Compare Phonak vs. Sonic Hearing Aids

I have a Sonic behind-the-ear set about 5 yrs old. From an audio standpoint they have been ok. My complaint involves the mode pushbutton on each one that selects the programs and gain features. When new, the button had an easy to use snap action feel. After about 3 yrs, both buttons failed and the snap action is gone. If you fool with them, you can still switch programs intermittently, but its a nuisance. I was told that repair of the buttons would be $300 each. Thanks, I’ll pass. I wish Sonic used better quality parts. Since I have insurance, I’ll end up getting a new set from someone else.

I have owned pho Al top of the line Model for over 2 years. Mine are rechargeable and no longer hold a charge more than 10-12 hours. So if I put them on 8:00 in the morning and go to a play in the evening the horns start going off indicating the battery is running down. I now have to send the device back to the factory as my audiologist can’t replace the rechargeable battery so I will be without my device for at least 2 weeks. So much for the warranty Secondly, the pairing with my iPhone 12 Pro is terrible. I very often almost daily have to do a hard reset on my phone to get it to pair properly but not for long. Pho Al said they know about the issue and trying to work with Apple that was 6 months ago For expensive hearing aids these don’t cut mustard

5 stars. Highly recommended. As usual on the Internet, Phonak gets a mix of good and not-so-good reviews. I don't write a lot of reviews, but I know that researching HA's is time-consuming and frustrating, and I want to add my 2 cents here. My Phonak HA's are the best I've ever used, hands down. I recently bought a pair of Phonak Audeo Paradise 90R HA's. They are by far the best HA's I've owned. My first pair, from another company, died recently after 9 years of OK service. My research led me to buy a pair of Starkey Livio Edge AI In-the-Ear (ITE) HA's. Even with constant adjustments through Starkey's Thrive app on my iPhone, the HA's just did not work for me, especially in challenging situations (car, restaurant, etc.). I gave them a chance for about 5 weeks. Also, I dropped one on the floor (not from very high up) and it shattered. I had to replace it (under warrantee). I exchanged the Starkeys for a pair of Phonak Audeo Paradise 90R 's (RIC, Receiver-in-Canal), and these are a game-changer. You know how you often just don't want to wear your HA's, which drives your spouse and family crazy? The audiologist I work with wears the same model, and he said that he just puts them on in the morning and leaves them on until bedtime. Now I do the same. For a while I was constantly trying to tune in my surroundings with the Phonak app and also with the iPhones native accessibility settings. My audiologist encouraged me to stop fooling around with the apps and just try the settings he programmed from my hearing test results. He was right, and it's amazing. I mean, really amazing. The Phonak website says, "The best hearing aids go far beyond amplification to make lost sounds audible again. They can emphasize sounds coming from specific directions, differentiate types of sound, reduce noise and compress frequencies. This is all done automatically by the hearing aid, which recognizes and adapts to the situations the wearer is in." I thought this was just more hearing aid industry hype, but I was wrong. These Phonak HA's are really "set-it-and-forget it" devices. The really do adapt to my surroundings so I never mess with the app. The only thing I ever need to do is sometimes touch the little rocker switch to turn volume up or down. Other than that, they're just there all day long. Also, I'm a musician so the sound quality of the HA's with Bluetooth streaming is important. These Phonaks may not be as good as high-end headphones or earbuds, but to me the sound is quite good enough. It's amazing to have GPS on my phone speak turn-by-turn directions right into my ears while I'm still talking with people in the car. About Bluetooth pairing: it works when it works. I can actually pair to my iPhone and my Mac at the same time, which the Starkeys could not do. My only minor gripe is about the way the Bluetooth pairing sometimes gets confused - the stream drops and I need to turn the HA's off and then on to re-pair. Or if an email alert sounds, the music just stops. This is a minor annoyance compared to the great quality of these HA's, and my audiologist might be able to help me fix the problem. The remote connection to the audiologist for adjustments is really, really cool. The Phonak iPhone app has a lot of functions and I'll be exploring them over time, but I like it that I don't have to depend on it, and most days I never even open the app.

I waited a full year before offering a review for my Sonic Hearing Aids. I was provided with an appointment, with the Audiologist who fitted me originally. I've been completely satisfied with the Sonic Aids, and the level of service associated with the product. The aids have improved my quality of life, and have proven to be reliable, easy to live with, and low maintenance. My Sonic Hearing Aids are small, light weight, and nearly unnoticeable when I'm wearing them. I'm able to access their volume controls with my iPhone, and control optional functions as well. My Sonics are battery free, and an overnight charge provides enough power to last a full day between charges. The learning curve, during first use, is not difficult, but care must be taken to avoid getting them wet, having them fall out, or stepping on one of them if it does fall out. Todays Covid Masks, can have the elastic band sending a Sonic a long way, Some hats, high collars, and eye glasses, can also dislodge one of the aids. In time, it gets easier, and you adapt intuitively. The ability to go out in public, and actually be part of the conversation, is worth far more, than the minimal inconveniences of the aids. Hearing has been vastly improved with my Sonics.

I like the hearing aids but the tube is to short. they so not fit behind my ears. I am told the tube only come in 3 and should be a 4. I can not wear my glasses. HELP

Have had these about 2.5 weeks, went to a family gathering and could understand my grandchildren!!! They are very comfortable and I have to keep checking to see if they are still on my ears. Everything sounds like it should, no distortion. I was outside and the wind was blowing hard, one of my grandchildren was walking ahead of me and I could hear and understand her quiet voice, even in the wind! Also, I have a wonderful audiologist who works to get my settings correct. Product and expert audiologist equals wonderful!!

I've worn an analog in-the-ear Phonak for the last five years and have been thrilled with the natural sound quality. Recently I purchased two behind-the-ear aids and have been very disappointed with the sound quality and discrimination. If I didn't have the first aid, I would think the new digital aids were fine, but I have Phonak's much better, now discontinued analog aid to compare them to and they fall short: tinny sound, echoes, distortions in sound. Have had this adjusted many times to try to get them to match the first aid, with no success. Something is wrong at Phonak that they think the highly touted digital aids are better than the analogs.

I purchased the Enchanted model a month ago, FANTASTIC. No problems hearing anything now. As a matter of fact my hearing is so clear and so crisp I have to ask people to please speak softer. I thought my appliances had received a surge of voltage when the ready beep went off on the microwave or when the refrigerator door open alarm was beeping. I could actually hear them now, crystal clearly. Absolutely no problems with them and I have very waxy ears. I simply clean the little ear piece and no problem. Batteries are great because I use the blue tooth feature all day at work; my batteries last 7 days. I have listened to other brands for much more money and wouldn't change a thing. I have already recommended two people and they love them too. $4,000 was well worth the cost compared to others at more or less money.