Outstanding hearing instruments from Phonak - a world leading hearing device manufacturer

The new hearing aids have an upgraded central management system called AutoSense to 5.0. AutoSense manages all of the other features, deciding what needs to change to ensure you hear your best as the sound around you does. Phonak has continually upgraded its management system as advances in chipsets and both Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in audiology increase.

Phonak has introduced a new upgraded speech-focused technology that they are labelling SmartSpeech on the Lumity platform. The technology consists of two changes in the aids themselves and the use of the external Roger system. You still get the benefit without a Roger device, they have just included it in the concept of SmartSpeech Technology.

The aids themselves have upgraded and changed the parameters in their proprietary directionality strategy StereoZoom 2.0, They have also changed the implementation of that feature with an upgraded sound scene analysis system focused on speech that they call SpeechSensor. Sound scene analysis is the analysis system that monitors and analyzes what is going on in the world. The changes here will allow a better perception of speech.

Phonak says that the new Stereozoom 2.0 enables better speech understanding from the front by 16% in a noisy environment. The SpeechSensor feature combined with StereoZoom 2.0 will also deliver 15% better speech understanding from the back and sides.

SpeechSensor is an automatic feature that is designed to provide 360-degree speech detection by monitoring your surroundings for speech. It assesses the main speech source and adjusts the aid's microphone modes to ensure that you have more access to speech from the back and sides.

The Lumity is introduced with a new shape charger for the L-R and L-RT and the Charger Case Go for the Audeo Life. The Audeo Life is going to be the slightly dearer model, however, the Charger Case Go may be worth that extra money if you are an active, on-the-go type. The Charger Case Go can charge the Life aids three times without plugging in.

As with the platforms before it, Lumity pairs with the myPhonak app, the app gives you the ability to make adjustments on the go and create customised programs. The app also allows you to track personal health data, including step count, wearing time, activity levels, distance walked and ran, and optional goal setting. In addition, myPhonak app allows you to connect directly with a hearing care professional who can remotely assist in personalising their hearing experience.

The new Paradise will be available in the usual four technology levels that Phonak offer, the 90, the 70, the 50 and the 30. While many of the new features are just available in either the 90 or the 70 levels of technology, the 50 and 30 levels still have plenty to offer.

Phonak has introduced motion sensors with the new Paradise range and they use them for a couple of different things. The motion sensors are used to help the hearing aid management system understand if you are in motion. An understanding of motion can be quite important, for instance, if you are having a conversation with someone while walking. If the hearing aid management system understand that, it can make a better decision about what it can do to help you hear them better. This isn't the only thing the motion sensor does, but we will talk about that in a minute.

The Paradise aids offer increased, and in-depth Bluetooth connectivity over the Marvel, with an active connection to two Bluetooth devices. That means you can easily switch between two connected Bluetooth devices, for instance, two mobile phones or your mobile phone and your tablet, without any fuss. The Paradise actually allows for pairing to eight Bluetooth®-enabled devices, but only two can be connected at once.

This feature is the second ability to be powered by the motion sensors, the sensors know when the aids are tapped and Phonak has used that to power some really cool new functionality. The new Tap Control feature allows you to activate popular voice assistants on your smartphone, answer or reject calls, or even pause or resume audio streaming by simply tapping on the hearing aids or your ear. It means that you can do more with your hearing aids without worrying about pressing buttons. It also makes using your assistant or your audio streaming so much easier.

The Audéo Paradise hearing aid range is the first hearing aid range to use Sonova’s new sound processing chip, PRISM (Processing Real-time Intelligent Sound Management). The new chipset allows a host of newly developed hardware and software features to help you rediscover the wonders of sound from the moment they are fit.

The hearing aids deliver crisp, natural sound in any environment, in quiet situations, soft voices over distance are enhanced by the new speech enhancer feature. The new Motion Sensor Hearing allows the hearing aids to detect when you are moving while having a conversation. It will automatically adjust the directional microphones to focus on the direction of speech.

The new upgraded myPhonak app will provide Paradise wearers with more control over how they hear thanks to a new personalised noise cancelling feature. The Dynamic noise cancellation feature is available in very noisy situations and you can customise it to be more or less aggressive. The app also offers remote support among other features.

The new Marvel platform does not have any of those limitations. The Marvel will allow users to experience stereo streaming audio from any Bluetooth enabled device, that includes most mobile phones available, computers, even some modern TVs. Marvel users can have that audio streaming with the full benefits of Phonak's ear to ear features (Binaural Voice Streaming Technology BVST for short). That all means an outstanding new hearing aid platform with no limitations.

These hearing devices are hugely multi-functional and feature-rich. The Marvel contains probably every single one of the current headline features in the hearing aid world, and they have even thrown in some new ones, here’s the quick list:

Stereo Bluetooth streaming: Stereo streaming from any Bluetooth enabled device, that means iPhone, iPad, laptops, computers, Macs, Android phones, Windows phones, hell any Bluetooth-enabled phone.
Real Hands-free calling in stereo: Like the Audeo B-direct, the Marvel offers true hands-free calling from Bluetooth-enabled phones and VOIP services like Skype, except, to both hearing aids.
TV Streaming: Marvel can stream directly from Bluetooth-enabled TVs, and can also stream from the Phonak TV Connector accessory.
Rechargeability: They say both Marvel rechargeables will deliver a full day of hearing aid use from a single charge.
Remote adjustments: Marvel hearing aids can be adjusted remotely by your hearing expert.
New App Eco-System: Brand new apps to make life easier and engage the consumer in the process.
RogerDirect: This is really fascinating, for the first time, users will be able to stream from Roger devices directly to their hearing aids.
Full Phonak Feature Set: The Marvel will offer full and up to date inter-ear features.

The Bluetooth connection is being used for more than just audio streaming though. They will also use that same connection for data exchange between the mobile phone and the hearing aids. This ability offers much more benefits for consumers and professionals alike. The data exchange is the core of the new ability to remotely fine-tune the hearing aids in real-time and for the user to give real-time day to day feedback with the new Hearing Diary.

The new remote fine-tuning system is excellent, a video calling system gives the same feeling of face to face interaction, just in a different way. While the remote support may not be for everyone, I think it will be welcomed by people who see it as a real alternative to in-clinic appointments

They have also introduced a new speech to text app with the new products. The new app acts as a transcription system which allows users to read what is being said by the person on the other end of the phone. It works in real time and thanks to hands-free phone calling you can carry on the conversation while you read the dialogue. The app will allow people with hearing loss extra help to understand people on their mobile phone.

Phonak have also changed the push button on the devices, they now offer a rocker switch instead for more functionality

Marvel will directly stream stereo audio from any device capable of streaming audio via Bluetooth. This includes almost any device you can think of. You can connect it directly to your Android phone; you can connect it directly to your Mac Book or Windows laptop. You can even connect it directly to any Bluetooth enabled television. That is pretty amazing, that is a direct connection without any streamer. The quality of streaming audio is excellent; audio is full and clear. Music is warm and full, and phone calls are clear.

The Marvel delivers true hands-free calling in stereo. You will hear your phone calls in both ears giving you a better chance at understanding what is being said. Hands-free means you don't need to touch your phone. Your phone can be up to thirty feet away. You simply hit the button on your hearing aid to answer the call.

While the Marvel hearing aids will connect directly to Bluetooth enabled TVs, Phonak also introduced a new TV Streamer with the Marvel range. The TV streamer allows low energy streaming offering great audio and reduced battery usage.

As I said, these hearing aids aren't de-featured in any way. They include all of the latest Phonak features including their much-celebrated ear to ear features. They also have a brand new sound management system called Autosense 3.0 which recognises and automatically adapts to precisely match more listening situations than ever before. Autosense 3.0 also classifies streamed signals and will adapt how it works to better help you to hear the way you should.

The new Naida will offer the hands-free phone call experience and comprehensive connectivity that other Marvel users are used to. Because the new Naida is built on the Marvel platform it will offer almost complete connectivity to any device with a Bluetooth audio output. That means iPhones, Android Phones, dumb phones, laptops, computers and even Bluetooth enabled TVs. For people with severe to profound hearing loss, this type of connectivity is a true godsend. It levels the playing pitch, allowing them to use devices in the same way others take for granted. Of course, there are two other features in the Marvel platform that will really make a big difference to them.

People with severe to profound hearing loss need all of the help that they can get to hear better. The myCall-to-text app will deliver just that on their Smartphone. It transcribes phone calls in real-time, offering them live subtitles for their mobile phone calls. This app combined with direct connectivity could allow some people with severe to profound hearing loss use their mobile phone for the first time.

The Roger Direct system is outstanding and now with the Naida Marvel, people with severe to profound hearing loss will be able to use Roger devices without any intermediary devices. That makes life easier and it allows people with this type of loss get on better in more challenging sound environments. That can only be seen as a good thing. The Naida has always been viewed as one of the best hearing aids for severe to profound hearing loss. The release of the Naida Marvel will only cement that position.

The named the hearing aid as the Virto B-Titanium and said it will be the most discreet in ear device they have ever made. It is a fascinating device that uses titanium for the shell instead of the usual hard acrylic. This is the first time that titanium has been used in the manufacture of a custom hearing aid.

Virto B-Titanium is the smallest Phonak in-the-ear hearing aid ever! It is for all intent and purpose an invisible hearing aid device.

Using titanium allows for a shell that’s half as thin as traditional custom shells. This will result in a deep, comfortable fit. Phonak say that the overall size is reduced significantly, thus increasing invisible-in-the-canal (IIC) fit rate by 64%. That simply means that more people than ever will be physically suitable for their latest invisible hearing aid.

The device comes available with three levels of receiver which allows it to cover even more hearing losses than ever before. Because of the use of Titanium, it also allows for bigger vents in their hearing aids which means less occlusion problems for people with good low frequency hearing.

Virto B-Titanium features AutoSense OS™. It adapts to every sound environment automatically for excellent hearing performance everywhere. There will be no need to manually adjust the hearing aids. Although, they can come with an optional push button for just that.

The Virto B-Titanium will only be available in the 90 and the 70 levels of technology.

The material is exceptionally strong, which allows Phonak to make the shell much thinner than ever before with even more strength. This combined with new component design allows them to deliver an invisible hearing device that they say will fit 68% more ears.

The deep position in the ear canal of the device will allow the hearing aid to use the natural shape of the ear to funnel sound to the microphone. This strategy has always proved to deliver excellent directional hearing.

While invisible hearing aids can be a bit hit and miss for suitability, Phonak say that their new designs and materials will in fact make the hearing aids suitable for more people than ever. While that will most definitely be the case, there will still be some limitations on ability to fit. I would imagine if the bends in the ear canal are too tight, it will preclude this device from being suitable.

Other contra indications are the same as every other invisible hearing aid such as excessive waxy ear canals, history of mid ear infections or perforated eardrums. If you face these issues, this will not be the product for you. In these cases other discreet hearing aids may be more advisable to consider.

The hearing aids have all of the latest features from the Belong range but offer a new proprietary fitting formula called Adaptive Phonak Digital Contrast. Phonak say that the new formula offers real benefits to some people who have real difficulty with hearing speech sounds. In essence, the formula should really contrast the consonant sounds from the vowel sounds in speech to allow better understanding.

This is the latest version of Phonak's sound Recover strategy which was pretty successful when introduced in the Venture chipset. Sound Recover 2 allows access to the nuances of sound that many people with severe to profound hearing loss may not be able to hear. It delivers more speech information without causing distortion.

The range is rated to IP68, which means it will survive immersion in one metre of water for sixty minutes without damage. Phonak are circumspect about calling it water resistant, but another manufacturer calls this level waterproof. One way or the other this range will quite happily get in the shower and the pool with you without having to worry about it failing.

As part of the Belong platform the new Naida range benefits from Autosense and all of its features. This allows it to deliver the best possible experience in a range of sound environments.