Bernafon Hearing Aids

Bernafon Encanta Hearing Aids

Bernafon launched a new range of hearing aids called Encanta in March 2024. With the new launch, Bernafon is offering one hearing aid style with four performance levels. The only device available at launch was a new smaller MiniRITE, a Receiver In The Ear device, it comes with a pushbutton but because of the onboard motion sensors, you also get tap control function. The design means that the devices are both elegant and discreet on the ear.

Whilst Tap control, the changing of functions on the aid by simply tapping the device or the ear, may be welcome by some. The new Smart Sensor technology also detects head and body movements. The concept is that you generally want to hear what you are looking at. They say that they use that data from the motion sensors in various sound environments to help provide you with better speech understanding.

Four Levels of Technology

Encanta has been launched with four levels of technology, they are changing the designators that they have been using in the past. Instead of the 9,7,5 etc, it will be the premium 400, then 300, 200 and 100 in descending order of technology level. They also have catchy names to give a sense of what you can expect them to do, such as the Pro, Engage, Go and Connect.

I have taken a hard look at the devices and I feel that the 100 is perhaps too basic. I also offer the range at some of the best prices in Scotland, so I won't be offering it. It makes more sense to me to offer the rest of the range at keen pricing to ensure people get a bit more for their money. However, let's take a look at the levels.

Bernafon Encanta 400 PRO Hearing Aids

The premium performance level is ideal for people who demand excellent sound quality and innovative technology to support their speech understanding in any environment. This level offers the best support and performance in the most complex hearing situations.

Bernafon Encanta 300 ENGAGE Hearing Aids

This performance level is ideal for people who enjoy an active social life and often find themselves in conversations with groups often. Bernafon says that the Encanta 300 will help you fully engage in conversations with a group of people and is ideal for speech understanding in noisy situations.

Bernafon Encanta 200 GO Hearing Aids

This is the basic performance level and is ideal for people looking for speech understanding for one-to-one conversations in noisy environments. Bernafon say Encanta 200 is great for enjoying conversations and life on the go, ideal for for speech understanding in one-to-one conversations in a noisy environment.

Bernafon Encanta 100 CONNECT Hearing Aids

This is Encanta's entry-level and is designed for people who spend most of their time at home and have quieter lifestyles. Bernafon says Encanta 100 will enrich your connections at home with family and friends, ideal for speech understanding in One-to-one conversations in low-noise listening environments.

Encanta MiniRITE Hearing Aid

The MiniRITE devices are exceptionally discrete, they are rechargeable and have extensive connectivity options including Bluetooth and a telecoil. They are available in eight colours including pearly silver, metallic silver, charcoal grey, jet black, cocoa brown, antique bronze, stone beige, and sand beige. They also come with the option of a new small portable charger which once charged, offers you three charges on the go. It means you can charge your devices anywhere and anytime. Having said that, charging times are excellent, take a look below:

• 2 hour charge offers a 100% charge
• 60 minutes charge will give you 16 hours of power
• 30 minutes charge will give you 8 hours of power
• 15 minutes charge will give you 4 hours of power

Connectivity, Accessories & More

The Encanta hearing aids are compatible with Bernafon hearing aid accessories such as the TV-A TV Adapter, SoundClip A, and RC-A Remote Control. They are also compatible with iPhone, Android phones, and the new LE Audio, the  /resound-nexia-auracastso called Auracast system. This enables two-way audio and direct streaming as well as hands-free calls. The smartphone app allows you to enjoy control, personalisation, control, and the sharing of user and experience data via the Hearing Coach feature between you and your hearing professional.

Smart Sensor Technology and Smart Noise Reduction

The Smart Sensor Technology uses motion detection to try to both understand and deliver clarity as your focus changes between people in noise. The information from the motion sensors allows the aids to better understand who you are trying to listen to. They say that their Smart Noise Reduction when combined with the Smart Sensor delivers finer sound details even in noise. The new Smart Sensor technology is only available in the 400 Pro and the 300 Engage levels.

Smart Directionality and Smart Noise Management

Bernafon says that their Smart Noise Management will adjust to the sound environment you are in. It will continually work to deliver improved sound quality and better speech understanding in noisy situations. Their Smart Directionality uses different strategies and priorities for the microphones depending on what's going on around you. The aim is to deliver better sound localisation of speech helping you with better awareness of speech direction, better speech clarity and understanding in different listening situations.

You can read more about the Bernafon Encanta 400 Pro here

You can read more about the Bernafon Encanta 300 Engage here

You can read more about the Bernafon Encanta 200 Go here

Bernafon Alpha XT 9 Bernafon Alpha XT 7 Bernafon Alpha XT 5

Bernafon Alpha XT Hearing Aids

The Alpha XT represented an amazing evolution of their Hybrid Technology. It offers super-fast sound detection and processing so that users can receive more precise information about their environment in real time. The 9 is the top level of technology in the Alpha XT range, offering the pinnacle of Bernafon technology.

Bernafon is a brand that I came across a few years ago and I have had some real success with. The new Alpha XT technology is based upon the new Demant hardware which also underpins the Real from Oticon. Each element of their strategy will use a hybrid approach, a blending of two reliable technologies to deliver more than they can individually. They say "Bernafon’s Hybrid Technology™ propels five hybrid processing features to provide improved speech understanding and listening comfort."

Five Hybrid Technologies

Bernafon says that the Five hybrid blocks are:

Hybrid Sound Care

• Works to eliminate annoying sounds such as contact and wind noise
• Provides up to 500 adjustments per second, across 24 frequency bands.

Hybrid Balancing

• Personalised and balanced speech audibility and listening comfort.
• Independent attenuation customisation for speech in noise and solely noise situations.

Hybrid Noise Management

• Smart Directionality and Smart Noise Reduction to reduce noise in 24 bands.
• Optimised Smart Noise Reduction algorithm.

Hybrid Sound Processing

• Parallel sound processing in the time and frequency domains.
• Phonemic broadband compression in real-time is combined with high-precision compression in 24 frequency bands

Hybrid Feedback Canceller

• Combines phase cancellation and spectral-temporal modulation to get rid of feedback within milliseconds.
• Increased fitting range and a more beneficial target match due to higher feedback threshold.

Rechargeable Devices

The rechargeable Alpha XT devices will recharge in less than 3.5 hours and they last all day long, even when streaming audio. It allows you to concentrate on your life, rather than your next battery change. In my experience, Bernafon rechargeable hearing aids offer a full day of use without fail. Not one of my customers has complained about the aids running out of power, even when they are heavy users of streaming.

Two Rechargers

Bernafon offers two types of charger, the desktop charger and a new Portable Charger Plus. This is a particularly convenient accessory for people who don't want to be constrained by a plug. The charger is equipped with a power bank and offers 3 full charging cycles of two hearing aids without the need for a power supply. The practical lid securely stores the hearing aids inside. You can recharge the power bank of the Charger Plus in only 4 hours and travel comfortably and hassle-free.

Wireless connectivity

Alpha XT’s super-fast and powerful chip includes smart dual-radio wireless technology with 2.4 GHz direct-to-hearing-aid and NFMI ear-to-ear technology. Clients can enjoy direct-to-ear streaming without the need for an intermediate device when using an iPhone, some Android devices and can enjoy seamless communication between the two hearing instruments.

Made For iPhone Hearing Aid, Made For Android Hearing Aid

The Alpha XT range is both a Made For iPhone hearing aid and a Made For Android hearing aid. That means that it will offer a direct connection to Apple products and some of the more modern Android products. You can enjoy hands-free phone and video calls from iPhone^® and iPad^®, in addition to streaming audio directly from iOS and modern Android™ devices. There are also many connectivity accessories available to further enhance your listening experience.

Levels of Technology

The Alpha hearing aids will be available in the top three levels of Bernafon technology, the 9, the 7 and the 5. The Mini-RITE rechargeable hearing aid will cover hearing losses from mild to severe to profound.

You can read more about the Bernafon Alpha 9 here

You can read more about the Bernafon Alpha 7 here

You can read more about the Bernafon Alpha 5 here