Introducing the Starkey Wi Series with IRIS Technology.
Starkey hearing aids are well renowned for their best in class feedback canceller and the new IQ noise reduction speech preservation features built into their hearing aids, now their latest leap in technology promises true wireless connectivity. No cables, no neck worn streamers and easy setup. A high fidelity sound with no latency issues or pairing problems. Sound good?
The earlier generation of wireless streaming is bluetooth, with the limitations of this method of streaming wireless audio a neck worn streamer needs to be worn. Issues include the neckloop, ongoing latency (or audio delay, lip-sync) issues, limited range and occasional pairing problems.
Recent newer entries into this arena are ReSound with their 2.4gHz wireless solution built into the Alera and the Widex Dex proprietary wireless solution.
Starkey have gone in a slightly different direction, plumping for 900mHz wireless, which has a number of benefits. Wireless binaural synchronisation is not a problem, nor is having line of sight for audio streaming to be a success. Other benefits include a really high fidelity sound quality, larger range, no perceptible audio delay and a very low power consumption.
The media streamer Starkey have brought to market is called Surflink Media, it can accept various audio inputs from a TV or other audio source and has onboard volume adjustment. No pairing required, you can set to auto so as soon as you come into range your hearing aids will accept the audio automatically.
A Surflink remote control is also available, a nice addition lacking in previous Starkey models. With the use of various overlaying templates the remote can be changed from a basic to an intermediate to an advanced remote control depending on the needs and requirements of the individual.
Starkey are launching the Wi Series i110 as a RIC product initially, the product will be available we are told early January 2011 in the UK, all other form factors are to follow by mid year 2011 latest, right down to CIC size.
It is envisaged the Wi Series will eventually replace the S Series as products are introduced to market.
