New Phonak Audéo M-R/RT HAs

How much did they quote you?

$4,500. Fortunately, I have excellent insurance with it comes to HAs (not so excellent when it comes to dental) and they will pay $2,000 of that.

Maybe you know my answer then.

When I play music from my phone, both HA are playing the music in good quality.

When I make a phone call, the voices are bad like I can’t understand what is said. But when I move the phone to my ear, the voice become clear. Again, but only one HA is playing the phone call. The right HA if the phone is next to the ear. The left HA if the phone is next to the left one

I can’t tell whether there a bug in software or HA settings need to be adjusted. I’ll definitely see this upcoming week but maybe you know why while I wait.

Phonak customer service wouldn’t answer my questions about known issues or if there’s an available firmware update for the M90 R. I just started using them yesterday.

I also plan to do a side pet project soon with them… Maybe something open source firmware once I get the necessary tools ready.

Never thought of contacting Phonak Customer Servce. Are you doing that on the computer or over the telephone?

If by telephone, might I trouble your for the number and thanks.

@Zebras said:

That’s because only one HA is connected via Bluetooth, it then streams to the other ear. So it perfectly normal.

Aha! Got it & thanks.

Other weirdness:
When I go to the Bluetooth screen on the iPhone X I see this:
L-Phonak Not Connected
R-Phonak Connected
R-Phonak Not connected

It’s as if there are two R-Phonak HAs.

I could choose the R-Phonak Not Connected and opt for Forget This Device.

Would this be advisable, or just leave it alone?

Thanks.

Another question, if I may. It’s Saturday, I have emailed the audiologist, but no response yet.
Here was the question to her:
Pressing either the top or bottom button of the multi-function button on either HA only serves to raise or lower the volume, but not change the program.
When I was in the office yesterday, I could both lower/raise the volume AND change the program using the multi-function button on the HAs.
Can anyone with similar Phonaks provide guidance?
Many thanks.

The aids are usually set up to change the program requires a long (4 seconds or so) press of button, a short press to change volume.
You can also use the phone app to change programs.
Good luck

Thanks, that did it. Forgot it required the long hold.

Phonak Audéo M vs Resound II

Should I start a new thread with the above question?

I had a pal who has had hearing problems since the 1970s. Unhappy with his then-current HAs, he got a pair of Resound II HAs a few years back and absolutely swears by them.

My pal’s quote:
Bought the II’s from Costco because they were sooo much better than what I had, even though I had to personally pay the complete price (I.e., he could have waited a year or two and had his insurance pick up $2k of the cost). Costco’s price beat my very good audiologist by some $800.

I am finding the sound quality of my Audéo M-R to be a vast improvement over my 5-year-old Audéos but the bluetooth, which I will be using extensively because much of my job is done in my vehicle where I listen to podcasts, music, handle and create texts,deal with calls (texts/calls done while parked) is slightly, for want of a better term, wonky.

I solved one problem, in the vehicle, where a podcast would begin, but within 60" the sound to the HAs would stop even though the podcast screen showed the pause symbol, indicating that it was still playing. Checked volume controls, BT connection, etc., and all were good.

I solved this one by having my iPhone Forget This Device (i.e., the Car BT connection) and now podcasts work well in the car.

But, to continue, my pal says his Resound II are listed on the Apple Hearing page as compatabile with iPhones and the iPhone’s Mfi (the built-in Apple software for controlling compatabile HAs) and he reports that the Apple Mfi software beats the pants off the Resound BT app which he downloaded.

So, I am considering using these for a week, see how the BT works in different situations, etc., and if not 100% happy, going back to the Audi and asking to be fitted for a pair of Resound II.

Would welcome any comments.

The Marvels has Auto Sense, which is one of their main selling point. It’s an artifical intelligence component which senses the type of environment you’re in and switches to the correct program without the user having to manually switch programs. There are many pre-installed programs that are proven by company research to enhance the sound quality.

The pre-installed programs are listed in the Marvel Brochure for the Audi.

If Phonak keeps up with the software development, I wouldn’t believe these devices would be outdated for functionality for awhile.

Phonak will service and support their HA for up to 5 years. After that, they expect you to purchase the next HA.

The biggest question for all HA is how long the company plans to continue to provide updates to the software for the HA.

The HA becomes useless once the company stops focusing on that product and begin marketing a new HA with better capabilities.

One solution to this problem would be to have someone “jailbreak” “unlock” the firmware and keep it under open source as the community updates the code to their liking versus waiting for the company to update it or whether they will add a feature you request, which the company has every right to say no.

You should try as much different sound environments as possible to see how the Auto Sense corrects or enhances the sound quality for you. Loud, quiet, background noise, concerts, busy street with alot of vehicles, anything like that and see if you can understand or follow the conversation with the added difficulty and see how the Auto Sense handles that

The Phonak Remote app for Android is only as useful and full of features as the Audi sets it up. They have to enable the option on their programmer for you to use it. Or, like me, do it yourself.

@SophieKala said:

Phonak will service and support their HA for up to 5 years. After that, they expect you to purchase the next HA.

The biggest question for all HA is how long the company plans to continue to provide updates to the software for the HA.

The HA becomes useless once the company stops focusing on that product and begin marketing a new HA with better capabilities.

Nice post, Sophie. Very informative, in particular the quote portions I have copied above.

I plan to try these Phonaks out for the week in a variety of circumstances (home, street, car, classroom, etc.) and see how I feel at the end of the week.