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My Phonak Sphere Infinio I90 vs Lumity L90 Shootout

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just an FYI, I use my 90’s for calls every day, maybe I misunderstood you, but they are working fine on android

In reply to @jim_lewis

@jim_lewis said:

The most interesting thing is that using the Car Stereo device option seemed to noticeably increase the HA mic audio quality. My recorded voice was much louder and clearer than for any of the other options. The Device Type settings screen does have a footnote that says “Specifying the type of device can ensure your Headphone Audio Level measurements are accurate.” So, I’ll test that setting in an actual phone call later tonight. Perhaps the Device Type settings choice influences the amount of signal amplification and noise filtering employed?

Perhaps it’s better because it uses two (=4 mics) concurrently, so the person who talks with you receives sound that was picked up binaurally?

Edited

The Target settings screen in my post would imply that both mics are used for all device types since there’s a volume control for left and right mics in the phone streaming program. I wasn’t connected to Target via my when I took that screenshot. I loaded my last session for which the device type was still Hearing Aids.

Edited

Back in the days of telephone landlines, the mic in a handset was the “transmitter,” and the speaker you put to your ear was the “receiver.” IIRC, that’s the origin of the “receiver” terminology.

" “Mr. Watson come here, I want you .”

Bell transmitted the message and Mr. Watson received it.

In reply to @jim_lewis

@jim_lewis said:

The Target settings screen in my post would imply that both mics are used for all device types since there’s a volume control for left and right mics in the phone streaming program.

@jim_lewis do you know how to change ambient balance of TV connector in Target? My Audi says it’s the microphone setting in your target screen shot above, but after she changed my mic to -6db(max allowed by Target, I don’t feel any difference to the ambient.

IMG_6989

@Michelle_L said:

do you know how to change ambient balance of TV connector in Target? My Audi says it’s the microphone setting in your target screen shot above,

Yes, I do. But I think that just changes relative sound input volumes to your , AFAIK. I’m looking for a way to retain streaming input sound volume to my HAs but change microphone input to my iPhone mics. If that slider for ambient sound were truly a switch, it would also move streaming sound volume to the phone speaker, too, which it doesn’t do while streaming. For me, it just seems to affect the relative streaming volume and surroundings volume that I hear in my ears.

In reply to @jim_lewis

@jim_lewis said:

…using the Car Stereo device option seemed to noticeably increase the HA mic audio quality. My recorded voice was much louder and clearer than for any of the other options…

@jim_lewis
Isn’t that because the Car Stereo device option uses the AutoSense OS (streaming) media speech + mic.
So then you’re not in the Streaming Programs of Phone call+mic anymore?

IMG_1136

Edited
@Emile030 said:

@jim_lewis
Isn’t that because the Car Stereo device option uses the AutoSense OS (streaming) media speech + mic.
So then you’re not in the Streaming Programs of Phone call+mic anymore?

The device type would apply to any streaming, whether AutoSense Streaming of media or streaming a phone call. If you check your settings, you will not find the physical phone setting changed by what you stream. It’s a setting for how your smartphone and your BT-dominant (the right, by default) communicate.

ChatGPT:

Does the iOS classic BT device type change depending on whether you stream media (AutoSense streaming) or use the Streaming Program for phone calls?

ChatGPT said:

In iOS, the Bluetooth device type typically remains the same, regardless of whether you’re streaming media (AutoSense streaming) or using the Streaming Program for phone calls. The device type classification (e.g., “hearing aid,” “headphone”) is typically assigned when pairing the device, and it stays consistent across different modes and uses.

However, what can change depending on the context (media vs. phone calls) is the audio profile iOS uses with the hearing aid:

  1. AutoSense Streaming for Media: When you stream media, like music or videos, iOS routes audio to the hearing aid using the optimized Bluetooth profile for media, aiming to deliver higher-quality audio. This may slightly alter the way your hearing aids process the sound, but it doesn’t change the device type.
  2. Streaming Program for Phone Calls: For phone calls, iOS may switch to a Bluetooth Hands-Free Profile (HFP), which is optimized for calls rather than high-quality media playback. HFP prioritizes low latency and clear voice transmission, sometimes at the expense of sound quality, especially for music.

So, while the “classic” Bluetooth device type set by iOS doesn’t shift between these two uses, iOS may switch between audio profiles for optimized sound processing, depending on the content being streamed.

I get improved audio for both streaming phone calls and streaming media using the Car Stereo device type for my R-Phonak Hearing Aid classic BT connection. The device type is not changing, so the same processing changes seem to be applied to both streaming programs (media & phone). One explanation of why Car Stereo is better than the Hearing Aid device type is here: Can phone microphone be used instead of handsfree calling (HA mic) with Phonak hearing aids - #18 by jim_lewis

I see that you already saw the linked post. I’m including the link as a cross-reference for anyone perusing this thread. I first raised the question of phone call mic control in this thread, and other people, such as yourself, commented on my initial reactions to my Sphere phone call experience in this thread. MDB then wisely moved the topic to a new thread, so I’ve put my new comments in that thread, e.g., the linked post. Perhaps anyone reading the mic phone call business in this thread should post their further comments, questions, or reactions, in that thread: Can phone microphone be used instead of handsfree calling (HA mic) with Phonak hearing aids

In reply to @BarryH

@BarryH, that’s not what their website says these days:

" What is the cost of replacing a lost hearing aid?

Where you’ve purchased a pair of non-NHS hearing aids and lost one, the replacement cost will be 50% of the price you originally paid. You must register a loss within four years of the purchase date.

Where you’ve purchased a single non-NHS hearing aid and lost it, the replacement cost is 50% of the original price of a pair of hearing aids. You must register a loss within four years of the purchase date."

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing/hearing-aids/hearing-aid-range#:~:text=for%20more%20details.-,What%20is%20the%20cost%20of%20replacing%20a%20lost%20hearing%20aid%3F,must%20register%20a%20loss%20within%20four%20years%20of%20the%20purchase%20date.,-Where%20a%20loss2

In reply to @Nenen_UK

@Nenen_UK
I am 30 days into the trial of the Sphere’s at Specsavers. I was the first customer to trial these at the branch that I went to, so the audiologists were not that experienced with the model (I had to tell them that they needed to download the latest version of the Target software to connect and configure the aids).

I have been programming my Phonak hearing aids for about 10 years and had done plenty of research (including lots of fantastic information from this website), so I actually knew more about them than they did. While they were professional in their approach, they did have limited experience. But I guess this will vary enormously across Specsaver stores (I found the same at Boots).

I have had 3 appointments and each time I have seen a different audiologist and each have different levels of experience.

The fitting process itself was fine. They were happy to contact Phonak directly to get copies of my cshells from a previous set of aids (KS10s bought from Costco not Specsavers). They were also willing to load the KS10 (Phonak Paradise) settings unto their system and use that information to tailor the settings for the Spheres.

The initial fit was reasonably good and they have made some tweaks and called Phonak directly to discuss some of the issues I had and get possible solutions.

So overall, I am reasonably happy with them. I would have preferred a more experienced audiologist to have a more detailed discussion with.

The price is also good compared to Boots!

I hope that helps.

In reply to @DaveUK

Yes looks like they have amended there policy on lost aids. Its’ 4 or 5 years ago since I trialed aids at Specsavers, that’s what I was told at that time. I lost a hearing aid supplied by the NHS, but not charged for it.

Edited

Hey everyone,

Just got back from my 3 days business trip to Dallas and thought I would write up a detailed report on how the Phonak Sphere I90 hearing managed through a number of interesting (and common) travel types of hearing scenarios. I did post a short teaser of this information in another Sphere discussion thread but I wanted to post more details. Here we go…

The trip included flying from Toronto to Dallas for a team meeting (I work for a USA based IT company). The team meetings (in a conference room) went on for 2.5 days and included team dinners each night in a very busy and noisy restaurant along with hanging out with my team members in the hotel lobby. Before heading back to Toronto from DFW on Wednesday night, I attended a few customer meetings before jumping on a flight back to Toronto. This is a very typical business travel type of scenario.

AIRPORT
I had zero issues hearing anything or anyone at the airport. This included parking the car, checking in through airport security and USA customs, understanding the cashier when buying a bottle of water, and understanding all announcements at the gate before boarding the plane (updates on boarding, announcing boarding zones, instructions to have ID ready, etc). The Spheric noise reduction program cycled on/off depending on the noise levels of the environment. The airport seems to be the perfect scenario for the AI program as most of the noise that interferes with speech understanding is spread across the environment (I call this “General Hubbub”) and the Spheric program really knocks this type of noise down quite well. Verdict: Major improvement vs Lumity. I previously really struggled with gate announcements and I understood everything quite well on this trip.

AIRPLANE
Not much to report here other than the Sphere’s work well on the plane. I could understand the announcements in flight. When the stewardess came by to serve drinks, I had zero issues. Just like the airport, the Spheric AI program eats plane noise for lunch. Only thing I did was turned down the volume on the hearing aids after the drinks were served so prevent chewing the battery during the 3 hour flight. Verdict: Improvement vs Lumity.

HOTEL AND RESTAURANTS
The Spheric AI noise programs kicked butt here. They allowed me to hear while eating at the free breakfast buffet in the hotel lobby. They were superb in the three busy and noisy restaurants that were arranged for my team dinners. There were times at the restaurant when I still struggled to understand someone but that only occurred when I accidentally blew past the 3 hour Spheric AI program limit that is programmed into AutoSense. Once I figured out that the Spheric program was no longer engaging (no warning is given), I was able to turn it back on via the manual Spheric program that my audiologist setup for me. You just have to be careful that you don’t chew through all the battery if you think you are going to be in the noisy environment for more than 5-6 hours. The following night I actually charged the Sphere’s back up to 100% just before going for dinner and i ended the night with a good 50% of the battery left. Verdict: Crazy improvement vs Lumity.

OTHER STUFF
The Sphere’s did well with my customer meetings. Were they better than Lumity? Probably equal or slightly better. The real value of the Sphere’s is the Spheric AI program, the bigger battery and the better energy efficiency that allows the Sphere’s to go all day and still have 50%-60% battery capacity before going to sleep. After getting back to Toronto, my wife informed me that we were invited to one of her client’s 70th birthday party at an event venue. We went last night and once again, the Spheric AI program came to the rescue. Picture a large room with 100 people eating dinner and with a big dance floor and loud music. I had no issues hearing the people sitting next to me at dinner. The only weird thing was the way the Sphere’s flip to the Music program when there is music and dancing going on at a party. You sorta have to decide if you want to enjoy the music or enjoy conversation and then use the manual Music and Spheric AI programs accordingly. It’s not always perfect (someone wants to talk when the music is blasting) but it’s orders of magnitude better than other hearing aids that I have tested or owned.

That’s my report. I would be more than pleased to answer any specific questions. The Sphere’s aren’t perfect but they really kick ass in noise. I have noticed a few people report that the Spheric AI program didn’t do anything for them. I honestly don’t understand this at all. Perhaps the Sphere’s weren’t setup properly or the person wasn’t in a noisy enough environment for the Sphere program to kick in. I guess it could also be that there is less of an improvement for people with certain loss profiles or open fittings, etc. Not really sure. All I can tell you is that these things work well for me.

Wishing everyone an amazing weekend.

Jordan

@JordanK said:

Only thing I did was turned down the volume on the hearing aids after the drinks were served so prevent chewing the battery during the 3 hour flight. Verdict: Improvement vs Lumity.

Great report! Thanks for all your detailed descriptions. Your past reports and a recent bad restaurant experience with my past made me want to try the Spheres. My HA experience and usage scenarios are more limited than yours but I’d agree they’re the best HAs I’ve owned. I trialed the Lumitys for about two weeks and find the Spheres better even in non-noisy everyday listening situations. I liked the excellent sound localization of my ReSound Omnia M& receivers. Maybe it’s the four mics on each Sphere, but Sphere sound localization for me is excellent, too (YMMV). I do find when Sphere noise reduction kicks in that a voice sometimes has a little warble to it as if processing is eating into the voice a bit, but just as you say, the improvement is amazing.

The one thing that puzzles me about your report today is the remark I’ve quoted, that turning down HA volume muzzles Spheric noise processing. Why not just switch to a manual non-Sphere program?

@jim_lewis said:

The one thing that puzzles me about your report today is the remark I’ve quoted, that turning down HA volume muzzles Spheric noise processing. Why not just switch to a manual non-Sphere program?

Good question. I was initially worried that the Spheric program would remain on during the whole flight and chew up the batteries. After we got to cruising altitude, I went into the App and checked which program AutoSense had selected during flight. Turns out AutoSense was in “Comfort in Noise”. I think it picked this program because there was little to no speech being detected in the cabin and the only noise was engine and fan related noise. That being said, I wanted to nap a bit during the flight and the engine and fan noise in the cabin was annoying. I decided to turn down the volume (vs. turn off the hearing aids) so that I would still hear if the stewardess rolled by with drinks. I may just create a new program for Airplane use.

Jordan

In case anyone wants to see what I look like, here is my wife and I at a crazy (and very NOISY) Russian 70th birthday party last night. They had this weird 360 degree spinning camera thing setup that recorded you dancing “in the round” on a pedestal. If you look really closely at my ears, you can see my silver Phonak Sphere’s sticking out a bit again my darker (grey) hair. My audiologist is going to swap these silver Sphere’s out for the darker graphite coloured ones when they are available in December.

Crazy that I can now hear again in an environment like this. In the past, I would stress about being invited to a party like this.

Here is the big reveal video. My wife is the star of this video. I’m just the “Plus 1” …haha.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/00ajTYSX8oHDID9DJstbJcj-Q148

Edited

In reply to @jim_lewis

@jim_lewis said:

I trialed the Lumitys for about two weeks and find the Spheres better even in non-noisy everyday listening situations.

Really? I thought that in quiet environments, there is little to improve in terms of, for example, sound quality compared to older . You mean the better processing power of newer hearing aids makes sounds better?

@jim_lewis said:

Maybe it’s the four mics on each Sphere, but Sphere sound localization for me is excellent, too (YMMV).

I think there are 2 mics on each Infinio Sphere, the four holes are simply the inlets for sounds, 2 for each microphone.

@JordanK, does “Noise reduction” slider in myPhonak modify the denoising power in the Spheric Speech Clarity program?

@Bimodal_user said:

@JordanK, does “Noise reduction” slider in myPhonak modify the denoising power in the Spheric Speech Clarity program?

I’m in a restaurant right now and I just tried it. The slider in the Spheric program definitely allows you to adjust the denoising power.

Jordan

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