My Whisper AI trial vs. Oticon More

Volusiano · November 28, 2021, 11:32pm

x475aws:

Volusiano:

And what I think is that even if (big IF, not yet proven by an underwhelming anecdotal evidence of 4 individuals compared to thousands of other happy users from the big 6) Whisper indeed does have a superior SIN to the legacy HAs, as long as most users are fairly (even if not totally) happy with the SIN performance they get from their legacy HAs, then this “marginal” SIN improvement that Whisper “may” be able to deliver really can’t outweigh what many consider deal breakers from the Whisper system: 1) the need to carry a brain, 2) the subscription system where you have nothing to show after 3 years, 3) the outrageous lease price of $179/month even if you can get half of that lease price on discount in the first 3 years.

So, say there’s a discussion here where someone trialing More aids complains that they can’t understand speech at a work lunch, or a bar, or in a factory. Given the four Whisper users’ experience here, do you answer:

Try this and this and this Oticon setting
and/or

Get a different brand that’s “beamforming”, and there’s nothing wrong with that
and/or

Some people have reported great SIN with Whisper, but it has these disadvantages?

Actually there was such a case recently and I answered all 1, 2, and 3. Below is the link to that thread. And if you look at post #2 in which I replied to the OP, at the end, I mentioned that the Philips HearLink 9030 and the Whisper are other options to try if the OP wishes to.

Neville suggested getting the Phonak Paradise with the Roger option after the OP shared that the More wasn’t helpful for him. I replied that it was probably the best suggestion after learning that the OP has asymmetrical hearing loss, and that’s probably why the More doesn’t work out as well for him.

I think you (@x475aws) chimed in to recommend the Whisper, but the OP balked at not wanting to deal with a brain.

So I’m not above doing either of the 3 options you mentioned above. While I have my own opinion about Whisper and I’m critical of some of the choices it makes (going with the brain and the subscription model), I’m perfectly OK with telling people about the Whisper option in case they want to try it.