NormanS

Q: RESOUND LINKS - POOR STREAMING SOUND QUALITY

Starting a new thread on this issue, separate from the connectivity issues that dominate most of the threads on RESOUND LINKS aids.

 

The streaming quality is awful. This has been noted on other treads as a besides. The sound has been described as "thin" and "tinny" as would I. To a degree I can correct this by the tone controls on the Resound App; pushing base up to maximum, and treble to minimum. So what's going on?

 

I have a moderate dropping high frequency loss, corrected with BTE Linx9's and standard domes. Listen to live/speakers/headphones and it sounds good. Listen by streaming only, dreadful. It strikes me that the frequencies missing from the streamed sound are those that aren't augmented in my profile, because my hearing at these lower frequencies (1K and less)  is essentially normal and are adequately heard directly. What I am hearing in streamed sounds is the augmented frequencies as required to normalise hearing (ie those above 1k), and thus missing those frequencies I would normally hear directly without aid assistance (ie those below 1K). Now when streaming there is no direct sound to hear leaving only the higher frequencies that my profile requires

 

.When I raised this with my audiologist, it went totally over his head. When he tried streaming with brand of aid it sounded good, and he could not understand what I was complaining about. But then he does NOT need aids and I assume that any aid he tried had a flat augmentation spectrum. By my argument such a spectrum would indeed give reasonable streaming quality since it covers the full bandwidth all of which is generated by the transducer.

 

I put this as both a question and a proposed explanation. Does any one else experience these problems, and concur or refute my hypothesis?

iPhone 5s, iOS 8.1, Resound Linx 9 pair - high frequenc

Posted on Oct 25, 2014 4:18 AM

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Q: RESOUND LINKS - POOR STREAMING SOUND QUALITY

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  • by mikebhm,

    mikebhm mikebhm Oct 27, 2014 12:18 AM in response to NormanS
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Accessibility
    Oct 27, 2014 12:18 AM in response to NormanS

    The title of your thread caught my eye because I am also very unhappy about the quality of streaming audio.

     

    I have moderate to severe loss (-70dB at 1k, -110 dB at 4k) and am in a trial of ReSound Enzo 9 which are a close cousin of the Linx range.

     

    I describe my problem as a rasp on all sibilants, a kind of intrusive "tst tst" on every "ssss" sound. I did have the same problem on microphone input until the audiologist applied compression, sound shaping and other adjustments which made a big difference. I had assumed these adjustments would also apply to streamed input, but seemingly not, and I am waiting for the next appointment.

     

    Thinking about your problem and explanation: If I say that my streaming audio quality is much improved by turning the treble right down and the base right up it begins to sound more like your hypothesis. I had not thought of your explanation which may or may not be what is happening to me.

     

    The problem with all this hearing stuff is that it is so subjective, and peculiar to the individual, and the audiologist can only go by our verbal feedback.

     

    My personal hobby-horse is that I think there are many advanced hi-tech hearing aids out there performing very sub optimally, because the audiologist does not know how to set the aids up optimally for the individual based on the (sometimes poor) feedback he/she is getting from the client.

  • by NormanS,

    NormanS NormanS Oct 27, 2014 12:31 AM in response to mikebhm
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Oct 27, 2014 12:31 AM in response to mikebhm

    Mike, I have an appointment with my audiologist this afternoon for patching the latest firmware. Will report back on the impact. I agree fully with your final paragraph. Modern aids especially those embracing "wearable tech" are as much to do with IT as audiology, I suspect my knowledge of the former may well be greater than my audiologist. It is why I am trying to get an Airlink USB dongle so I can adjust myself.

  • by mikebhm,Helpful

    mikebhm mikebhm Oct 27, 2014 1:30 AM in response to NormanS
    Level 1 (39 points)
    Accessibility
    Oct 27, 2014 1:30 AM in response to NormanS

    I tried to make being allowed to buy (not be given) an Airlink a condition of my purchasing the Enzo 9, but I don't think it will work. (They are going to give me the Unite TV2, remote mic, and remote control for "free", but an Airlink was a step too far).

     

    I told her I had been doing the training modules for professionals on the ReSound Support site, and she suggested (maybe only half joking) I train as an audiologist.

     

    I have seen mention of one person on a hearing aid forum who obtained one.

     

    I may write a serious letter to ReSound on the subject.

  • by mctosp,

    mctosp mctosp May 11, 2015 2:23 PM in response to NormanS
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 11, 2015 2:23 PM in response to NormanS

    Hey guys,

     

    I am thinking right now of getting a pair of the Resound Linx hearing aids. It all sounds great on paper but I am not sure how the reality is going to be (I am going to try them for a couple of weeks starting next week to see if they actually are a fit for me). I have been using Siemens Pure hearing aids for the last 6 years and back when I purchased them I tried to use them via bluetooth and the reality definitely didn't match my high expectations. As you guys are outlining on your messages, the quality was awful.

     

    I was wondering how all these problems turned out and if you found a way to get this issues solved.

     

    I am also looking into the Resound Linx2 but there is not much information regarding the differences between the two models. I thought that you might be up-to-date regarding Resound's technological updates.

     

    As a wary hearing-aid customer, your input would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance for your reply.

  • by BillH18,

    BillH18 BillH18 May 18, 2015 8:46 AM in response to NormanS
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 18, 2015 8:46 AM in response to NormanS

    I have new Linx2 HAs.  The poor streaming is a bug - I think Apple owns the problem but not sure.  When the phone connects to the HA a new profile called iPhone shows up in the Resound app.  The audi can not adjust this one.  It is all mid-range sound used for streaming - which might be better for a phone call but really ***** for music.  Ask your auri to make an adjustment in the advanced settings to turn make "BASS Boost" high rather than low.  Phone calls on the HAs are still fine and music is pretty good.  Seems like the audi should be able to adjust the iPhone profile just like any of the other "Programs" - (all around, restaurant, ..) but they can not do that.  This might be a resound bug.  I still believe the bug belongs to Apple though.

     

    Apple should really have a way to connect with the aids that is different when you are streaming music etc versus streaming a phone call.

     

    Also you should try "Find my Phone" app with the HAs on.  If you are anywhere close to the phone (lost in a crack in the couch)  the beeps are in your ear and not from the phone.  So you take the aids out and start over with finding the phone.  This is clearly an apple bug.  Some sound should come from the phone no matter what device is connected - including a set of headphones.

  • by summerswind,

    summerswind summerswind Apr 23, 2016 7:08 AM in response to NormanS
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 23, 2016 7:08 AM in response to NormanS

    Agree with the opinion that streaming only uses the correction programmed into the hearing aid. Will try the suggestion to "Ask your auri to make an adjustment in the advanced settings to turn make "BASS Boost" high rather than low"

     

    Seems what is missing is an Equalizer feature for streaming uses the full spectrum of the input sound not just the high frequency correction profile.

     

    I have gone back to using the iPhone for phone calls for now.

  • by wkrasl,

    wkrasl wkrasl Sep 10, 2016 11:58 AM in response to NormanS
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Accessibility
    Sep 10, 2016 11:58 AM in response to NormanS

    Hi Norm.  Nice post.  I actually predicted the possibility this would be an issue before seeing any Apple forum discussions, and had already emailed "'gnresound@gnresound.com'" the following on the topic.

     

    "My audiologist has selected your model LiNX2 961, and I am learning everything I can to be ready for the fitting in two
    weeks.  My only question right now, which perhaps my audiologist will explain during my fitting, has to do with audio transmitted from my iPhone 5 and/or iPad Air rather than coming from the environment. I have typical age related loss: Right ear is (250, 500, 1K, 2K, 3K, 4K, 6K, 8K) => (10, 10, 15, 25, 35, 40, 45, 55 dB), and left ear is same pattern but 5 dB worse at all frequencies.  So I am getting the RIE type designed to allow lower frequencies from the environment to reach my eardrums directly. Doesn't this mean my hearing aids won't process or transmit the environmental lower frequencies?  If so, how will that affect my ability to hear lower frequencies contained in the Bluetooth audio stream? Is the LiNX2 smart enough to ignore environmental low frequencies while transmitting those same frequencies contained in an audio stream?"

     

    I'll forward any reply to that email here.