Phonak Audeo Paradise Hearing Aid Review – Delivering a Blissful Hearing Experience
In September 2020, Sounds of Life will be releasing Phonak’s new high performance hearing aid range named: Phonak Paradise Audeo. Phonak Paradise is the successor to the hugely popular Phonak Marvel hearing aid range. In fact, during the first 12 months of release, Phonak Marvel sold over 1 000 000 units worldwide. Its popularity was not surprising to us. In our previous review of the Phonak Marvel we highlighted how it is rare for a hearing aid company to be offering leading technology in all three key technology areas:
1/ Bluetooth connectivity
2/ Audiological performance
3/ Rechargeability
Phonak Paradise further improves on these key areas, however as a successor to Marvel it can really be viewed as as more of an evolution rather than a revolution. Lets have a look at these improvements in detail starting with Bluetooth Connectivity.
Bluetooth Connectivity
Phonak Paradise hearing aids, like its predecessor Marvel, feature Universal Bluetooth connectivity. They can wirelessly stream audio (to both hearing aids) to and from any device capable of streaming audio via Bluetooth. This includes any of the following:
- iPhone and iPad
- Android, Windows, Blackberry, and other Bluetooth-enabled phones and tablets
- Mac, Windows, Linux, and other Bluetooth-enabled computers
- Any other device with Bluetooth audio streaming
This “Made for All” technology is still unique in the industry due to the fact it required the internal development of a new special wireless chip called SWORD (Sonova Wireless One Radio Digital). In Phonak Paradise, this chip has been upgraded to a new chip called Prism (Processing Real-time Intelligent Sound Management). Direct streaming in other hearing aids is currently limited to Apple devices (Made-For-iPhone technology) with two exceptions, ReSound and Starkey who support direct streaming from selected Android devices supporting the ASHA standard. It should be noted that it is expected that Widex and Signia will be releasing ASHA compatible hearing aids early 2021.
In Paradise, the wireless functionality has been upgraded further and can now support pairings to up to eight devices with active connections to two devices (e.g. you can stream music from a computer and if a phone call comes through you can simply answer the phone and immediately hear the audio). One of the nice things about taking phone calls, is that the caller’s name can be set to be announced (as per the listing in the phone) through the hearing aids.
Like its predecessor Marvel, Paradise offers hands-free phone calls. This means the wearer does not need to speak into the phone. The wearer’s voice is picked up by the hearing aids’ microphones and sent through the smartphone (other hearing aids require the phone to be held up and the voice picked up by the microphone on the smartphone). This hands-free experience is improved further in Paradise with the new tap feature. By simply double tapping (the ear/hearing aid) the phone call will be answered. When done with the call, the double tap will hang the call up.
For television watching, wearers can experience high quality audio wirelessly streamed directly from Bluetooth-enabled TVs into their Phonak Paradise hearing aids, transforming them into wireless headphones. For non-Bluetooth TVs, an optional Phonak TV Connector accessory can be purchased and connected to the television.
Phonak has also updated its myPhonak smartphone app. The app can be used to adjust basic hearing setting such as change programs and volume. In addition, wearers can create their own custom programs for specials situations. The app also supports remote care whereby wearers can allow their hearing care professional to fine-tune their hearing aids remotely, when they are away or unable to come to the clinic.
Audiological Performance
Phonak Paradise uses an upgraded sound processing technology Phonak calls AutoSense OS 4.0. This technology identifies and automatically adapts to the various situations (and varying acoustic environments) wearers experience in their everyday life. Relative to Marvel this technology has been updated and now includes motion sensors. This enables the hearing aids to determine whether the wearer is moving or not, to better adapt the technology to meeting the wearer’s hearing needs. For example, when a wearer is walking the hearing aids will provide more awareness of the surroundings. Paradise also features an updated speech and noise management system including the new features; speech enhancer and dynamic noise cancellation. These new features further enhance the hearing aids’ noise suppression and speech enhancement capabilities. Combined with a new adaptive compression system, Phonak Paradise hearing aids deliver outstanding speech clarity in challenging situations with background noise.
Rechargeability
Phonak offers a lithium-ion rechargeable model option called the Audeo P-R. The Phonak Audeo P-R offers wearers the convenience of not having to regularly change batteries. At the end of the day, wearers simply need to put their hearing aids in the charger case and over night they will be fully recharged (a full charging cycle takes approximately five hours). After charging, when the hearing aids are removed from the charger case they conveniently turn on automatically.
Phonak offers three charging case versions:
- The Phonak Standard Charger Case (pictured)
- The Phonak Mini Charger Case which is a compact charger
- The Phonak Charger Case Combi which is a charger, drying kit and protective hard case, all in one. A Phonak power pack can be attached to the Charger Case Combi enabling recharging on the go (no need for a power connection).
In terms of battery life, with no Bluetooth streaming, wearers can expect the Audéo P-R to last 24 hours on a single charge. With Bluetooth streaming (4 hours of TV streaming plus 4 hours of Bluetooth streaming), wearers can expect 16 hours of total use time. The rechargeable battery is expected to last around 6 years before it will need to be replaced.
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Models
Phonak Paradise is currently available in both standard and rechargeable receiver-in-canal (RIC) models: Phonak Audeo P-312, Phonak Audeo P-13 and a Phonak Audeo M-R (rechargeable). The Phonak Paradise RIC hearing aids are available in four performance levels (P90/P70/P50/P30) from Sounds of Life and are priced from $1490 each.
Non-Rechargeable (size 312 and Size 13)
Premium – Audeo RIC P90 $3400
High-End – Audeo RIC P70 $2990
Mid-Range – Audeo RIC P50 $2190
Entry-Level – Audeo RIC P30 $1490
Rechargeable (Lithium-ion)
Premium – Audeo RIC P90-R $3600
High-End – Audeo RIC P70-R $3150
Mid-Range – Audeo RIC P50-R $2390
Entry-Level – Audeo RIC P30-R $1695
Our Conclusion
Phonak Paradise is a successor to Marvel, and although it can really be viewed as more of an evolution rather than a revolution, we believe it delivers industry-leading performance in the key areas of audiological performance, Bluetooth connectivity and rechargeability. Over the last two years, Sounds of Life has fitted hundreds of Phonak Marvels with excellent results. Phonak has listened to its customers with further audiological and usability improvements and we believe Phonak Paradise will provide outstanding results for wearers.
About Sounds of Life
Sounds of Life audiology is a member of Audiology Australia and Independent Audiologist Australia. We adhere strictly to Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics. We pride ourselves on:
- Being fully independent – We are not owned or operated by a hearing aid manufacturer or large chain.
- Ethical Practices – We are focused on providing the highest level of care and do not pay commissions.
We also follow the Australian Government Hearing Services’ protocol for hearing services.
If you feel hearing loss is impacting your life contact Sounds of Life.
Contact us today on 1300 744 432 or via our contact form below: