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Phonak Infinio 90 sphere streaming voices

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I just got a pair of Phonak Infinio 90 spheres. When streaming podcasts, the voices sound a little like Alvin from the 3 chipmunks rather than what I know is their real voice quality, but I still can comprehend all the words. I have tried manipulating the graphic equalizer on my Samsung phone to the preset different settings and on the custom menu increased the bass and dropped the treble without much success. There is no way for me to change the equalizer settings on the bluetooth app on the Phonak app itself. Is there anything else I can try, or is this just the way voices are on Phonaks? When streaming with my old hearing aids, Resound Nexias, voices (and music) sounded more realistic. I have a flat hearing loss of approximately 60 db in both ears. .

Just as a side note, I recently took my Resound Nexias to a restaurant to compare with the Phonaks. The difference was remarkable. The background noise level was rather pronounced on the Nexias and almost disappeared on the Phonaks in sphere mode. I could hear my partner clearly, and when I turned around and faced the table behind me. I could clearly hear the diner talking five feet behind me.

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I have the Spheres and the sound is great. I have been streaming a lot more too, mostly audio books.

Edited
@smc said:

the voices sound a little like Alvin from the 3 chipmunks

Put your Samsung equalizer settings back to default and make a 2-minute recording on your phone of Alvin and the Chipmunks.

In MyApp, you didn’t mention whether you had made adjustments to the ambient slider while streaming.

Instead of streaming the podcast, listen to it on your computer speakers in Calm, if you can. The Calm has five preset equalizer settings. Try them one at a time without making any equalizer changes. Pick the one that sounds the best and then adjust the equalizer. If you get lucky and find one that sounds good to you, save it, but also write down the settings. This is a reference for adjusting the streaming in Target.

Play the audio recording for your audi and explain that the voices sound like Alvin & the Chipmunks when streaming. Explain to your audi the comparison between Calm and streaming. Give them the settings that worked in Calm, or that were closer to what you want. This will give the audi a good place to start. After the audi adjusts the mids and highs, stream the recording to the aids and see what it sounds like. Of course, it may take a couple of iterations to get it right.

Generally, voices sound more “natural” or at least better when streaming because it’s digital to digital with only one analog conversion in the ear canal. I’ve made a couple of simple fitting changes to my Sphere i90’s, and the voices in Calm, Spheric Speech and streaming are very close to matching. They’re not identical, but they’re very close.

You didn’t post your or say what kind of domes you’re using with which receivers. That makes it harder to talk about specific adjustments. The wrong domes, streaming compression issues, etc can all cause Alvin to come out. The audi should go through those with you. Good luck!

What type of domes are you using ? Open domes can make voices sound tiny. Same domes as the Resound ?

Did they always sound like this or just recently ? Check and domes .

If you already tried making changes yourself without success (in the app) , talk to your provider. The programming software can be used to change how streaming sounds.

Edited

I am using power domes. I just got the phonaks a few days ago, streaming sounded normal with the resounds

Edited

In reply to @Elderly

Great idea. I tried it out and the default and comfort settings on calm were closer to normal on my computer speakers but the “Alvin” voices occurred in clarity, speech and surrounding settings. When you bluetooth stream from your phone, do you know what the default setting is? I’m using power domes thanks

There are two separate streaming modes on the Phonaks, one for speech and the other for music. Your Audi can tune the parameters for streaming speech separately from any other mode.

As an experiment, while listening to your podcast, seal your ear canals with your fingertips. Does the sound improve? If yes, consider upgrading to custom ear moulds.

In reply to @smc

@smc said:

the default and comfort settings on calm were closer to normal on my computer speakers but the “Alvin” voices occurred in clarity, speech and surrounding settings

Ok, if your power domes aren’t leaking sound, then they can be eliminated as the cause of Alvin.

Using the Calm program, pick which setting you like better between default and comfort. Check it on other streaming sources like TV talk shows, etc., not just the podcast. Once you decide which one you like best, then go to the equalizer settings and adjust them one at a time while you’re listening to the podcast. If moving one makes the voices better, leave it and adjust the next one. If you find a combination you’re happy with, write it down. Your audi will need it.

You didn’t tell me which receivers you are using. Without an , dome and receiver info, I’m flying handicapped. Power domes are used with M, P, and UP receivers. Without the audiogram, I can’t tell which receiver you should be using. Audi’s will sometimes give people M receivers because they are borderline for Ps. Audis think the M’s are richer, fuller-sounding receivers. If they don’t wear hearing aids, then they don’t get the richer, fuller thing at all.

However, with the Sphere i90s, your audi may not be aware that the high frequency headroom compression algorithms are different than they are in the Paradise and previous Phonaks. An M receiver might work well in a Paradise hearing aid, but in the Sphere i90s, they cause tinny sounding voices. If that’s the case, the only really effective solution is to switch to the Ps, and adjust the mids and highs after that.

Let someone without regular hearing listen to the podcast and tell you if the voices are high-pitched. Be sure to have the podcast recording with you when you visit the audi.

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