• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Hearing Aids

WG Plum

WG Plum

Gold Supporting Member
Apr 9, 2021
9,885
37,934
Seattle
soundcloud.com
#1
Well, time to face the, ahem, music. I need hearing aids, but I know nothing about them.

Something less visually obtrusive would be ideal, but my main concern is fidelity. My primary focus is being able to hear things well when I’m recording at home.

If anyone has experience, tips, things to consider, I’m all ears. Thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: roccobass and darev
#3
Costco has good ones and excellent customer service. Before my pop got his from the VA, he would go to Costco. A couple times he was able to return ones he didn't like or didn't work right until he settled on a pair that worked for him.

-Mike
 
  • Like
Reactions: rocu and WG Plum
#4
I am in the market as well. My latest audiogram is, uh, sad.

My father-in-law gave me an old pair of his Miracle Ear hearing aids but I don't think I can do much with them. I am using Apple AirPod Pros 4 for now to cut down on the "Eh? What'd you say?" but I'mma need professional help too.

The AirPods Pro let me use my last audiogram from my Dr. and that helped a lot with the missing high frequencies. It all sounds so fake and brittle in the highs, though. I like to think that is mostly because I haven't heard those frequencies in a very long time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: roccobass and WG Plum
#8
I had Phonak hearing aids.
They were a few thousand. But they're amazing and the sound quality was very natural sounding.
I teared up when I was able to hear the sound of gentle breezes and songbirds again.
And they're programmable so take them to an audio tek and they'll get programmed to what your audiogram says you need.

Unfortunately, my teenage niece threw them out so Ive been mostly deaf the past few years.
Being that I'm on SSDI and Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids, I'm looking at a pair under $200
 
  • Wow
  • Like
Reactions: roccobass, darev and WG Plum
#10
Bliff Curton 2 said:
I had Phonak hearing aids.
They were a few thousand. But they're amazing and the sound quality was very natural sounding.
I teared up when I was able to hear the sound of gentle breezes and songbirds again.
And they're programmable so take them to an audio tek and they'll get programmed to what your audiogram says you need.

Unfortunately, my teenage niece threw them out so Ive been mostly deaf the past few years.
Being that I'm on SSDI and Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids, I'm looking at a pair under $200
Click to expand...
Oh man, I am so sorry that happened! Jeebus..
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bliff Curton 2
#12
I have three pairs, and hate them all. The Bose ones I expected to be great, just aren't. Another was Medic Theraputic brand, they were decent but the tiny buttons to scroll through the different settings are impossible for my fingers/fingernails to use. The third set were cheapos. All three of them had very disappointing battery life.

I did go to an audiologist where I got a comprehensive hearing test, telling me I hear low frequency better than mids and highs, meaning I can hear men fine but women and children not as well. (The female audiologist even joked how that might not be a bad thing!) They tried to sell me hearing aids custom designed for my hearing conditions but those were north of the $6000 mark.

I definitely need them so I'm going to have to learn to like the ones I have....as soon as I figure out the feedback issues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WG Plum
#15
I can confirm Widex has the highest sampling rate and sound quality in the industry.
They also have a much lower processing latency.
I have worked for Phonak and now Widex.
Very popular with musicians, especially those that can tune by ear.
Many aids do a slight frequency shift to avoid feedback, but those with a good ear hear it and it drives them nuts!
Hope this helps…
 
  • Like
Reactions: darev and WG Plum
#16
999Brent said:
I can confirm Widex has the highest sampling rate and sound quality in the industry.
They also have a much lower processing latency.
I have worked for Phonak and now Widex.
Very popular with musicians, especially those that can tune by ear.
Many aids do a slight frequency shift to avoid feedback, but those with a good ear hear it and it drives them nuts!
Hope this helps…
Click to expand...
That helps a LOT, thank you!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 999Brent
#17
I've had the top of the line Phonaks since 2021. I've been happy with them overall. My audiologist is now a provider for the Earlens system which are interesting. It places a tiny driver (non-surgical) right on the tympanic membrane. The performance specs are impressive. I may go with something like this when my current aids give out, but right now they are very expensive.

New Home Page NE - Earlens
 
  • Like
Reactions: roccobass and WG Plum
#18
Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

I’m saving this thread. Early research is what I’m doing and you all have been there.

I feel for you guys that have this much hearing loss. Sadly to say, I “hear” my train coming in the not so distant future.
 
#19
I went with Widex, so far so good. Still dialing them in , but it's pretty amazing. The audiologist was funny, she said go with Widex if you want to hear EVERYTHING, go with the others if you want a more gentle improvement. The top end is on these things is VERY present, so we're getting that under control. The test will be how I mix with them in. I'm working on a piece now that has synths, bass, weird percussion, etc., so it should be a useful proof.

One thing I'm not enjoying is when they're hunting for a sound source to focus on. We've dialed the directionality back a bit, but as annoying as the chorusing is when they're hunting, I think I prefer a more directionally sensitive setting.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MJ5150 and darev
#20
I can imagine the pressure an audiologist must face when working with a musician who also mixes recordings. Far different than when my pop comes in and needs to be able to hear the gal on the local news who talks too quiet, haha.
Cool deal though buddy you have something that works and someone who can help get it all dialed in as you need it to.

-Mike
 
  • Like
Reactions: WG Plum

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back