Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

My Phonak Sphere Infinio I90 vs Lumity L90 Shootout

999 replies57.9k viewsLast reply

Jump
Link to this topic
Reply

In reply to @jim_lewis

Thank you very much!
There is so much information in this forum — wonderful!
Would it be an idea to create a document compiling all the tips for easy reference in one place?

So I had an amusing situation pop up this week with my Infinio Sphere hearing aids. I think by now most of you have seen that video on Phonak’s website where there show a bunch of guys sitting in a coffee shop and halfway through the video they turn on the Spheric noise reduction. Here is the link:

https://youtu.be/moAZAox793M?si=HnITMn2sAuMNJ2rW45

The video got criticized a bit for slightly exaggerating the noise reduction effect of the new Sphere hearing aids. Most felt the Spheric AI program does remove the noise but not as much as this video shows.

On Wednesday night, my wife and I were just finishing dinner and she mentioned that we were meeting up with two other couples for a coffee at the Starbucks down the street. After ordering coffee and then sitting down to talk, I noticed that our friend’s voices were not as clear as I would have liked them to be and I was missing a bit of speech clarity. I thought it was kinda weird given the big benefit I typically get from the Spheric AI program in situations like this. I booted up the myPhonak app and sure enough, AutoSense didn’t have me in the Spheric AI program. I guess the noise was just under the trigger limit for the Spheric Program and I was actually in the traditional Speech in Noise program.

I then manually invoked the Spheric AI program and almost all the noise dropped to ZERO and the voices were crystal clear. Not only was this a big relief but I suddenly realized that I had just re-created the exact scenario in that Phonak video…and yes…the noise reduction results were almost identical to the video. So basically it wasn’t noisy enough for AutoSense to flip into the Spheric program but manually switching to the program was extremely effective for listening situations where you just might want a bit more voice clarity for a more relaxing night out with friends.

I mention this because there are definitely environments that don’t necessary trigger the Sphere program but using this program, really provides a big hearing benefit. Those testing any of the new AI hearing aids from Phonak, Oticon or Starkey should not be shy about trying out the AI program in different situations. It appears the AI program isn’t just good for extremely noisy places. There are other benefits to using is elsewhere.

Just sharing.

Jordan

@JordanK said:

The video got criticized a bit for slightly exaggerating the noise reduction effect of the new Sphere hearing aids. Most felt the Spheric AI program does remove the noise but not as much as this video shows

That presentation were with closed acoustic coupling (I can’t recall whether it is power domes or custom earmolds).

I also noticed with my Paradise 90-RT that the “ordinary” Speech in Noise program does not activate when I have a working air purifier near me. I need to turn it on manually, and listening to speech from laptop speakers is easier then.

In reply to @JordanK

Thanks Jordan
Another great review
And it’s real.

I watched a zip hearing video. He tried your hearing aids, oticon and starkey. He scored about 7 factors. In the summary your hearing aids were bought by 70? Percent or so of his customers. Yet his choice was another brand

I’m sometimes surprised with my results if I go to the myPhonak app. I do it when I’m in trouble and can’t hear in the environment I’m in. I have P90’s.

Another update…

Had a follow-up appointment with my audiologist yesterday. I had already decided in advance that these new Sphere’s were too good to give back. After wearing them for a few months and finally being able to hear in noisy places, I cannot go back to my two year old Lumity hearing aids. These new powered hearing aids are game changing for speech in noise and the extra battery capacity in the Sphere’s means I rarely end the day with less than 55% battery capacity.

I spent the first part of my appointment doing some paperwork and paying invoice for the hearing aids. My audiologist then asked if he could repeat my hearing test to make sure nothing had changed. This always stresses me out so you can imagine my relief when he let me know nothing had changed since I was last tested (2 years ago). The hearing aids have been working really well so we spent some time going through all the settings in Target to see if there was something else that we had missed during my last couple of appointments.

Learned a few things during the discussion. One this for certain is the Spheric AI noise program works much better for people with closed fittings. He indicated that it still works for open fittings but given the amount of noise that leaks in with an open fitting, there is less noise reduction benefit. I also found out the the Sphere’s are able to automatically distinguish between music and voice during streaming and there are separate automatic programs for each. This is useful for those who stream music and/or podcasts and other voice only use cases (i.e. talking on your mobile phone). I also had him turn off the 3 hour limit for the Spheric AI program. I rarely use it more than 3 hours at a time but I did have one situation where I had both a lunch and dinner meeting in one day and it was a pain when the Spheric AI program turned off without warning during dinner.

So I started this discussion thread after beginning my trial with these hearing aids on September 9. Looking back over the last three months (Yup…my audiologist let me trial for 90 days because I was patient #1 for the Sphere’s), I can honestly say the addition of AI/ for noise reduction is a huge leap forward for hearing in noise. That being said, if you are someone who almost never finds yourself in a noisy environment, maybe it isn’t worth buying an early upgrade if you are ok with your current hearing aids. IMHO, the Spheric AI program, the extra battery life, improved Bluetooth (soon to be even better with Bluetooth ) along with the minor improvements to AutoSense and the battery powered charger, make these hearing aids excellent.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Jordan

I’m absolutely impressed with your reviews. Your caring shows!

Reading each one, I realize you have answered questions I had, with answers I needed.

DaveL

Edited

I won’t have a shot until probably June at this point. Next appt early May. I was warned the may be dropping the activevents off the contract because so few of us use it.

WH

I am going to an appointment next week WH… With the purpose of maybe trialling, The Infinio Speres, I am unsure if Specsavers will allow a trial, nor am I sure if the Spheres will be adequate for my loss, but ’s are in all truth, the only hearing aids that I am truly comfortable wearing, moulds just cripple my ears, if my allergies don’t break out, the actual mold fit is invariably terrible, I can never seem to get a good BTE mold fit! So I am going to give these Infinio Spheres a go… On the plus side, I have been wearing my old Marvel RIC 90 13’s for a few weeks now, (I still hear pretty well with them) my ears had started to scab over with The Naida Lumity 90’s, because of the ill fitting molds, I have had molds made several times this year, none worked satisfactory, they just became impossible to wear, so I swapped them out for the Marvels, the more I have worn them, the more comfortable they have become… Many thank to @JordanK for his very comprehensive review, very much appreciated… Cheers Kev

@kevels55 , it is strange that molds for are so different for you regarding comfort—were their impressions done by the same person? Is their material the same as in the RICs? Do they have the same form factor—e.g., skeleton mold?

Did your allergic reaction begin where your skin touched the rubber sound tube?

I am allergic to silicone & soft acrylic, hard acrylic doesn’t seem to bother me for some reason @Bimodal_user… And yes, for the last 5 or 6 years the same Audioligist took my impressions, for over 30 years, molds have always been problematic, hypoallergenic molds must be coated, so after a while, perhaps after this coating is slightly worn, then an allergic reaction breaks out, the only thing I haven’t tried is Titanium molds, half shell, full shell, skeleton molds, I have probably tried them all, there is never a happy medium, the only aids that are really comfortable, are hard acrylic molds…My ears are soft, and any very slight imperfections in the molds, eventually cause some abrasions, the skin eventually breaks, the sore becomes a scab, unfortunately rubbing them down doesn’t work, it removes the hypoallergenic coating, in truth, I don’t really worry about, it’s just the way it’s always been… So, I will try the RIC Infinio Spheres with 105db receivers, and see how they go, they may work, perhaps not? Cheers Kev :wink:

I have titanium for over 2 years no itch. They are the same color as my p90s aids I did replace the pull tabs lately.

In reply to @kevels55

@kevels55 said:

the only aids that are really comfortable, are hard acrylic RIC molds

You have never hard acrylic earmolds as in ? In my case, I have always had them made from that material, regardless of whether they were BTE or RIC.

I am surprised because even my RIC earmold doesn’t differ from a BTE one to a layperson.

I did try to have a new set of hard acrylic molds made a few month ago @Bimodal_user, I was very specific, I asked my A.uD to have a set made, flesh coloured, full shell hard acrylic, no vent on the left, 1mm vent on the right, what I got back from Phonak, didn’t bare any resemblance to my request, absolutely clear, half shell, with the thin tubes glued onto the molds, both molds were vented, I was to put it mildly, absolutely raging, I use very thick twin walled tubing, suffice to say my A.uD wasn’t flavour of the month! But I did get them for free, so I couldn’t say too much, she is more of a friend, but I was absolutely livid, that and the fact they kept slipping out of my ear canal, with the ensuing dreaded feedback, they were absolutely useless! I am acutely aware it wasn’t her fault, as I watched her fill in the order form, it was not complied too! But such is life, I believe I have 4 sets of molds, for the Naida Lumity BTE’s, none are of any use to me… Cheers Kev :upside_down_face:

There is something disturbing about the production of earmolds. @raylock1 also had problems with earmolds from Phonak, but different issues…

In reply to @WhiteHat

They can make Titanium Skeleton molds WH, which I was very enthusiastic to buy on my last visit to my A.uD, for some reason, my A.uD didn’t share my enthusiasm, and basically fobbed me off to get a set of hard acrylic… I remember thinking at the time, Phonak Lab, must be terrible at making these Titanium molds, if she was very reluctant to order some? Most probably, the amount of returns and the time involved, warned her off, from ordering some… Cheers Kev :wink:

Edited

I wanted titanium cShells but the Audi said they were not available. I printed the order form from Phonak’s website and only acrylic was show. BTW, the correct cShell I ordered in August with my spheres finally arrived yesterday Dec 5 after some crazy incorrect deliveries previously.
Edit: Audi told me that problem was that I wanted P level cShells and that Phonak said that P receivers would not fit in the titanium molds because the receivers were too large.

@raylock1 said:

BTW, the correct cShell I ordered in August with my spheres finally arrived yesterday Dec 5 after some crazy incorrect deliveries previously.

So I am raised your issue just on time :laughing: What a coincidence!

Related discussions