Starkey Genesis AI: A real-world review…

The biggest leap forward in hearing technology, Starkey Genesis AI hearing aids are anything but ordinary. But how do they perform in the real world? We asked our friend, tech lover, and hearing aid wearer Aidan to put them through their paces, and his honest thoughts are below…

Very impressive technology, with a few very minor criticisms...

Hi, I've just been loaned a pair of the new Genesis hearing aids from Starkey to see what I think.

Now, to put this in context, there are two things you should know. First, a simple fact: I currently use the Livio aids from the Starkey range, so I will be using them as a comparison as and when. (For comparative purposes, both sets were programmed with the same prescription for my hearing loss.) Secondly, and a fact that may or may not be important to you, I love all things tech and am also a fan of sound systems for both music and films.

So, I'm going to have a look at a few areas that may be of interest. To start with, how are they as simple hearing aids? After all, that is their primary function. Then, I'll move on to the techy side of the hearing aids, streaming, and finally, the new "My Starkey" app.

So, they're hearing aids! And they work very well, noticeably clearer, especially in the upper range. They fit well, although I think the wire connecting to the earpiece has a slightly different curve, and the 'speaker' on the end is slightly longer, so it takes a little adjusting, but this is a minor thing. The battery life is very good - for instance, I've been wearing them for 7 hours today, and the app shows the batteries to be 100%. Two days of continuous use without charging (but switched off overnight) and with some streaming show 25% remaining (early evening). So, the overall verdict is that they are a very good set…

Moving on to the techy side of things

On the positive…

The processing speeds regarding the adjustments they make are a quantum leap ahead. For example, I use the boiling kettle test. Standing next to a kettle that is heating up from cold as it produces increasing levels of white noise is an interesting (but maybe a little false) test. Livio aids, after a few seconds, will suddenly filter out the white noise, and if you're not used to it, it can be a bit 'brutal' as though someone has just stuck cotton wool in your ears, but it's not a problem when you get used to it. Genesis adjusts the filtering within a fraction of a second and will continue to do so if you move your head closer or further away. The transition is very smooth and very comfortable for the user.

On a more practical note, wind noise filtering is very much better when compared to its predecessor. The nature of wind noise is very unpredictable, so it will never be perfect, but there is a very smooth adjustment even while you're holding a conversation.

On the negative side, and I'm being hyper-critical here...

Sometimes, the system is almost too clever (or maybe not clever enough). For instance, the hearing aids will adjust when exposed to, let's say, the noise of a passing car. It's noticeable and not a problem. But, getting a stream of cars going by with different engine noises, the system starts to play "catch up" a bit. But as I said, I'm being hypercritical here. And if I really want to scrape the barrel for negatives, occasionally, you can get a slight hiccup when listening to music being played back through a digital format, as sometimes I think the "digital gears" don't always mesh perfectly.

At this point, I would point out that spending some time with your audiologist - in my case, Duncan from Blackdown Hearing in Somerset, is essential. Careful feedback of information to your audiologist, along with the wide range of digital adjustments available, is well worth it and will make vast improvements, getting the best out of these aids.

Verdict…

Great hearing aids and any negatives are reduced to a minimum with careful adjustments.

Streaming.

There is nothing else to say other than a vast improvement. In fact, chalk and cheese. Quality, particularly at higher volume (i.e., no distortion), is absolutely superb! Even if you don't use the streaming function or the phone, you'll still notice an improvement in the quality of the "announcements." Incidentally, you can now "pick up" and "put down" the phone with a hearing aid button - a nice addition.

There has been one significant change to the button control on the aids when compared to the Livio aids. Livio streaming volume is controlled on the device, e.g., your phone or table microphone. Operation of the aid buttons will take the aids off mute and blend in sound from the aid microphones (adjusting the microphone volume as normal). I have got to like this feature, especially when using a table microphone, as a little input from the aids makes the experience a little more natural. The Genesis aids buttons simply control the streaming volume. It does mean you don't have to take your phone out to adjust your music volume, but personally, I prefer the old arrangement as it allows a little more control.

Now, the app, "My Starkey." At this point, I must highlight that the app I downloaded in the UK does not appear to have all the functions described in the online manual, so the following may simply be due to a different version not yet available.

I'm going to talk about cars for a moment. Strange, I know, but bear with me. My last two cars have been automatic, and I am now a total automatic fan. My new (second-hand) car has a vastly improved gearbox and transmission, has loads of very clever but subtle systems that oversee the engine and gearbox, and is very impressive. However, both vehicles have a manual override option to handle specific situations. (I suppose this is why you don't find many automatic World Rally Championships cars) but for everyday use, automatic is perfect.

The Livio Thrive apps had loads of tech adjustments you could make to deal with specific situations. Sadly, the "My Starkey" app has fewer. The Livio app had 4 sliders on the graphic equaliser function, while the new app has 3. It also had a directionality function along with some other gizmos worth playing with.

Again, I'm probably being hypercritical, but like the cars, it has been vastly improved, but some of the manual control has been taken away, which is a bit of a shame. Incidentally, if you use a Livio generation table microphone, which I have found to be a brilliant addition in noisy environments, the pub being an obvious example, it is unfortunately incompatible with Genesis, so you'll need a new one. They are very good but not cheap, so having to replace it is a consideration.

So, my overall verdict: Very good hearing aids with amazing technology in terms of sound processing and enhancement, with a better quality output for both hearing and streaming - a vastly improved product. The app works well and logs onto the aids almost instantaneously, which is a big improvement.

With thanks to Aidan for his time on the above - Contact us if you would like to learn more about the latest hearing aid technology now available for you in Somerset.