Streaming Sound Quality – Roger ON vs. TV Connector

Assistive Listening Devices
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I currently use a TV Connector to stream directly from my PC to my hearing aids:
PC → DAC via USB → TV Connector via TOSlink → Phonak Sphere i90

I chose the TV Connector over Bluetooth to avoid pairing hassles, but I’ve noticed that music doesn’t sound as “rich” as I expected.

Has anyone compared TV Connector vs. Roger ON for music streaming? How do they compare in sound quality?

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There’s a good selection of answers on here if you search, don’t forget that the program for streaming can be adjusted in Target.

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If only look at the spec…

Phonak Sphere i90, like other Phonak hearing aids, is using Bluetooth A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) to stream audio from Bluetooth devices. It’s safe to say that it at least support SBC codec, commonly with 44.1kHz sampling rate at 328kbps data transfer rate for joint stereo channels.

Phonak TV Connector, on the other hand, is using proprietary AirStream Technology to stream audio to hearing aids. Its official audio quality is 120Hz–7.3kHz frequency range for stereo channels. To convey this audio frequency range, a 15kHz sampling rate is sufficient.

For comparison: audio with 22kHz sampling rate is called FM radio quality, and 11kHz is called AM radio quality. So, I’ll guess that the audio quality of Phonak TV Connector is somewhere between FM radio and AM radio.

Please also note that the maximum possible frequency range of Phonak Sphere i90 hearing aid is from less than 100Hz to 10kHz (with S receiver or M receiver installed). By using Phonak TV Connector instead of Bluetooth A2DP, you certainly loss audio signal between 100Hz–120Hz and between 7.3kHz–10kHz.

For me, the main advantage of Phonak TV Connector over Bluetooth A2DP is its low latency (less than 40ms vs. 100–150ms), and unlimited number of hearing aids it can stream audio to at the same time. Even though its spec hasn’t kept up with Phonak Sphere hearing aids.

Not actual experience here. Just says the spec.

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That’s actually fairly accurate I think.

Thank you for pulling the specs. From the Roger On spec sheet I see it’s similar to the TV Connector - Audio bandwidth 100 Hz – 7.3 kHz

I guess streaming quality will be similar to the TV Connector.

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