I’m currently using seven-year-old rechargeable Phonak Marvels. I’m debating whether to have them serviced and refurbished or just buy a brand-new pair, as I’ve recently come into some extra money. Is it actually worth upgrading if my current ones still work, or am I missing out on significantly better sound quality by sticking with ‘obsolete’ technology?
The Phonak Infinio Sphere along with an external Roger microphone.
If you’ve managed to get seven years out of rechargeable Phonak Marvels without needing new batteries, you’ve done very well. Battery swaps have to be handled by Phonak directly (no one else will do it) and usually cost about $400 for the pair.
The top-tier option from Phonak right now is the Infinio 90-Sphere, which is what I’m currently wearing. I’ve upgraded from the Marvel 70s to the Lumity 90s and now to the Infinio.
I have severe high-frequency hearing loss, which makes chatting in loud bars or restaurants very difficult. The Infinio Spheres have been helpful, but if the ambient noise exceeds 75db (according to the Decibel X app), it’s still a struggle and I have to switch to my Roger On mic.
The primary benefit of the latest generation of aids is how well they perform in loud environments thanks to artificial intelligence. If those types of settings are part of your daily life, then yes, you should look into getting new ones.
Since you’ve used Phonak for so long, I’d recommend staying with the brand—as others mentioned, the Spheres are incredible. Sticking with Phonak makes sense because you’re already accustomed to their sound, and your audiologist can easily transfer your current settings to the new devices. This makes the adjustment period very simple. That said, I would ask to trial a few different brands if there’s no extra cost involved.
I wouldn’t put money into refurbishing seven-year-old tech, but that really depends on your personal budget.
I don’t personally have hearing loss, but I work in the industry and test high-end modern devices to evaluate their performance. Right now, all the major manufacturers are releasing aids with built-in AI chips that significantly improve noise reduction and sound separation in specific scenarios. However, it’s important to note that this is just the first generation of this technology. As companies refine their AI models, they will only get better.
I think the AI-enabled pair I’m testing is pretty great, but if your current aids are still doing the job, it might be worth saving your money while the technology continues to rapidly evolve.
I’m currently trialing the Starkey Edge AI 20s and they are quite impressive. My previous set were Phonaks from about two years ago (though I’m not sure which specific model/tier they were; there might be better ones available). I’m also switching to rechargeables because the packaging on disposable batteries has become impossible for me to open.
Edit: My ‘old’ Phonaks are the Audeo P70 model.