Yeah, I ordered a pair. Unfortunately, they won’t be here until the end of next week. They sound great and there is a 60 return period, so I don’t think there is a whole lot of risk. Probably more risk of disappointment than losing money 
7 Likes
If you agree, it’s better to open a new thread with your review (and hopefully that of others too) and not continue in this one which has already become quite long.
7 Likes
I also a VA client. I looked at the numbers you cited. It’s amazing that the VA gets such a discounted price, but then that is an average cost of all Phonak RICs and not specific to the Phonak Sphere as I read the numbers.
They don’t have sphere yet. They won’t have it until November. Those would be lumity and all at the 90 level. Some with coil, some without, and I suppose some life. I think they all come with roger receivers by default. Mine did. They are all premium devices.
WH
Won’t happen for a week or so. Hopefully some body else will start a review thread before that.
2 Likes
When we listen to the sound streamed by bluetooth, it is mostly pure sound that does not go through sound processing as usual, I doubt that AI will do anything then.
Hypothetically, I would put forward an idea. When I listen to music, I usually don’t know what they are singing without the lyrics. I hear some words but not all. it all depends on how intelligible the voice is when they sing.
I would like an option, so that we can listen to music with AI processing, at least at the beginning to hear what they are singing, only to learn to listen to the words and then turn off that option and listen naturally. Because surely the AI processing muffles the music, the bass, so the song is not that interesting, I mentioned it as an example of what I would like to learn to listen to music without Lyrics.
Another option - when we listen to some YouTube shows, reports and various analysts. Then the music is not important to us, the intelligibility of the speech is important.
Are you in favor of it, and would there even be a possibility for phonak or other manufacturers to enable us to listen to bluetooth streaming with AI processing in order to better understand what is being said or what they are singing.
I think the latest generations of smartphones have their own NPU that could do this without involving HA in AI processing. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra has a NPU with 26 TOPS. Next generation - S24 Ultra - 34 TOPS.
Nevertheless, the described built-in HA AI function can be useful when listening to non-streamed music, e.g. outdoors.
1 Like
Wow, there will be SDS 6.0. I wonder about the differences between it and SDS 5.0 and 4.0. I am hoping for wider eligibility for MAV (ActiveVent) receivers.
…
Connectivity: Ultra-responsive ERA™ chip at the heart of Infinio | Audiology Blog (phonakpro.com)
Absolutely, yes this is a requirement right now for those in the severe losses, plus I do hope the Bluetooth stability is greatly improved, as it’s a bug bear for a lot of people.
You want more occlusion in your molds when streaming? You want feedback from vent when not? This seems like a hard engineering problem.
WH
What? Why would someone with a severe loss want/need a MAV?
3 Likes
Overall, yes. Yesterday I tried blocking the vent with a piece of paper, and indeed the quality of the streaming became excellent, especially in the lower pitches. The streaming remained fully understandable, even I turned up to the max extractor hood in kitchen.
That’s because the closed position gives full benefit from directionality, streaming, or denoising features. However, when I hear low pitches very well (I can talk on the phone without a hearing aid), they are fuller and better in a more open setting.
I have AOV, which is simply tube with 2,5 mm diameter which is strange, because previous cShell (with the same audiogram) had quite unconventional shape of venting.
I should create a new topic about this to avoid further confusion about Sphere topic.
What needs to be done to enable this feature
(For other users) background, read quote below:
More powerful and energy-efficient chips need to be invented because AI denoising drains the battery a lot. Perhaps better battery technology is needed as well, but that is just speculation.
1 Like
occlusion, I was thinking, adjustable vent on the fly?
1 Like
Absolutely no adjustable. Just 2,5mm diameter tube drilled in cShellI was simply curious about occlusion with the new cShell, so I inserted rolled tissue paper into the vent and later easily remove it during listening and comparison.
I hadn’t looked at their loss. They said “severe” but their lows are basically normal.
1 Like
Why can’t they put powerful battery intense AI in a Roger device? Like the “HeardThat” app (on iOS but that app has a standard Bluetooth delay, making it unusable.)
2 Likes
I’m paying 3800$ through DirectHearing
1 Like
@user34
I notice a slight latency with my Roger ALDs. This is definitely less noticeable since I’ve reduced the bass frequencies in the Roger fitting formula. I definitely see them using their AI chip in future Roger devices, as this will open up non-Phonak customers to them. This assumes, of course, that it really is as groundbreaking as they claim.
Peter