Been trialing Starkey edge ai24 for a couple weeks. Previously had Phonak Audeo M90-R since 2019. Obviously sound quality much improved. I only go to loud venues maybe once every few months. Only once since I have had the Starkey.so can’t really comment about speech in loud noise yet. Maybe tomorrow. Anyway, my question today is about the bluetooth. I stream podcasts a lot. I notice the Starkey are much more sensitive to the location of the phone. Walking on the beach I find I cannot get consistent reception unless I hold onto the iPhone and keep it close but away from my body. Otherwise the sound fades in an out of one ear consistently. My old Phonak were touchy as well but at least I could put the phone into an outside pocket and receive a good signal. I have tried a shirt pocket, no jacket. Nope. Also tried moving the phone in all directions, meaning top up front out, top down front out, bottom up, etc.
The phone has latest IOS.18.1.1
I suspect the bluetooth antennae on the HA is the issue. These are the small version of the Edge AI24. The ones with the single button on each HA. Would the larger version, the R/T ones with the larger body and larger battery and two buttons on each HA be any better? Possibly the antennae is in a better location, or larger.
One possibly contradictory thought is the TV connector has decent range. I can go about the same distance away from the TV as I could with the Phonak set up. Although I have also been having problems with the TV stream dropping out when I am sitting about 8 feet away. So is it the iPhone or the HA that are the problem?
I wear the Starkey’s. I have a Pixel 6a.
I have a cell phone pocket in my left pants leg.
That is where I put the phone.
It works walking in the park. It can be subject to some interference.
Each phone reacts differently.
Update. I’ve been learning about Bluetooth reception issues in general. One possibility is because my walks are next to the ocean. Apparently the water absorbs the Bluetooth frequencies thereby limiting my reception. I will try walking somewhere else and see if the problem goes away. Also, regarding the TV connector dropping signal, I’ve learned that placing the device near a wireless router can cause issues. Plus my TV stand has glass shelving which can cause frequency reflections. I will make changes and report back.
Apparently Bluetooth problems account for a significant portion of HA complaints.
It should.
I think the only thing is it will work in the ASHA mode.
I’m not sure if it works with LEA.
If it’s does that would make it hands free.
Google treats the A’s slightly different.
I was wondering if the Edge AI models were any better. The Starkey pro website says, “By switching to LE Audio, Edge AI hearing aids pair more easily, connect more quickly, stream more robustly, and are Auracast ready.” And my audiologist said the bluetooth was supposed to be better. But I see still maybe not good enough.
I have the Genesis AI (CIC). I guess the BLE / MFi are good enough for use with the app, but not really for streaming. They work OK if I hold the phone in front of my face (e.g. on a call), but I still get some static. But they are bad for music. Not just that the hearing aids sound bad, but they disconnect/reconnect regularly. And this is with the phone in a jacket pocket (even chest pocket).
I am trying these as the smallest option that supports Bluetooth. But if it cannot stream, that’s at least half the benefit. So, was wondering if Edge AI is better (with an iPhone). Such a different experience as compared to Airpods or Jabra over the ear headset where I can walk out of the room and still not have dropouts.