Yes, the Phonak Audio Infinio Ultra Sphere really is a mouthful. For the sake of this review, I’ll call it the Ultra Sphere. The other new hearing aid system in the Infinio Ultra line, called R, is available as a less advanced, cheaper model.
The big sell with the Sphere is that it doesn’t include a single processing chip Two. The new DeepSonic DNN (Deep Neural Network) chip is responsible for multidirectional speech processing in noise. It sits on top of Phonak’s older Era chip, which launches in 2024 and handles core audio processing and wireless functions. Are two chips better than one for clear hearing? To find out, I wore Ultra Sphere hearing aids for a week.
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Photograph: Chris Null
The Ultra Sphere hearing aids are noticeably larger than most modern behind-the-ear (BTE) devices, apparently due to the extra silicone inside. At 3.39 grams each, this is a significant size increase compared to devices like the 2.58-gram Jabra Enhance Select 700 or the 2.68-gram Horizon Go 7IX. But while they are more easily visible to outside observers, that difference doesn’t have much of an impact on comfort, even after prolonged wear. (More on this later)
Both hearing aids have a two-way rocker button that is used for power, volume, and media controls. Tap control is also an option for some Bluetooth functions, but it is disabled by default in the MyPhonak app. The units carry an IP68 weatherproof rating and are available in seven colors. (I tested them in black.) During your professional evaluation you’ll also be fitted with your preferred eartip style (open, closed, or Phonak’s new wax-resistant EasyGuard dome).
These prescription hearing aids worked pretty well across the board in my testing. Professionally tuned by a Phonak representative, their claims of better hearing in noisy conditions were accurate, with mild—though not transformative—dull background sound in most cases. It’s almost impossible to accurately quantify how well the Ultra Sphere AIDS performed compared to other models on this front. Strangely, they worked better in noise than in relative silence. In a quiet room, the hearing aid will sometimes whisper softly for a few seconds, then stop, and whisper again a few minutes later. This slight whispering effect persisted throughout my experience, but I was only able to detect it when there was no other noise in the room.
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