I posted this in another thread, but I figure this thread is probably more appropriate for this information, so I’m reposting it here again for reference.
For folks who don’t care to spend time browsing through the OPN materials from the link Literature & Video Download Center | Oticon, I can summarize what I find below on the differences:
Speech understanding:
Balancing power effect: Opn1: 100%, Opn2 and 3: 50%
Max noise removal: Opn1: 9db, Opn2: 5 db, Opn3: 3db
Spatial Sound LX (sound localization): Opn1: 4 estimators, Opn2 and 3: 2 estimators
Sound quality:
Clear Dynamics (expands the dynamic input range, processing sounds up to 113dB SPL, to preserve sound quality even at loud input levels -> provide better sound quality without distortion and artifact at loud input levels, while still keeping the sound quality of soft input levels intact): Opn1 and 2: yes, Opn3: no
Binaural noise management (optimizes listening in asymmetrical noisy situations): Opn1 and 2: yes, Opn3: no
Fitting bandwidth: Opn1: 10 KHz, Opn2 and 3: 8 KHz
Processing channels: Opn1: 64, Opn2 and 3: 48
Listening comfort:
Transient Noise Management (Protects against sudden loud sounds with fast recovery to preserve audibility): Opn1: 4 configurations, Opn2 and 3: On/Off
Personalization and Optimized Fitting:
YouMatic LX (Accommodates personal listening preferences and sound perceptions in the prescription of gain and automatics): Opn1: 3 configurations, Opn2: 2 configurations, Opn1: 1 configuration.
Fitting bands (for a precise fit and more fine-tuning options for client fittings): Opn1: 16, Opn2: 14, Opn3: 12
Below is some more info I read on an article on audiologyonline.com8 where Oticon provides some talking points to hearing professionals on how to explain the differences between the OPN 1, 2 and 3 to their patients. It’s just an excerpt from a whole article. Thought I’d just pass it along here for those interested in reading it.
Opn 1, 2 & 3
Opn is Oticon’s answer to dealing with speech and noise. Beamforming, we believed, was not the direction we wanted to go. We wanted to go in a direction where we could provide more natural access to all the dominant talkers in the environment. As such, Opn was very much a different approach to trying to solve the listening problems that patients had. We also knew that we wanted flexibility for those patients at different budget levels. With Opn 1, 2, and 3, all these products feature OpenSound Navigator. All these products feature the TwinLink dual radio approach. The difference between Opn 1, 2, and 3 is how effective OpenSound Navigator is for the patient. If a patient chooses Opn 3 (as opposed to Opn 1 or 2), they will not have quite as cleaned up of a sound environment. They will still have access to multiple speakers in the environment, but the overall effectiveness of eliminating extraneous sounds and of preserving only speech will be greater as you move up to each level of technology. Again, they’re all Opn products, and they are all using a very unique approach to solving the patient’s most difficult problems, without having to resort to the unnatural, restrictive approach of beamforming.
We’ve received reports from some hearing care professionals of asking for more guidance on how to talk to patients about the differences between Opn 1, 2, and 3. We believe that, with these four talking points, you can make a very good case for why the patient wants to be at the highest level of technology that they can comfortably afford in order to get the benefits of Opn for their greatest hearing challenges:
- It is all OPN, which is different than anything else in the market. The main discussion with the patient should be about how important Opn is, how important and unique OpenSound Navigator is to conquering the most difficult challenges faced by those with hearing impairment.
- Effectiveness in Challenging Environments. The most important difference when moving up to higher levels of technology will be the effectiveness in challenging environments. OpenSound Navigator is much more effective as you move from 3 to 2 and from 2 to 1.
- Sound Quality. The differences may also show up a little bit in terms of sound quality. The bandwidth in Opn 1 is better than Opn 2 and 3. The way it handles louder sound environments, the more impulsive sounds in the environment, is going to be better as you move higher up the technology ladder. The patient may hear it in terms of the sound quality.
- Ability to Personalize. You simply have more control as a professional in Opn 1 than you have in 2, and more control in Opn 2 than in Opn 3, to craft a solution that meets the specific needs of each individual patient.
NJ