My Phonak Sphere Infinio I90 vs Lumity L90 Shootout

[JordanK]

@Naw

That’s awesome! Just curious when you say you could hear them, did you mean you could understand what they were saying?

Short answer on speech comprehension is YES. I think one of the oddest things about the Spheric AI noise reduction program is that when it is activated in a very noisy environment, everything sounds kinda weird. Background sounds are weird. Sounds can often oscillate back and forth between your right/left ear. Sounds suddenly get louder and then softer again. That being said, any voices in your immediate vicinity kinda stand out from the weird background sounds and you can not only hear the voices, you can understand them too. It’s hard to describe what it’s like until you actually try it.

Bear in mind that this my own personal experience and some people haven’t reported the same level of benefit. It could be that different setups, fittings and hearing losses benefit more than others.

Jordan

[freezerman404]

The Starkey Edge AI
does a similar thing.
Guess it had to do with the noise suppression.

[jim_lewis]

Discovered one drawback of switching from ReSound Omnias to Phonak Spheres. I had set many of my iPhone apps to announce notifications in my Omnias. For example, the text of short Messages (text messages) will be read to me. With the Spheres, no notifications from any app are announced. I just get some sort of tone in my hear with no speech from my iPhone. Bummer! Google Gemini says the iPhone Announce Notifications feature depends on MFi technology. So, maybe if Apple ever switches to BT LE Audio and the Spheres get it, I’ll be able to hear notifications from the apps of my choice spoken to me. For example, I have a Meross garage door opener (a Wi-Fi IoT device). If my garage door remains open longer than a preset limit, I get an announcement read to me that my garage door is still open (or if someone opens it while I’m away from home, etc). Not anymore with the Spheres.

[Bailey72]

Actually, it’s not MFI, but Siri that contains the implementation. I had the same issue when I switched from the Oticon Intent on my iPhone (now a Samsung).

Thankfully, an app exists called Voice Notify (website, or download via Google Play Store) that implements the same but via Bluetooth. It’s extremely configurable, and uses the Google Assistant TTS from your phone. On Samsung phones you might need to disable battery optimizations for it, since it will be killed otherwise.

I’ve been very happy with it over the last couple months and with time, you’ll configure it exactly to your likings. When I post my own review of the Phonak Infinio Sphere I90, I’ll make sure to include my Voice Notify configuration, for those who want it.

[pmc1978]

It seems Apple already has support for LEA (LE Audio) and has updated MFI to run over LEA in supported devices. This might explain why suddenly some hearing aids support bidirectional streaming in Macs with BT 5.3.

Even if Phonak supports LEA, I don’t think they will get the same detailed notifications on iPhones as your ReSounds. Unless they also adopt MFI.

For some reason, Apple isn’t advertising LEA support, but if you have a Mac with BT 5.3 running Sonoma or Sequoia, you can verify it by going to Settings-Bluetooth. Then click on the Bluetooth icon while holding the Option key.

[gsl]

What if they background sound happens to be music? For example at a party or concert?
How natural do both sounds sound?

[Bimodal_user]

@gsl, here is the answer:

@JordanK

After getting back to Toronto, my wife informed me that we were invited to one of her client’s 70th birthday party at an event venue. We went last night and once again, the Spheric AI program came to the rescue. Picture a large room with 100 people eating dinner and with a big dance floor and loud music. I had no issues hearing the people sitting next to me at dinner. The only weird thing was the way the Sphere’s flip to the Music program when there is music and dancing going on at a party. You sorta have to decide if you want to enjoy the music or enjoy conversation and then use the manual Music and Spheric AI programs accordingly. It’s not always perfect (someone wants to talk when the music is blasting) but it’s orders of magnitude better than other hearing aids that I have tested or owned

[lello58]

Sorry @JordanK but in all this wandering around the world, have you never come across a cinema along your way?

[Bimodal_user]

@jim_lewis

You and Zebras are probably right. The following Applied Hearing Solutions YouTube video shows one of Dr. Cliff’s audi associates putting a cleaning brush through one microphone port to the other on a Paradise HA body (probably not recommended!): https://youtu.be/xBt0mY-dGRA?t=141

I watched that video in October and I also be surprised by advice by brushing through mic holes. However, in yesterday AudiologyOnline webinar about new CROS I saw that picture:

Perhaps brushing isn’t as bad as we think.

@jim_lewis

First, the Infinio line is better than the Lumity’s because it has the far more powerful New Era chip for basic audio processing (the separate DeepSonic chip does the Spheric noise reduction).

So this is what I have though about. More processing power - probably more fidelity to sound output waves (more similar to analog wave? I suppose, I know nothing about sampling rate in Infinios).

I was already aware of the improved Bluetooth and battery - I was just wondering about the sound quality in quiet situations, as I thought there was little to improve in this environment compared to older HAs (apart from the Speech Enhancer, which I already have on my Paradise and have maxed it out to 20 units).

EDIT:

@jim_lewis

Infinio users find increased comfort while maintaining speech clarity, noise is less intrusive, and the overall sound is preferred relative to APD 2.0 (used in the Lumitys). If you combine the black no difference bars with the green for each test, the number of users who find the Infinio sound equal to or better than the APD 2.0 sound is really much larger than the number who prefer 2.0 over 3.0.

I appreciate you mentioning APD 3.0. However, I’d prefer to use NAL-NL2 or even NAL-NL3, which may be released soon, as they’re more tested and probably more compatible with REM (YMMV). Currently I have NAL-NL2 in my Paradise.

[gsl]

I went to Unisson today, a two-hour train trip, and it was worth it. The audiologist told me I could choose between the Phonak Sphere or the Starkey Edge. I don’t want to go off-topic here, but he mentioned that the Starkey Edge performs similarly to the Sphere.

My only reason for considering the Edge is the Sphere’s rechargeable batteries, which I see as a disadvantage. Otherwise, I might have chosen to start with the Sphere.

[hh1]

Did you try the Starkey edge ai If so, how were they?

[JordanK]

@lello58

Sorry @JordanK but in all this wandering around the world, have you never come across a cinema along your way?

Sorry @lello58. We haven’t done the cinema yet. Biggest reason is just hectic schedules. We will try soon. Patience…haha.

Jordan

[freezerman404]

I just bought them.
I like them.
I have a thread with my experience with them.
I’ll put them through their places Saturday.
My son is getting married.

[NetDoc]

Same here. I had read that you should put “Spheric Speech Clarity” as maximum. But I can’t find anything that does this.

[jim_lewis]

@jim_lewis

@Bimodal_user

I think there are 2 mics on each Infinio Sphere, the four holes are simply the inlets for sounds, 2 for each microphone.

@Zebras

I was also told there are only two mics on the infinio sphere but four holes.

You and Zebras are probably right.

I got some interesting information from Phonak Technical Support both on the ChargerGo RICSPH I charging capacity and on the microphone ports and the ability to clean them either with a brush or a JodiVac (said to be OK, but be careful!):

1. ChargerGo Capacity: The capacity of the ChargerGo is approximately 2,000 mAh. This should provide ample power to charge your hearing aids multiple times before needing to recharge the charger itself.
2. Microphone Ports on Sphere Body: You are correct that there are four openings on each Sphere body, but only two of these are actual microphones. The microphones are positioned far enough from the openings to safely use the included brush for cleaning. When using the brush, gently brush away from the microphone port opening to dislodge any debris. Holding the hearing aid with the microphone port facing downwards can help prevent debris from falling back into the port.

Regarding the use of the consumer version of the JodiVac, it is generally safe to use on the microphone ports. The presence of two openings helps avoid reduced pressure problems, ensuring effective cleaning without damaging the microphones. However, always use the JodiVac gently and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid any potential issues.

If you own a USB digital multimeter (available on Amazon), you can ~control the SOC of your ChargerGo by controlling the amount of mAh you charge it with and knowing the total capacity. For example, if you have the HAs in the charger charging and the charger LED begins to flash green as the HAs are charging, you know you have somewhat less than 1/3 of the charger capacity left (<=33% SOC). So, if you wanted to take the charger capacity to ~2/3 capacity, you need to add 1/3 x 2000 mAh or ~667 mAh. But that’s effect capacity at the ~3.7V discharge voltage of Li-ion batteries. Your charger is charged at 5V, so you only need to add 3.7/5.0 mAh because each mAh, being input at 5V, has 5.0/3.7 times as much power. So, to bring your charger to ~2/3 capacity, you’d add 3.7/5 x 667 mAh or ~494 mAh. And since the USB digital multimeters usually have elapsed time timers built-in, you learn at what mAh/min rate you can charge the ChargerGo and just charge it roughly that amount of minutes every time the charger case drops below ~1/3 charge and starts flashing green.

May sound like too much work, but some years down the road, you probably won’t need to buy a new charger case because you’ve kept it at 100% charge 24x7 all those years…

[Bimodal_user]

@NetDoc

I had read that you should put “Spheric Speech Clarity” as maximum. But I can’t find anything that does this.

I replied on other topic:

Settings in MyPhonak for Sphere Speech and others

[image] I recommend courses on AudiologyOnline. You have to registar free account and find th ePhonak courses.

[JPB2ND]

Less than $4000 per pair at an online seller I am considering.

My experience trialing two pairs of different HAs has convinced me that I can get by without local audiologist support for my own use - although Costco local support I received during my Rexton Reach trial period was excellent - and half as expensive as the $3300 online price I could have spent for the comparable Signia 7iX HAs.

I am now considering the Phonak Sphere HAs as a possible new purchase - or I might wait a year as I suspect most major HA manufacturers will be adding AI chips and special noise canceling processing eventually. (AI is the future everywhere!)

[JJTheJetPln]

First of all, thank you for your thorough testing @JordanK, I’m considering buying a pair of these, but there is one question I have that maybe you or others who own these hearing aids may be able to answer.

Imagine this: You’re a passenger in the rear seat of a car. The driver has music playing through the car speakers and their voice is lower than the speaker. You may have a harder time comprehending them because of the music. The driver is facing forward, but also trying to make conversation with you.

Would the Spheric AI program be able to assist you with regard of isolating the music being played, and the driver’s speech?

[Bimodal_user]

Oustanding post. I have never known aboust JodiVac existence (honesty)

@jim_lewis

When using the brush, gently brush away from the microphone port opening to dislodge any debris. Holding the hearing aid with the microphone port facing downwards can help prevent debris from falling back into the port.

Good point about facing down, I do that when I use another brush to brush the receiver filter.

@jim_lewis

May sound like too much work, but some years down the road, you probably won’t need to buy a new charger case because you’ve kept it at 100% charge 24x7 all those years…

You can probably read my mind, because I was also thinking about using ChargerGo in this way, which would reduce the depreciation of the battery lifecycle. Until now, I simply connected the power bank to the Phonak Paradise charger.

[DaveL]

a question Jordan…
If you create a manual non-Sphere program and use it will it eat batteries like my Paradise P90R/s?

If I save a doctored program and switch to it, I need to remember to go back to auto or my batteries don’t last long.

DaveL
Mississauga