“Optimal support in the most challenging listening situations, great sound quality and a discreet, modern design. So small that it virtually disappears behind the ear”

PHONAK AUDEO B50 10 (Midi range hearing aid – RIC style)

Alternative: Phonak Audeo B50 312 / 312T: The slightly larger model shell, with longer battery life – perhaps easier if manual dexterity is poor. The 312T model has a T-coil / loop function.

 

Our Verdict:

Pretty much unsurpassable – a very sensible purchase for the demanding user.
In today’s competitive market, you should be able to negotiate a free trial on all hearing aids. Just ask.

 

PRICE TO PAY: Around £2000 for a pair

 

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APPEARANCE AND FEEL:

(the weight, size, shape, how well it fits ergonomically to the ear; the thickness and flexibility of the wire; the shell construction, quality, finish, IP properties, construction of buttons / switches / battery compartment)

Really well thought-through. A robust shell with IP57 protection. Equipped with the best wire on the market – flexible and very thin.

 

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SOUND PRODUCTION:

(tested for how natural sounds are; how owner’s voice sounds; quality of classical and popular amplified music; naturalness of everyday quiet sounds such as indicator click, and loud sounds such as toilet flush, wind)

Sounds great.

 

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BACKGROUND NOISE PERFORMANCE:

(how well the instrument appears to cope with the suppression of background noises, such as party speech babble, traffic noise, loud wind noise, car engine sound)

The B50 is very effective in noisy places, however it is a little harsh at times.

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EASE OF PROGRAMMING:

(from the audiologist perspective – how easy and user-friendly the programming software is: this can affect the quality of the results for the end-user)

There is no real doubt that the Phonak fitting software is the best. It’s fast, obvious, intuitive.

 

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MAINTENANCE & RUNNING COSTS:

(cost of out-of-warranty repairs, cost of shell repairs, spare parts, ease of procuring replacement parts, consumables such as domes, wax guards, receiver wires; shell integrity when put under stress)

Parts are readily available at low cost.

 

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OTHER COMMENTS:

This is the best-selling make in Europe. They do spend a lot on research and development. It’s an obvious first choice IF you do get offered a free trial.

 

Overall score in midi class

MR (Dec. 2017)

 

         

“ReSound LiNX Quattro provides effortless hearing in the most true-to-life way. Spatial Sense™ gives you a natural sense of where sounds are coming from and helps you form a detailed sound picture of your surroundings. And, in a noisy listening situation, Binaural Directionality™ II makes sure you can still understand every word of the conversation”

RESOUND LiNX Quattro 5 (Midi class hearing aid – RIC style)

Our Verdict: An amazing product IF you own an iPhone, enjoy gadgets and value the idea of streaming music and audio. Limited functionality via Android phones.
In today’s competitive market, you should be able to negotiate a free trial on all hearing aids. Just ask.

 

PRICE TO PAY: Around £2000 for a pair of LiNX Quattro 5 RICs

 

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APPEARANCE AND FEEL:

(the weight, size, shape, how well it fits ergonomically to the ear; the thickness and flexibility of the wire; the shell construction, quality, finish, IP properties, construction of buttons / switches / battery compartment)

Attractive design, well put together. Not a bad size considering the wireless properties and its ability to work directly via an app.

 

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SOUND PRODUCTION:

(tested for how natural sounds are; how owner’s voice sounds; quality of classical and popular amplified music; naturalness of everyday quiet sounds such as indicator click, and loud sounds such as toilet flush, wind)

The LiNX Quattro sounds ok. It is rather harsh on loud high notes.

 

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BACKGROUND NOISE PERFORMANCE:

(how well the instrument appears to cope with the suppression of background noises, such as party speech babble, traffic noise, loud wind noise, car engine sound)

The LiNX Quattro 5 seems to adjust well – seems really good for this price bracket.

 

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EASE OF PROGRAMMING:

(from the audiologist perspective – how easy and user-friendly the programming software is: this can affect the quality of the results for the end-user)

Wireless connection is superb via Airlink2. Occasional unwanted feedback sound when connecting or if aids are removed mid-programming, Fitting advice section is squashed.

 

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MAINTENANCE & RUNNING COSTS:

(cost of out-of-warranty repairs, cost of shell repairs, spare parts, ease of procuring replacement parts, consumables such as domes, wax guards, receiver wires; shell integrity when put under stress)

Parts are rather expensive, domes are still a clear colour which is a bad idea if one ever comes off loose in your ear, wax guards are fiddly.

 

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OTHER COMMENTS: The app (fully functional on iPhone) is what has made this hearing aid so popular. You can stream phone calls and music straight into the aids, and the remote control features are wide and varied. Recent price drops will make the product even more appealing. A good choice if you own an iPhone.

 

Overall score in class (boosted by app. functionality)

 

AP (October 2018)

“Optimal support in the most challenging listening situations, great sound quality and a discreet, modern design. So small that it virtually disappears behind the ear”

PHONAK AUDEO B90 10 (Premium hearing aid – RIC style)

Alternative: Phonak Audeo B90 312 / 312T: The slightly larger model shell, with longer battery life – perhaps easier if manual dexterity is poor. The 312T model has a T-coil / loop function.

Alternative: Phonak Audeo B90 R: Rechargeable / B90 D: Connecting.

 

Our Verdict:

The best ever premium hearing aid with no.1 spot across Europe.
In today’s competitive market, you should be able to negotiate a free trial on all hearing aids. Just ask.

 

PRICE TO PAY:  Around £2800 to £3700 for a pair

 

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APPEARANCE AND FEEL:

(the weight, size, shape, how well it fits ergonomically to the ear; the thickness and flexibility of the wire; the shell construction, quality, finish, IP properties, construction of buttons / switches / battery compartment)

Really well thought-through. A robust shell with IP68 protection. Equipped with the best wire on the market – flexible and very thin.

 

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SOUND PRODUCTION:

(tested for how natural sounds are; how owner’s voice sounds; quality of classical and popular amplified music; naturalness of everyday quiet sounds such as indicator click, and loud sounds such as toilet flush, wind)

Most people that trial this – think that it sounds amazing. I thought the same.

 

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BACKGROUND NOISE PERFORMANCE:

(how well the instrument appears to cope with the suppression of background noises, such as party speech babble, traffic noise, loud wind noise, car engine sound)

The V90 is very effective in noisy places, however it is a little harsh at times.

 

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EASE OF PROGRAMMING:

(from the audiologist perspective – how easy and user-friendly the programming software is: this can affect the quality of the results for the end-user)

There is no real doubt that the Phonak fitting software is the best. It’s fast, obvious, intuitive.

 

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MAINTENANCE & RUNNING COSTS:

(cost of out-of-warranty repairs, cost of shell repairs, spare parts, ease of procuring replacement parts, consumables such as domes, wax guards, receiver wires; shell integrity when put under stress)

Parts are readily available at low cost.

 

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OTHER COMMENT:

This is the best-selling make in Europe. They do spend a lot on research and development. It’s an obvious choice IF you do get offered a free trial.

 

 

Overall best in class up to September 2018

Review by MR (Sept 2018)

“Direct connectivity – Made For All Audéo B-Direct hearing aids are compatible with any mobile phone* so you can enjoy the freedom of universal connectivity. 24 hours* of hearing with one simple charge.
Enjoy unmatched hearing performance, wherever you go, without having to adjust your hearing aids manually.”

 

PHONAK AUDEO B90 D (Premium hearing aid, 2018 – RIC style)

Alternative: Phonak Audeo B90 10: Smallest version, tiny battery, but pretty difficult to spot. Phonak Audeo B50 D & B50 10: Slightly lower spec. models.

 

Our Verdict:

The ultimate hearing aid?.

In today’s competitive market, you should be able to negotiate a free trial on all hearing aids. Just ask.

 

PRICE TO PAY:  Around £3200 to £4000 for a pair

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APPEARANCE AND FEEL:

(the weight, size, shape, how well it fits ergonomically to the ear; the thickness and flexibility of the wire; the shell construction, quality, finish, IP properties, construction of buttons / switches / battery compartment)

A superb hearing aid in it’s own right, you can also benefit from smartphone connection, but in a rather unique way! This is the only hearing aid allowing hands-free calls, where the hearing aid acts as the user’s voice mic.

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SOUND PRODUCTION:

(tested for how natural sounds are; how owner’s voice sounds; quality of classical and popular amplified music; naturalness of everyday quiet sounds such as indicator click, and loud sounds such as toilet flush, wind)

Most people that trial this – think that it sounds amazing. It definitely sounds ‘smoother’ than the Venture platform. Is this because of the mods to the chip or the mic ports being better shielded? If this proves to be as good as our initial tests, then it could be the 2017 best seller easily

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BACKGROUND NOISE PERFORMANCE:

(how well the instrument appears to cope with the suppression of background noises, such as party speech babble, traffic noise, loud wind noise, car engine sound)

The B90 appears to be a winner, instantly.

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EASE OF PROGRAMMING:

(from the audiologist perspective – how easy and user-friendly the programming software is: this can affect the quality of the results for the end-user)

There is no real doubt that the Phonak fitting software is the best. It’s fast, obvious, intuitive. And it’s been improved for the Belong.

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MAINTENANCE & RUNNING COSTS:

(cost of out-of-warranty repairs, cost of shell repairs, spare parts, ease of procuring replacement parts, consumables such as domes, wax guards, receiver wires; shell integrity when put under stress)

Parts are readily available at low cost and the Belong should always be offered with a 5 YEAR WARRANTY.

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OTHER COMMENT:

This is the best-selling make in Europe. They do spend a lot on research and development. It’s an obvious first choice IF you do get offered a free trial. Its likely to be best for longevity too.

 

Overall best in class

Review by MR (Feb. 2018)

www.hearingaidreview.org.uk has been put together by me, Robert Donnan. I’m an independent private ‘hearing aid dispenser’ (HCPC registered). This is the protected name qualification required in the UK to be able to ‘sell’ or prescribe hearing aids. There is a general habit of ‘us’ describing ourselves as AUDIOLOGISTS. I am personally ok with this term, even though it is primarily used to describe an NHS trained person who measures hearing. It is not a protected term, and describes a person concerned with the measurement and understanding of hearing levels.

It is regrettable that the qualifications required are often over-stated.  So I am seeing terms such as consultant audiologist, cerumenologist and consultant which must be an attempt to overstate our qualifications?

The skill required to program a hearing aid is extremely minimal. The labour required to explain outcome expectations, the rehabilitation period, how to use hearing aids; and the servicing needed after purchase is where all the value is be gained. So my job is all to do with HARD WORK, PATIENCE, PERSEVERANCE and being part of an organised business that is capable of actually providing the long term package included in the price. I myself have worked a minimum six days a week for over 10 years in my attempt to uphold my duties.

It’s a tough job providing products that most people don’t want to face up to getting in the first place, and meeting people’s expectations of how they should hear in background noise, which are often, frankly, not met.

So, there is a lot of hype and ‘sales’/ overly optimistic language used when discussing private hearing aids (see an example below). This is as a result of the high level of consumer scepticism and doubt, the NHS hearing aid availability, the difficulty in defining how well a person actually hears (it’s very individual and opinion-driven) and the low level of training required to become a private hearing aid dispenser.

You need to approach this subject with great CARE, DILIGENCE, SUPPORT from someone who’s opinion you value and in my humble opinion, you should demand an UNCONDITIONAL FREE TRIAL.

What’s a private hearing aid dispenser?

What’s the difference between NHS and private?

Who reviews hearing aids for us?
Our 3 testers are real hearing aid wearers.
Right now, by coincidence, all three are male.
All three are employed in the IT sector.
All have suffered from a long term or congenital complex hearing loss, ranging from mild-to-moderate, severe to profound.

They have all agreed to test new hearing products that come to market in return for receiving free hearing aids. Each model tested by all three persons is evaluated in short, easy-to-understand language that we can all understand.

So this is not your typical hearing aid review website
We are not including end-users who will typically bundle the service they have received together with the hearing aid sound quality.
We are not including audiologists’ views.
Nor are we listing manufacturers’ blurb.
Our idea is to get ‘into’ the products themselves, so in effect, this is a hearing aid product review website.

Which hearing aids are our 3 REVIEWERS wearing day-to-day?
BL is wearing OTICON OPN 1 with micro moulds.
AD is wearing SIGNIA NITRO power BTEs with Starkey E2108 ear moulds.
MR is wearing PHONAK AUDEO V90 10 with ComPilot Air II.

How do we decide which hearing aids to test?
We are influenced by world & European sales:
So we’d be more inclined to try hearing aids from the following:
Phonak
Oticon
Resound
Starkey
Widex
Signia
in that order.

Stars that rate hearing aids are often NOT REVIEWS
These are instead arbitrarily placed next to hearing aid models as an opinion by the author only. You can spot this straight away as older models / lower spec. models will be marked with less stars, and the most expensive models with 5 stars.

“Free yourself from the hassles of disposable batteries:
It doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing, Phonak rechargeable hearing aids were created to simplify your life. Finally, a chance to free yourself from the hassles of disposable batteries with a groundbreaking built-in lithium-ion battery technology. And because it’s a Phonak, you can always be assured of superior hearing performance. “

 

PHONAK AUDEO B90 R (Premium hearing aid, 2017 – RIC style)

Alternative: Phonak Audeo B90 10: Smallest version, tiny battery, but pretty difficult to spot.

 

Our Verdict:

The Best gets rechargeable.

In today’s competitive market, you should be able to negotiate a free trial on all hearing aids. Just ask.

 

PRICE TO PAY:  Around £3200 to £4000 for a pair

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APPEARANCE AND FEEL:

(the weight, size, shape, how well it fits ergonomically to the ear; the thickness and flexibility of the wire; the shell construction, quality, finish, IP properties, construction of buttons / switches / battery compartment)

Tidied up from the V, with shielded mics and much stronger lacquer / paint finish, cutting down hair-rustle and IP68 protection. Equipped with the best receiver wire on the market – flexible and very thin. Even though competitors have direct connection to iPhone, Phonak benefit from good connection to Android via the ComPilot Air II

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SOUND PRODUCTION:

(tested for how natural sounds are; how owner’s voice sounds; quality of classical and popular amplified music; naturalness of everyday quiet sounds such as indicator click, and loud sounds such as toilet flush, wind)

Most people that trial this – think that it sounds amazing. It definitely sounds ‘smoother’ than the Venture platform. Is this because of the mods to the chip or the mic ports being better shielded? If this proves to be as good as our initial tests, then it could be the 2017 best seller easily

---

 

BACKGROUND NOISE PERFORMANCE:

(how well the instrument appears to cope with the suppression of background noises, such as party speech babble, traffic noise, loud wind noise, car engine sound)

The B90 appears to be a winner, instantly.

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EASE OF PROGRAMMING:

(from the audiologist perspective – how easy and user-friendly the programming software is: this can affect the quality of the results for the end-user)

There is no real doubt that the Phonak fitting software is the best. It’s fast, obvious, intuitive. And it’s been improved for the Belong.

---

 

MAINTENANCE & RUNNING COSTS:

(cost of out-of-warranty repairs, cost of shell repairs, spare parts, ease of procuring replacement parts, consumables such as domes, wax guards, receiver wires; shell integrity when put under stress)

Parts are readily available at low cost and the Belong should always be offered with a 5 YEAR WARRANTY.

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OTHER COMMENT:

This is the best-selling make in Europe. They do spend a lot on research and development. It’s an obvious first choice IF you do get offered a free trial. Its likely to be best for longevity too.

 

Overall best in class

Review by MR (Oct. 2017)

          

 

PHONAK Q30:

“A new level in affordable hearing delight. Understanding speech is the priority. Surprising size and looks. Best value for non-wireless performance”

 

Our Verdict:

This older chip model, from 2015 is still available. Why would you buy this? Well, the manufacturer leads in the market, the production facilities in Warrington are superb, and the back-up is the best. In today’s competitive market, you should be able to negotiate a free trial on all hearing aids. Just ask.

PRICE TO PAY: Around £900 to £1300 for a pair

 

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APPEARANCE AND FEEL:

(the weight, size, shape, how well it fits ergonomically to the ear; the thickness and flexibility of the wire; the shell construction, quality, finish, IP properties, construction of buttons / switches / battery compartment)

Outstanding build quality. Customisable with programming button, volume wheel, twin mics, T-coil, non-slip shell, extraction cord, etc. Avoid the SmartGuard wax guard (too delicate) – ask for cerustop wax guard to be fitted. The re-shells to fix poor fit problems are carried out quickly throughout the whole 2 year warranty period, making this the best basic hearing aid you can buy via a HCPC registered audiologist.

 

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SOUND PRODUCTION:

(tested for how natural sounds are; how owner’s voice sounds; quality of classical and popular amplified music; naturalness of everyday quiet sounds such as indicator click, and loud sounds such as toilet flush, wind)

The Q30 usually sounds great for typical hearing losses especially age-related. A little harsh for high pitched sounds.

 

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BACKGROUND NOISE PERFORMANCE:

(how well the instrument appears to cope with the suppression of background noises, such as party speech babble, traffic noise, loud wind noise, car engine sound)

Copes well in one-to-one and small groups. Adequate in noisy places.

 

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EASE OF PROGRAMMING:

(from the audiologist perspective – how easy and user-friendly the programming software is: this can affect the quality of the results for the end-user)

Wired programming through Target software – easy to understand interface makes programming really straight-forward.

 

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MAINTENANCE & RUNNING COSTS:

(cost of out-of-warranty repairs, cost of shell repairs, spare parts, ease of procuring replacement parts, consumables such as domes, wax guards, receiver wires; shell integrity when put under stress)

Parts are easy to get and lowish in cost.

 

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OTHER COMMENTS:

The larger part of the cost is set aside for the audiologist’s professional services over a prolonged period. To allow for fine-tuning, retests, and re-calibration.

 

Overall Score in class: By MR (Nov 2017) worn for 2 weeks

 

 

                                           

          

 

PHONAK VIRTO V30

:  “Audibly big. Visibly small. With a unique design that fits perfectly into your ear canal for ultimate comfort, there is no other hearing aid this small, capable of this much performance.
• Individually crafted to perfectly fit your ear canal
• Combining performance and discretion
• Ultimate wearing comfort and sound quality”

Also available in RIC style (the Audeo V30)

 

PHONAK VIRTO V30 

(Budget hearing aid, In-the-Ear, CIC tested)

Our Verdict:
In today’s competitive market, you should be able to negotiate a free trial on all hearing aids. Just ask.

PRICE TO PAY: Around £1200 to £1500 for a pair

 

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APPEARANCE AND FEEL:

(the weight, size, shape, how well it fits ergonomically to the ear; the thickness and flexibility of the wire; the shell construction, quality, finish, IP properties, construction of buttons / switches / battery compartment)

Outstanding build quality, programming button fitted as standard can get pressed accidentally. Avoid the SmartGuard wax guard (too delicate). Re-shells to fix poor fit problems are carried out quickly throughout the whole 2 year warranty period.

 

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SOUND PRODUCTION:

(tested for how natural sounds are; how owner’s voice sounds; quality of classical and popular amplified music; naturalness of everyday quiet sounds such as indicator click, and loud sounds such as toilet flush, wind)

The V30 usually sounds great. A little harsh for high pitched sounds.

 

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BACKGROUND NOISE PERFORMANCE:

(how well the instrument appears to cope with the suppression of background noises, such as party speech babble, traffic noise, loud wind noise, car engine sound)

Seems to adjust very smoothly in moderate background noise. Not so sure in very noisy environments. But for the money……

 

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EASE OF PROGRAMMING:

(from the audiologist perspective – how easy and user-friendly the programming software is: this can affect the quality of the results for the end-user)

Superior wireless connection via iCube II, easy to understand interface makes programming really straight-forward.

 

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MAINTENANCE & RUNNING COSTS:

(cost of out-of-warranty repairs, cost of shell repairs, spare parts, ease of procuring replacement parts, consumables such as domes, wax guards, receiver wires; shell integrity when put under stress)

Parts are easy to get and lowish in cost.

 

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OTHER COMMENT: The best ever hearing aid chip? – is now within reach of almost everyone. This aid even has ear to ear buttons (press the right aid button to turn up the volume of both aids, left for down) and wireless-to-Bluetooth (works with streaming devices such as ComPilot Air II).

         

By BL (September 2017) worn for 4 days

 

 

 

 

            

 

PHONAK AUDEO V30 10: 

“Phonak Audéo V is a Receiver-In-Canal (RIC) hearing aid, making it highly discreet. The fashion and fun colors ensure we have something to suit every style”

 

Our Verdict: A feature-packed RIC aid that will be adequate for the majority of hearing losses. A truly convincing product in the affordable price bracket.
In today’s competitive market, you should be able to negotiate a free trial on all hearing aids. Just ask.

PRICE TO PAY: Around £1200 to £1500 for a pair

 

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APPEARANCE AND FEEL:

(the weight, size, shape, how well it fits ergonomically to the ear; the thickness and flexibility of the wire; the shell construction, quality, finish, IP properties, construction of buttons / switches / battery compartment)

Robust, attractive design, with wireless (ear to ear) button, Bluetooth and Wireless connectivity all fitted into the tiny shell.

 

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SOUND PRODUCTION:

(tested for how natural sounds are; how owner’s voice sounds; quality of classical and popular amplified music; naturalness of everyday quiet sounds such as indicator click, and loud sounds such as toilet flush, wind)

The V30 usually sounds great. A little harsh for high pitched sounds.

 

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BACKGROUND NOISE PERFORMANCE:

(how well the instrument appears to cope with the suppression of background noises, such as party speech babble, traffic noise, loud wind noise, car engine sound)

Seems to adjust very smoothly in moderate background noise. Less positive in noise and wind.

 

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EASE OF PROGRAMMING:

(from the audiologist perspective – how easy and user-friendly the programming software is: this can affect the quality of the results for the end-user)

Superior wireless connection via iCube II, easy to understand interface makes programming really straight-forward.

 

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MAINTENANCE & RUNNING COSTS:

(cost of out-of-warranty repairs, cost of shell repairs, spare parts, ease of procuring replacement parts, consumables such as domes, wax guards, receiver wires; shell integrity when put under stress)

Parts are easy to get and lowish in cost.

 

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OTHER COMMENTS: The best ever hearing aid chip? – is now within reach of almost everyone. This aid even has ear to ear buttons (press the right aid button to turn up the volume of both aids, left for down) and wireless-to-Bluetooth (works with streaming devices such as ComPilot Air II).

Overall score in class: By BL (Jan 2018)