starkey halo

I agree with SantaFeNM. The latest OS fixes the pairing and connecting problems with Starkeys. There remains an instability problem WHICH DOESN'T AFFECT MOST USERS, but affects ME because I use the camera app every day in my work. My problem is when hearing aids have been used, the camera.app becomes unstable, and I find that I can START recording a VIDEO, but then I cannot STOP the video. It must then be force-quit, losing the video that I've started. Like I said, this won't bother most users.

Other than that, iPhone, iOS8.1 and Starkeys work well.

Register me as another positive vote for Halos used with the iPhone 6. Since the iOS upgrade I have experienced very few issues. The only time I have problems with connectivity is if I go out of range of the phone. I don't always reconnect automatically. Opening and closing HA battery doors usually reconnect me or toggle bluetooth. I have a profound loss in both ears, have never successfully talked on my cell phone before I got these aids in September. If I answer a call, and find I am not streaming, I can toggle blue tooth and usually connect; the call then streams. I keep my trulink setting for streaming to low mic. It blocks most of the ambient sound, but allows me to hear my own voice more naturally than muting the mic fully. The clarity is best ever. The technology used for programming is something a lot of people are not aware of. For those with high frequency loss, the new programming technology used for the Halos actually lowers the pitch at which certain sounds are heard, allowing me to hear things I have never heard before with other aids. Like all cutting edge technology, there will be small bumps in the road. Patience and fully understanding the way the device is supposed to work and what it is capable of, go a long way into a positive experience. I for one, don't think you will be sorry if you try them. Make sure your audi is fully versed in how they work and has the ability to fine tune the various setting to optimize your particular loss. Good Luck!

Got my halos Wednesday, they sound pretty good. the app helps, the audi has them to loud so I can at least turn them down. I got my music downloaded to today and holy crap they sound terrible. there is nothing below 1k hz. I have a serve loss in the high end, so the Ha are amplifying only 1k and up. Is there any way to bring up the bass?? Sound space does nothing to the bass

Yes, they DO sound terrible streaming music. Voice is okay. Your Audi can adjust that to a degree, but don't expect Hi-Fi. Also, the tighter the cones fit, the better they'll sound.

I usually stream podcasts -voice- and they work well for that, but for music, I dig out my BIG CANS. I just got a Jaybird bluetooth "Bluebuds X" and they sound very good. Of course, that's not wearing H/A's at all.

So for conversation, I use hearing aids, but for music I use a headset or buds. This is kinda like eating dinner, where I use a fork to eat steak, but chopsticks for salads. "The right tool for the job at hand."

Jim in Littleton, Colorado

Bummer cause I asked that question before I got them and my audi said they would be great. I guess he lied. I will have to ask him when I go back in a week

MIne satisfy me for casual listening. It may depend on the settings the audilogist made which require some experimentation or the loss of hearing one begins with. It took me several visits to get it nailed down.

thanks for the hope. I can't begin to listen to music, everything is ear piercing high

There is a big difference between "can be used for..." and "sounds great..."

HAs can only amplify sounds and shape them to a certain extent. I am sure your audiologist was not thinking of them as an audiophile's headphones in terms of listening to music.

I actually have a music setting as one of my presets from the audi.

without aids I hear nothing beyond the first two pitches on the audiogram chart. after that I drop to zero.

I have had profound loss since I was a toddler. So my expectations are probably much less than that of someone that once had pretty normal hearing. So for me the streaming is awesome. I am hearing things I was never able to. Flutes, bells, beeps etc. I think with some adjustment and tinkering you will be able to be satisfied with the sound. I actually went to Starkey to have mine fitted. After the initial programming they tweaked them while I had them on. I was able to tell to them to raise and lower volume of certain pitches to make them most comfortable. Each tone has an individual adjustment, you can store 4 presets that the audi fine tunes + the 16 soundspace of your choosing. By far the most versatile aids I have ever had. I imagine the degree of satisfaction someone has with the sound quality is influenced by what their expectations are. I lived for years being told there weren't any aids that would help my loss. Basic aids back then did nothing more than increase volume across the board. With the introduction of digital aids there was some improvement to clarity. But I could only wear digital in one ear. I have tactile hearing, using a digital aid in my left ear sent an annoying vibrtion down the left side of my neck. I feel some sounds I can't hear. So my left aid was a basic aid. Then Starkey came out with the Wii, and could adjust the bass to remove the vibration. Better but still not great. I put the Halos in the category of great. The programming used for them is cutting edge, but has to be adjusted by someone that fully understands its cabability. If you can't get satisfaction from your audi, I would whole heartedly suggest you call Stareky and see if they can't help the audi tweak the settings to your satisfaction.

good luck!

thanks for the info, I will pass it along to my audi.

I'm new to Starkey Halo. I tried the behind-the-ear with the Surflink Mobile first and now I have the Halo with the iPhone connection. I can't seem to find the equivalent to the "Focus" function on the Halo. With the Focus I was able to eliminate restaurant noise and hear my companions' speaking voices streamed directly into my ears. Does anyone know if this feature is available on the Halo? I have used the SoundSpace function but although the background noise can be lowered the speech doesn't feed into the aids.

The "live listen" feature might help. If you have not done so download the Halo manual from Starkey's website. "Select Start Live Listen to stream input to the iPhone microphone directly into your hearing aids. Direct the iPhone microphone toward the source of interest to provide additional input from that source. To minimize background noise and provide the best signal, place the phone as close to the source as possible.."

The Halo's are the Swiss Army Knife of hearing aids. There are five different pre-defined programs that your audiologist can customize for you for different needs. For example I mostly need Normal, Restaurant, Television and Streaming all of which are different. If your audiologist is familiar with Halo's and you are willing to experiment you should fine what you need. Nothing beats a dedicated and patient audiologist.

I believe that the aids you had prior to the Halos had multiple microphones, which were directive, and that the app you used selected (mixed) the microphones so you could select a given direction. That isn't the Halos.

I love my Halos, and they REALLY help me in all situations. Directivity would be nice. That may be coming down the road.

BTW: I use the Tru-Link APP maybe once a month for a special situation. Other than that, I just use Apple's built-in controls, which you get with a triple click on the home button. I guess I'm just an old-fashioned "keep it simple" kind of guy.

Jim in Littleton, Colorado

Dr. SantaFeNM, although I'm way up here in Littleton, Co., Right now I'm using iHeartRadio to stream KKOB in Albquerque to my Starkeys. There's a program I listen to on Sunday afternoons (Bob Brinker's 'Moneytalk') that is carried in Denver, but our local station inserts EXTRA commercials, ruining the program for me. So thanks to our New Mexico neighbors, I'm a happy man. Love your KKOB!

CO & NM are wonderful places to live.