Starkey launches Genesis AI

I’ll have to check those other brands again because i only found a BLE-equipped CIC model from Starkey.

No worries . It’s a crowded space.!

Edit: Yes, in answer to your other message about BLE, it’s probably likely that BLE is only supplied by Starkey at this stage as it’s a very recent technology. In fact, I don’t know whether this is just BLE ready.

I think @jim_lewis knows a lot more about this, and has a keen interest and may be able to help.

@glucas said:

I think @jim_lewis knows a lot more about this, and has a keen interest and may be able to help.

Actually, compared to many other forum members, I’m not all that knowledgeable about hearing aids and Bluetooth - and whatever I know, I’ve mostly learned from other forum members!

Most hearing aids of the Big Five or Big Six, including Starkey, use Bluetooth Low Energy if for nothing else, at least for controlling the HA’s via a smartphone app. When I trialed the Phonak Lumitys, which I really liked, even though phone calls and media sound are streamed via classic Bluetooth, there was a separate right and left BLE pairing and connection for controlling the HA settings via the MyPhonak app.

Here’s a list of MFi-compatible HA’s. List of Made for iPhone hearing devices - Apple Support4. The list might not be up-to-date with the latest OEM models. Doesn’t have Starkey Genesis or ReSound Omnia on the list, although it has ReSound One - and I know firsthand that the Omnia connects to my iPhone as a MFi HA!

From what I’ve learned on the forum, one can regard MFi transmission as essentially Apple’s proprietary BLE-like streaming protocol. So, from the list, there are clearly a lot of hearing aids that can employ MFi. And late-developing ASHA is essentially Google’s BLE-like battery-saving streaming protocol that allows many brands of hearing aids to stream directly from Android phones. So, ~everyone’s using something akin to BLE with smartphones. Except Phonak figured out a proprietary way to make classic BT somewhat more efficient, which gives it the great advantage to connect with almost any classic BT device at the cost of some HA battery runtime.

I found the Apple MFi device link on the following page, which is interesting as it offers some opinions as to what HA brands are “most compatible” with an Apple Watch. Perhaps that means the HA OEMs just designed their app to run on the Apple Watch as well as the iPhone.

How to use your MFI hearing aids with your iPhone and Apple Watch8

Need to learn how to pair your made for iPhone (MFI) hearing aids to your Apple devices? Learn how to here.

An article by @AbramBaileyAuD on the main Hearing Tracker website reviews Apple MFi and Android ASHA compatibility and streaming features of hearing aids in 2023:

Best Bluetooth Hearing Aids of 2024 for Android and iOS1

Premium Bluetooth prescription hearing aids can be expensive cost anywhere from $1,600 to $6,000+, while Bluetooth OTC hearing aids range from $500 to $1,500. Here's a look at your best options for Bluetooth streaming hearing aids.

As Abram’s article ends up discussing, BT LE Audio, whenever it finally arrives(!), will be the only true Bluetooth LE streaming protocol and hopefully make the split MFi/ASHA world go away… I wouldn’t hold my breath, though … See the thread LE Audio and the Future of Hearing, a.k.a., Waiting for Godot…, we’ve been waiting since 2020…

LE Audio and the Future of Hearing

Ok, I’m a little too obsessed by the prospect of Bluetooth LE Audio, but this is still worth watching. It brings things together quite well.

@pvc provided an answer above as to what Oticon CIC models might offer BT transmission. Starkey launches Genesis AI - #61 by pvc

Not knowing much compared to PVC, I did a Bing ChatGPT search. It turns up Abram’s article, too, as a source of information!

I remember someone in the past, maybe it was PVC or MDB, saying new technology is often developed first for RIC HA’s because there’s lots of room to work with those devices, with a large HA body behind the ear, and it often takes a while to further miniaturize and customize new technology for a device that will fit within the ear canal, etc. So maybe it’s just too early in a product cycle for CIC devices from Starkey to have the Genesis AI technology - or maybe the size of the chip or its power demands just won’t work in a CIC device?! Genesis AI is not yet listed as a Starkey CIC possibility on their website (Bing reference #5 below).

Hello, this is Bing. I’m happy to help you find some CIC models of hearing aids that have Bluetooth, MFi, or ASHA streaming.

According to my web search¹², one of the CIC models that offers direct streaming is ReSound Quattro, which is compatible with both Android and iPhone devices. Another CIC model that streams audio is Starkey Evolv AI³, which also has rechargeable batteries.

There are also other types of hearing aids that have Bluetooth, MFi, or ASHA streaming, such as ITC, ITE, MIH, and IIC¹³⁴. You can check out their features and benefits on their websites.

What kind of hearing aid are you looking for?

Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/12/2023(1) Best Bluetooth In The Ear Hearing Aids For 2020. Best Bluetooth In The Ear Hearing Aids For 20201 Accessed 3/12/2023.
(2) Made For Android Hearing Aids, The Types & The Brands. Made For Android Hearing Aids, The Types & The Brands3 Accessed 3/12/2023.
(3) Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC) And Invisible In-The-Canal (IIC) Hearing … CIC And IIC Hearing Aids: What To Know – Forbes Health2 Accessed 3/12/2023.
(4) Best Bluetooth Hearing Aids of 2023 for Android and iOS. Best Bluetooth Hearing Aids of 2024 for Android and iOS5 Accessed 3/12/2023.
(5) Completely in Canal Hearing Aids, CIC | Starkey. https://www.starkey.com/hearing-aids/styles/completely-in-canal2 Accessed 3/12/2023.

Has anyone placed an order for the Starkey Genesis AI? Or was part of the trial that has any first hand knowledge of the new product? Also, I am curious if anyone has any more commercial knowledge - ie, pricing, timing of delivery, etc. Thanks!

I made the plunge. Moving up from the Starkey Edge AI 2400 to the Genesis AI 2400 - fingers crossed based on the limited feedback and me “buying in” (gullible) on the marketing! I believe a pretty good deal from my local provider $5500 with 3 years of full office support. I understand ZipHearing pricing is $4600, with 1 year of office support.

All of that AI stuff is long overdue, competitors have been on if for quite some time. Personally I won’t consider any HA without LE Audio.

So additional feedback on the Genesis AI 24: I really love the battery life. I have yet to get to less than 60% on a day (longest day: 5:30am to 12:30am the next morning, which a few hours of streaming…19 hrs off the charger). I am still undecided on the sound clarity/quality as I think my audiologist is still trying to figure out the new software and he is fairly new to the craft. I can tell the processing speed is A LOT faster. Noise reduction “feels” more seemless, although I have yet to truly test these. I feel like I need to have the REM adjustments and new molds before I can truly assess overall sound performance (clarity - so far, I have been disappointed). Car rides are way better than before - road noise cut significantly and I can hear the radio pretty well.

Regarding the Bluetooth connectivity, I am disappointed. I use iOS devices, my connectivity is not as good as the Starkey Edge AI I had previously. Also, I am finding the range less than the Edge which has surprised me. I will be connected to my iPad and get a phone call. I will turn off my Bluetooth of the iPad as the “hand-off” to phone did not happen and the iPhone still would not pick up the Hearing aids. This was very frustrating and has happened twice. I hope this can be fixed with a firmware/software update. I am not sure what to think about the range, other than disappointing.

I will also share, the Edge+ is great - very effective.

I will continue to provide updates from time to time and answer any questions anyone has.

I used to have a 2007 Starkey profound hearing aids with the 675 battery. I had them for 12 years and it has been reconditioned twice. They no longer make their most powerful aids with the 675 battery. I am sticking with my Phonak P70-UP aids and waiting for an Oticon replacement of the Xceeds. I plan on using a pair of aids as backups.
I doubt the Genesis AI will help me if they come out with one for profound hearing loss.

Oh, it’s the batteries you miss. Having never worn BTE’s myself, I missed that important benefit.

Has anyone had a chance to try the new Starkey Genesis hearing aids? Curious to hear anyone’s thoughts who has. Thanks.

I have them a few weeks.

Sound quality is solid.

However, I keep having problems with one or the other disconnecting from my iPhone. They seem to have Bluetooth issues.

Getting them replaced to see if I just had a bad pair.

My VA audiologist is going to order the ITE model for me on May first when they come under contract for the VA. Fingers crossed…