Performance Levels Explained | Phonak Audéo EON (Sphere)

What are performance levels in hearing aids?

Think of a hearing aid as a small computer in your ear. The performance level determines how “intelligent” that computer is. From the outside, the devices in a model range – such as the Phonak Audéo EON – look exactly the same. The difference is on the inside: in the software and in the features the device has available.

Why are there different levels?

Not everyone has the same daily routine. Someone who spends a lot of time at home and enjoys reading has different requirements than someone who is often in noisy restaurants, goes to concerts or listens to lectures. The different levels let you choose a device with exactly as much technology as your lifestyle calls for – so you only pay for what you actually use.

EON or EON Sphere – what is the difference?

Before we get to the performance levels, it is worth looking at the two versions. Both belong to Phonak's new EON platform, both are rechargeable, run up to 38 hours on a charge, receive Auracast™ broadcasts (in a theater or museum, for example) and reduce wind noise with WindBlock 2.0. The decisive difference is one additional chip:

• Phonak Audéo EON SphereIn addition to the proven ERA chip, it carries the new HYPERSONIC™ AI chip. With Spheric Speech Clarity 3.0 it separates speech from background noise in real time – from any direction. According to Phonak, the EON Sphere is also 25% smaller and 20% lighter than the previous Sphere model.
• Phonak Audéo EONRuns on the ERA chip and the learning operating system AutoSense OS™ AI 8.0, which adapts to your listening environment automatically. Without the additional AI chip it is the more affordable choice for everyone who is not regularly in very noisy environments.

In short: the EON Sphere is made for people to whom understanding speech in noise matters most. The EON offers the same modern platform, but without the AI-powered speech separation.

What sets the performance levels apart?

The main differences usually come down to these four points:

• Speech intelligibility: How well is speech brought to the foreground in complex environments?
• Noise reduction: How well does the device filter out noise – the clatter of dishes, for example – while keeping speech clear?
• Spatial hearing: How precisely can you tell which direction a voice is coming from?
• Sound quality in music or complex situations: How natural does your environment sound when things get loud?

The most important quality of a hearing aid is clear speech understanding in loud, complex environments – in a busy restaurant or a lively gathering, for example. This is where the performance levels differ the most. The highest level, the Phonak Audéo EON Sphere 90, uses the full strength of Spheric Speech Clarity 3.0 and switches it on automatically as soon as it gets loud. According to Phonak, the technology achieves a signal-to-noise ratio improvement of up to 10 dB. If you want uncompromising speech understanding in complex, noisy environments, the highest performance level gives you the most.

The performance levels of the Phonak Audéo EON

The Phonak Audéo EON comes in 4 performance levels, the Phonak Audéo EON Sphere in 3. The entry level 30 is only available for the EON, not for the EON Sphere. Phonak also calls the levels E90, E70, E50 and E30:

• Phonak Audéo EON (Sphere) 90 (Premium)The flagship model with the best and newest hearing technologies and the highest degree of personalization. Only level 90 offers the Speech Enhancer, which lifts soft voices – from a distance, for example. On the EON Sphere 90, Spheric Speech Clarity 3.0 also works at full strength and fully automatically.
• Phonak Audéo EON (Sphere) 70 (Advanced)A powerful option with many premium features at a lower price. The binaural directionality StereoZoom 2.0 and dynamic noise cancellation are on board just as they are at level 90. On the EON Sphere 70, Spheric Speech Clarity also switches on automatically, at a slightly lower strength than at level 90.
• Phonak Audéo EON (Sphere) 50 (Standard)Offers a balanced ratio of performance and price and suits ordinary, everyday listening situations. What is new: the EON Sphere 50 also features AI speech separation – at reduced strength and as a listening program that you activate manually, for example in the myPhonak app. In the previous generation this technology was reserved for the two highest levels.
• Phonak Audéo EON 30 (Essential)The entry-level model, which handles listening in simple environments with little background noise. Bluetooth streaming, Auracast™ and WindBlock 2.0 are on board here too. The device adapts automatically to quiet and loud environments, but it does not detect special situations such as music or conversations in the car. Level 30 is only available as the Phonak Audéo EON, not as the EON Sphere.

The performance levels compared

The following overview shows the most important differences at a glance:

Source: Phonak's official feature overviews for the Audéo EON Sphere and the Audéo EON. The strength ratings for Spheric Speech Clarity come from trade reports. The exact feature set can vary depending on how your hearing care professional fits the devices.

Our recommendation

Which performance level is right depends a lot on your individual needs and your lifestyle. For people who like to take an active part in life, are often around others and move through complex listening situations, we recommend the Phonak Audéo EON Sphere at level 70 or above – that way the AI speech separation works automatically, exactly when you need it. If you want the best possible hearing quality with as few limitations as possible, the Phonak Audéo EON Sphere 90 is the right choice – it offers everything the technology can do. If you mainly need the hearing aids at home, to watch television or to have conversations in a quiet living room, the Phonak Audéo EON 50 or 30 can be the right choice as well.