOR SURE. And that’s said if these would even do enough for someone with my kind of hearing loss. I’m guessing these aids are (still, since 2017) meant for someone with mild/moderate loss?

Naw. I like the ease of changing volume & programs PLUS the BT streaming with my Phonak Lumity Life aids. They have been game-changers for me, and I can’t even fathom using a phone or watching TV without the volume streaming right into my aids.

Thanks for sharing your experience here, and I’ll be curious what you think of the Widex!

I’ve been using the non-titanium previous version of these for almost 5 years now. They do have limitations compared to other models but nobody has ever noticed I’m wearing them - which I like. I’ve been impressed overall with how they work for me (mild/moderate loss) and the technology packed into such a small space. I will say that shortly after getting them and going back a lot for minor adjustments, I learned how to make my own programming changes. I also get 4-5 days of battery life with them. I’ve found that in very loud environments, I usually have to remove them as they get confused with all the noise going on.

Yes this equals my experience. I don’t care if people know I’m ewearing HA’s, but the noise is a problem sometimes in loud environments or just very busy environments. Feels like a roar in the ears.

I wear Starkey Edge AI.
The roar is on my right ear.
If I slightly pull the aids wire out it goes away.
Release the wire roar comes back.
If I twitch my ear it goes away. Temporarily.
As stated it’s in noisy environments.