Great review. Most reviews I read say the Phonak is much better in noisy environments, significantly better. Do you agree or do they all perform the same in noisy env.?
My feeling was they all performed the same in noise, and if I could go back and reshoot the review I would've made them all a tie in that category rather than docking the Sphere again in that category b/c of the battery life, when I'd already docked that for them previously in the "battery life" category
Thanks for this review. It is always great when I hear a review that doesn't sound like an infomercial for a particular product at expense of the compared products. As a person with larger hearing loss in my right ear it is also great to see a perspective comparing them by someone who doesn't have a hearing loss since that means it is a balanced test of the features and output only with less tinkering. I own an older (2023) model of the Phonaks and haven't tried any of the models you tested so my input isn't useful. This information will be useful for when I look at new aids in the future.
Nice review. I was told that the Starkey require more adjustments with the audiologist. I should add that I just ordered Intents through Zip. Have to say that Zip made everything easy and connected me to a good local audiologist. Very impressed so far. Will report more once I get fitted next week.
I think adjustments are going to depend on the user and the medical condition. Unlike ZipHearing most of us have hearing aids because of hearing loss scenarios. Also many of us have jobs or situations that force us into a bigger variety of situations requiring more programs to handle those situations. Unless you take all three products through each scenario a single individual can't make the call on number of adjustments in my opinion. I needed numerous adjustments to get my Phonak Audeo units set like I wanted but I think it was my requirements and my environment that created this need.
My audiologist fitted me with Oticon 1 recently. These are my first HA and are working better than imagined. App works great, although I’ve not found it necessary to make many adjustments via the app. The intent is comfortable throughout the day, unlike my AirPods and Jabara headphones.
I tried the Phonak Sphere for 3 weeks. Although tech-savvy, I had problems with adjustments and the My Phonak app. I constantly had to refer to the app, which wasn't very useful. When l was in noisy restaurants, the Sphere feature didn't come on automatically. Lastly, I just couldn't get past the size. I have a small head and ears. These HAs were comfortable, but pushed my ears out. They are much more noticeable than the other two brands. I have an appointment soon and will be trying both the Oticon and the Starkey for comparison.
Thanks for sharing your experience! If size is a big priority for you, you are going to love the Starkey! They are basically the same size as previous models from many companies. The oticon are probably going to push your ears out even further than the Phonak because they are a wider build. However, it is a great idea to try out all three options to see what suits you best!
Thanks for the excellent comparison of these state-of-the-art models! I'm wearing Edge AI mRICs for one month now and I'm impressed by their performance in noise and also the hearing transparency they provide in outdoor/street environments. Before of these, I tested the Genesis variant, which was fine but the Edge's are a huge improvement. Concerning usability, I miss the feature of turning Edge mode+ on and off using the HA buttons, not via the app. IMHO this should be no problem to implement for @Starkey.
I have Oticon Intent 2. I was totally blind in knowing what brands and features were good or bad. My audiologist chose Oticon because of my tinnitus. The white noise interference is a plus for me. I can now be in quiet environments without the tinnitus driving me nuts. At first LE Audio was a pain for connections, but there has been updates from Google and Oticon which has made LE Audio so much better. I listen to music and watch videos from my phone, the sound quality is superb. Oh, and the range is pretty good too. My audiologist made the right choice for me.
SO happy to hear that you found a great fit for your hearing loss! Successful HA choice really stems from open and honest communication about what you need and what you want from a hearing aid! Congrats!
I trialled both the Phonak Sphere and Oticon Intent 1 simultaneously, so was able to experience how they both performed in the same noisy environment. I couldn't tell much difference, they both performed reasonably well, but I certainly didn't experience the level of performance demonstrated in the Phonak Sphere promotional video. I eventually chose the Oticon Intent 1 over the Phonak for two main reasons; size (they looked and fitted better) and overall easy of use. Having said that, I deliberated at great length over Bluetooth on the Oticon, but I'm working my way through these compatibility issues, having already upgraded my phone to a Samsung S24+ (tick) and I'm now looking at upgrading my laptop (but currently the choice is limited).
Very true! Companies love to hear feedback from users! Thanks for the great comment! Be sure to subscribe for more! ruclips.net/user/Ziphearing?sub_confirmaton=1
I don't mind playing with the app. I am ok with making the microphone directions face the person I am talking to across a table and activating Edge Plus. we will see. start trial of these next week
The app is a great way to unlock the full potential of these hearing aids! If you can find your way around the app, all of these really open up with customizations and abilities!
Three years ago I tried several different hearing aids and found Oticon was by far the best for me, particularly in noisy environments, like restaurants -- I never have to touch the iPhone app fo adjust settings. However, the 3-year old model I have doesn't connect to it's iPhone app quickly and I generally use the "Accessability" function in the iPhone settings to detect battery levels and select accessories, like the wireless mic, which my wife pins to her helmet strap when biking -- so I can hear her speak quite clearly. The model I have uses a regular "brown" battery which I prefer over the rechargeable models because the battery lasts many times longer and can easily be replaced in almost any situation. I recently tried this year's Oticon top-of-line rechargeable HAs and found no noticeable improvement -- but as Oticon now only offers tts rechargeable version -- I decline to "upgrade" as the unit is considerably wider than my older user-battery model and I found it less comfortable. I'm now open to trying new hearing aids from other companies.
Technology definitely has a way of evolving over time, which can cause some issues when there are new features that may not be your preference. However, luckily, there are many options out on the market! Continue doing your research and continue watching our videos! ruclips.net/user/Ziphearing?sub_confirmaton=1
I’ve had the Oticon Intent 1 for two weeks so far on a 60 day trial. I have been using free NHS hearing aids for a year and decided to see if buying some is that much better. They cost £3100 so I would expect them to be significantly better than the free NHS ones. The sound on them is better but I don’t get a lot of separation between speech and noise in noisy environments, certainly not as much as all the manufacturers make out such as the Phonak clip you included. I have to use the app to switch modes with the NHS ones whereas the Oticons switch automatically, or I am assuming they are, I really can’t tell. I do, however, like the streaming and phone call features with my iPhone. I have got my audiologist to make a couple of adjustments after a week which has resulted in some slight improvements but I am still on the fence about whether they are really worth the £3100 cost compared to the free NHS ones.
That is definitely a tough scenario. For me, the separation in speech in noise would be worth the extra money. That is my Achille's heel when it comes to my hearing and the main reason for my hearing aid usage. However, everyone has a different situation and my woes may have no significance to you and your situation. Ultimately, you've got to do what is best for you. Good luck on the decision and enjoy the rest of your trial!
Your hearing keeps you in touch with people, to be social. Good hearing is a blessing. Someone with good hearing is trying to increase the signal to noise ratio when wearing an assistive device. With directional microphones and advanced sound processing one can hear better in noise, with or without hearing loss; however how a damaged hearing system functions is NOT as well as someone with good hearing. Speech discrimination tests can bring that component into the discussion and expectations. So If you feel you've received good audiologic care from your audiologist yet hear nearly the same as with the NHS set, trust your gut. No one can hear the way you do when you have a hearing loss. I truly hope that you find greater satisfaction within the parameters of what is left to work with. Glasses help bring focus to us. But not with glaucoma. Hearing aids don't fix but build on what's there to work with. Good fortune.
Very helpful. ZIP customer. I’m in first week trial Phonak sphere. Just went to brunch at noisy restaurant and in automatic mode I could hear table across the room better than at my table. Turned to speech in loud noises and it was great, but I don’t want to have use the app ever time I go to loud environment. A friend has the Oticon and claims he can go onto noisy places and it’s automatic. I’ll talk to audiologist at follow up appointment but I’m thinking I may switch to Oticon. What happens if I find I liked the Phonak better. Does Zip let me go back? Love the audiologist you recommended.
Ok, so.... I have a question for you. What direction were you facing? It may seem like a weird thing to ask, but I noticed that the directionality on the sphere is quite strong. Even in noise-reduction programs, i found that i really needed to be facing my intended sound source in order to get the speech in noise benefits to their entirety.
thanks Jeff. Well done, and I have been waiting for this .I now use Lyrics and Insios.Lyrics are poor in noisy environments but do the best localizing the source of sound, RICs can do okay right/left but have no chance vertically. When I trialed Spheres they were able to do much better vertically...is this a function of their microphone placement?
No, I don't think so, because you said RICs "have no chance vertically" (I assume prior RICs you tried), and that the Spheres did improve better vertically...but the Sphere mic placement isn't different than any previous mic placement, so I'd bet the better vertical localization is attributed to the new DEEPSONIC chip in the Sphere
@@Ziphearing Thanks Jeff. Tried Oticon More and Starkey(older unit) which did poorly localizing sound. Thought that perhaps mic placement vertically on the RIC body versus mics on the top provided advantage.
One category not on your list, perhaps the most important one, is how these hearing aids sound on a day to day basis. I am new to hearing aids, having fairly severe high frequency hearing loss in both ears, left more than right. I initially purchased the Phonak Spheres based on the hype around their best background sound cancellation in a noisy environment. They do sound very good in regular use and have great bluetooth connectivity, but I was actually not impressed with them in a noisy setting, e.g., a work holiday party in a restaurant. My audiologist then let me trial both Oticon Intent and Starkey Edge AI and did real ear measurement for both to make it a fair comparison. Of the three I find the sound best and most natural with the Oticons, followed by Phonak, and Starkey last. I also find the hearing in noisy environments and listening to music best with the Oticons, by far, of the three. Bluetooth connectivity is also great with the Oticon's, now we just have to wait for Apple to finally provide LE Audio on iPhones. I sent back the Phonak's in part due this comparison and their large size and lesser battery life, and have ordered the Oticon Intent's to be my keepers. Glad I had the chance to trial all 3.
Well done! I love the fact that you tried all three models and were able to make your informed selection! The oticons are an amazing set of HA's and I am sure you will love them. Congrats on the new HA's!
Trying Oticon at present, but Roger ON has been good ( trialled sphere ) , with one to one conversation with someone who can likes wearing the Roger around there neck .
Hi geat video, didnt get my restaurant setting using sphere:(. Trying intent now , audiologist tomorrow, as speech in noise lousy , doesn't cut out noise :( freq adjust might do it , via app . Starkey app adjust sounds Good . Intent app works well , I got pixel 7a. With LE. Bluetooth.
Thanks for your unbiased video. Performance in Noise is the future of what AI and deep learning can help with. But, you should be testing music also. Traditionally a poor aspect of HA's. But don't test streaming...it'll never sound great, Test is as a regular enhancment. It's best if you could get an audiophile with hearing loss to test. This is an area where it's best to know "what" to listen to. I'd be happy to volunteer. Thanks again for the great video.
Good to know! Our reviewer, Nick, is a bit of an audiophile himself. We will let him know to incorporate more of that in his next reviews! Thanks for the great feedback and thanks for watching!
Why not just get a pair of AirPods when you want to listen to music. I believe they would be superior to any hearing aid. They can be inserted without removing the behind the ear hearing aids.
@@BobbieGWhiz for the average person, airpods are decent quality sound, but for an audio file they were nowhere close to quality. Audio reproduction. Aside from that, I much prefer the music experience of a high quality audio system with speakers in front of me rather than the in your head, the fact you get from earbuds or headphones
We LOVE to hear that! We are always trying to supply you with great information so that you can be as informed as possible when making a hearing aid decision. Thanks for the great comment and subscribe for more! ruclips.net/user/Ziphearing?sub_confirmaton=1
Reading the comments, some people note that separation of conversation from noise still remains a challenge and not up to what the advertisements would suggest.
@@ZiphearingI really wish folk would add "in my opinion" after making such statements. Doing so would add clarity and hopefully, reduce the arguments that inevitably follow.
@@jeffj318 To each their own, but I never understand why people are so worried about the footprint (or hiding the fact that they wear hearing aids) As long as mine can be compatible with my prescription eye-wear, I am happy. If bigger footprint means more CPU power and thus better AI I am going to choose that product every time since my hearing loss impacts my work and daily life. I don't care if anyone knows I wear hearing aids. I want to communicate well.
Interesting comment about the circuit noise. I'm wondering, however, if people with high frequency loss would even know there was a circuit noise/hiss? I know in my case my high frequency range has dropped significantly since I was in my teens. Used to be able to hear the high pitch of TV picture tube transformers (now you know I'm in the "senior" category), but no longer :).
Honestly, I'm in a similar, less structured test with the same three units as a first time UK - HA user. the Starkey edge sounded "metallic" or over noisy; every door squeaked. but I suspect this could be tuned out by the audiologist. Their tech support was OK in a scripted way. The Oticon tech support (one of my key must haves for any new tech' is SUPPORT. In this respect, Oticon UK were the pits! Blame the phone, blame the audiologist... anything, and rude with it. They were comfortable and sound was fine to my inexperienced ear. The LE Bluetooth is a pain! Great battery life but range down to two metres sometimes. No laptop connection without an addition dongle adapter and no price on that for either Oticon or Starkey. and unreliable phone call operation. Looking forward to the Phonak as it has the older, more adaptable Bluetooth, at a cost of battery life.
Nice job on the investigation! Personally, I don't think the shorter battery life is THAT big of an issue with the Phonak. You will still get more than an entire day of use and then you can just charge them overnight. However, I know that my preferences are different than others' and can certainly see why battery life is a key feature for some users. Good luck with the Spheres!
Interesting. Have lumity right now. Oticon seems to have got a step a head. Wont be able to get new aids until next spring. Maybe by some miracle phonak an oticon will have software updates or upgrades. Really wish phonak had better battery life. Hopefully by next year there will be more user comparison to go by
Thanks for the comment! For me, as long as the battery can get me through the entire day...I am happy. Yes, some of these models will allow you to go multiple days without a recharge, but that is not a requirement for me. I can charge mine every night without an issue. By next year, there should certainly be more data and user experience out there to use for comparison.
Hi I am going to buy a Starkey Edge AI 40 next week, do you advice me to take it, I live in Canada and the price is above $5000 , just I need really advice
Excellent! Be sure to try a few different models so that you can get a better understanding for the way they feel and how they perform. Watching videos is a great start, but there is nothing better than actually using them and comparing performance.
Great comparison thank you. I have no eyesight I am totally blind and have moderate hearing loss, which is to say most of the time I don't need any enhancement. I struggle when people with mid-range voices speak very quietly as I have low freq loss. I've tried the previous gen of Otican and foudn the sound really warbly and unnatural, especially in music. Not tried the Intent. Starkey did this weird fast attack release thing a bit like previous gen Phonak, that we just weren't able to get rid of and made sounds like clapping in a moderately sized room really odd. I've not tried the Sphere 90s yet, trying them on Thurs. I don't care so much about the speech in noise though I am curious about it. For me I care whether they sound natural musical and open, something which only widex seem to really care about, although that does then result in a fairly poor feedback management system. So it's going to be interesting. One good thing about the phonak is that apparently if you don't use the speech in noise sphere mode, that larger battery apparently gives you a very long time on the charge. We'll have to see I guess, or whether I go back to Widex. Then again with Widex, no water proofing and no push buttons. Argh there is no one perfect solution and I now know far too much about hearing aids :)
Fellow musician here! The sphere's were really good with music in the "music mode"! A nice natural sound with no warbling or delay. However, the music program can certainly be fine-tuned to make it even better by working with your audiologist. Thanks for the great question!
@@Ziphearing Hi. Got the Sphere 90s today, quite like them, but I am having problems with the music program. Best way I can describe it is really on any program within these aids but especially the music program, I'm in a bathroom, the fan is turned on and I cough loudly. At which point the compression kicks in and the HA's slam on the breaks then release a second or so later, evidenced by the fan fading away and coming back after the cough. I didn't think the music program was supposed to do that. We did turn off impulse sound, I do have low freq loss so maybe they don't like a load of bass going through them and then another loud sound, but I recall with Widex we had to increase headroom in some weird way that went beyond the default controls. Any thoughts on this have you experienced the same? thanks.
Your review, objective and very useful. Did try origin over weekend wasn't impressed also want impressed with lack of organized help from reseller currently trying sphere, not impressed. Connectivity good. Going back to give origin 2nnd go from Triton. Because of your review. Showered sound removal good for road noise not so good in speech bots. Big fault in all is always harsh gratey unnatural sound. Your upvote for oticon I'll try it again
I am very surprised the speech in noise was not a good experience for you! So far, it has been the best for me! However, everyone is different and has a different experience. Good luck with the Intent and I hope it works better for you!
@@Ziphearing I got severe loss , not bad enough for cochlear. I could try another audiologist ? But he currently working with me with custom moulds with various vent hole sizes .
Excellent review and information. Starkey Edge AI24 wins hands down just because of the battery being so long lasting. The sound is good and the edge mode plus certainly comes in super handy. I have a Samsung S22 Plus and I do lose connectivity here and there. You forgot to mention with the Starkey Edge AI 24 when it was tested by the hearing lab they did not use edge mode plus and only used the regular setting. This is a major error on their part, but perhaps intentional to push the Phonak to the top of the list.
The Phonak audeo sphere infinio ( premium)I90 HA 1. in spheric mode significantly improves hearing in a noisy environment WITHIN a certain distance. Your audiologist should be asked to add the spheric program so that you can through the phone app manually activate it. Automatic activation is not affected. 2. BT Connectivity is superb. Readily connects to the Phonak app ( iPhone) 3. The need to use Roger on is significantly reduced. 4. No need to get hysterical due to slightly larger size. 5. Battery life is good though spheric mode uses more battery power BUT TOTALLY WORTH IT. 6. using since over a month and hearing more in social work situations. 7. Whatever sort of intelligence artificial or otherwise 😊and whatever sort of chip deep sonic 😊it makes a difference to the hearing. Have used marvel, paradise , Lumity and sphere infinio is definitely better than the earlier models. Have not tried Starkey or oticon.
Spot on! I experienced all of the same positive experiences as you! The sphere's were absolutely a leap forward in tech and performance from all the other phonak HA's! Thanks for the comment and be sure to subscribe for more! ruclips.net/user/Ziphearing?sub_confirmaton=1
I get 27 hours battery life with my Oticon Intent 1 and they seem to lose time slower as the day goes on. I've also used the Edge AI and they gave me fits. I have those as a backup now and am wearing the Intent 1, which I love.
I currently have the Starky Intent and Philips 9050. The Starky’s only do better in extremely noisy situations, and in those the speech is understandable but it’s distorted. In a normal restaurant, like in the clip, the Philips do much better. In a restaurant with loud music the Starky’s do better for me.
The Intent 1, and Philips 9050, which is sold by Costco are virtually the same HA. It is unclear to me what you meant by the Starky Intent or was that missing a comma?
I am trialing the Spheres because I have severe to profound loss and so does my audiologist. She now wears the Spheres and loves them. I am sort of dubious about how a reviewer who has very little loss applies to my situation. My big take-away right now is that Spheres don't improve my word recognition over my old aids, even in Spheric mode and even though they were REM adjusted. The BT is wonderful, though, hands free and I can hear my phone from three rooms away. I am not buying them, though, unless my audi can dramatically improve my WR.
Using a trial on hearing aids is so profoundly important to the selection process! ZipHearing has risk free trial periods for this exact reason! Happy to hear that your trial was able to aid in the selection process and helped you out!
I agree that the Phonak App is a problem. I have tried the Phonak Audéo I90 and returned it once because the App just would not connect properly and then returned a second attempt because the App would not adjust the hearing aid mode. My experience in noise with the first set was that it did improve hearing in noise, although nothing as dramatic as the video. But the second set did nothing. So I have completely discarded Phonak as having too little quality control and poor software.
I am going to have to disagree with you on that point. I didn't seem to notice a boost in my own voice when using the HA's in sphere mode or in some other program for noise. Frankly, these were the best performing HA's, for hearing in noise, that i have ever tried out. However, your experience could certainly be different than mine, and that is 100% OK! We all experience things in our own way and make our own conclusions. Either way, thank you for watching and thank you for leaving a comment!
I would certainly agree that the Oticon Intent and the Phonak Audeo sphere are larger than your average modern HA, but the Starkey Edge AI is actually quite similar in size to most modern HA's. If size is your biggest concern, than the Starkey edge is the winner for you!
Great review. Most reviews I read say the Phonak is much better in noisy environments, significantly better. Do you agree or do they all perform the same in noisy env.?
My feeling was they all performed the same in noise, and if I could go back and reshoot the review I would've made them all a tie in that category rather than docking the Sphere again in that category b/c of the battery life, when I'd already docked that for them previously in the "battery life" category
Thanks for this review. It is always great when I hear a review that doesn't sound like an infomercial for a particular product at expense of the compared products. As a person with larger hearing loss in my right ear it is also great to see a perspective comparing them by someone who doesn't have a hearing loss since that means it is a balanced test of the features and output only with less tinkering.
I own an older (2023) model of the Phonaks and haven't tried any of the models you tested so my input isn't useful. This information will be useful for when I look at new aids in the future.
Love the format of this review. Superb!!!
Thanks for the input! We will certainly keep this in mind moving forward!
Nice review. I was told that the Starkey require more adjustments with the audiologist. I should add that I just ordered Intents through Zip. Have to say that Zip made everything easy and connected me to a good local audiologist. Very impressed so far. Will report more once I get fitted next week.
I was told just the opposite about Starkey that fewer adjustments are needed.
I think adjustments are going to depend on the user and the medical condition. Unlike ZipHearing most of us have hearing aids because of hearing loss scenarios. Also many of us have jobs or situations that force us into a bigger variety of situations requiring more programs to handle those situations. Unless you take all three products through each scenario a single individual can't make the call on number of adjustments in my opinion. I needed numerous adjustments to get my Phonak Audeo units set like I wanted but I think it was my requirements and my environment that created this need.
My audiologist fitted me with Oticon 1 recently. These are my first HA and are working better than imagined. App works great, although I’ve not found it necessary to make many adjustments via the app. The intent is comfortable throughout the day, unlike my AirPods and Jabara headphones.
SO happy to hear that you are enjoying your first set of proper HA's! Congrats and welcome to the club!
I tried the Phonak Sphere for 3 weeks. Although tech-savvy, I had problems with adjustments and the My Phonak app. I constantly had to refer to the app, which wasn't very useful. When l was in noisy restaurants, the Sphere feature didn't come on automatically. Lastly, I just couldn't get past the size. I have a small head and ears. These HAs were comfortable, but pushed my ears out. They are much more noticeable than the other two brands. I have an appointment soon and will be trying both the Oticon and the Starkey for comparison.
Thanks for sharing your experience! If size is a big priority for you, you are going to love the Starkey! They are basically the same size as previous models from many companies. The oticon are probably going to push your ears out even further than the Phonak because they are a wider build. However, it is a great idea to try out all three options to see what suits you best!
Thanks for the excellent comparison of these state-of-the-art models!
I'm wearing Edge AI mRICs for one month now and I'm impressed by their performance in noise and also the hearing transparency they provide in outdoor/street environments. Before of these, I tested the Genesis variant, which was fine but the Edge's are a huge improvement.
Concerning usability, I miss the feature of turning Edge mode+ on and off using the HA buttons, not via the app. IMHO this should be no problem to implement for @Starkey.
You can double tap near the top of your ear and edge mode plus will go on. This has to be programmed I believe.
I have Oticon Intent 2. I was totally blind in knowing what brands and features were good or bad. My audiologist chose Oticon because of my tinnitus. The white noise interference is a plus for me. I can now be in quiet environments without the tinnitus driving me nuts. At first LE Audio was a pain for connections, but there has been updates from Google and Oticon which has made LE Audio so much better. I listen to music and watch videos from my phone, the sound quality is superb. Oh, and the range is pretty good too. My audiologist made the right choice for me.
SO happy to hear that you found a great fit for your hearing loss! Successful HA choice really stems from open and honest communication about what you need and what you want from a hearing aid! Congrats!
I trialled both the Phonak Sphere and Oticon Intent 1 simultaneously, so was able to experience how they both performed in the same noisy environment. I couldn't tell much difference, they both performed reasonably well, but I certainly didn't experience the level of performance demonstrated in the Phonak Sphere promotional video. I eventually chose the Oticon Intent 1 over the Phonak for two main reasons; size (they looked and fitted better) and overall easy of use. Having said that, I deliberated at great length over Bluetooth on the Oticon, but I'm working my way through these compatibility issues, having already upgraded my phone to a Samsung S24+ (tick) and I'm now looking at upgrading my laptop (but currently the choice is limited).
Love this comment, thanks for the insight!
This provides good feedback to the manufacturers as well so they can improve on their weaknesses.
Very true! Companies love to hear feedback from users! Thanks for the great comment! Be sure to subscribe for more! ruclips.net/user/Ziphearing?sub_confirmaton=1
Oticon support, are you listening or blaming?
Congrats from republic of Turkey. Just i am audiologist too. What a happy moment for me to meet with you. Thanks for the information 🎉
Have you tried any of these? Do you agree/disagree with my takes? Leave a comment with your impressions!
I'm wearing the phonak infinio sphere.
I don't mind playing with the app. I am ok with making the microphone directions face the person I am talking to across a table and activating Edge Plus. we will see. start trial of these next week
The app is a great way to unlock the full potential of these hearing aids! If you can find your way around the app, all of these really open up with customizations and abilities!
Three years ago I tried several different hearing aids and found Oticon was by far the best for me, particularly in noisy environments, like restaurants -- I never have to touch the iPhone app fo adjust settings. However, the 3-year old model I have doesn't connect to it's iPhone app quickly and I generally use the "Accessability" function in the iPhone settings to detect battery levels and select accessories, like the wireless mic, which my wife pins to her helmet strap when biking -- so I can hear her speak quite clearly. The model I have uses a regular "brown" battery which I prefer over the rechargeable models because the battery lasts many times longer and can easily be replaced in almost any situation. I recently tried this year's Oticon top-of-line rechargeable HAs and found no noticeable improvement -- but as Oticon now only offers tts rechargeable version -- I decline to "upgrade" as the unit is considerably wider than my older user-battery model and I found it less comfortable. I'm now open to trying new hearing aids from other companies.
Technology definitely has a way of evolving over time, which can cause some issues when there are new features that may not be your preference. However, luckily, there are many options out on the market! Continue doing your research and continue watching our videos! ruclips.net/user/Ziphearing?sub_confirmaton=1
I’ve had the Oticon Intent 1 for two weeks so far on a 60 day trial. I have been using free NHS hearing aids for a year and decided to see if buying some is that much better. They cost £3100 so I would expect them to be significantly better than the free NHS ones.
The sound on them is better but I don’t get a lot of separation between speech and noise in noisy environments, certainly not as much as all the manufacturers make out such as the Phonak clip you included. I have to use the app to switch modes with the NHS ones whereas the Oticons switch automatically, or I am assuming they are, I really can’t tell. I do, however, like the streaming and phone call features with my iPhone.
I have got my audiologist to make a couple of adjustments after a week which has resulted in some slight improvements but I am still on the fence about whether they are really worth the £3100 cost compared to the free NHS ones.
That is definitely a tough scenario. For me, the separation in speech in noise would be worth the extra money. That is my Achille's heel when it comes to my hearing and the main reason for my hearing aid usage. However, everyone has a different situation and my woes may have no significance to you and your situation. Ultimately, you've got to do what is best for you. Good luck on the decision and enjoy the rest of your trial!
Your hearing keeps you in touch with people, to be social. Good hearing is a blessing. Someone with good hearing is trying to increase the signal to noise ratio when wearing an assistive device. With directional microphones and advanced sound processing one can hear better in noise, with or without hearing loss; however how a damaged hearing system functions is NOT as well as someone with good hearing. Speech discrimination tests can bring that component into the discussion and expectations. So If you feel you've received good audiologic care from your audiologist yet hear nearly the same as with the NHS set, trust your gut. No one can hear the way you do when you have a hearing loss.
I truly hope that you find greater satisfaction within the parameters of what is left to work with. Glasses help bring focus to us. But not with glaucoma. Hearing aids don't fix but build on what's there to work with. Good fortune.
Very helpful. ZIP customer. I’m in first week trial Phonak sphere. Just went to brunch at noisy restaurant and in automatic mode I could hear table across the room better than at my table. Turned to speech in loud noises and it was great, but I don’t want to have use the app ever time I go to loud environment. A friend has the Oticon and claims he can go onto noisy places and it’s automatic. I’ll talk to audiologist at follow up appointment but I’m thinking I may switch to Oticon. What happens if I find I liked the Phonak better. Does Zip let me go back? Love the audiologist you recommended.
Ok, so.... I have a question for you. What direction were you facing? It may seem like a weird thing to ask, but I noticed that the directionality on the sphere is quite strong. Even in noise-reduction programs, i found that i really needed to be facing my intended sound source in order to get the speech in noise benefits to their entirety.
thanks Jeff. Well done, and I have been waiting for this .I now use Lyrics and Insios.Lyrics are poor in noisy environments but do the best localizing the source of sound, RICs can do okay right/left but have no chance vertically. When I trialed Spheres they were able to do much better vertically...is this a function of their microphone placement?
No, I don't think so, because you said RICs "have no chance vertically" (I assume prior RICs you tried), and that the Spheres did improve better vertically...but the Sphere mic placement isn't different than any previous mic placement, so I'd bet the better vertical localization is attributed to the new DEEPSONIC chip in the Sphere
@@Ziphearing Thanks Jeff. Tried Oticon More and Starkey(older unit) which did poorly localizing sound. Thought that perhaps mic placement vertically on the RIC body versus mics on the top provided advantage.
One category not on your list, perhaps the most important one, is how these hearing aids sound on a day to day basis. I am new to hearing aids, having fairly severe high frequency hearing loss in both ears, left more than right. I initially purchased the Phonak Spheres based on the hype around their best background sound cancellation in a noisy environment. They do sound very good in regular use and have great bluetooth connectivity, but I was actually not impressed with them in a noisy setting, e.g., a work holiday party in a restaurant. My audiologist then let me trial both Oticon Intent and Starkey Edge AI and did real ear measurement for both to make it a fair comparison. Of the three I find the sound best and most natural with the Oticons, followed by Phonak, and Starkey last. I also find the hearing in noisy environments and listening to music best with the Oticons, by far, of the three. Bluetooth connectivity is also great with the Oticon's, now we just have to wait for Apple to finally provide LE Audio on iPhones. I sent back the Phonak's in part due this comparison and their large size and lesser battery life, and have ordered the Oticon Intent's to be my keepers. Glad I had the chance to trial all 3.
Well done! I love the fact that you tried all three models and were able to make your informed selection! The oticons are an amazing set of HA's and I am sure you will love them. Congrats on the new HA's!
@@Ziphearing Thanks. Your review was what made me want to try all three.
I just got Phonak. Two reasons. The Roger On. Second, the closest audiologists are owned by Sonova (Phonak).
Trying Oticon at present, but Roger ON has been good ( trialled sphere ) , with one to one conversation with someone who can likes wearing the Roger around there neck .
Hi geat video, didnt get my restaurant setting using sphere:(. Trying intent now , audiologist tomorrow, as speech in noise lousy , doesn't cut out noise :( freq adjust might do it , via app . Starkey app adjust sounds Good . Intent app works well , I got pixel 7a. With LE. Bluetooth.
Thanks for your unbiased video. Performance in Noise is the future of what AI and deep learning can help with. But, you should be testing music also. Traditionally a poor aspect of HA's. But don't test streaming...it'll never sound great, Test is as a regular enhancment. It's best if you could get an audiophile with hearing loss to test. This is an area where it's best to know "what" to listen to. I'd be happy to volunteer. Thanks again for the great video.
Good to know! Our reviewer, Nick, is a bit of an audiophile himself. We will let him know to incorporate more of that in his next reviews! Thanks for the great feedback and thanks for watching!
Why not just get a pair of AirPods when you want to listen to music. I believe they would be superior to any hearing aid. They can be inserted without removing the behind the ear hearing aids.
@@BobbieGWhiz for the average person, airpods are decent quality sound, but for an audio file they were nowhere close to quality. Audio reproduction. Aside from that, I much prefer the music experience of a high quality audio system with speakers in front of me rather than the in your head, the fact you get from earbuds or headphones
Which brand do you think make the best CROS hearing aid for background and noisy environment?
I was waiting for this. Thank you for your review. I am leaning towards the Orticon.
We LOVE to hear that! We are always trying to supply you with great information so that you can be as informed as possible when making a hearing aid decision. Thanks for the great comment and subscribe for more! ruclips.net/user/Ziphearing?sub_confirmaton=1
Reading the comments, some people note that separation of conversation from noise still remains a challenge and not up to what the advertisements would suggest.
Phonak is the best !
Strong opinion right there! Any particular reason why you prefer the phonak?
@@ZiphearingI really wish folk would add "in my opinion" after making such statements. Doing so would add clarity and hopefully, reduce the arguments that inevitably follow.
This is not necessarily true or accurate. Starky has come out with the best DNN using only one chip and has the smallest footprint.
@@jeffj318 To each their own, but I never understand why people are so worried about the footprint (or hiding the fact that they wear hearing aids) As long as mine can be compatible with my prescription eye-wear, I am happy. If bigger footprint means more CPU power and thus better AI I am going to choose that product every time since my hearing loss impacts my work and daily life. I don't care if anyone knows I wear hearing aids. I want to communicate well.
Interesting comment about the circuit noise. I'm wondering, however, if people with high frequency loss would even know there was a circuit noise/hiss? I know in my case my high frequency range has dropped significantly since I was in my teens. Used to be able to hear the high pitch of TV picture tube transformers (now you know I'm in the "senior" category), but no longer :).
Honestly, I'm in a similar, less structured test with the same three units as a first time UK - HA user. the Starkey edge sounded "metallic" or over noisy; every door squeaked. but I suspect this could be tuned out by the audiologist. Their tech support was OK in a scripted way. The Oticon tech support (one of my key must haves for any new tech' is SUPPORT. In this respect, Oticon UK were the pits! Blame the phone, blame the audiologist... anything, and rude with it. They were comfortable and sound was fine to my inexperienced ear. The LE Bluetooth is a pain! Great battery life but range down to two metres sometimes. No laptop connection without an addition dongle adapter and no price on that for either Oticon or Starkey. and unreliable phone call operation. Looking forward to the Phonak as it has the older, more adaptable Bluetooth, at a cost of battery life.
Nice job on the investigation! Personally, I don't think the shorter battery life is THAT big of an issue with the Phonak. You will still get more than an entire day of use and then you can just charge them overnight. However, I know that my preferences are different than others' and can certainly see why battery life is a key feature for some users. Good luck with the Spheres!
Starkey is the only one with AI for cross. Or am I wrong?
Interesting. Have lumity right now. Oticon seems to have got a step a head. Wont be able to get new aids until next spring. Maybe by some miracle phonak an oticon will have software updates or upgrades. Really wish phonak had better battery life. Hopefully by next year there will be more user comparison to go by
Thanks for the comment! For me, as long as the battery can get me through the entire day...I am happy. Yes, some of these models will allow you to go multiple days without a recharge, but that is not a requirement for me. I can charge mine every night without an issue. By next year, there should certainly be more data and user experience out there to use for comparison.
Hi I am going to buy a Starkey Edge AI 40 next week, do you advice me to take it, I live in Canada and the price is above $5000 , just I need really advice
I think the starkey edge is a great device. Have you tried discussing your options with your audiologist?
Yes I will try Oticon intent 1 next week hopefully @@Ziphearing
Excellent! Be sure to try a few different models so that you can get a better understanding for the way they feel and how they perform. Watching videos is a great start, but there is nothing better than actually using them and comparing performance.
Is the scratchy sound in wind conditions the hair rubbing against the apparatus?? Thank you, great video.
No, it's the wind going over the mics
@@Ziphearing Thank you, that makes more sense...
Cost comparison between the 3??
For the most accurate cost comparison, head over to the site and check the prices out! www.ziphearing.com/?
In the UK, My audiologist is the same for the Oticon and the Starkey at £4,000. I suspect the Phonak will be the same.
Great comparison thank you. I have no eyesight I am totally blind and have moderate hearing loss, which is to say most of the time I don't need any enhancement. I struggle when people with mid-range voices speak very quietly as I have low freq loss. I've tried the previous gen of Otican and foudn the sound really warbly and unnatural, especially in music. Not tried the Intent. Starkey did this weird fast attack release thing a bit like previous gen Phonak, that we just weren't able to get rid of and made sounds like clapping in a moderately sized room really odd. I've not tried the Sphere 90s yet, trying them on Thurs. I don't care so much about the speech in noise though I am curious about it. For me I care whether they sound natural musical and open, something which only widex seem to really care about, although that does then result in a fairly poor feedback management system. So it's going to be interesting. One good thing about the phonak is that apparently if you don't use the speech in noise sphere mode, that larger battery apparently gives you a very long time on the charge. We'll have to see I guess, or whether I go back to Widex. Then again with Widex, no water proofing and no push buttons. Argh there is no one perfect solution and I now know far too much about hearing aids :)
Fellow musician here! The sphere's were really good with music in the "music mode"! A nice natural sound with no warbling or delay. However, the music program can certainly be fine-tuned to make it even better by working with your audiologist. Thanks for the great question!
@@Ziphearing Hi. Got the Sphere 90s today, quite like them, but I am having problems with the music program. Best way I can describe it is really on any program within these aids but especially the music program, I'm in a bathroom, the fan is turned on and I cough loudly. At which point the compression kicks in and the HA's slam on the breaks then release a second or so later, evidenced by the fan fading away and coming back after the cough. I didn't think the music program was supposed to do that. We did turn off impulse sound, I do have low freq loss so maybe they don't like a load of bass going through them and then another loud sound, but I recall with Widex we had to increase headroom in some weird way that went beyond the default controls. Any thoughts on this have you experienced the same? thanks.
Your review, objective and very useful. Did try origin over weekend wasn't impressed also want impressed with lack of organized help from reseller currently trying sphere, not impressed. Connectivity good. Going back to give origin 2nnd go from Triton. Because of your review. Showered sound removal good for road noise not so good in speech bots. Big fault in all is always harsh gratey unnatural sound. Your upvote for oticon I'll try it again
Tried sphere speech in noise , not good. Try Intent 1 see how i go
I am very surprised the speech in noise was not a good experience for you! So far, it has been the best for me! However, everyone is different and has a different experience. Good luck with the Intent and I hope it works better for you!
@@Ziphearing I got severe loss , not bad enough for cochlear. I could try another audiologist ? But he currently working with me with custom moulds with various vent hole sizes .
How about Phonak and Jaber ?
Excellent review and information.
Starkey Edge AI24 wins hands down just because of the battery being so long lasting. The sound is good and the edge mode plus certainly comes in super handy.
I have a Samsung S22 Plus and I do lose connectivity here and there.
You forgot to mention with the Starkey Edge AI 24 when it was tested by the hearing lab they did not use edge mode plus and only used the regular setting. This is a major error on their part, but perhaps intentional to push the Phonak to the top of the list.
Do they really, really, really make conversation in a noisy environment that clear?
Yes. I would recommend wearing them with more closed off domes, that's what I wore, if you want better speech clarity in noise.
Are these 2025 models? Great review!
They are :)
@@Ziphearing Thank you! One last question; do you know when they will be available to audiologists?
They’re available at many audiologists, including through our website at Ziphearing.com :)
The Phonak audeo sphere infinio ( premium)I90 HA 1. in spheric mode significantly improves hearing in a noisy environment WITHIN a certain distance. Your audiologist should be asked to add the spheric program so that you can through the phone app manually activate it. Automatic activation is not affected. 2. BT Connectivity is superb. Readily connects to the Phonak app ( iPhone) 3. The need to use Roger on is significantly reduced. 4. No need to get hysterical due to slightly larger size. 5. Battery life is good though spheric mode uses more battery power BUT TOTALLY WORTH IT. 6. using since over a month and hearing more in social work situations. 7. Whatever sort of intelligence artificial or otherwise 😊and whatever sort of chip deep sonic 😊it makes a difference to the hearing. Have used marvel, paradise , Lumity and sphere infinio is definitely better than the earlier models. Have not tried Starkey or oticon.
Spot on! I experienced all of the same positive experiences as you! The sphere's were absolutely a leap forward in tech and performance from all the other phonak HA's! Thanks for the comment and be sure to subscribe for more! ruclips.net/user/Ziphearing?sub_confirmaton=1
I get 27 hours battery life with my Oticon Intent 1 and they seem to lose time slower as the day goes on. I've also used the Edge AI and they gave me fits. I have those as a backup now and am wearing the Intent 1, which I love.
I currently have the Starky Intent and Philips 9050. The Starky’s only do better in extremely noisy situations, and in those the speech is understandable but it’s distorted. In a normal restaurant, like in the clip, the Philips do much better. In a restaurant with loud music the Starky’s do better for me.
Whoa!!! What clip were you watching? Or what are you smoking ? The “Starkey Intent”? “Like in the clip, the ‘Phillips’? do better”?
The Intent 1, and Philips 9050, which is sold by Costco are virtually the same HA. It is unclear to me what you meant by the Starky Intent or was that missing a comma?
@@clearjr1 I meant Starkey Edge, which I returned.
I am trialing the Spheres because I have severe to profound loss and so does my audiologist. She now wears the Spheres and loves them. I am sort of dubious about how a reviewer who has very little loss applies to my situation. My big take-away right now is that Spheres don't improve my word recognition over my old aids, even in Spheric mode and even though they were REM adjusted. The BT is wonderful, though, hands free and I can hear my phone from three rooms away. I am not buying them, though, unless my audi can dramatically improve my WR.
Using a trial on hearing aids is so profoundly important to the selection process! ZipHearing has risk free trial periods for this exact reason! Happy to hear that your trial was able to aid in the selection process and helped you out!
For cross?
I agree that the Phonak App is a problem. I have tried the Phonak Audéo I90 and returned it once because the App just would not connect properly and then returned a second attempt because the App would not adjust the hearing aid mode. My experience in noise with the first set was that it did improve hearing in noise, although nothing as dramatic as the video. But the second set did nothing. So I have completely discarded Phonak as having too little quality control and poor software.
That sphere demo is a load of nonsense, background noise’s are still the same, it just boosts voices including your own & feels weird.
I am going to have to disagree with you on that point. I didn't seem to notice a boost in my own voice when using the HA's in sphere mode or in some other program for noise. Frankly, these were the best performing HA's, for hearing in noise, that i have ever tried out. However, your experience could certainly be different than mine, and that is 100% OK! We all experience things in our own way and make our own conclusions. Either way, thank you for watching and thank you for leaving a comment!
has a charger scrap metal don't buy
All too big a rock behind your ear
I would certainly agree that the Oticon Intent and the Phonak Audeo sphere are larger than your average modern HA, but the Starkey Edge AI is actually quite similar in size to most modern HA's. If size is your biggest concern, than the Starkey edge is the winner for you!