Getting a new Cochlear sound processor - photo request

I understand that you have reached your final loudness level?

@Bimodal_user said:

you have reached your final loudness level?

I am right at 5 years now. Loudness level has not changed much for probably 4.5 years of that.

Due for an upgrade pretty soon. Hoping the K3 comes out soon. I am not sure if one or two sets of processors are included.

You have the N8 now, correct? Do you use an android phone? LE Audio ?? I ask because I came from Phonak aids. I really enjoyed the hands free phone calls.

You may be surprised, but it seems that I haven’t reach that final loudness yet.

@Raudrive said:

Hoping the K3 comes out soon. I am not sure if one or two sets of processors are included.

The last Kanso 2 was released in 2020. It is safe to assume that the K3 will be released in the next 12 months. I think the replacement will be for one older set.

@Raudrive said:

You have the N8 now, correct? Do you use an android phone? LE Audio? I ask because I came from Phonak aids. I really enjoyed the hands free phone calls.

Yes, I now have an N8. I think about the used Bluetooth standard every day. I have a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. I think these days the N8 uses ASHA protocols, but I am not sure. From what I’ve heard, this isn’t a very reliable standard. There have been many complaints about its stability, but I haven’t had any problems with it so far.

I have not upgraded N8, so it cannot use Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast. I wonder how much longer the N8 will work after the upgrade on one charge or one pair of 675s.

About phone calls:

1. my better ear uses Phonak with hands free calls

2. The N7/N8 and Kanso 2 do not support hands-free calls on their own. You can stream audio from the other person by streaming, but you must use the phone’s microphones.

If you want to use hands-free calls, you must purchase the Cochlear Wireless Phone Clip, which has its own microphone.

I am not sure if two-way communication (as in Bluetooth Classic) is supported by Bluetooth LE Audio.

@Bimodal_user said:

The N7/N8 and Kanso 2 do not support hands-free calls on their own.

I thought the N8 was LE Audio compatible. Maybe it needs an update???
The battery life of the N8 should improve with LE Audio.

I went bilateral with in 3-4 months of each other. I have a set of K2’s and a set of N7’s now. Not sure how USA Medicare deals with upgrades. Should look into that.

I have been properly tested in a booth on each ear individually. Each ear in quiet is in the 90-95 percent understanding range. Maybe better now.

I have not been tested bilaterally. I do know I hear much better bilaterally. It’s very noticable. Depth and fullness of sound is greatly improved. I also have localization bilaterally.

Wow, quite good outcomes! Over 90% is really an achievement.

I’m glad to see you’ve probably gotten every theoretical benefit of bilateral CI in everyday practice.

like others said, it is custom to map you are using

I wonder does it affect battery life. In my case with N8 (CL 203-207):

1. 675s - 3.5-4 days
2. Bigger rechargeable (2x used since getting N8 19th Oct) ~2 days
3. Smaller rechargeable (1x used) ~18h

All above with heavy streaming by probably Bluetooth ASHA ~7-9h per day.

I get about 14-15 hours on the big rechargeable on the right power hungry side due to scar tissue. On the other side, I get about 24 hours. Can’t use the 675 batteries on the right. On the left the 675’s last about 2 days.