Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

Cheaper good alternative to Phonak Audeo Sphere Infinio regarding noisy environments?

74 replies3.2k viewsLast reply

Jump
Link to this topic
Reply

In my opinion, as long as a person is wearing vented domes or ear molds, the brand or model of hearing aid is irrelevant when trying to deal with a noisy environment. If about half of what one hears is completely bypassing the hearing aids, what difference does it matter how well a model of hearing aid is rated in noise.

I suppose you mean vented domes or open domes?

(With molds, brand/model should affect result in noisy environment, right!?)

Yes vented / open domes are the same thing. Same thing regarding ear molds.

The same situation applies when using noise canceling headphones, which is why when I fly, I wear over the ear headphones to keep out as much unprocessed sound as possible.

Unfortunately too many folks get all hung up over the latest greatest technology while missing the simple basics.

I never had molds. What you are saying is a bit confusing to me. Are you saying that the aid model doesnt make any difference in terms of understanding speech in noise, when using molds!?

No. forget about ear molds.

It’s simple, if you are hearing noise going directly to your ears not thru your hearing aids, no matter how good your hearing aids are at handling noise, you will be disappointed in the results.

Have your audiologist set up your aids with closed / non-vented domes, then consider if you really need a different pair of hearing aids.

In reply to @raylock1

@Swift would need a Roger On iN with the receiver codes on it if purchasing a second hand option. Getting a Roger 3 means unlimited Roger codes which is handy if you have friends with Phonak or Unitron aids that have on-board Roger compatibility (but no installed receiver codes) as you can share the benefits of the transmitter with others.

Receiver codes?

What is a reciever in relation to Roger?

(In relation to hearing aid its the loudspeaker I learned. This world is confusing:-))

In reply to @dacuttler

Vented/open domes are not the same thing acoustically. @swift has a very tricky configuration of hearing loss to fit well without own-voice problems and needs a vented fitting to avoid this. Custom ear tips if possible would likely provide their clinician with a better ability to customize the venting and improve the acoustic performance in quiet and noise, but its a careful balancing act between own voice comfort and hearing others.

In reply to @Swift

Roger systems consist of a Roger Transmitter and Roger receivers. The receivers used to by physical devices that connected into your hearing aids or streaming device for non-Phonak devices.

With the Marvel Platform, Phonak introduced a new wireless chip that integrated Roger wireless technology into their hearing aids. Instead of physical devices that plug into the aids codes for each receiver were installed from the Roger transmitter (iN versions) to the hearing aids. This reduced hardware-related issues at the hearing aid end improving long-term reliability. Each transmitter came with 2 codes. The cost of the systems didn’t change.

With the latest version of Roger transmitters released this year each transmitter comes with unlimited receiver codes so that the transmitter can be used with unlimited Sonova-brand hearing aids that have Roger compatibility. The eliminates code management which was cumbersome while making Roger transmitters more attractive to consumers as you no longer have to purchase codes for individual devices but can easily share a single transmitter with other Phonak/Unitron hearing aid users in your household, family or friend circle with the caveat being you all want to listen to the same conversation/streaming audio source. Non-Sonova branded hearing aids still require a physical Roger receiver plugged into a streaming device, e.g. Oticon Edumic.

@Hearing_Potential said:

Roger systems consist of a Roger Transmitter and Roger receivers

@swift Nothing bad about Roger On, it’s amazing. But since I got my spheres, I haven’t turned it on for microphone use except to test it. The sphere is that good. I stream quite a bit, and use the media cable for podcasts quite a bit.

This morning I was at a senior fellowship time in the basement of a church in town with about a dozen others. Very heavy echo in that room and there were multiple conversations going quite often. I put it in spheric mode when I got tired of it flipping back and forth, wishing the spheric would kick in a little quicker here and there. Spheric does the job! (For me)

I’d say don’t commit to a Roger on until you’ve had the spheres a month or two (assuming you go with spheres).

I know others experience success with other brands, too. Gotta find what works for you.

WH

Edited

Great that Sphere works well for you.

The Roger On idea that popped up in the thread was to buy a used Roger On and use it together with my existing Lumity 70. (To avoid the high cost of Spheres.)

Btw, what type Domes do you use?

In reply to @Hearing_Potential

True the Roger 3 has the unlimited licenses but if you have the Roger On iN either v1 or v2 you can get several additional licenses by downloading the free Roger upgrader software from the Phonak website so I Don’t believe the version 3 is worth the significantly greater cost.

In reply to @GrayGhost

it says “2 receivers installed”. Does that in fact mean “two microphones installed”?

Do I need to worry about license/licenses to Roger On if I buy used?

Will it automaically work with my Lumitys? Do I need to set it up somehow?

I’m in Europe, something I need think about when buying from US?

I’m very new to Roger ON. I have never used it. I barely know what it is, as you might tell :slight_smile:

Thanks.

If I were you , I would do a little experiment : get some (they are ultra cheap) and test your Lumitys in noise. I’m not saying you should use closed domes but just do a test. Lumitys are good hearing aids so I’m suggesting you try alternatives before spending lots of SEKs
.
If the issue is the domes , you may want to try phonaks ActiveVent receivers with your Lumitys: they stay open but close automatically when you are in noisy environments .

If you think my advice is helpful, please don’t give me Surströmming as thank you gift :joy:

Edited

Thanks for advice.

I do have (“Power domes” right?). The aids were fitted with those. But I felt claustrophobic in them so i changed to Vented.

I will try again with Power domes (Tmrw at a very noisy Midsommarlunch :-))

Interesting with these ActiveVent receivers. Will look into. I suppose they too cost “lots of SEKs” :slight_smile:

Edited

Same here, ever the Phonaks vented were too occlusive for me. I use Oticon’s OpenBass domes which give you the feeling of open domes but provide the benefits of vented domes. They are phenomenal.
The ActiveVents are not too expensive , cheaper than getting new hearing aids I’ve seen them for around $100

You can test them @ Sturecompagniet (not sure if it still open )

Phonak Activent Receiver6

Phonak has introduced the world’s first intelligent hearing aid receiver. Called the ActiveVent Receiver, it’s the newest feature of the Phonak Audéo Paradise hearing aid, which gives users with mild-to-moderate low frequency hearing loss a better...

Oh. You felt Phonaks Vented were too occlusive. I guess Oticons OpenBass is not for me then (in my quest for better hearing in noisy environments).

I think Sturecompagniet is still around :slight_smile:

But there are plenty of tiled coffee shops around here were I can experiment. Even the walls are tiled :-(( Horrific.

Related discussions