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Is Widex still the best for music?

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I was able to stream after I unpaired and then repaired the ’s. The sound quality is fair. I don’t have a problem with the audio dropping in one ear. The app equalizer doesn’t seem to work. Are there any adjustments I could make that might improve the sound? I know music isn’t going to sound 100%. If I want to stop streaming, do I have to just close out the audio on my phone? There doesn’t seem to be a way to stop it manually at the HA’s.

Edited

You could just stop playing the music but then I suspect phone calls would go to your . You may need to unpair them. I can’t tell you much about the HA side as I just had my test this a.m. and will get HAs next week. I just know a bit about Android OS.

I had to be insistent as the people at Connect were trying hard to get me to choose Phonak.

In reply to @bbtexan

@bbtexan said:

The sound quality is fair

What type of dome are you using, open or closed?
You’ll most likely need to make adjustments in the software to get the most out of the streaming programs.

@bbtexan said:

I don’t have a problem with the audio dropping in one ear.

Well this isn’t supposed to happen, so always best to stream to both . Why is it dropping out?

@bbtexan said:

The app equalizer doesn’t seem to work.

It’s limited by the actual set up in the software for your streaming programs. I’ve found you can make small changes but it really needs to be done properly in the software. (You do mean the Widex App or the Android music App?)

@bbtexan said:

If I want to stop streaming, do I have to just close out the audio on my phone?

Yep that’s all it takes.
You’ll want to check your settings on your phone for notifications as well.

@bbtexan said:

There doesn’t seem to be a way to stop it manually at the HA’s

This depends on how they were set up by your audiologist.

I have open domes. Using my finger to block out exterior noise still doesn’t improve the sound. My phone speaker is much better. I think maybe you misread my statement about audio dropping in one ear. They are both connecting well. I’m using the Widex app to try to adjust sound. I can’t tell much difference but I might be missing some adjustments. Thanks for your response!

Ok, so the open domes are not good for music while streaming, closed would be the way to go, blocking your ears isn’t the same as using , but I would have thought you’d have noticed a least a small difference.

@bbtexan said:

I’m using the Widex app to try to adjust sound. I can’t tell much difference but I might be missing some adjustments.

Yeah this is strange when using the equaliser ,that you can’t notice much difference, this is while streaming only right? Or you don’t notice much in any other programs as well?

Can you post your , this would be helpful for other’s as well.

I don’t have an in a file on my phone. Perhaps I can ask the audiologist to email it to me. Most of my streaming will be speech rather than music. Still, I would rather have a richer tone. I wonder if there is a third party app that would be helpful. Also, for phone conversations, would it work to hang my phone on a short lanyard to have access to the mic?

Over the years I compared Widex against Phonak, Oticon and this year Signia AX.

My conclusion from this experience is yes, Widex still wins for music and sound quality:hands down no contest.

Just recently I compared Widex Moment to the Signia AX. Widex has way better sound quality for music. Majestic highs and accurate natural sounding bass.

The Signia AX didn’t have those god-like sounding highs when listening to the guitar solo in knocking on heavens door, and the bass was a bit muddy like you’d expect from soso quality speakers. Not bad though, but no contest against Widex.

Edited

I am new wearer and I use the Widex Moments. I’m neither a musician nor an audiophile. Everyone’s ears are different and this is my personal experience, so take this for FWIW. I posted elsewhere how the Signia 7AX didnt work out for me during the trial period as my Audi and me couldn’t get past the tinniness and speech recognition issues. The Widex Evoke was an instant improvement without any tuning. Last week I got my Widex Moments and my Audi did the sensogram tuning on it and things got even better. Sounds were even more natural and crisper than the Evokes. I went for a broadway show on Saturday night for the first time in years. The Moments came out in spades. The live Orchestra was fabulous to listen. The music was rich and full and probably better than I’ve ever heard with my non-HA ears. Everything sounded natural to me and it was truly enjoyable. My son was with me and he plays in an orchestra and for the first time I was able to point out different instruments to him during the ensemble. It was truly a Quality of Life experience. I am hooked on the Widex.

I just got a pair of Signia AX7’s. I’m a classical guitarist. I love how live music sounds with the AX7’s. Very clear and natural and full. That said, I haven’t tried any other higher end current ’s, so I don’t have much to compare with.

Ask 5 different people the same question, and you’ll always get 5 different opinions.

These days, the Widex, Oticon, Signia, Phonak, etc. all feature custom music programs.
The secret is in the fitting, and the acoustics.
They can, and will sound as good as the who programs them.

I’m currently using Oticon More’s, with their new MyMusic Program.

Edited

Major bummer. To use Widex Moment with an Android phone the phone OS version must be 11 or greater. My phone is a Moto-G Power 2021 and it is not scheduled to be upgraded beyond some version of Android 10. It is a damn shame that my $4000 hearing aids choice will be affected by a $300 phone. But it is only 6 months old so I cannot justify changing it. We tried a brand new Widex pair with my phone and two ID numbers showed up but not the Widex info that the fitter saw on his phone. WE called Widex and they verified it had to be Android !!+. Damn Widex, they have some screwball scheme which requires pairing with two devices. I have a lot of stereo BLE devices and none of them require 2 pairings.

So now I am stuck with Phonak. The difference in the way music sounds with Widex and Phonak is like day and night. Bah, humbug.

One bright note. I found a fitter who knows his stuff, Hearing Masters in Dallas. He has been in the business since 1986 and he used to build custom hearing aids until our ever helpful government decided that only manufactures could build hearing aids despite the fact he was regularly getting approval for his devices. Probably the work of some lobbyist.

I have Widex Beyond 440s with custom ear molds. I’m into my 5th year of usage. Prior to that I used Phonak products for 25 years. When I switched to Widex I demoed Starkey, Widex, and Oticon. The problem most hearing aids have for us performing musicians is that they tend to give you a distortion on certain pitches that you can’t ignore. With adjustment to the feedback manager we could eliminate that problem with most of the various aids but we didn’t have to do anything with the Widex Beyonds. In addition to that, the Widex helped my horns sound more natural to me than I’d experienced in 20+ years.

Could you tell us more about the distortion? Was it pitch, splatter (like excessive volume overloading the amp), a tonal quality like missing overtones?

Thanks,
John

Sorry if I already mentioned this earlier…in my Signia aids, and in most aids, the feedback control program has to be completely off–completely! or one gets bad artifacts. Have you tried this? My AX7’s have a Musician’s Program that had feedback management turned as low as it can go. Not low enough! It has to be off. And while you’re at it, turn off wind block and compression features.

I had the same problem when using Phonaks in years past. Since switching to Widex the distortion is not there.

Phonak might work but I recommend getting the fitting rationale/algorithm checked out. I’ve heard that Phonak’s proprietary rationale is a lot like . When I tried Nal nl2, I really disliked how music sounded. But I like more. Your audiologist’s ability to program the hearing aids is probably more important than the hearing aids themselves. Maybe make sure you get a little “buffet” of programs for your trial period. Also, phonak by default includes . Might want to eliminate it unless absolutely required

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