Devilishly clever!
Iāve had the More 1 loaner set for nearly 3 weeks now. I also received what appears to be a brand new pair of OPN1 back from repair a week ago as the warranty was close to ending on the original set which had some issues. Yes the More is a bit more better, however at this time Iām sticking with the OPN1 pair. I just donāt perceive enough of a difference to spend money on them at this time. Thanks!
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Thanks for the honest opinion, @Waynetc. I wonder if you can elaborate a little more on how the More 1 is a bit more better than the OPN 1. I have the OPN 1 as well so Iām trying to decide if itās worth switching to the More 1 as well. But my OPN 1s are 1.5 year old replacement of the original pairs so hopefully it still has some leg to go on before I have to think about replacement.
I wonder how much better the More 1 is over the OPN 1 is because of the new technology, and how much is because you switched from open domes on the OPN 1 to closed domes on the More 1?
When you said closed dome, I assume that you mean the power dome with no vent? Did you consider using the bass dome with single or double vent? The vent(s) would give you less occlusion and is a good compromise between open and closed domes. My hearing loss is much worse than yours and I use the bass dome with single vent with no problem.
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Thanks for asking Volusiano. I was so torn on this as I had hoped to pass on the OPN1 to my mother in law (92). But to try and answer - Getting used to the closed dome was the first hurdle. I still am not a fan of them. I did not go back to the open dome on either and I donāt have any of the bass domes with a single vent. Until I read your response I did not know that type of dome existed. Ironically when I asked my aud if there was a happy medium between open and closed domes - I was told no. Most of my days are now in a very quiet environment as Iām working from home. At first I could hear very quiet sounds better with the More (the tapping of keys on multiple keyboards, the sounds of my fingers on the mousepad etc) and that the audio in Microsoft Teams meetings I attend often were clearer to understand with a dozen plus participants. I also felt that I could understand my wife better, even when she was behind meā¦but all this was the virtually the same when I got the OPN1ās back. Watching the TV was also an improvement and the volume was set lower. Butā¦both these HA sets were both adjusted to my newest hearing test, so a lot of that makes sense. What I know was different and I did not like was that intermittently with TV or Computer audio I could hear something odd going on, almost like an extremely short echo with the More that I never had with the OPN1. It was just enough to be noticeable. Iām convinced that the āechoā had something to do with sound processing. I could only hear this out of the left ear. Also as a side note when I first received the More loaners they were set in a way I can only describe as āhotterā on the treble side so Sās and Pās were so much more pronounced that I hated it. SSSSS and pop pop pop But the speech was very clear. If I recall the terminology is sibilance. My Aud did a remote adjust to conquer that - but it did take something away from them in terms of speech rec. If I cupped my hands over my ears there was no feedback, Now with the replacement OPN1ās (again with the closed dome) the āforcedā feedback is significantly less. Wind noise when outside is much less with the More. But I think the deal breaker for me was the thickness of the More. No problem when not wearing my readers, but I wear them at least 10 hrs a day. If you couple the readers, then going out to a store with a mask on to look for small items at the hardware store for example the extra width became uncomfortable to deal with. I do have the mask extenders to try to compensate, but still not comfortable to me. So in the end Iāll just wait - We all know that there will be software updates and revisions and new models. I suppose Iāll try again next year or the year after. I do need to upgrade once or twice before my wife retires someday as that is what drives my 50% discount.
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I have the OPNS1 aids and they were a good jump in improvement over my OPN1 aids, but I believe a large part of that was going from 85 db receivers to 105 receivers. My OPN1 aids were ITE aids, very comfortable, but I could never get the volume I needed. Of course, my OPNS1 aids are MiniRite rechargeable with custom ear molds. My hearing loss as per my Audi is such that domes just want cut it. I got my OPNS1 aids last June and have had an issue with them ever since in that the t-coils have static in them, due to the virus they havenāt been repaired. I go in next Thursday for another appointment with hearing test, at that point a decision hopefully will be made to either get my aids repaired or replaced. I was in back in March and I was asked to wait until after the first of May due to the VA starts a new contract time with all of the hearing aid companies, so I am not sure if I am getting my aids repaired, replaced or upgraded to the More1 aids. Oh, and I have an issue with my left ear mold slipping out of my canal just enough to cause feedback.
I know this what ever my Audi does, will be the best he can do for me. He has to stay in the VA guide lines, and do what is best for my hearing needs. I have found out over the years that the VA service for veterans have tiers, due to service related issues or just care of veterans in general. I only get special help with my hearing, and now for blood pressure issues.
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The first screenshot below shows the different dome options for the OPN.
The second screenshot below shows the different dome options for the More (they also have grip tips like the OPN, I just didnāt bother to include it for the More).
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What youāre hearing may be what is called the STM (Spectro Temporal Modulation) which is the artifact of the new OPN S OpenSound Optimizer (feedback prevention technology), which transferred over to the More as the MoreSound Optimizer.
What they do is they introduce these STM signals artificially to disrupt the positive feedback loop gain to cause a reduced gain burst of 15 ms on, 15 ms off (of restored gain) in any of the 28 frequency bands independently to break off any potential feedback cycle (build up of energy) that they feel may be coming on (which they monitor 56 thousand times per second).
The screenshot below shows an example where the STMs can be seen introduced in the middle spectrograms in the 2.5 KHz region during the square box period when a hand was place over the ear. Theyāre the little light blue dots in the middle spectrograms that represent on/off reduced/restored gain bursts to head off the potential feedback cause by the hand over the ear. But if it hadnāt been done, full on feedback would have occurred as seen in the bottom spectrogram in the dark red area.
They admit that STMs at times can be audible to the hearing impaired listeners, but they argue that āeven subtle STMs are highly preferable over disruptive and distracting traditional feedback whistling.ā
Iām just guessing that maybe this is what youāre hearing on the More. Itād make sense because this Optimizer (feedback prevention) technology is not available in the original OPN so thatās why you donāt hear it on the OPN.
I think you hit the nail on the head.
I never had that āechoā artifact with the OPNās , but with the OPN S, it very rarely occurs at certain frequencies. I also notice it in my left ear.
Not a problem in the Music Program.
Thatās exactly what it is - modulation. Iāve got a deep history with synthesizers and Volusiano - as you mentioned - You hit the nail on the head. What really has me pulling my hair out right now are the closed domes I received which look nothing like what is shown in the above chart (i.e.powerdome) Itās just a lump of silicon with a nipple on the end. Time to try other thingsā¦ Thank you!
Itās possible that you got fitted with a non-Oticon dome for some reason, unless what you got is not a dome or a grip tip, but is a customized mold.
Below is a listing for customized molds for the OPN product line.
And below is a listing for customized molds for the More line.
I have been wearing Starkey domes on my OPN (Starkey Comfort Closed/Occluded Ear Buds). They are very, very comfortable and last months and months. I have never adapted to Oticon domes, have tried a bunch and was never pleased with the sound and/or comfort of them.
I also wear Starkey Comfort Closed domes on Oticon P100 receivers. I have small twisty ear canals. I wear different sizes - smaller on one side.
I change them almost daily. I accumulate the worn domes in a small jar and swish and rinse about every 10 days days in a Dawn /water solution. This keeps them really clean and they donāt back out of my ears.
I am a long time Oticon wearer, and I have never been able to wear the Oticon domes or the various grip tips or customized ear pieces show above. I wish I could. While the Starkey Comfort bud isnāt perfect, the shape and material is the best Iāve worn.
And the do last forever!
Spent 5 yrs with Oticon Opn 1.
Just moved to Oticon More 1 - 3 weeks now
Iām very pleased with the new technology
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I have the Oticon More for a 4 week trial. I like the clarity and I definitely can hear better. However, there is a constant static noise in the right ear. It was not exposed to water or moisture. I donāt know why this has happened and she invited me to come in. They do not do REM and there arenāt many audis in Tulsa. I am swamped with work right now so may need to wait for 2 weeks. (Please ignore my personal settings for hearing loss. It is worse now but havenāt updated it because the edit profile doesnāt seem to work for me.)
If this constant static noise didnāt occur when you first picked up the Moreās at the HCPās office, but it started shortly on just one ear a little while later, Iād venture to guess that you have a defective aid.
Iāve had something similar to that (crackling) on one of my OPN 1s 1 month before my 3 year warranty expired luckily, so I was able to get a replacement for it under warranty. It wasnāt due to a bad receiver, it was due to the hearing aid. If your issue is only noticeable when thereās incoming sound, then Iād say try to replace the receiver first. But if itās constant like you said even without any sound, then for sure itās the hearing aid.
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Thanks. Today we took a trip in our van. It was like being in a wind tunnel. Both hearing aids had the same wind sound. Volume change made no difference. I finally had to remove them. I could hear no one in the van so that shows how loud it was. In my car, the noise was less. Could this be a dome problem?
@Kem103: How comfortable/knowledgeable does your audiologist seem wrt Oticon HAs.
Iāve heard from audiologists and other knowledgeable people that the Oticon MarketingSpeak (eg. MoreSoundAmplifier, , MoreSoundOptimizer) can be confusing if you donāt keep up with the jargon.
Iāve also heard it said that unknowledgeable audis can completely bugger up Oticon instruments by trying to adjust them so they behave like directional beam formers.
If I were you, Iād be looking at the audiologist as the most probable cause of your experience with More HAs.
What you describe sure doesnāt jibe with my experience with them!
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That sounds like you need to make an appointment and have your Audiologist make some adjustments to take care of that wind noise. And the other possibility is if you are using open domes that could be causing some of it.
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I have at this time the Oticon OPNS1 aids with custom ear molds and I can drive down the road at 55 with the winds down on my Jeep.
ā¦ but Chuck! Itās only a 45mph zone! š» 