My Phonak Sphere Infinio I90 vs Lumity L90 Shootout

@JordanK, another test you could do, if you’d like, would be to go to a live rock music club. I’d be interested to hear what your experience might be.

Would the Spheres go into Spheric mode because the music exceeded 70dB? If so, would you then be able to hear someone talking to you, but the volume of the music would be decreased and the music would sound unnatural?

@CombatWombat said:

I’m not saying people should buy them on eBay, though it’s a good option for some. I’m saying that if eBay sellers based in the US are making a comfortable profit by selling them at $3800, prices nearly double that amount are way past what a reasonable markup would be.

The $3800 from eBay sellers is probably the hardware only price with zero audiologist services or support. The higher amounts you see quoted from audiologists typically include three years of services including product selection, initial testing, fitting, ongoing fine tuning and adjustments, molds, etc.

IMHO, the services my audiologist provides (in addition to the hardware costs) are critical to optimizing my ability to hear with my hearing aids. I’m happy to pay for these services as the expertise of a good audiologist is worth it. Not sure why anyone would skip this step.

Just my 2 cents…

Jordan

@JordanK said:

The $3800 from eBay sellers is probably the hardware only price with zero audiologist services or support. The higher amounts you see quoted from audiologists typically include three years of services including product selection, initial testing, fitting, ongoing fine tuning and adjustments, molds, etc.

You’re right about that. I just think it’s odd that none ever seem to over an unbundled option. I’m skeptical that the value of three years’ worth of those extra services exceeds the $2200 price difference for most people (assuming $6000 USD roughly equals $8190 CAD), at least in terms of what it would cost if billed piecemeal separately. And if you move, you just have to pay for it again somewhere else. This isn’t a buyer-friendly pricing model, which is why so many choose to opt out of it.

@AshFan said:

after the Ontario rebate

What kind of rebate does Ontario have? I have never heard about hearing aid rebate in B.C.

@JordanK said:

IMHO, the services my audiologist provides (in addition to the hardware costs) are critical to optimizing my ability to hear with my hearing aids. I’m happy to pay for these services as the expertise of a good audiologist is worth it. Not sure why anyone would skip this step.

I agree with this, as my first private Audiologist gave me my speech recognition back. Since then, I can pretty much replicate his work with self programming, which has opened up the Ebay market to me. If I wished, he would programme any for me at his published rates.

@ziploc said:

Can that 70dB threshold where the Spheres switch into Spheric mode be adjusted by the audi to where it switches at a higher or lower threshold?

Yes, the threshold can adjusted in Target

@Bimodal_user said:

just before the end of the warranty, when it was sent in for a technical inspection, Phonak wouldn’t change the battery

Shame, I had a failing battery in the left aid (3-years) and they changed both batteries (right aid 3-years). Audio suggested send both in for a check next March 5 and 4 years point.

Government gives $500 rebate per each ear (total 1000$) each 5 years for new aids. I read they raised it to 1500$ from July 2023

Am in the phase of finding new Audi in the Mississauga / Ontario area as mine has moved far away and the new one is newbie . Any recommendations is appreciated

@AshFan said:

Government gives $500 rebate per each ear (total 1000$) each 5 years for new aids. I read they raised it to 1500$ from July 2023

No still just $500. Gov site: Hearing devices12

It looks like that is only for Public Service . . . so us common folk can’t get it.

“Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP), which is offered to eligible employees and retirees of the public service(including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Armed Forces) and participating employers, and members of certain designated groups.”

And btw I am mid-north Toronto but I don’t have an audi at this point. So many of them are owned or affiliated with the manufacturers that I can see it will be a challenge to get an unbiased recommendation.

The Province of Ontario provides a $500 per ear hearing aid subsidy. Here is the link:

Hearing devices2

Get help paying for a hearing device when you qualify for the Assistive Devices Program.

My audiologist looks after all the paperwork for me and just deducts the subsidy amount off of my final invoice.

Jordan

In UK I see Phonak Audeo Infinio Sphere i90 Hearing Aids - Rechargeable Dual Chip Model | Hearing Shop33 for £2445.

Extended warranty is extra and I don’t know what audiologist service you get, they just say professional.

@Um_bongo said:

Two observations:
1.There’s a couple of ways of doing anything; cheap and dirty or belt and braces.
2. Humans are fantastically bad at estimating risk, especially mean time between failures (MTBF) in human/electronic interface devices; even before you consider the huge potential for a non-optimal fit, rendering you unhappy with your investment.

It’s your money and your choice (everyone loves a bargain), but be prepared that if you go the direct route, you might get kickback from your local audiologist, they could refuse to see you outright or they might just retire.

When I had my first hearing test at a metro-boston medical center related ENT hospital, they told me new HAs would cost as much as a good used car, and I walked. I found out later they were a week or two from implementing a new plan where they separate the HA cost from support past the necessary initial stuff. I might have bit if I knew that. A la carte care costs sounds a lot better to me. But you pays your money and takes your chances. (or you don’t)

WH