WOW that is a GREAT IDEA!!! You should contact Phonak Product Development. They could slim down the Infinio, release Roger V4 (or rename it!), improve sales of both aids and the mics.
YEAH BABY, YEAH!
1 Like
That is very interesting! Geez, I know I’m a power user (snake belly audiogram sucks it up!) but maybe it could work? I get 15 hrs daily max from my Lumity Life rechargeables, with 2 hrs of streaming at night. My audi did mention that the super speech clarity is also SUPER minimal: just the speech when its present. So it’s like there’s an algorithm to NOT have background noise diminished unless there is SPEECH. Really efficient cut to the chase and no doubt to preserve battery life.
2 Likes
@AudioBlip, thanks for the pics of the titanium cShells, they are exceptionaly elegant. The one photo with viev in the case is particularly interesting as it’s the first time I’ve seen them so long and double-bended 
The right cShell is probably 1,5 cm?
I’ve only now read your edit, I hadn’t seen it before, thanks for adding it.
Quite large diameter! Given the hearing loss and the very deep earmold, both should reduce the effect of occlusion, so I am surprised.
How to recognize the vent is AOV? In Target (and probably on your cShells) you should see 6-digit code:
.
If you do not have an AOV, then the name ‘cShell’ is on the surface instead of the code.
Why you transitioned from acrylic? Due to ear irritation and shallow insertion? They are better from acrylic despite the same shape and depth insertion?
I’m sorry for asking so many questions, but before I buy Sphere, I need to get a proper mould to make the most of its features, and I spend much money to try each of them.
Currently I am after the 4 skeleton:
- zero vent
- pressure vent and too long cable
- AOV with M (D shaped inlet and outlet)
- AOV with P, but cable break
And most current canal cShell:
5. AOV with P (round inlet and outlet diameter 2,5 mm(!))
Are you using AV to indicate ActiveVent? Or something else?
WH
1 Like
I’m actually encouraging you (@Bimodal_user) and any users from this forum and in general, who are remotely interested in getting a pair of Sphere’s to get the proper molds before testing. The reason is because while the Spheres are focused on denoising capabilities, it’s very difficult to test that without getting proper sound clarity. I didn’t realize how much of the sound clarity was contributed by the titanium cshell molds, which is why I put my trial on ‘pause’.
The audiologists did leave me to enjoy the trial pair of Spheres until I get my new orders of titanium cshells (8-pin) that will be coming in this week. In the meantime, they have set up the Sphere HAs for REM, but it wasn’t enough. I’ve decided to leave them in the case for now, and wear my lumity as they sound clearer than the Spheres only because of the difference in molds.
Regarding your question @Bimodal_user, I could see on my titanium cshell there is an acoustic code imprinted on my titanium cshell, so there’s my answer 
I transitioned straight to titanium for 3x main reasons:
-
less itch = more wear time
-
WAY more comfortable = more wear time
-
more robust and durable = lasts longer
The other benefit I’m assuming is because the titanium shell is thinner than acrylic which gives the technician more freedom to fit components more freely and come up with a more custom fit for my case (deeper).
It might help to know that it took 4x-6x iterations of my titanium cshells before i got my perfect fit, and it was well worth it!
5 Likes
Oh, sorry @WhiteHat, i meant to say it’s an M receiver. It’s definitely not an ActiveVent receiver.
Still getting used to the acronyms and terms on this forum
2 Likes
Have you thought about trying the activevent? You can use titanium slimtips with them (not the same as cshells, but still nice) and get full isolation when in loud noise or streaming. There are some cons, but I love them.
I’ve been wondering if I’ll need new slimtips to go over the new activevents or if I can continue with my existing ones. It’s time for new ones anyway, I guess. Two and a half years. I feel a little leakage on the right.
WH
1 Like
Speaking of receivers, how do the Sphere receivers compare to the equivalent power of the previous ones, size-wise? Would they be basically interchangeable in soft silicone molds with some give to them? I’m seriously thinking about upgrading once these things start hitting ebay at reasonable prices, but I’m not eager to mess around with new molds. Though I’ve noticed the cheapest online “retail” prices now are quite a bit lower than they were for the L90s at the same point after their release, so that’s an encouraging trend. (For the consumer, at least. Probably not so great for the independent audis who are getting shafted by Phonak.)
Can’t see why not, but the receiver isn’t interchangeable between platforms, it’s supposedly a new 8 pin design.
1 Like
That’s what I suspected. I once bought espensive SmartLink+ (Dynamic FM), which did not bring me any benefits because a dozen years ago I did not know about the important role of ventilation in the transmission of noise and I didn’t informed about this.
So you apparently have AOV 
I recently discovered that applying slight pressure to the mold dramatically reduces occlusion and significantly improves sound quality, so your description seems promising.
Yesterday I looked at my last silicone impression and realized that it do not have the second bend of my ear canal. So clearly I have to get new (deeper) impression.
Why do you have such large vents, despite your quite significant hearing loss in the lower frequencies and deeply seated earmold? Doesn’t it let more noise into your eardrum?
Thank you for letting me know about this experience. It’s important to always try to improve. Why did you make so many iterations? Was the fit too shallow? Was there occlusion? Was every iteration necessarily paid for? I plan to get an acrylic version, and if it’s good, then titanium.
Good question. I suppose that, given the photo below, the MAV receiver is too large for such curved earmolds, so that its output is directly in front of the eardrum and not the canal wall…
Can anyone tell me how the size of the Phonak Sphere compares with my current Oticon Engage 85 please?
Nenen_UK, I don’t have any Oticons (I trialed the Intent, but turned it back in), However, I did lay my 2 Phonaks next to the new Sphere and found:
- 312-battery Lumity Life - SMALLEST by FAR; also gives me 5 days of battery life
- rechargeable Lumity Life - about 12% bigger than the 312s thanks to “waterproofing”; battery only gives me 15 hrs/day of use
- Spheres - GONZO, about 25% bigger than my 312s and the least battery life of all.
I know you may find my comparison vague, but that’s how the Sphere stacks up against other Phonak models out there. Hope others chime in!
3 Likes
although I’ve not seen them next to any HA type I have, it seems to be the width (thickness) of the Sphere that seems excessive. This could be an issue with those that have ears.
1 Like
Well- for someone like me who is familiar with HA sizes in the 60s and 70s, the shape of the new Phonak models are not too much of an issue.
8 Likes
The size of the Engage is bigger then the new Phonak Infinio Sphere , as the Engage is a BTE , where the new Phonak Spere is a RIC.
And for the Phonak you do not need an extra audio shoe and an Roger receiver attached to the aid.
Whereas for the Engage you need to attach an special battery door that you can attach an shoe and onto the shoe you attach an extra Roger receiver. So the Engage becomes very bulky behind the ears, if you want to use a Roger microphone.
5 Likes
While I’d toyed with the idea of a facelift at my age, perhaps an EAR extension would make more sense. 
3 Likes
I live in Montreal Canada. I got a quote from my Audi for the top of the line sphere for Cdn $7800, 3 year warranty plus one free accessory. Is this a fair price. I trialed Starkey Genesis top of the line and they were around $6200 so there is quite a bit difference. Please send private message if required. Thank you.