I tried 4 and found "the one" - Phonak Audéo B R B90

Hearing Aids
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#42

Yes I did go to his service. In fact I rode down there from the Twin Cities with several riders from Team Strange. I recall stopping somewhere on the way down for lunch. I am pretty sure I linked up with Rich and that is why I rode down with that group and a few of us from ST-Owners. I think there was a car that was with us or we met up somewhere but don’t remember why they were in a car. Wasn’t someone injured and couldn’t ride? I was on my Silver 03 ST1300 for that trip.

It is kind of a small world to bump into someone on a completely unrelated forum and we know many of the same people.

#43

I was driving a Blue Prius with Aaron to tow he was not the one injured but “bike less” at the time - we swung into Kellog, MN with the group for breakfast - I’m guessing we where breathing some of the same air and may have even chatted, I’m sure I talked to Rich - indeed a small world.

#44

Yeah it was probably breakfast not lunch because the service wasn’t that late in the day and they had food at the conference center afterward which would have been lunch. That sounds about right to grab breakfast in Kellog. Not a normal stop for me. As you know the ST has long legs so a run to Nelson is more normal for me when doing the river run/alphabet roads then zipping back up to the Cities.

I just remember I didn’t know most of the people there as I was more of a tag along with Rich. I was riding sweep. Honestly I that was several years ago and my mind at the time was still in shock and kicking myself for supplying Curt the parts to get his bike on the road for the rally. Of course as said earlier no way anyone could predict what happened. For all I know we might have sat next to each other. I want to say that dinner was pretty packed that morning.

Shoot me the location of the accident. You can email me at my screen name here at Gmail.

#45

Well after trying the really cool tech of the ReSound LiNX 3D I will be going back to Phonak - love the ReSound features but for me the sound is just not comparable to the Phonak.

I’m going back to the Audio B R V90’s that I had, my audiologist hung onto them … but before my trial runs out I’m going to be thinking very hard about Phonak B Direct V90 for the direct streaming and the simple battery technology. although I really do like rechargeable I also am OK with the option of simply dropping in regular batteries every week(?)…plus streaming without a remote is much more convenient. The other beauty of the Phonak (again based on my personal sound taste) is that while they may drop out of a second or two, the auto-change programing is superior to the multi-programs of the others. Phonak for me to nails the sound environments in auto mode better than the specific program modes of the others aids I tried.

I personally think the Phonak really missed the mark on the rechargeable battery technology they chose. Being first to he market comes with risk - in my mind the Z100 rechargeable tech is a better balance - user friendly and no need to carry a charger on trips.

#46

glad i found this forum. i’ve had tinnitus for decades, and have moderate hearing loss. most of my listening is in a small, quiet room with one other person, but in restaurants, groups and public i have more trouble. my ex GF is an audiologist (living 2 hrs away) but is a source for some advice. also, since i’m a techie kinda guy and an android user, i’m interested in the Phonak B direct. jim_w’s comments have been valuable, but i’m confused about the importance placed on rechargability.

anyhow, i look forward to picking the brains of other folks with more 1st hand experience in this area.

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#47

I just really like the aspect of rechargeable - if all things where equal (using Z100 tech) I would want to go that way. I would so prefer to have the Z100 option of rechargeable batteries for everyday use and drop in batteries for light packing travel… sadly Phonak’s rechargeable tech is a sealed unit that must go back to the company (3 years - 4 years?) for an expensive battery change

As it stands - for me anyway, the Phonak sound processing is superior to anything else I’ve tried. And at the end of the day that is the most important thing in my book. I love the Phonak Audio B R’s I have just went back to from the very cool tech ReSound 3D. I am waiting for a pair of Phonak Audio B Directs - the fact I do not need a remote to stream (if only one ear) is the biggest reason. Also, I’m hopeful Phonak may down the road offer a door replacement and rechargeable option for the Directs. As I’ve learned both the Starkey and ReSound simply change the battery door to make them rechargeable with the one year Z100 battery, I suspect that’s what Unitron did as well.

Good Luck

#48

I am not an expert by any means. Got my first hearing aid last Friday.

I have a ReSound LiNX 2 but I plan on taking it back for the LiNX 3D but will ask about Phonak options when I go in. The 3D adds rechargeable battery and better (still not great) phone support on Android. I say that because at least I will be able to control the program and volume via an app but phone use and streaming are still going to require the Phone Clip+. I was doing some reading on the Phonak and it seems like this might be the case as well as with those. One question I have for you though is what Android do you have? While Android support expanded with the ReSound 3D, it isn’t remotely close to any Android. For example, my Pixel XL is on the support list but the Pixel (same generation but smaller screen) isn’t. So watch that with whatever hearing aid you look at.

As far as rechargeable battery. I look at it like this. It is the end of the day, I charge my battery and my smart watch anyhow. I am used to that cycle as I go to bed. I haven’t had my HA very long but here is my first week. I got it Friday afternoon. It worked great all weekend. Come monday I head to the gym in the morning as usual and I notice I really can’t hear anything with the hearing aid. I mess with it and turn up the volume. Nothing. I was right in thinking it was the wax filter being plugged. They told me about it and how to change it but didn’t say how often. It depends on how much wax your ears produce. I think sweating in the gym accelerated it some. Really go no use of the HA until I got home and could change the filter which takes 10 seconds. Tuesday is day two. Tuesday is cardio day so off the gym and I was going to stream a podcast while I run on the treadmill. I have a hearing aid now no need for headphones. Just as I get started it starts beeping that the battery is low so it stops streaming. I was just starting out what should have been my second day and dead battery. So today was really the first day where the HA worked all day at work. Not blaming it, I know it takes time to understand how many days to expect and how often to change the filter. For me 3-4 days on a battery is what I can expect. I now have batteries and filters in my desk at work, and at home. With rechargeable batteries, you don’t have to worry about starting out your day and within an hour you get the low battery alarm. Charge them at night and they will last the day. Many are sealed better for weather protection. But it might mean more down time for a battery replacement. The 3D I think has a user replaceable battery though and they last about a year.

#49

If you have 312 size battery, you would want to charge each night. Early version would barely make it through one day. It looks like that has improved somewhat. Size 13 might be relied on for two day. It is new tech so improvements/fixes are a likely possibility. But rechargeables are new and who knows how they’ll last.

#50

All of the 312 size Z100 style rechargeable (Unitrion, Starkey, and ReSound) I tried made it for a full day (about 16-18 hours) - only the ReSound ever ran out - happened once at about 17 hours. As I understand it, streaming uses more power than normal use.

#51

I charge my phone, iPod, iPad most nights. Any more and I won’t have enough space on the bedside table. I only have to change my 312 HA batteries every 7-8 days so it isn’t a big hassle. Rechargables are more needed if you have dexterity issues or young kids around for whom there is a risk of swallowing small batteries.

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#52

OMG, I was looking for a stereo stream to both aids for calls and music, without any intermediary device required, and that would work on my Android. I quickly dropped the Android idea and conceded to the iphone. The Audeo B-90R information was clear as mud and I still don’t know if I can get the stereo stream,to both aids for calls and music using the MFI (made for iphone), and without the need for any intermediary device.
Does anyone have a pair of Adeo B-90R and an iphone who can answer this query?
Deb

#53

I do not have the hearing aids in question, but they are not made for iPhone. The only Phonak hearing aids that will allow direct streaming from a smart phone is the Audeo B-Direct and it will not do it in stereo.

If you want aids that allow direct streaming to iPhone, among the choices are Widex Beyond, Oticon Opn, Signia NX, Resound Linx 3D and something by Starkey.

#54

Thx so much MDB for clarifying.
Out of all the aids you mentioned, none has the quality of sound that is reported by phonak b90 & B direct users.
My audiologist has recommended the Benafon zerena 9, but their website doesn’t mention any thing about MFI, or distinguish when a intermediary device is required, or do they stream both calls and music in both ears. I cannot confirm if they’re the holy grail, but without the recharge function.
Love to hear from anyone with first hand experience with the Benefon zerena 9?

#56

Thank you - I was not aware. I thought they where the same processor. Bunner

#57

docflash, my own experience as a HA wearer for 30+ years is that I can simply not be in a position where my “rechargeable” aids go dead - for any reason. Granted, I do travel with a backup pair of aids on ANY trip where I leave home overnight, but picture this: you’re in line at U.S. Customs, coming in from Dubai. Your aids go DEAD. You can’t hear a thing. No backups. You try to explain that to a Customs official and see what the reaction is … naw, I don’t want to go there.

Much more reliable to have a package of batteries on your person ALWAYS, and even mark your calendar to remind you what day you need to change them on. On trips or important occasions, consider changing your batteries a day or so earlier just so the aids don’t go dead on you.

With my hearing loss, I’d need folks to write notes - there is simply NO getting a verbal message across with my poor lip-reading skills. I actually traveled to Japan with a gal whose rechargeable aids went dead, cuz the flight was long and she didn’t have any backup. She got to Canada and said, 'Don’t anyone talk to me. My aids are dead." Then she had to get through Customs to the U.S. Very stressful.

#58

Not sure if this ever got answered. Regarding rechargability. To be clear, the Phonak Audeo B Direct is not rechargeable. Just the Audeo B R is rechargeable. Rechargeability is nice for somebody with poor vision and/or dexterity that would make it difficult to change batteries. If you’re careful you can get batteries at $0.25 each, or less so cost really isn’t an issue. Hope that helps.

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#59

I’m new to wearing hearing aids and I just like the perceived convenience and “green feel” of rechargeable aids - no other reason. But I feel a rechargeable hearing aid needs the option of going to a standard battery if need be by using the Z100 technology.

I think the sealed aspect of the Phonak B R’s may be helpful for reliability (no sweat/dirt, etc.) but of course can easily lead to a helpless situation for the user. At the end of the day I really like my Phonak B R’s and hope that the B Directs will have as good of sound processing. I have to believe that Phonak will join the rest of the manufacturers and come out with a Z100 style rechargeable aid to offer the best of both worlds. I hope they do a retro-fit battery door to convert a set of B Directs to “B R Directs” :smile:

#60

My hesitation on getting rechargeables is not that I might be caught in a compromising situation with my batteries gone flat, but that after the 3 year (or so) life expectancy the batteries fail to hold a charge any longer. The only option being that you would have to send them in to Phonak for battery replacement ($$$). Or ditch them and get new hearing aids ($$$$$$). My 5 year old Ambras are still working for me and doing as good a job as they can with the technology available when they were new. I can’t really complain about the way they perform even now.

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#61

I tried the Phonak B90’s. They were like a multi speed automatic transmission that were always shifting modes, not knowing what gear to be in a lot of times. Very annoying. Took a long time to figure what mode to be in (yes time to switch is adjustable), but that made it worse. Example, listening to music after a while it decides its music time, but then it might be over with by the time it switches to that mode, and then back to another mode she goes.
There are many many settings on each mode in this device. Chances are you will not know what mode you even need to have your audioligist tweek, and the time it would take to do it all would be ridiculous.
Only way I see to do it would be if you could program it yourself. You editing is the only way because its become too complex to even think an audiologist is going to spend the time to set it all up even if you can figure out what mode needs adjusting.
Its driving me crazy to find a good aid with good speech and music sound with simple settings, ie no warbling, sound recovery, etc etc etc.

#62

Yes, I noticed “drop outs” as the HA self adjusted and it was annoying, but so far (and now including the Phonak Audeo B - Directs) the Phonak B - R’s have been the best sounding (substantially in some cases) of everything I’ve tried.

I too share your frustration trying to find a good speech, music, and “tolerable” in reasonable environmental situations - road noise, talk in moving car, wind flowing over the car, etc. Also I’d like something that works well on the phone.

The ReSound LiNX 3D - for all the cool functionality was a bust - always felt like I was chasing programs to try an make them sound better and yet no matter how many of the cool features I used I really didn’t seem to get “better” than the basic auto program of the Phonak B R …or perhaps more accurately I simply ran out of patience.

So far I find the best two set-ups (for me) have been is to simply use the “auto-programs” of the Unitron Moxi-Tempest and the Phonak B R 90 - drop offs and searching aside.