Yes, I think my ignorance is showing. AI searches show that the Hearing Aid and Car Stereo device types probably both support HFP, A2DP, and AVRCP. I thought the difference between Hearing Aid and Car Stereo types might be that Hearing Aid only supports SBC encoding, whereas maybe Car Stereo is AAC-encoded. It’s said that AAC-encoded sound will sound louder with less noise because the higher bitrate and greater encoding efficiency lead to better sound. BUT Gemini says no Phonak hearing aid up through the Infinio line uses AAC encoding.
ChatGPT claims to know the difference between the protocols/processing used in the Hearing AId and Car Stereo device types. Here’s what it says:
ChatGPT:
What is different about the Phonak Infinio BT device type Car Stereo as opposed to the Phonak Infinio Device type Hearing Aid for streaming?
ChatGPT said:
Searched 3 sites
“Phonak Infinio BT device type Car Stereo vs Hearing Aid streaming”
bing.com
forum.hearingtracker.com
](Phonak Infinio Sphere 90 review)hearingtracker.com
](Phonak Unveils Groundbreaking Infinio Hearing Aids and AI-Powered Audéo Sphere Infinio)The Phonak Infinio Bluetooth devices, specifically the “Car Stereo” and “Hearing Aid” streaming modes, cater to different audio streaming environments to enhance user experience. When set to the “Car Stereo” device type, the hearing aid prioritizes audio as if it’s coming from a stereo system, offering richer bass and enhanced overall sound quality, which can make music and media sound fuller and more engaging. This setting emphasizes the dynamic range and might be more suited for environments with a lot of background noise or when high-quality sound is desired, such as listening to music while driving.
On the other hand, the “Hearing Aid” streaming mode focuses on clarity and intelligibility, particularly for speech. It emphasizes mid and high frequencies to make voices clearer, an ideal setting for phone calls or conversations in quieter environments. This device type is optimized for speech intelligibility rather than musical richness, so it might sound thinner but ensures speech remains clear and distinct.
Switching between these modes allows Infinio users to better adapt to different listening scenarios, maximizing either audio quality or speech clarity depending on the streaming needs. These settings are powered by Phonak’s advanced ERA chip, which manages sound quality and Bluetooth connectivity while also supporting DEEPSONIC AI processing for clearer speech in noisy settings
Whatever the explanation, using the Car Stereo device type for phone calls and media streaming sounds A LOT better to me than the Hearing Aid device type. The end result is that the Hearing Aid protocol sounds thinner, noisier, less dynamic range, less stereo separation or spatiality, whereas a podcast listened to with the Car Stereo protocol is like WOW! 