I have the most powerful Linx 3D BTE. I use streaming a lot…especially at work. I use either the multimic or the Phone Clip to interface with my 2 way radio. ( Motorola HT1250 for those who are curious. Handset microphone/speaker with 3.5mm out for the multimic. Bluetooth adapter - Reline’s Bluelink M4 for the Phone Clip) My 13 size batteries last 4 days. There is no Linx line aid with 675 battery. I have asked my audiologist to get the Enzo 3D that takes the 675 battery. The mah rating of the 675 is 2 1/2 times that of the 13. I know there will be a size difference… so what. The Enzo 3D that has the 675 battery is the most powerful one. So I will not be pushing the aid at all… I had seen info that the bass response might be better when streaming music as well. I know that there is some possibility of circuit noise with the aid not being pushed at all.
RIC uses different power receivers. As they get more powerful there are some changes to how they amplify. One is used to cover the appropriate loss. Your loss would be covered in a power RIC receiver properly.
BTE speakers are a one size fits all. They can be larger and negate some of the amplification problems addressing more severe loss. Your audiogram doesn’t reach the profound loss requiring a BTE solution. But you seem to have establish that’s best for you so go with it.
Since you constantly stream, I recommend the Enzo 3D because you stream heavily… And the “mercury free” cells jammed down our throats stink, especially when streaming, which adds another 2.4 mA to the drain.
What’s more, since the Bluetooth 4/Low Energy protocol, which GNR’s Unite protocol is built from, s a 2-way frequency-hopping protocol, as you move away from the transmitter, the battery drain increases.
I only fit the smaller LiNX if my patient wants a RIC; otherwise I fit the Enzo, even for moderate losses, due to streaming robustness.
Dan Schwartz
Auditory Associates
Atlanta Dan@Snip.Net
ReSound has a three-part model designation for their wireless hearing aids:
First, is the model series (Linx 3D, Linx², Verso, SMART 3D,…)
Second, is the level of technology in the first of the three digits, which determines the price: 5xx is basic, 7xx is intermediate, and 9xx is premium;
Third, is the chassis, designated by the 2nd & 3rd digits, and generally involves almost nothing with pricing (except for custom). For example, x62 is the #13 RIC, x77 is the #13 BTE, x88 is the power #13 BTE, and x98 is the #675-fueled instrument you want, for robust, non-stop streaming.
As I mentioned above, I fit even moderate losses with the x98 platform, and their satisfaction is the highest, as battery life is great, even when streaming music all day at work and/or tinnitus masking from an iPhone app.
Basically, you’ll want the Enzo 3D 598, 798, or 998; and if cosmetics are somewhat important, you can substitute the thin tube for the standard #13 earmold tubing.
I’m interested in this, because my trial LiNX 3D 961’s (312 battery) are helping me hear better, but I haven’t tried streaming yet.
What problems can I anticipate with streaming, especially phone calls? Just short battery life, or also connectivity and reliability problems? Are the latter with direct iPhone only, or also with Phone Clip+?
The Enzo 3D x98 models look really big. How do your eyeglass-wearing or sunglass-wearing customers manage with them? What about sound quality? I thought you lose some quality sending the sound through a tube, compared to having the speaker in your ear.
Depends on duration. If you do books or music a lot, that’d be a concern. I occasionally listen to a Ted.com presentation. I don’t see a real difference in battery life. I still get the 3-4 day result. It may affect it a couple of hours. I don’t worry about replacing batteries. My Costco batteries are $.17 each.
The problem is oxygen starvation with the 4+ mA drain on the battery while streaming, due to the added 2.4 mA current drain from the 2.4 gHz radio. This has always been an issue going back to the 1st generation ReSound Alera in 2011; but it has been exacerbated with the removal of the Thimerosal preservative for the so-called “mercury-free” cells.
The mercury free debate isn’t a factor. Head to head, battery to similar battery. Heavy streaming on a size 13 Linx 3D BTE vs no streaming is 4 days vs 8 days on a battery. Stream time is 8 to 12 hours. I am an industrial maintenance electrician. I wear a 2 way radio. I use either the multi-mic and 3.5mm patch cable or I use the phone clip and a Bluetooth adapter. I have had hearing aids since 1976. My 1st aid was a phonic ear analog BTE. The 13 battery lasted a week. In 1978…I got 2 Starkey analog ite aids. The 13 battery lasted a week. On and on with different aids with 13 batteries lasting a week. In 2007 I got Phonak savia 311 dsz BTE digital BTE aids. The batteries lasted 8 to 9 days. In 2014, I got Oticon digital aids. 8 to 10 days…sometimes a bit more. I had a streamer with those that had a loop around my neck…the sound wasn’t as good. It was mono to both ears. That streaming didn’t seem to impact the battery life very badly. Now the Resounds. Life is as noted above. While the older battery formulation may have been better, it really is irrelevant. I am comparing apples to apples.
The Enzo 3D aids are on the way.
I will evaluate
Battery life
Fullness of sound vs Linx
Streaming signal performance vs Linx
Whether circuit noise is an issue since this aid will not be pressed at all.
Size difference and whether it is an issue.
Just got the Enzo 3Ds with 675 battery.
Circuit noise - since my loss at 250hz is nothing, I hear circuit noise… It is like the roar of a far away ocean. A/B comparison with the Linx 3D aid in a noise insulated test booth was dramatic. The Enzo 3D is meant for those with far worse hearing than my own. As such, the Enzo is pretty much sitting idle with my curve in it
Music bass reproduction - noticeably better but not earth shattering.
The pairing and links seem to happen easier.
Battery life - to be determined.
Size…oh yes…the Enzo is physically larger. Not noticeable to me on my ears. (I do wear glasses) The Enzo is 50% longer, a hair wider looking head on at the battery compartment, a bit deeper. I have pictures if anyone is interested.
I have asked my audiologist to ask Resound if they could build me a Linx 3D with the Enzo shell, receiver, and using the 675…or and Enzo 3D with the Linx 3D amp. The biggest part is battery life. When I work, I am streaming almost 100% of the time. 12 hours, 4 days in a row. If I work extra to cover for illness or vacation. Then it is worse. I know it sounds like laziness. The dang things always die at the most inconvenient times…like when I am dirty and greasy as can be and I don’t want to touch them.
Different hearing aids but you could ask your Audi if there’s something like this on your HAs?
This is from Phonak HAs but helps with circuit noise.
I think the knee-point stops you hearing the HA noise.
TK (Threshold) Control
A way to adjust the AGC (compression) of an aid
This controls gain for soft input sounds only by adjusting the compression kneepoint over a ralatively low input level range (typically from about 40 to 55 dB).
As such, it is a gain booster for soft sounds. So, if there is too much circuit noise heard for soft sounds, move the kneepoint to a higher value, which will result in less gain for soft sounds. However, it will not affect the level of the MPO.
One hearing aid is really unpleasant with sharp transients. The other isn’t. The tone hook was damaged on the other. My audiologist patched that until Resound gets the replacement hook to me. I think the handling was very rough on this set. My Audi is getting Resound to send another hearing aid.
Otherwise, so far so good.
Ps - I watched my audiologist carefully during programming. There is nothing off there.
The Enzo replacement arrived.
It suffered from harsh distortion in sharp transients…same as the one it replaced.
I asked my audiologist to listen himself.
He simply said he heard it in all 3 Enzo’s and it was terrible. I asked him to bring out my Linx 3D units that he was holding onto for me. I put my earmolds on them. The comparison was startling. There was no circuit noise and no harshness whatsoever.
The big positives with the Enzo was the battery life of the 675 batteries. After a week with 4 days of it having 12 hours each of continuous streaming, the battery level was still near 100%. The bass response on streamed music is a bit better.
My audiologist thinks that the fact that the Enzo is so throttled back is causing the distortion…he said something about compression artifacts and the knee curve too.
I recently changed from ReSound Linx to Enzo 3D. Just as you, battery was killing me. I only got 2+ days from 13 battery. I swear there was a GPS inside the batteries. As soon as I would clock in to work…
I have similar usage: streaming constantly and I also link my multi mic to walkie talkie at work. (So much for thinking I had been original in that setup).
Anyway, I have had no trouble and no circuit noises. Batteries last me over a week now. And the music is amazing.
My audiogram is a little lower than yours so that might make a difference. But our usage seems similar. Just thought I would throw that out there for anyone else in the same boat considering Enzo.