Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

Phonak Sphere Infinio - speech in noise - Initial impressions

This topic is closed.

33 replies2.3k viewsLast reply

Jump
Link to this topic

Early trial phase - from P90s - Open to vented .
First trial in the usual bete noire environment open coffee shop in an enclosed mall
Impression: able to converse with friends for the first time in years.
Automatic switches swiftly and seamlessly into and out of spheric mode.
Speech of companions natural without noticeable artefact. Able to converse easily with only minimal additional concentration.
Background noises, especially the constant background burble and echo still present, and noticeable though perhaps a little less so than previously.
My takeaway - a significant improvement. It seems that speech is augmented, rather than noise being suppressed, but overall a significant improvement in speech in noise audibility over and above that of the regular speech in noise automatic programmes.

15 people in this conversation10 min readJump to latest

Yes, same here but I find it easier to follow someone opposite me than someone to my side even though they are nearer. I suppose you need to be facing the speaker.

I’m looking at trying these next week a demo pair is coming available. Question on my TV Connector I use with my Audeo Marvel buds…will I be able to use the TV Connector with the Sphere Infinio? Want to make sure I’m all set up for TV when I get them home. Thanks

I concur. I’m trialing a Sphere and it works just fine with my TV Connector for my KS9 (Marvel)

@nsjmgm said:

Early trial phase - from P90s - Open to vented closed domes.
First trial in the usual bete noire environment open coffee shop in an enclosed mall
Impression: able to converse with friends for the first time in years.
Automatic switches swiftly and seamlessly into and out of spheric mode.
Speech of companions natural without noticeable artefact. Able to converse easily with only minimal additional concentration.
Background noises, especially the constant background burble and echo still present, and noticeable though perhaps a little less so than previously.
My takeaway - a significant improvement. It seems that speech is augmented, rather than noise being suppressed, but overall a significant improvement in speech in noise audibility over and above that of the regular speech in noise automatic programmes.

Hi
How can make it switching to sphere mode automatically, I have to switch to manually

I just realized this has a rechargeable/non-removable batt. Guess I’ll find out during trial, but has anyone pushed their Sphere Infinio buds to the point the batts ran out in a single day? Really excited about the noise cancellation as we don’t even go out to restaurants any longer the noise makes my ears ache.

Edited

In reply to @raafatsam2

@raafatsam2 said:

How can make it switching to sphere mode automatically, I have to switch to manually

You have to ask your audiologist, that he checks the programming and settings for the autosense programm “Spheric Speech in loud noise”.

The audiologist can lower the noise threshold for the “Spheric speech in loud noise” program, and if you getting in an environment with speech in noise, and the noise is getting over the set threshold (which is set by the fitter with the Target fitting-software) the autosense will automatically invoke the program “Spheric Speech in Loud Noise” (this reduces the noise for better understanding speech).

So if your hearing aids do not change automatically into the programm: “Spheric speech in loud noise” you should ask your fitter to lower the threshold in the programming.

Your post is so important.

I asked my dispensing audi to provide information for me for a year and a half. Then we split.
My new hearing instrument specialist provided two Target reports.

Target Pro User Report (it’s been a while; I think that is the name)
User report.

It gave me so much information. I learned what programs were set and the settings.

So that information is in Target, ready to come out.

In reply to @HDFL

@HDFL said:

I just realized this has a rechargeable/non-removable batt. Guess I’ll find out during trial, but has anyone pushed their Sphere Infinio buds to the point the batts ran out in a single day? Really excited about the noise cancellation as we don’t even go out to restaurants any longer the noise makes my ears ache.

I’ve been wearing the Sphere’s since they were released last October. I have never ended a day at less than 40%-50% even with 3+ hours using the Sphere program. If you don’t use the Sphere program, the batteries will go 2 days.

Jordan

In reply to @Teewens

I have found the same. The background noise is not suppressed significantly in spheric mode, though I would need to do some further testing but would need an additional user programe to select “speech in loud noise” to assess the spheric affect on background noise…

In reply to @HDFL

About the same battery usage. On one occasion, I switched to sphere mode manually and forgot to turn it off. That was in the morning. By the late evening down to 30%
There is an issue with the app though, in that it does not warn you of prolonged usage of sphere mode. It should.

In reply to @HDFL

I have a 1st gen TV connector (the one without the volume controls). I had issue with that and my previous Paradise aids, the clunky volume adjustment that lacked granularity with only about 6 steps. That has been corrected with the Infinio with a much wider and granular volume adjustment.

A useful feature with streaming programmes (all aids from Marvel onwards) is the option to mute the microphone of the aids, which otherwise pickups background noises added to the the streamed content.

In reply to @raafatsam2

The sphere setting is one of the auto programmes. I am impressed with the switching algorithm which is both accurate and swift. I ve checked in the app to see which auto setting has been selected in various situations finding so far to be 100% accurate. I do also have a user selectable option for sphere in loud noise, but have not, so far, needed to use it as the auto setting has always worked appropriately.

The down side of manual selection is its easy to forget its on, which can drain the battery. Auto will switch out of Sphere when no longer needed.

Re noise being removed and speech being augmented, it definitely is the case that noise is taken away. If you listen to the aids in a standard program and then switch in spheric mode, you can clearyl hear the background noise drop off. the more sealed your domes or molds are, the more apparent this is.

In reply to @nsjmgm

I have the same issue with my Paradise P90R’s.

If I switch to a saved program the battery life is much shorter

That happened when my hearing aids were very new. They died just before 6:00 pm. I had used a saved speech in noise program

My hearing aids and charger were replaced just before warranty ended. Battery life is better now. My setup is bettter too. Thanks to my new care provider.

I’ve always been encouraged to use the APP. Frankly I think that’s a cop out.

In reply to @WhiteHat

An update 22 days on:
What about general performance compared to my previous P90’s?
Improved across the board, though those improvements are evolution rather than revolution. A worthwhile improvement from where I was after the fitting of my last aids. The Sphere mode is an additional benefit.
Changed domes: With this fitting I have been “forced” to move to vented domes (from open). That is driven by my , and feedback tests. Its a move I have resisted for some years as I disliked the occlusion sensation. Having persevered this time, occlusion ceased to be noticeable after a day or so.
Bluetooth connectivity has improved, but not foolproof. Inevitably, a limitation of classic bluetooth.
Telephony: Like the P90’s before and Lumity I trialed, using the aids whilst on the phone remains mostly a lost cause, given that the other side hears all the background noises more so than my own voice. Whilst Phonak claim that this is mitigated by Infinio’s microphone array to better pick out your voice, I have not found that so far. However, the Infinio do seem better at picking up the ear level speaker of my Iphone than was the case with the P90’s. making phone conversation in the conventional manner preferable and functional (for me anyway). I will discuss this with my audiologist as the possible default.

In reply to @DaveL

The battery in the Infinios Sphere is bigger then the standard Infiniois, hence the aids being larger. Overall I have found that even with a couple of hours of use in sphere mode, the battery is lasting significantly longer then the P90’s in their youth. In addition the charging case is actually a charging case with it own battery to provide a backup charge without need to find a mains socket.

Related discussions