Phonak Spice

@SuJaDon said:

Hearnow - Did you get any indication as to when they maybe available in Australia. I keep hearing from my Audie that they may not come to Australia.

Phonak AU sent out invites for the launch starting 12 November weeks ago, so maybe your aud doesn’t read their mail? They can apparently order from the 12th.

I found this Phonak presentation from EUHA on the web. It’s dated October 13.

http://www.sonova.com/Presentations/EUHA_Presentation%2020101013_Internet.pdf1

I don’t know if anyone has seen this yet, but it explains a lot of the new features better than other things I’ve read. One thing I’m still unclear on though is the difference between Ambra and Audeo S. From the charts, it looks like the Audeo S IX-series has all of the new features that the Ambra has including Stereo Zoom, Auto-Zoom Control, and Flex Control. So is the Ambra just larger and more powerful for people with a more severe hearing loss?

What is the meaning of CRT in the Sonova presentation?

Canal Receiver Technology.=A speaker hooked to a wire that sits in the ear canal.

@tboy said:

Doesn’t Starkey have a HA that has a speech enhancement feature, i believe its called “IQ” that would be similar to the Phonak

Unitron calls it speech enhancement…

I am about 10 days into a demo of the Exelia Art, and I got a call from my audi offering a chance to demo the Ambra.

She said I should have them next week. I didn’t think they would be in the states so soon.

@xbulder said:

Respectfully disagree- Phonak didnot have wireless sincronization in their aids- and now they say they can use an array of 4 microphones which can change the width of the directional mic (is really another fancy description of wireless sync). So really they are
NOT really offering anything new or revolutionary. Siemens and Oticon has been doing this 3yrs ago. To me, it seems they did not have a new premium instrument and they have throw this in between. Their software is indeed superior, they are on to something.
But from the features point of view this instrument disappoints really.

You seem to be on a bit of a warpath. I made no mention of anything revolutionary and only used the term new to describe their new platform (which it is). No mention of wireless syncronization or any comment about Oticon was made in my post (excepting what I quoted from the other poster).

@xbulder said:

Respectfully disagree- Phonak didnot have wireless sincronization in their aids- and now they say they can use an array of 4 microphones which can change the width of the directional mic (is really another fancy description of wireless sync). So really they are
NOT really offering anything new or revolutionary. Siemens and Oticon has been doing this 3yrs ago. To me, it seems they did not have a new premium instrument and they have throw this in between. Their software is indeed superior, they are on to something.
But from the features point of view this instrument disappoints really.

@Um_bongo said:

Take a step back here, IF the Spice system is capable of delivering noise reduced speech across BOTH ears using cross head beam-forming, then it is revolutionary, as 2nd and 3rd order directionality massively enhances the signal to noise ratio.

If the system just gets both mics working the same plot at the same time I agree with you.

Looks like my initial assertion was accurate. They’ve cracked a ‘holy grail’ of hearing aid development. Don’t take anything away from it, it’s a big step foward. Only concern would be having a client who is willing to click away at the programs until they find the correct zoom for the situation they are in.

Don’t be down on it because it’s not an Oticon, sometimes you have to acknowledge genuine acheivement even when it happens against your brand/team/company.

@Um_bongo said:

Looks like my initial assertion was accurate. They’ve cracked a ‘holy grail’ of hearing aid development. Don’t take anything away from it, it’s a big step foward. Only concern would be having a client who is willing to click away at the programs until they find the correct zoom for the situation they are in.

Don’t be down on it because it’s not an Oticon, sometimes you have to acknowledge genuine acheivement even when it happens against your brand/team/company.

The instrument is doom if the client has to cycle through the programs to make it work.
The jury still out…

The instrument is doom if the client has to cycle through the programs to make it work.
The jury still out…

Sorry, no it’s not.

Try the new Phonaks … your doubts will vanish.

Also: the UK is the launch country so other countries may launch somewhat later.

My audi has ordered me a pair of the Audeo Smart S IX’s and I go back in two weeks for a fitting. He had just gotten the new Target software and wanted to have some time to get used to the new interface before fitting me. I’m really looking forward to seeing what they can do!

The North American reps were in Chicago this week for meetings about new products etc. according to my Audi. His Rep says the Spice HI’s are amazing.

the rep would never say its crap… I take the word from Um bongo, Zonor and english dispenser *and the other audis -here in that the instrument is good.

I’ll let you know what I think of them in a few weeks. My audi has fit one pair already and he said the patient was amazed at the StereoZoom.