Returned Phonak Audeo Infinio Sphere I90 for non-Sphere I50

Hearing Aids
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I’ve been wearing hearing aids for ten years, and my previous pair was the Costco KS10s.

I tried the Infinio Sphere I90s for a month, but unlike many users, I didn’t notice any significant improvement in speech understanding. For those interested, I use open domes.

I’ve switched to the Phonak Audeo Infinio I50s (non-Sphere). I’m satisfied with them.

Audeo Infinio features I prefer over my KS10s include excellent Bluetooth connectivity, improved battery life, better speech recognition in the car, LE Audio, & Auracast capable.

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Have you had the possibility of trying the ActiveVent receiver?

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Open domes are definitely not optimal for trying the spheric feature. Outside noise is still going to leak in unfortunately so the benefit you’d see is minimal. Semi-open or vented might be something to try, then again if you’re getting on fine with your non-spheres you’re probably ok. spheric mode edoes make a big difference when used correctly though, just in terms of what the HA sends to you.

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I discussed the ActiveVent receivers with my audiologist, but I opted to not try them. As a retiree, I’m primarily in quiet settings. If I frequented noisy settings, I probably would have tried the ActiveVent receivers.

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Seems understandable. Did you have Real Ear Measurement? If so, do you had high frequency gains on targets?

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Hi @Midwest_Man My audiogram is similar to yours and I started my trial of the Phonak Infinio Sphere I90 with open domes. Like you I couldn’t detect much benefit of the spheric function. But I subsequently have tried two other domes which are more closed and have had various adjustments as a result of real ear measurements. I’m now getting more benefit from the spheric function but I feel further changes could make speech stand out more from background noise. I’m persevering with the Phonaks and working with the audiologist - it’s a case of trial and error and a journey of discovery! I do get more occlusion effects with the closed domes than I’d ideally like but if it’s necessary to gain better understanding of speech in noise, it’s a trade-off I’m prepared to accept but YMMV.

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I did have Real Ear Measurement. I don’t know about high frequency gains on targets though.

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That applies to many of us here. I doubt the Sphere will bring me any benefits beyond that beefier battery.

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… and Bluetooth. (20 characters)

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Just to clarify, Infinio have the potential to have LE Audio and Auracast if they get a firmware upgrade sometime in the undefined future.

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Here is a marketing survey, 93% of 122 people surveyed who used Infinio seem satisfied.

In French:

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I agree with you regarding the benefits of a beefier battery. For those interested in battery life, read on.

Per my audiologist, Phonak’s estimates follow:

  • Audeo Infinio Sphere 70/90 provides 16 hours battery life, with 5 of that being streaming and 3 of that being in Spheric.
  • Audeo Infinio 30/50/70/90 provides 16 hours total, with 8 of that being streaming.

I wear hearing aids 16 hours/day with 1 hour of that streaming. Here’s what I experienced.

  • Costco KS10 battery would not last 16 hours. This was annoying.
  • Audeo Infinio Sphere had 60% battery life after 16 hours.
  • Audeo Infinio 50 has 20% battery life after 16 hours.
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well, that is interesting imo. So you would accept the slightly bigger housing for more usage time?

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Very interesting, especially whereas the theoretically less advanced cheaper Infinio (e.g. 50) should also use less energy than e.g. 90 in the same lineup.

(I am aware that Sphere have bigger battery than Infinio R line).

Personally I like that Sphere is bigger (especially wider) than my Paradise 90-RT. It is less wobbling and it is easier to use rocker switch. I say that despite wearing glasses and mask.
However, YMMV, because I have rather bigger ear, because I am a bit tall.

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Thanks. I have Phonak Paradise P90Rs. Equivalent to your K10s

So your comments really help me.

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C shells would provide the biggest benefit.

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Thanks @tofarati24 I’ll discuss at my next audiologist appointment.

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@RogerBill, cShells are very good, but I don’t know how are you sensitive to occlusion. Theoretically making large diameter vent may mitigate it, but that could again come with problem of underamplification of higher frequencies.

If you have problem with occlusion, ask your audi about deep impression (at least 5mm after 2nd bend of ear canal) so that cShell could reach bony part of ear canal, which can decrease occlusion when having small diameter of vent.

It could be easier for your audi when he would use EasyView Otoblock.

I have 1mm diameter vent in cShell.

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I have custom molds, and I must say I don’t get much advantage with the Spheres. Not only that, but I don’t find their Speech in Calm particularly clear either. My audiologist and I have monkeyed with them a lot, but there’s a fine line between them becoming uncomfortable and trying to improve speech clarity. My sense is the Spheres can be really good for some people but not necessarily everyone. After trying every other brand over the course of 2 years (I have a very patient audiologist), I ended up keeping the Spheres only because of a perceived benefit when playing or listening to music.

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@Jody, you have quite difficult loss, especially in your right ear. It seems there are some cochlear dead regions, and you should supposedly use SoundRecover2 as well. I am not surprised that you have problem in quiet also.

What is your WRS score separately for each ear and binaurally?

You have custom silicone molds without venting, or with 0.6–0.8 mm venting? UP receiver on left and right?

And when did you buy the Spheres? Your audiologist didn’t suggest Naida?

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