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Just starting my HA journey, what's the best hardware?

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Hi, my hearing loss diagnosis is pretty recent. I have an acoustic neuroma on one side, the other is damaged from monitor feedback in a rehearsal studio. I am a software developer, a musician/producer and home studio audio engineer. Therefore, I understand pretty much all of the audio concepts I’ve seen so far having to do with - perhaps there are concepts that audiologists understand that I don’t, but it’s hard to believe there are concepts that are difficult to understand given the powerful audio processing tools I am used to working with while recording and producing music.

I realize a big chunk of the cost of the Oticon miniRites I am using on a trial basis right now is based on the fitting and follow-up services. I find all of the consumer software to adjust my HAs frustrating. This group can appreciate why I find the bass/mid/high EQ laughable, yet this is touted as an exciting development to consumers. On top of needing more bands, I need separate EQ for each ear since each one is damaged in a different way.

I am also worried about blowing the bank now when significant advances in hardware technology are forthcoming. As a musician I am sensitive to sound, so any future improvements in the receiver drivers would be really welcome.

So, I am wondering what is the best HARDWARE platform for an HA solution, given that once I am initially fitted I won’t be wanting continuous support from an audiologist, I will want to program these things myself so that I can react to conditions as soon as possible?

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Welcome to the forum, the Noahlink wireless programming device is the industry standard, you don’t say exactly what models you have, but if your just trialing them now I suppose the More-Real.
You’ll also need the Oticon Genie software, which is easy to use, especially someone like yourself.
Genie gives you enough handles to adjust your for speech, music is another thing, again I’m sure you’ll find the best for you there.

If you are confident you want to then consider going to Costco. Their offerings are premium product, they do six month trials in us and Canada. Full refund. Aids are unlocked so you can DIY. They offer Philips made by the same mother company to the oticon aids you’re trialing. Not the same but similar.

If you really like those aids, see if they will unbundle ongoing support from initial fitting.

Just some ideas.

WH

@Crash2 said:

best HARDWARE platform

It’s not clear what you mean by that. If by “platform” you mean hearing aids (), then it doesn’t really matter because they’re all -programmable. The interface between the HAs and the Windows system running the fitting software is, as already noted, pretty much universally the Noahlink Wireless, ~$150-200. The fitting software varies by HA manufacturer and is not generally publicly available, but is usually available from the helpful souls in this forum. This does not include Real Ear Measurement (), the value of which is somewhat controversial and which requires additional relatively expensive equipment.

In reply to @brec

It seems a fair number of shops lock the aids they sell. You know this won’t be the case with Costco, and their price already beats the other places, even when you find them that don’t bundle, support or agree to bargain down. Unless you are fixed on a brand they don’t sell it is hard to beat if they are near enough physically.

WH

I am actually going to pick up my Jabras from Costco today. I live in Quebec, the French province of Canada with its own rules, and the medical services community is notoriously protectionist. Therefore, hearing aids are not available here Quebec Costcos (probably due to audiologist certification issues). Fortunately, I live near the Quebec border and can get my from a Costco in a nearby city, Ottawa, 90 minutes away.

What is disturbing is the company that has provided me the trial Oticon miniRites I have now told me that Costco locks their HAs, which I found disturbing. This may be true in Canada but not elsewhere - possibly a distribution deal to not interfere with other HA dispensers. I will ask at Costco.

Intrigued to see how the Jabras are, overall criticism seems to be they are tinny, and I am surprised that the receiver drivers aren’t flexible enough to have this addressed with proper EQ.

In reply to @tenkan

I am intrigued by this NoahLink - what does it actually DO? I am in the technology field, and since are remotely programmable, I don’t know what tech service they actually provide - i.e. if someone can remotely program my HAs over the internet, they aren’t providing a connectivity service - which is hardware based.

@Crash2 said:

I am intrigued by this NoahLink - what does it actually DO?

Noahlink wireless,It’s the industry standard for primary programming , remote support can’t do everything, it’s the only device needed, and no internet required, a truly portable device.

@Crash2 said:

if someone can remotely program my HAs over the internet, they aren’t providing a connectivity service - which is hardware based.

Hmmmm, have you been surfing the interwebs again, but seriously if you want to know more about this great device, check out the Himsa website, it’s got all your answers.

https://www.himsa.com/support/noahlink-wireless-knowledgebase/preparing-for-noahlink-wireless/user-manuals/4

In reply to @Crash2

@Crash2 said:

What is disturbing is the company that has provided me the trial Oticon miniRites I have now told me that Costco locks their HAs, which I found disturbing.

No that’s not true, their
scaremongering.

@Crash2 said:

Intrigued to see how the Jabras are, overall criticism seems to be they are tinny,

This is subjective, we all hear differently, so what sounds tinny to one will sound fine to others, it’s all in the programming of the , it’s easy enough to adjust them, for first time users everything sounds a bit loud and tinny or muffled to begin with.

In reply to @tenkan

It’s more than me reading interwebs conspiracy theories. I’ve been involved with programming, audio and computer technology including analog and digital synthesis as well as classic analog hardware and computer based digital audio workstations, networking hardware since the early days of Coax ArcNet and twisted pair ethernet… believe me that my question came up spontaneously. I am able to control my recording software remotely using my android phone, which includes real-time adjustments to very complex audio processing parameters. On the NOAHLink FAQ page is says, "NOAHlink provides faster data communication and greater throughput between Noah and the hearing instrument.

And by eliminating the wires to the PC, NOAHlink offers flexibility and freedom of movement. Your clients will no longer feel “tied down” during the fitting process."

I’d appreciate a technical explanation if anyone has it, the user manual link didn’t say what it did that couldn’t be done via Bluetooth alone. And I believe there ARE that don’t require NOAHLink, no?

It’s the Noahlink wireless programming device, not NOAHlink which is a totally different devices, this is why I sent the link.

In reply to @Crash2

Sorry, i didn’t know about the NOAHlink product. As near as I can tell, it’s an interface operatimg on 2.5ghz wireless device that operates devices that agree to the company’s proprietary protocol. I don’t know whar remarkable features it has, but being proprietary i will guess it makes handshaking, authentication and linking much easier. As become more sophisticated, I’d imagine bluetooth will have to do the same job directly to HAs without a similarly intermediary.

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