The NEW Starkey Edge AI Hearing Aids: Full Feature Review

[@donhayden2617]

I recently upgraded my Starkeys to the edgeAI and I'm pleased. Clarity in unbelief. We were in a small outdoor gathering the other day and it was the first time in a long time when I could understand everyone's speaking. As for battery life I went with the 24 series and it's only a 40 hour battery life. But like you were saying if they make it a day that's good enough for me. I used them on my bike ride and streamed 40 minutes+ of music, which sounded great - better than my airpods pro 2s. If I step into the wind there is still some wind noise but I haven't been in a windy environment for an extended period of time so when that happens I can report on that as well. After three weeks of constant use they are performing very well. I put them in the first thing every morning, usually around 5 AM and don't take them out till around 9:30 pm.

[@BrandonAdawi]

By default the noise suppression settings are not turned all the way up. In the Edge AI 24 level there is a sliding scale from "Off", 1, 2, 3, 4. By default the settings are set to 3. Wind noise suppression is set to 26 by default but could be turned up to 35 dB of wind noise suppression. Adjustments make a huge difference. Fitting formula and real ear measurements make a huge difference in performance.

[@jeffj318]

51 hours battery life for the 24 model.

[@TheSgtsMess]

@@jeffj318 not if you have the mRIC model (just the one button on them) they are smaller with no telecoil

[@whatdafrog]

Health features are meaningless in hearing aids. You have it on your watch, on your phone, you DON'T need them on your hearing aids.

[@jeffj318]

Don't use them.

[@HearingTracker]

It looks like that's the general consensus! I agree, Matthew

[@TheSgtsMess]

i like the idea of the steps especially as i dont like wearing watches

[@leerogers5628]

Have never activated any health features at all, and have never been asked too either. I’d love an impartial view on the Starkey vs the Sphere!

[@BrandonAdawi]

How the hearing aids are adjusted makes a huge difference. Our Phonak rep recently told us to change the activation of Spheric Speech in Loud Noise to "Moderate" which would activate much more often...rather than only when in loud noise (where it is by default). She said not to worry about the battery life. I am trying what she said and so far no issues with the battery.

[@jeffj318]

Each has it's perks.

[@HearingTracker]

I feel another video coming up! Leave it with me. Matthew

[@watermain48]

The only health feature I care about is the fall detection one. It gets icy in the winter here in Idaho and my wife worries that I may fall down when I'm walking the dog or working in my shop. So I use that one. I don't care about counting steps or heart rate monitoring. Thanks Matthew, I'm looking forward to the full review.

[@rayjones9231]

We have many very elderly patients who have the fall alert programmed into their Starkey hearing aids. It is not only peace of mind for them, but also for their relatives!

[@BrandonAdawi]

Good and bad because they don't wear the hearing aids in the shower or when walking to the bathroom in the night (times when they would be more likely to fall but not be wearing their hearing aids). This is a known issue that Dr. Dave Fabry at Starkey has mentioned before. A nice feature but could lead to a false sense of security.

[@jeffj318]

Well said. Seniors need to be very careful. 😱

[@tlacher]

Is the waterproof option on the ITC?

[@DanAshleyWork]

Thank you for this excellent review. Two points. 1) I am an avid biker, Runner and I track my steps every single day. I have a health savvy smartwatch. I do not need, do not want, and would not pay extra for step tracking functions or other health functions in my hearing aids. 2) I am a volunteer on the technology committee at my church. We are ready to plug in an AuraCast transmitter so that the hearing impaired in our congregation can take advantage of this new technology. Sadly there are no transmitters available for us to purchase. Who should we contact in order to become the first Church in Chicago to offer this technology? -Dan

[@HearingTracker]

Hey Dan, thanks for taking the time to comment. There are a few Auracast transmitters floating aroundm but it's too early yet. I'm off to CES 2025 in a few weeks to find out so watch this space and I'll report back when I know more. Matthew

[@TheSgtsMess]

dont use the health app part of the HA then

[@_Randwulf]

We're investigating "Hearing Aids" not "Wellness App Aids"... Thx 4 the discussion. 👍😎

[@HearingTracker]

Thanks Wulf, yes exactly... is that the future do you think? Matthew

[@ednunpourtahmasbi605]

It's a great review and informative as ever. As a blind user with cochlear hydrops who's trying to choose hearing aids, whilst I appreciate people might find the AI features useful, I would just love a simple as analogue option as possible, but sadly we seem to have shot right past that idea. I don't want the hearing aid telling me what I should and should not be listening to. I don't want it applying compression even though we've turned off all the impulse control. I don't want it deciding hey I just heard a loud noise so I'm going to turn the high freqs down and thus make my users world go away. I don't want it biasing the high freqs even though we've told it I have low freq loss. Can you imagine if we implemented this same idea in glasses how nuts people would go? Look say the glasses, we think you should only be focusing on people who are speaking to you, or within a certain distance to you, or who are wearing red coats. Oh look say the glasses, you're seeing too much blue today, let me tone that right down for you so it's all flat. we'd all refuse to buy them :)

[@beckerization]

How do these perform for a singer in a choir? Or singer accompanied by a piano? How do these process the sounds of the singers voice, other singers and instrumentation? BTW, hearing aid reviews for vocalists would be a niche category of videos!

[@beckerization]

On a related matter, would auracast in a church sanctuary be switchable by the hearing aid users? I’m a pastor, I sing in the choir, and I can’t imagine speaking or singing with auracast being piped into my hearing aids.

[@shyam8748]

@@beckerization This will most probably be an option in the (hearing aid) app on your phone. You will be able to select which auracast transmission you want to listen to.

[@HearingTracker]

Hey Beckeriziation. The key is the programming not the aid in my opinion. i.e they'll only work well with music if your audiologist knows how to programme them for music. Matthew

[@beckerization]

@@shyam8748thanks for the thought. I’d likely turn auracast off as my default and switch on when going into a venue where I might need it.

[@beckerization]

@@HearingTrackerthank you. I appreciate your content.

[@derkradfahrer2207]

Phonak Audeo Paradise P70. All health features deactivated. Don't need these features now an in the future. As allways, interesting video!

[@HearingTracker]

Thanks for sharing Derkradfahrer! Glad that you're finding them useful. Matthew

[@Kellysher]

New to hearing aids. Trying to decide on the Edge AI 24 RIC and MRic. Charging time aside. What do I need to understand. Is 1 button enough and why do I care? I also wear glasses for my computer desk job. Thoughts? I like the smaller one for stealth…..but willI need those buttons, and how will glasses matter?

[@patrickduggan2616]

Hi, many thanks for this very infortnative video. Any help for people with Tinnitus issues?

[@HearingTracker]

Hey Patrick, yes the tinnitus features have remain unchanged and are pretty flexible with Starkey. I have a whole vid covering this on the channel you may like, Matthew

[@albertcasazza9697]

I am interested in the Bluetooth connection with windows 11 pc. I have read there have been issues with connectivity . Any info will be helpful

[@RebelGran_01]

Hearing aids are for hearing not for step counting and emergencies measures. I only want hearing aids that concentrate on aiding my hearing.

[@HearingTracker]

Yes RebelGran! P.s I love your name! Matthew

[@diegoalexandre-garcia7561]

No IIC model?

[@HearingTracker]

In the signature series at the moment....Matthew

[@patriciaandrews2007]

I am currently wearing Oticon intent aids but unfortunately they don’t really help in noisy situations, could that be due to the setup? Due to try the Starkey edge next!

[@mikelynch6061]

Not sure if it's just me but the cc cut out about halfway through.

[@artgiepabelonio8608]

Same here

[@workingTchr]

Long time Starkey IIC user here. Waiting for Edge AI to come to IIC.

[@rolfrienhardt1837]

The fall alert feature is a good addition, however it is even on the less sensitive setting too sensitive. The other monitoring features are not relevant for me. I have the Genesis AI 24 and the battery life is 50+ hours as sometimes I forget to put them on charge and they still give me a full 2nd day. The performance in meetings and restaurants is a mixed bag. Sometimes good to very good to unacceptable despite the Edge mode. Some voices still are not clearer despite engaging Edge mode repeatedly. The number of default programs should be increased from 4 to at least 6 as I lost the Loop setting due to my requirement of the Outdoor setting. Occasionally the hearing aid goes "funny" by enhancing irrelevant side noise to an elevated level. Tapping to engage Edge mode rectifies this. The Edge mode is in my opinion one of the most valuable and frequently used features.

[@HearingTracker]

This is some really useful information, thanks for sharing! Matthew

[@carlacorral5992]

Great work as always Matthew

[@HearingTracker]

Thanks for taking the time to comment! I'm glad you liked it. Matthew

[@joooooo-s8f]

Is the Starkey Edge AI is as good as the not-yet-released Phonak Virto R Infinio's, especially when the Phonak's are used with a Roger On? And do you know when the Virto R's will be released? In other words, it is worth being patient!

[@rayjones9231]

Battery capacity is important because as you know lithium batteries deteriorate over time. What might last say 16 hours now in 3 years or less will be half that.

[@HearingTracker]

Thanks Ray. I agree the health declines, but not quite half in 3 years. Thanks for sharing. Matthew

[@rayjones9231]

@ I have had Bernafon, Oticon & Starkey battery failures within 3 years.

[@gbkworf]

I dont need nor want Wellness crap in my hearing aids. I want to be able to HEAR!!!!

[@jeffj318]

You will hear with the Edge AI 24. Don't worry about the other stuff.

[@gbkworf]

@@jeffj318 I'm very interested in the new Sphere, but have to wait till September

[@HearingTracker]

I sense you feel strongly about this GBKworf! I always value your comments on my vids, thank you! Matthew

[@gbkworf]

@@HearingTracker It's just like cell phones. They put all these amazing things in them, But yet we still drop calls. It is a phone Afterall. And, they are hearing aids afterall. I need to be able hear! I have an IWatch for Wellness and a Ring as well and there are many other wellness options. Don't waste time on BS. Put in the time for things people get HA for. I still have issues with loud background as most of us do. I cant buy new HA aids till September. Of course right now the odds on favorite would the Infineo Spheres, unless another company comes out with something amazing. But it sounds like Starkey is wasting time on unnecessary BS so I doubt Starkey will be competing with Infineo Spheres in September. Love your content, thanks

[@mmlips]

Health features are not something I care about. Give me the ability to connect Bluetooth to all my BT enabled devices.

[@HearingTracker]

mmmmmmmmlips! You and me both! Matthew

[@Dave-901]

Can you do a comparison video on BAHA devices ie ponto 5 etc pls.

[@HearingTracker]

Hey Dave! Sure I'll add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion, Matthew

[@Dave-901]

@@HearingTracker Thank You

[@tinelchris]

I think these are the first full-fledged cross devices with AI

[@HearingTracker]

Agreed! Matthew

[@donaldmacleod5531]

Health factors are important, particularly for those interested in heart monitoring.

[@stacybudd4631]

I like the health features within the hearing aid, especially the fall detection technology!

[@HearingTracker]

Hey Stacy - Thank you for sharing. Do you use them all? Matthew

[@glentaylor502]

Regarding battery life.. try this: fly from Barcelona to Lisbon to Amsterdam (get delayed in Amsterdam for almost 3 hours) then continue on to Edmonton, miss your connecting flight to Vancouver, spend another 3 hours trying to rebook another flight, then fly from Edmonton to Calgary (with an 8 hour wait) and on to Vancouver. Yes, there are times when 24 hours isn't going to do the job, and recharging is not convenient, because unless you have a spare pair of hearing aids with you, your severe hearing impairment means that you will be deaf while recharging.

[@BrandonAdawi]

Starkey reports that the battery will only degrade 20% in 5 years of usage. The long term length of the battery is another benefit to choosing Starkey.

[@jeffj318]

Up to 51 hours battery life with the Edge AI 24 RIC.

[@DurhamHearingSpecialists]

The health features are a bit like those "S" receivers in the fitting box ಠ_ಠ

[@Kakatee47]

How much do these “health” features add to the cost of the HA? Not a value proposition in my opinion as improved hearing especially in noisy environments while reducing cost should be the objective.

[@jeffj318]

Finally, Matthew, the review I have been waiting for. I just started the review but I'm going to give you kudos because I know you do the best reviews of all hearing aids. Lots of love from the USA East Coast. ❤ CC go off when you start discussing Bluetooth. Android phone calls?

[@HearingTracker]

Haha! I told you it was coming. Full review will be out in the next few months when I have more feedback from patients. Thanks for your patience. Matthew

[@juliekendall6409]

Yes

[@PARRIS2020]

Health monitors and hearing aids are a joke. I think they created them because they can’t really improve on the basic listening technology of a hearing aid… So they had all this fluff that has absolutely nothing to do with hearing better in order to get you to buy the newest ones. They should focus on making hearing aids hear better!!!

[@ginnybalthazor4293]

No health features needed for me.

[@HearingTracker]

Agreed! Thanks for sharing, Matthew

[@brendanmuldoongolf9613]

Health features unnecessary on aids - ear health maybe but general hearing, no

[@HearingTracker]

Thanks Brendan! I agree, personally, based on my patients feedback. Matthew

[@s.f4599]

I have no desire to have health features incorporated into my hearing aids. I would much rather have manufacturers put their research and money into hearing conversations better in noisy environments. I have a watch that monitors my health but it got annoying telling me my heart rate was too low! NOT!!! Age 71. Stephen F. Canada

[@WA5US]

I agree with most that health features are a waste of precious HA resources. Also, everyone selling just about anything electronic now claims to use AI. I call BS on this. Pure marketing hype. The really useful AI engines available today could never run on a tiny microprocessor with a small battery, rechargeable or not. I have a set of Starkey and Signia HAs and while they provide some sound amplification they can't replace the loss of natural hearing. That's why HA manufacturers focus on selling you other things like noise reduction and Bluetooth capability, all at extremely ridiculous prices.

[@eddieashley1553]

No.

[@HearingTracker]

Thanks Eddie, I agree... Matthew

[@l1uywpap1]

No need for health applications in hearing aids.

[@timtozer3509]

Health extra waste of time 😊

[@ellenharper6571]

The fitness feature provides inaccurate information on my Starkey Genesis AI HAs, especially when I'm on a climber or treadmill or moving fast. It often underreports my step count by 50%. I rely on other devices to provide accurate results. Get rid of this useless feature!

[@HearingTracker]

Thanks for letting me know about this. I'll pass on this feedback to my contacts at Starkey. Matthew

[@EugeneREhmann]

No health features

[@HearingTracker]

We're on the same page Eugene! Matthew

[@tlacher]

No health features.