#8

I guess the question is: how many adjustment bands is really needed to be optimal for a fitting to be most effective? I can’t answer that and it’s likely debatable. Someone with a flat across freq loss would likely not need but a few bands but I can’t say. I’m sure it’s better to have more than you need than not enough.

#9

There’s research that shows 4 bands is adequate for frequency shaping if the hearing loss is flat or slightly sloping. But for steeply sloping losses, increasing the number of bands from 4 to 7 improves target matching while preventing feedback. There’s certainly no need for 20 bands.

#10

My understanding concerning the infamous Trax 42 is that the “42” in the model name represents 42 adjustable bands. Is that correct?

#11

How many bands has got my CIC Phonak Milo Plus? (Its an entry level HA). I have surfed in internet but I can´t find it. Can any one help my? Thank you very much

— Updated —

How many bands has got my CIC Phonak Milo Plus? (Its an entry level HA). I have surfed in internet but I can´t find it. Can any one help my? Thank you very much

#12

That seems definitive. Thanks. 20 bands seem excessive even for my cookie bite loss. I won’t bother to fine tune and optimize the superfluous and redundant bands.

#13

You wouldn’t be the one doing any tuning anyway. Much of what takes place with that is automatic via computer when the results of your audiogram are loaded in. There is no additional burden on your Audiologist or whoever.

They are not redundant bands. Each of the 20 bands is a separate narrow band of frequencies. They are evenly split from 250 to 8K. This gives added precision. In reality, you hear thousands of sound frequencies. You were tested at certain points. It would be pointless to test you at many other points in between those 7 spots because there wouldn’t be any useful difference to use for a HA fitting. 7 to 8 spots is plenty to determine your loss curve. 20 adjustment bands just adds precision and that’s all there is to it.

#14

The Trax 42 has 20 adjustable bands.

The Milo Plus has 4 adjustable bands.

#15

It doesn’t even add real functional precision. I mean, are you going to notice a 1dB difference at 785 Hz? No. How about at 2320 Hz? Nope. How about a 2 dB difference at 6410 Hz? Nope again.

— Updated —

It doesn’t even add real functional precision. I mean, are you going to notice a 1dB difference at 785 Hz? No. How about at 2320 Hz? Nope. How about a 2 dB difference at 6410 Hz? Nope again.

#16

I could not agree with you more. I was just trying to give him some perspective as to why they’re there to adjust.

I chose my Unique 330s over the 440s, not to just save money. I believed 10 bands over 15 was plenty. My audi wanted me to buy the 440 of course. I was considering the 220s then changed my mind.

I demoed the 440s and could not tell any quality difference with the 330s having 5 less bands. Even the 110s with only 4 bands gave me improved hearing.

#17

you actually bought hearing aids based on the number of bands… seriously?

#18

HI Jake! No, the Navy doc prescribed them for me @ the RACHAP price of $377.
But hey, at least I didn’t have to deal with those VA idiots.:smiley:

I was just wondering what the extra bands actually did.

#19

Thank you very much rasmus Braun for the answer:o

#20

I am sorry you think that the VA are that bad I have been using the VA since 2004 and I have to say they have been great. I know I have heard all of the stores of how bad the VA is, but here in Austin Texas I have had nothing but great service out of the VA. Maybe it is just where you are at.

#21

No Doc, I bought the HAs I have now because they worked and because I didn’t know any better. I chose to save money because the 330s performed as well as the 440s. I’m sure I could have saved more had I gone to Costco but I didn’t know any better again. Still learning. This is my first experience with HAs. Thanks to this forum I’ve learned a lot, however, I can’t go back and start over. Things may change by the time I will need a new pair but by then I’ll be prepared with knowledge I didn’t have before.

#22

I chose my Unique 330s over the 440s, not to just save money. I believed 10 bands over 15 was plenty

— Updated —

I chose my Unique 330s over the 440s, not to just save money. I believed 10 bands over 15 was plenty

#23

That is still true but had there been a significant difference in performance I probably would have taken the 440s over the 330s. Had that been the case I might have attributed the difference to the additional 5 bands.

The 220 has 6 bands. I almost chose those to save even more. It was against my audi’s wishes but I changed my mind. 6 was too wide. Not enough adjustment range for my loss. I didn’t need an audi to explain why.

Cost was an issue but I got over it. I drew the line in cost because the 330s performed well and having 10 bands was a big part of that decision consideration.

I’m ignorant of the industry, not the technology. I was an electronics technician before retirement and a musician by hobby. I’m fimiliar with the use of a graphic equilizer for balancing out music. You don’t need but so many bands to do that well.

15 bands is great but unessary IMO. I may be wrong. Going with 10 saved me $900.

So you tell me, what do you think?

#24

Are you contusing bands with channels?

— Updated —

Are you contusing bands with channels?

#25

I may be Doc, since you ask. What is the difference, may I ask?

#26

Why so many want so few to do their homework for them?
This should get you started then stay in the site and keep reading…

— Updated —

Why so many want so few to do their homework for them?
This should get you started then stay in the site and keep reading…

#27

Good article Doc. I read the whole thing.

I see now I was referring to the number of gain adjustment handles (bands) as shown to me by my audi on his computer. The 330 was showing 10 bands he could adjust while the 440 showed 15 just as I expected.

What’s confusing now my be his error but that would be hard to believe. On the literature he gave me on all 4 models he wrote in with his pen “10 channels” beside the 330.

10 channels along with 10 adjustable bands? Is that just an irony?

According to the article channels are for processing, features like noise supression, feedback supresdion, etc., each one being channel specific. Channels also create time delays differences between real sound coming in on an open fit to that of processed sound from each channel.

I don’t have a full grasp of it yet but this is facinatting and thanks for the article.

I was referring to the number of bands or adjustment handles as the article puts it, defining what a band is.

I’m still a little confused though. I do know that the 330 has 10 adjustment bands because my audi showed it to me on his computer. Is that not what I observed?

Come on Doc, give me a simplified version in your words. Just a little coaching.