I understood that Unitron is - like Phonak - part of Sonova. Does anyone know if there are Unitron hearing aids equipped with Phonak’s Speechrecover2 for handling high frequency loss?
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Yep. 100%. In general it is called frequency lowering and it is available in all of the major hearing aids.
With respect to Unitron it uses the same chipset at Phonak and the aids are very similar in performance/software etc, so it will definitely have the soundrecover2 equivalent feature.
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Thx, will check Phonak and Unitron and test both brands.
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Unitron does have a frequency lowering feature called Frequency Compression (currently Frequency Compression 2). It is not super clear how effective it is compared to Phonak’s SoundRecover, but the parameters in Unitron’s TrueFit software look very alike to those in Phonak Target. Overall sound quality is fairly similar between analogous devices e.g. Phonak Marvel versus Unitron Discover, but they are not exact. Nevertheless, Unitron is a solid company.
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Hi Paul,
Thanks so much
Here in Europa I can get the Phonak Paradise Audio 50 R or the Unitron Moxi Vivante V-5 R.
Both will be free of charge for me, due to my additional health insurance. My hearing problem is in the high frequency range, so I want a great frequency lowering aid.
Paul , are you by any chance familiar with both above mentioned types and their performance?
Best regards
Roy
They are the same, Unitron is rebranded, the software is different tho, is it possible to get a trial/chose between another manufacturer instead of just sonova products?
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Yes, I can try other brands as well like Signia, Oticon, Widex etc. But not the latest models. The Unitron Moxi Vivante V-5 R for instance has 2023 as release year. This due to the fact that they are free of charge. Could also buy premium Phonak, but they cost me roughly 4800,-
Phonak Speechrecover2 was recommended for frequency Lower, so ideally I go for Phonak unless…
Oh okay, yeah all the manufacturers offer frequency lowering, it’s not just Phonak/Unitron, just be aware that not everyone likes or accept this, you can sometimes get artefacts and other weird stuff happening, you’ll need to trial this feature to see if it suits you.
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Thx once again. Will have to try and experience.
Phonak, yes. Unitron, no. The Phonak Paradise devices we have worked with have generally been solid. Nothing is perfect of course re: charging, Bluetooth, etc., but we never encountered anything systemically wrong with them. However, Vivante is Unitron’s latest platform whereas Phonak Paradise is a couple of generations back. Traditionally (although their respective marketing does not say this outright), Phonak will put out their latest platform, and then that is translated in some fashion to the latest Unitron platform later on with certain tweaks.
One difference between Phonak and Unitron is that Unitron does not offer a proprietary fitting formula unlike Phonak with their APD formula. Furthermore, Phonak’s phone app seems to let the user do more tweaking than Unitron’s. As Phonak is the larger arm of Sonova, accounts and resources are likely more widely available with them, so I may favor Phonak over Unitron in that regard as well. However, the ability to increase technology level within Unitron devices themselves is pretty sweet, particularly if you are going with a lower technology level.
To @tenkan 's point, Phonak and/or Unitron are not the only manufacturers that do frequency lowering, but they are certainly more known for it, particularly in the realm of pediatrics and the need for speech detection for speech and language learning. However, I use frequency compression very sparingly due to concerns of muddying up lower frequencies. Are you able to upload an audiogram?
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The ability to increase technology level within Unitron devices themselves is pretty sweet indeed, particularly if you I am going to start with a medium technology level.
I attach my audiograms:
@PaulC would you be so kind to check my audiograms and inform me whether I could benefit from SR2?
Can you also tell me - based on my high frequency loss- what you advise me to do in order avoiding muddying up the lower frequencies?
Best regards
Don’t know if Paul will respond. Impossible to tell if SR2 will be beneficial. It will make some of the frequencies you can no longer hear audible. It often takes several adjustments to get it right and many audiologists will just turn it on and if you don’t like it, turn it off. So if you can find an audiologist who is willing to work with you, it might be beneficial. General goal is to have strong enough settings so you can hear “S” sound but not so strong that it sounds like “sh.”
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Looking at your attached audiogram you do have lots of potential with frequency lowering technology or Sound Recover 2 with Phonak. Different brands have different names for this technology.
As MDB said, pay attention to how it’s adjusted. Help your fitter do what you need to make it work. Push the settings until you hear the SH sound then back them off just a touch. Do this separately for each ear, important. Then be patient for your brain to figure out the new sounds.
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Very important, the amount of clinics not offering to do this is no doubt one of reasons why this fails for some people.
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Hello,
Unitron and Phonak have the same “Soundrecover”.
Unitron V5-R is “the same as” Phonak Audéo L50-R so it sould be better than the Audéo P50-R.
I would advise you to try the hearing aids without and with Soundrecover (try 1 month without, 1 month with it).
Best advise I can give you : find the right provider, Switzerland is a mess…
Fielmann is your best bet as they carry all brands and refund you anytime if you’re not happy with your freshly bought hearing aids, and they systemically do REMs. Bernafon Encanta 200 / Oticon Intent 3 would be my choice at this price point.
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There is no consensus on this. Some people like different settings in each ear. Some prefer same settings in each ear (and many end up not liking frequency lowering period)
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Short answer, yes you could benefit from SR. Long answer, although SR can be “indicated” for a particular hearing loss, it does happen where the benefit of improved detection of a particular phoneme is outweighed by the method by which it is achieved. For example, a person may certainly detect /s/ better with SR, but that it does not sound like how he/she remembers /s/ sounding may make the whole thing more distracting than helpful. I think that is where counseling is essential. I agree with @MDB and @Raudrive on starting weak and then going from there. That would be the way I would start with SR.
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Thx to y’all for these insights. I am now looking for the provider who is willing to offer two hearing aids to test AND to adjust both ears with for me the optimal frequency lowering.
Phonak and Unitron do share many features, however with other names.
At the moment Phonak Audeo Paradise P50-R (release 2020) and Unitron Moxi Vivante V5-RT release 2023)are , due to my health insurance, free of charge.
The Unitron indeed is more similar to the 2022 Lumity. The latter will cost me approx. 4000,- or slightly more. The interesting thing about the Unitron is that the V5 can be upgraded to a V90. Cost approx. 1400,- Euro. An investment I would gladly accept if the trial works out fine.
See: Phonak Audéo Lumity vs. Unitron Moxi Vivante: What's the difference?
My question: what hearing aid should I compare the Unitron V-5 (and trial upgrade to V-9) with. The Phonak Audeo Paradise P50-R, the Audeo Lumity L-50, or a complete different brand with also excellent frequency lowering?
So as I said, the Unitron V5-R = Audeo L50-R.
Same level of technology would be : Signia Pure C&G 3IX, Oticon Intent 3, Bernafon Encanta 200, Starkey Edge AI 16 mRIC R, GN ReSound Nexia 560, Widex moment220 Sheer m2-sRIC R D.
However, Unitron is the only brand which you can upgrade. I guess I was wrong and you aren’t located in Switzerland, but in the Netherlands, my bad.
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