Mike it’s all in the setting up. A music programme shouldn’t sound worse at all and “thick blanket over the speakers” just says that it’s not set up properly at all.
Cheers but I just mis-read the post. Canaryfan was referring to what it sounded like WITHOUT the aids.
I’m seeing the audiologist on Monday but I’m pretty sure I’m going to get a pair of the Phonaks.
Especially as the price has more than halved since 2020.
Happy days
As David has said, my audiologist set up the aids to precicely match my hearing loss.
There are then levels of self adjustment and modes that can be adjusted via Bluetooth.
Another Phonak using here (Audéo rechargeable); other manufacturers are available. I have had them for a year and wouldn’t be without them; they have transformed my life for the better.
I suffer from aged-related hearing loss mainly in the higher frequencies - the damage done, I suspect, by excessive volume in the London blues clubs I visited in the late 60s and 70s; it was worth, though.
As some have mentioned it is all in the set-up. I was very circumspect that hearing aids could make a positive difference to my enjoyment of high quality music, especially as I suffer also from tinnitus. I have absolutely, comprehensively been proved wrong; my Phonaks have been a revelation.
They are so comfortable, I don’t actually realise that I am wearing them. After five years living with the curse of tinnitus, it has been reduced to almost zero. The aids connect seamlessly to my iPhone, everything coming through to my hearing aids. They automatically adjust and compensate for different environments, machine learning as you wear them.
Mention was made of the wax filters; with the Phonaks these are easy and simple to replace using a one-time cartridge system (caveat: obviously individual eyesight and dexterity dependent).
These aids have transformed my quality of life immeasurably, especially mutual engagement of those around me; I am most impressed with the vast improvement in my music listening pleasure.
Downside? I would like the rechargeable batteries to last longer. For the most part, I wear my aids from 0700 to 2230, and they just about last this length of time. The rechargeable Phonaks cannot be charged in the cordless charging case, they have to be charged via a USB wired case, but the aids do charge speedily.
Do your homework as best you can before purchase. Go to a reputable audiologist (I went to Specsavers) and discuss your needs; if necessary, get the set-up tweaked after living with your aids (Phonaks also can be user adjusted via their app).
Good luck.
Morning MikeD best of luck on Monday, had mine(nhs) for about a year found that they did make a difference especially with my tinnitus but then I started to get problems with wax buildup which was a real pain, so at the moment I haven’t had them in for about a month just to let my ears settle down so to speak.
I hope they work out for you as they can make a big difference if you get everything right, mine is still a work in progress, one issue I had listening to music was at low to medium levels they were fine but for full on sessions found they seemed to distort the sound, so now I listen without and at the moment it’s working for me.
One thing I found strange, they don’t give you another hearing test with the hearing aids fitted, not sure if this is the norm but I would of thought that would confirm how much of an improvement they make.
Anyway best of luck hope it all goes smoothly for you👍.
@MikeD, if you haven’t already do scan the existing threads. After getting my hearing aids a year ago I posted some things in this thread: Hearing Aids while this is one of the older threads I found of value: Loss of hearing but not bad enough to be proper hearing loss?. ((Both of these should link)
My aids have a pipe into the ear canal that does not seal, simply feeding a supplementary output of the high frequencies to add to the main sound entering my ears and make up for the attenuation of my ears. To begin with, with music I was aware of the source of the sound being at my ear, I guess due to fractional time/phase shift. However that disappeared as my brain became accustomed (or as they burnt in if you are a believer in that sort of thing!)
A bonus of the aids is that they can link to my pocket computer (aka smartphone) by bluetooth, and I can use as notification tone receivers and phone earpieses inaudible to other people. I can also play music direct to them from the smartphone, but with the disadvantage that there is no bottom end as it is only the hearing aid boosting output, so actually I don’t find bpvery good for that. This leads to a question for others: does anyone have aids for just HF boost that have ear sealing plug feeds, therefore full frequency range? If so how are they for music in the room? Presumably then little or no different with direct feed via bluetooth?
Picture might help describing, she has moulds rather than cones, the tube and screw on unit come as one piece, the filter is at the blue arrow, the tube it pushed through the mould, then the excess trimmed off. When she had cones, the tube detached from the screw on unit and you could push a piece of plastic through for cleaning. She has been told this is no longer an option.
When you mentioned setting up, I recall that one part included inserting a very thin tube to a microphone into the ear cavity, then the aid. Then, played speech and music through a speaker and adjustment were made to take account of the ear cavity.
It would be worth checking with your audiologist whether there is a setting switched on that should be switched off for music to prevent this. There certainly is a setting on my Phonaks that reduce loud noises which is switched off in the music programme.
.sjb
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Hurray
This thread seems to be perfectly timed.
I had right sided hearing loss last night - not much but noticeable at hifi.
All paired with hyperakusis and metallic own voice. I was really frightened and went to ER.
This morning all seems back to normal. Sudden hearing loss.
I will try to go down from the massive stress level.
All too much information…
I am very happy to hear that even witch degraded hearing you can listen to music and als doing so with a hearing aid.
My most fears yesterday was - giving up the hobby.
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Hoping for a good outcome for you Drago 
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Thanks a lot! Much appreciated - all back to normal. But it has been shocking.
Not planning to step back from naim or you guys…!
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I got hearing aids at the end of last year. Unlike many here I went for Signia, purely because they were much more comfortable for me, that is obviously based on the shape of my ears, and I will wear them every day.
My audiologist tuned them to my specific profile and added tuned profiles for TV, live music and recorded music. I was quite stunned to find how much bass even my Qb was putting out.
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It’s a strange but normal situation, that more 30 years a go I began with naim, I could not afford the higher end stuff but my ears are fully capable of hearing. Now that I can afford it …
Like the „Porsche dilemma“ when you can afford, you can not get in and out anymore.
In my memory my 72/hc/250/SBL system in a good room was best I have ever heared. I was beginning 20s that time.
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I’ve got Oticon More aids. Yes there is a basic graphic equaliser , But your audiologist can do a setting for listening to music for you.
Rechargeable batteries,
One great advantage is that at a really loud concert is that you can turn them down as well!!
I also like the audio loop setting when at the theatre as well.
My Audiologist in Sheffield let me try about 5 different ones before deciding.
I have been to Specsavers and Boots but wasn’t happy with service provided.
Interesting, however what I was wondering about was earpieces sealed to the ear canal carrying full range sound, suitably boosted to compensate for hearing deficiency vs just thd appropriate top up delivered into the ear canal via an unsealed tube.
I joined the club one week ago. I had intermittent tinnitus since some months. The doctor said it’s very probably due because I have a loss in one ear , not big , but enough to create an imbalance. Then the ear tries to compensate and it creates tinnitus.
It’s a bit short to evaluate the hearing aids for now, but it seems to stop the tinnitus.
I have Signia pure 7ix, considered among the very best.
I have appointments every week with the audiologist. He does himself the settings . For now I can’t use the app. Not advised so soon.
When listening to music, it’s better. Have not the impression that something is not natural or bothering. We will see.
Later I will ask him to set up hd music programming, for recorded and live music.
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To a very large extent the answer depends on your hearing loss. If it’s a relatively benign level of loss, you can have open domes which allow sounds in that don’t need boosting.
If you have a serious loss then you need sealed domes (“power domes”) or custom moulds (molds to US readers!) to avoid being overwhelmed by feedback whistling.
The audiologist advises on these options as he/she fit the aids to your hearing prescription.
Ah, understood, thanks. Just means that with mild hearing loss using open domes music sent direct to aids is rather limited (but given the choice it is better to have the lesser hearing loss!).
My partner has recently upgraded to the uk Boots audiologist for Phonak.
She had the in ear jobbies and now has the top of the range over ear ones with a little whisper tube.
She’s delighted and enjoying the options to Tailor sounds and especially the local Bluetooth device attached to the furthest on the table.