Widex Super 440

Hearing Aids
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#48

I spoke with them about this: they run two channels all the time, just with the M-Dex requiring one in each direction for phone use, they had to configure it as they have. In fairness stereo separation is pointless on a phone signal as it usually comes from one mic source at the other end. Music ought to be stereo really, but the configuration was chosen to put the decent phone signal to both ears.

Point of reference: it’s not about quality at all, its about running separate channels of sound to give you a R/L localisation. As I’ve mentioned before, if you listen to the Beatles it sounds really peculiar as lots of their stuff has the drums way over to one side: if you aren’t getting that channel, the mix is really odd.

#49

Thanks for the explanation

#50

I wanted to opt for these as my back up pair but I got the message from a local office that they’re “$6550-6800 depending on the ear molds, etc.” No way in Hell I can afford that. Wish there were a more moderate purchase that still produces great results.

Laura

#51

Hi Um Bongo

Your explanation for the M-Dex is perfectly sound and its understandable why Widex have chosen to do it this way.

However - the new FM+Dex system is also mono and does not require phone capability. So I’m a little baffled why Widex have neglected to make this device stereo…

I would most like to know the reasoning…so if you get the chance to speak to Widex, I would be most interested.

#52

The price for super 440 quoted here is about Rs. 160000 that comes to about US $1750 each. While the Mdex cost $450. And the super 220 r $925 each.

kashif

#54

what fm band does the super 440 uses to connect to mdex or is it a secret or some other communication software?

kashif

#55

It’s just a limitation of the M-Dex. It went along the lines that if you want to send two channels you double the time window and halve the quality. When you are performing proper real time duplex with a phone signal, delays sound like echoes, especially with your own voice. This doesn’t matter with th the tv-Dex as 15usec is equivalent to about 9feet from the TV, so the voice and the audio ‘hit’ about the same point.

The same is true of the Fm system, the need to have real time audio outweighs ( in their opinion) the need to have stereo streaming.

Forgive my recollection of this, but we were speaking in the bar :wink:

#56

After using the super 220, I am testing the super 440. the noise cancellation is much better and I hear speech much clearer than the super 220. So the more channels are needed for clearity.

kashif

#57

My audi has suggested a pair of Widex 220 as a more “affordable” option - I wonder how affordable though. It’d be nice to try a pair…has anyone had good results with the 220? Language, TV and Music are three biggies for me.

Laura

#58

May be the super 220 was not fitted correctly. As feedback test was done incorrectly. I will try the super 440 for a week and then again try the 220.

kashif

#59

After testing the super 440 for 2 weeks, I have replaced it with super 220 again.

The feedback test was done again on super 220. I feel that it is about same in quality as compare to super 440. The main thing is to do the feedback test in-situ. That is mould should be pressed against the ear to complete the test. Now I am feeling that there is more background noise. After adjusting the background noise, the super 220 is feeling ok.

regards
kashif

#60

I just got back from my visit with my audi - I did another hearing exam, and the results were on par with the results from the last hearing aid dispenser. She doesn’t feel I’d need the Widex super and recommends the Widex Fusion. I hear great things about this hearing aid so I’m going to plan to purchase these in the fall…looking forward to hearing the difference. The great thing is she changed the settings on my current hearing aids and I’m absolutely loving the improvement in sound. The right person doing the programming does make a world of difference.

#61

After using super 220 today, I have to focus more to listen to someone. While using the widex super 440, I hear much better and have to focus much less as compared to widex super 220.

My hearing loss is severe to profound.

#62

I posted elsewhere about these, unfortunately, I may be stuck with them since the eval is over. I am not happy, couple things:

  1. way too sensitive to moisture, weird sounds occur, then go away after a night in the HA drier, wax guard needs changing at times so you have to carry them around with you, a few times an aid stopped working until I replaced the guard
  2. speech in noise is really terrible for me, I have a significant loss as you can see from my sig., I do miles better with the Naida BTE in a noisy restaurant
  3. I get that same limiter overwhelmed experience if I go somewhere that is loud, like a bar with a band, even if outside
  4. the MDEX works fantastic for me, bluetooth to phone flawless and clarity is very good. Others can hear me well. The connection from MDEX to aids needs work though, if you move your head one way or the other, distancing one aid from the MDEX the sound drops out of that aid, needs work there. The unit itself is a bit too big. The directional thing didn’t do much for me at all.
  5. music sounds pretty good, I am a semi pro guitarist and brought my instrument with me each time to tune the music program, its tedious but well worth the effort.

all in all, I’d say the poor speech discrimination is a deal breaker for me…going to look at the Naida RITE

Any thoughts on this appreciated…I am suspecting the software isn’t too great and/or my audie isn’t schooled enough in it, not sure about that.

#63

I started out with the generic ear tips and feedback was a problem, music also sounded pretty tinny. Then I got the custom ear molds and it was way better, huge improvement in everything, except speech discrim wasn’t a great deal different.

I tried the hard full molds with the encased speaker. I, too, was amazed at how ugly they were…classic example of a clueless HA manufacturer. Why would anyone want that ugly beige patch, completely screams hearing aid, when the other molds are so inconspicuous. When my son saw me wearing them the first time he asked me why I was wearing “ear plugs”.

They didn’t buy me anything except the music program seemed better to me, higher fidelity, more bass response, but the ugliness, less comfort and no change in speech discrim had me sending these right back.

#64

just curious, still not pleased with those 440’s?
I am currently going to try a pair in about a week.
currently I use a pair of Widex Senso P-38’s
-marshall

#65

I have super 440 now, after trying it (only one hearing aid) for a month, then trying super 220 for a month.

I’m really pleased of the “extended audibility” feature, it gives me so much more new hearing.

to say the truth the difference between super 220 and super 440 is not so big, but i think the sounds are stronger. there are more options to “tune” it.

there is a serious problem with speech in noise - the extended audibility disappears and i don’t hear high sounds in noisy environments

it does give me better speech understanding in quiet environments. thanks to the added sounds (like shhh, sss, t) with the regular sounds that i hear with my analog h/a.

i have profound deafness (starting from 95dB and worse).

i’m still experimenting and trying to find the ideal settings for best hearing.

#66

No HA is perfect in different hearing environments. So you have to compare trade offs for each HA you try. Super 440 (and 220) are probably the best HA’s on the market for someone with a severe to profound HA loss. And your post was pretty much spot on as far as how the HA’s performance. In a quiet environment 440 performs very good. It also offer decent speech recognition in quiet settings. In a noisy setting the 440 doesn’t adjust properly to incoming sounds versus speech recognition. But you can make that claim for most HA’s, especially so for powerful aids that are built to compensate for a radical hearing loss. You also have to remember that a lot of people with normal hearing have a hard time hearing in very noisy situations, though I wish Widex would of put more effort into improving the “Comfort setting” (supposed speech in noise setting) in the 440. Your comment regarding “low frequency sounds - setting” is probably incorrect and your audiologist’s needs adjust your HA to compensate for lack of low frequency sounds. When one tries a new HA, it takes at least 2 to 3 visits to a audiologist to get the proper program setting’s adjusted to the level best suited for the HA user. You can’t expect the first go around (trial period wearing HA) to be perfectly set for your long term hearing needs. You also should note that the 440 has the best remote hand control unit on the market (size wise - feature wise) and you can carry it in your pocket (shirt, pant or on key chain, etc.) With a simple button click you can bring up 5 different programs and adjust volume up or down.

Bottom line those of of us with a severe to profound hearing loss don’t have a lot of choices when it comes to HA’s. We only have a selection of 3 to 4 brands which have the power and range to compensate for a serious hearing loss. I’d like to hear how you make out with the 440 if you get a few more adjustments and also find out why you choose the 440 over the Widex Dream. My assumption is the 440 is more suited for your hearing loss, then the Dream but they are similar HA’s. Maybe too similar since the Dream came out a year or two after the 440 was introduced.

#67

hi Chris thanks for your reply,

I’ve been at the audiologist today to change the settings and now i’m more pleased with the sound and the low frequencies so i edited my original message, the low frequency sounds are still weaker and not as rich and deep as they sound to me with my old 10 year old analog hearing aid but it sounds better and stronger than before.

overall I think it’s really the best hearing aid I’ve ever tried. before widex super 440, I tried oticon chili and phonak naida (III, I think?) but they didn’t give me any feeling of an improved hearing compared to my old resound viking H/A. I was a little disappointed because I hoped that the frequency compression in phonak naida would mean something new. it was before I heard about widex, then I tried widex super 220 and 440, only after trying 4 different hearing aids, I researched more and read about dream 440, which sounded even better, but I was starting to feel uncomfortable about asking the audiologist to return it and try a fifth new hearing aid… i will keep it for the future and i’m pleased to know that other possibly more advanced hearing aids are waiting out there. besides, it also costs much more. the super 220 costs here in Israel 8,000 shekel (2285$), super 440 costs 13,000 shekel (3700$) and i was told the dream 440 costs 18,000 shekel (5150$) which is really way too expensive for me. the final price for me after participation of my insurance and government for the super 440 is about 2700$ (1000$ less) which is much better. I’d like to know what are the prices in other countries.

anyway, I’ve researched more and there is a new hearing aid by Resound (Resound Magna) which if i understand right includes frequency transposition as well, it sounds promising but i don’t see any reviews on it and from my understanding it’s really new in the market (since January 2014?) , i’d like to hear about it. maybe i’ll ask to try it within a couple of months.

#68

Getting the right HA for one’s particular needs is of course critical since HA’s are so expensive and are usually a five plus year investment. With that said myuval you will find different bells and whistles coming out from HA manufactures yearly. Most changes are not significant, but the HA manufactures wants you to think the “new and improved” model is a big improvement over last week’s model, or last month’s model or last year’s model. In almost all cases (HA changes) over a short period of time (one to two years) are not really major upgrades or improvements but just little changes - some of which the user will receive no benefit from. If your going to try different HA’s every other month - have fun since most HA dealers won’t let you shop until you drop. And the HA manufactures will have your name on record trying type A, or B, or C or what ever is offered during your trial period. Hope you find what you are looking for, but don’t get your hopes up just because a HA manufacturer promises the world, and then when you test the new aid, its just like the HA you tried six months ago. Your price quotes for the 220 - 440 are in the ball park, but a little on the high side. I’ve always felt that someone buying two aids should receive a price discount over someone just buying one HA, but unfortunately that is not the case.