I like the service they provide but appears he may still be mastering the Oticon OPN programming and how to optimize their capabilities.
Initial feedback OPN 1 vs OPN 3 is (as you suggested) more defined and I’m hearing sounds like the refrigerator running and a wall clock ticking across the room that I was oblivious to before. Speech recognition has improve to the point where I have my TV turned down to level 7 or 8 vs previously keeping it around level 20. Also noise from adjoining rooms and activity within the house are more pronounced and dare I say annoying since I work from a home office.
I also have 4 programs set up (normal, restaurant, quiet setting, music) and find them all useful and will be putting the restaurant setting to the test this weekend.
On the down side I’m using power domes and still getting what I feel is too much feedback especially out of the right hear and when connected stream music I find a small amount of clicking from the right device that comes and goes regardless of volume or music being played. I think that’s in the BT connection. I’ll see if my Audi can tweaked these a little more to help dial them in better.
I think while the Genie 2 software does allow a lot of fine-tuning, the programming should be fairly simple and Oticon actually can just work for all situations out of 1 default program only, because it’s supposed to have the smart to transition between simple and complex environments and auto-adjust the settings to adapt to the various listening environments automatically. I’m surprised that you have 4 programs set up for it. I assume that if your audi knows how to set up 4 different programs on the OPN, they’re probably not a novice at it anymore.
I actually have 3 (default, noisy environment, and directional), but that’s only to see if they are of any further help or not, and most of the times I can’t notice much differences. So now I just stick with my default program 100% of the time.
By the way, I thought that the Opn3 can only support 1 program (they call it configuration). So I assume that the 4 programs you have is only possible on the Opn1.
The improvements you described sound great. But can you clarify whether these are improvements of the OPN1 over the OPN3 specifically, or these are just improvements between either of the OPN (1 or 3) compared to your old HAs overall. For example, when you said you can watch the TV turned down to 7 or 8 instead of 20, are you saying that with the Opn1 you only need volume 7 or 8 and with the Opn3 you need volume 20? Or are you saying that you need volume 20 with you old HAs, but 7 or 8 with either the Opn1 or Opn3?
What I’m looking for is whether you can tell any significant differences between the Opn3 and the Opn1 themselves, not between the Opn1 or 3 compared to your old HAs. And if you find the Opn1 better than the Opn3, in what ways is the Opn1 better?
On the clicking sound on your right HA, ask your audi if they have the new firmware (available late last year) installed already. It’s supposed to fix a lot of connection/streaming issues.
On the power dome still giving you too much feedback on the right ear, it may help if you can post your audiogram in your signature so at least we can tell what kind of hearing loss you have. I’m using the bass dome with a single vent hole and I don’t have any feedback issue. I think the power dome doesn’t have any vent hole, but if you’re using a dome size not big enough for your ear canal, then the seal may not be tight enough, resulting in feedback. I also assume that your audi already ran the feedback analyzer on your OPNs to set and turn on feedback control.
My comments on were reflective of OPN 1 vs all other hearing devices I’ve tested or previously used. Yes, for me they are that much better in all area’s of performance. Its there a way to determine the production date or sequence from the serial number or reference numbers on the box? I will also have him check to insure the latest Firmware is active on the devices. One other item of note the speakers the p100’s for both ears.
The 4 programs were set up up by my Audi and were available and used with “both” the OPN 1 and the OPN 3’s with essentially the same settings. I distinctly and immediately notice the differences between the programs as I switch between them. I renamed each as Normal, Restaurant, Quiet, Music and of course the microphone selection also shows on the selection menu. I don’t find the Quiet setting useful in limited testing and may change to something else like Auditorium or a Windy configuration if that can be done.
Yes he ran the feedback analyzer and they seem to fit snugger in his office then after wearing them for 2 days. We look at the dome size again next visit and be sure he has enabled the feedback control. I posted my audiogram to my signature line via setting assuming it will now appear on all my posts.
I think you’ll probably have to have your audi ask Oticon about the production date based on the serial numbers if you want to know.
I assume that once connected to the Genie 2 software, it can tell you the firmware version of your demo OPN.
That’s nice that you get the size 100 receivers. I only get size 85 receivers. While they work OK for my loss, size 100 would have been nice to have some room to grow. I’m curious if you can tell me how many volume clicks from your default volume level before you reach the max volume? Mine is only 4 clicks away from the max. I think another poster (1BlueJay) said hers is only 2 clicks away from the max. I assume that the number of clicks to the max depends on how much headroom is left on the receiver from the default. I wonder if your size 100 receiver has more clicks until the max volume or not.
Would love to hear your comment after you’re done with your Opn1 trial period, specifically on the differences between the Opn3 and the Opn1, and whether you decide to stick with the Opn3, or spring a bit more money for the Opn1.
With the aids at beginning setting when first turned on, I can scroll up 5 clicks to the max and then going down is 4 clicks to the base setting sound again.
Going down, I have 9 clicks to get to the minimum setting, and then 8 clicks to go back up to the base sound again.
Just thought I’d post another data point from a poster on this forum who shared their experience with me via PM. They were able to get a pair of Oticon OPN1 for $4K through an online provider (hearingrevolution.com) that has a local audiologist affiliate, so they could see an audi face-to-face and get fitted locally for what seems to be a very reasonable price, especially with the local support. They were very happy with the whole experience.
So I think we now have a few data points of $4K for a pair of Oticon OPN1s with fitting through a local audi. Compared to $3,800 through BuyHear.com with remote fitting. I think the extra $200 for a local fitting is definitely worth the cost for folks who prefer a face to face experience.
Thanks for sharing this. I went on their website and searched for “rebate” but it came up empty. I didn’t see any obvious rebate link at their home page to click on. Can you put up a link on here for us to follow? Thanks again!
I contacted my local Aud. this AM and asked her about the Free Trial and the cost. She said they didn’t offer the Free Trial and also said this was they’re pricing.
There are three levels of technology: the medium for $3850; premium for $4850 and elite for $5850.
That’s interesting as the levels are known as OPN 1 (highest) OPN 2 (mid level) and OPN 3 (entry level).
As a data point I was quoted $6995 by one local Audi and bought them from another local Audi for $4665 after comparing price locally and checking with my Insurance company for an approved provider. A few phone calls saved me $2300 so my advice would be shop around or check with Oticon for their approved providers in your area and ask them all for a quote then decide.
Hi…again, thanks for your help.
Well, received a new pair of Alta pros…they just replaced instead of repaired. The first thing I noticed was they were so much louder than the opn1s even using the exact same program. Well have had the alta pros back and they are fine. Much, much better than the first pair. Too bad I had to suggest sending the original pair back and dealing with them for 2 years. I have one more year on the current warranty… then I will decide whether to upgrade. I must say, though, that the opn1s were like hearing before hearing loss. (sigh)
Glad to hear that you got brand new Alta pros as replacement. The loudness difference may be due to many factors like dome or mold fittings or programming, etc. but it can easily compensated for if it’s simply a volume difference by adjusting the default volume in the program. The more important thing is the clarity, not the volume. Especially clarity in speech.
I am currently wearing Resound Linx( the original or early version). I tried Oticon opn for a week and returned them because I did not notice any difference.
If I remember correctly, one of our forum members who bought from BuyHear.com (abarsanti) mentioned that he’s been considering getting custom molds for the OPN1 he bought from them. You may want to PM him to see if he proceeded with it. Or simply call them up. I hear they’re quite responsive and helpful.
As for the FittingLink 3.0, I heard about a few forum members buying them from aurem.dk in Denmark for around $300 and have been successful in DIY programming. However, I think you can also buy the general wired type and it should work just as well.
But if you buy from the online places and require more adjustment after the initial one, they basically send you a FittingLink 3.0 to your house so they can do remote adjustment for you. After you’re done, you can return it to them. So this way you can experiment using it for your own programming before deciding to buy your own FittingLink module. But beware that Firmware updates need to be done on the wired programmer, however.
Thanks for the as always helpful response! I’ve reached out to abarsanti for more information. Also, FYI to all, as per one audiologist, Oticon is running a promotion in May “Better Hearing and Speech month Special”. However, the prices of BuyHear and FactoryHearingDirect are still much cheaper than the $5-6K price quoted by an audiologist.
Can you reference me to the wired programmer options and firmware issues as opposed to the Fitting Link 3.0?
