#2

There are 20 automatic programs with the V90 not 20 bands.

The audiogram along with the UCL (uncomfortable level) sets the gain and limits of the HA.

#3

The V90 has one automatic program (which consists of 7 base programs) and 20 fine-tuning channels (also called bands or gain handles).

#5

20 divided freq bands between 250 and 8K are used to adjust the frequency response of the hearing aid, matching it to your audiogram like a stereo graphic equilizer, even though you were tested at only 7 or 8 spots in the frequency spectrum of that range. My HAs have 10 frequency adjustment bands between 250 and 8K.

#7

That’s what I thought. Adjustments for the 7 measured bands should map out pretty straightforward. The others…wow. That’s a whole lot of degrees of freedom. yikes.

#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?