Download Sound to make you smile.

Sound to
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2
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
Happiness sounds just like this.
Bliss gives you – and your patients – plenty to
smile about. Simple connectivity to wireless
devices. Speech Variable Processing that
delivers the natural sound Sonic is known
for. And Speech Priority Noise Reduction
specifically designed to make everyday
conversations every bit enjoyable. Introduce
your patients to Bliss. It’s a conversation you’ll
be pretty happy about, too.
4
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
The Many Joys of Sonic
People love the natural sound of Sonic,
the result of our 4S Foundation. These
guiding principles set lofty standards
for every Sonic product. And Bliss is
no exception.
Sound that’s natural
Bliss provides a rich, natural quality to everyday sounds. We aim to
free people from any sense of mechanics or artificiality. Instead, we
want Bliss users to be comfortable, confident, and able to enjoy the
world around them.
Speech understanding in noise
We appreciate that true understanding involves more than just
volume. Bliss uses technologies that enhance speech while
managing other unwanted sounds in the environment.
Simplicity in everything we do
Listening shouldn’t be a chore. So we keep the user experience
simple. Bliss provides hands-free operation in most listening
situations. When patients do interact with their device, Bliss
features are easy to access and intuitive.
Style that stands out
We believe people will enjoy their hearing experience more
when they’re not self-conscious about a hearing instrument.
With a variety of models to choose from, Bliss has a look
that fits most lifestyle and hearing needs.
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
5
Sonic 4S Foundation
Sound
that’s natural
Speech
understanding in noise
Speech Priority Noise Reduction
Soft Noise Reduction
Adaptive Directionality
Hybrid Adaptive Directionality
Simplicity
in everything we do
Style
that stands out
Universal Environment
Binaural Coordination
Wireless Connectivity
Speech Variable Processing
Impulse Noise Reduction
Wind Noise Reduction
Adaptive Feedback Canceller
miniBTE and BTE in 10 hair and skin colors
custom instrument models in 4 skin tones
Clear, natural sound and
unobtrusive listening comfort
Comfortable,
discreet solutions
Ability to understand
conversations, even in
challenging situations
Hands-free operation
and simple connection
to external audio sources
Delighted Patients
Figure 1
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
.20
.20
.15
.15
.10
.10
.05
.05
0
0
-.05
Second,
once the level of the input is known, the required
amplification
must be applied. Again, speed is of the essence –
-.10
the system must be able to apply the correct amount
-.15
of amplification for just the right amount of time.
Amplitude
Bliss
Fully Smart
Bliss includes the very best Sonic technologies, including our
impressive Speech Variable Processing. A fast-acting WDRC
system designed to replicate the cochlear amplifier model,
Speech Variable Processing helps keep sounds natural
and speech clear. While many processing systems may have
similar descriptions, these implementation specifics make
Sonic Speech Variable Processing superior.
time in seconds
-.25 processing schemes that are not designed to react
Signal
0.2
0.4 in signal
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4 systems
1.6
1.8with
quickly to changes
intensity
– typically
fast attack and slow release times – fail to properly identify
Ev differences
ery day in
S speech.
oundSlower
s Better
the amplitude
systems
“overshoot” or “undershoot” the amount of gain applied.
The result doesn’t sound natural.
Figure 2
Speed is key to accuracy
The cochlea has a natural ability to quickly analyze and
internally adjust amplification of sound. This impressive skill
is key to a natural perception of sound volume and quality.
To recreate the behavior of the cochlea, a processing system
must attempt to replicate this timing. Speech Variable
Processing does just that, aiming to preserve the valuable
temporal information inherent in environmental sounds.
.20
-.10
-.15
-.20
-.25
Original signal
Gain applied for very fast attack / fast release
Gain applied for fast attack / slow release
.15
.10
.05
0
-.05
Amplitude
First, it is important to quickly and accurately measure the
input level of the incoming signal. Input levels are rarely static
– they change rapidly. This is especially true of speech.
-.20
-.05
Amplitude
6
-.10
-.15
time in seconds
-.20
Figure 1
1.1
.20
1.15
1.2
nd
.15
1.25
s
1.3
1.35
B
.10
.05
Figure 2: Systems with fast attack and slow release times
(Linear)
(light orange)
apply to much orUncompressed
too little gain
because
Figuretypically
3
Speech Variable
Processing
they do not react quickly enough to changes
in sound
pressure
Multichannel
levels. With its very fast attack and release times, Speech
100
Variable Processing (dark orange) is able to accurately
measure
and compensate for sudden changes in sound
90
pressure levels.
0
-.05
1.8
nal
ase
ase
-.15
-.20
-.25
time in seconds
0.2
0.4
80
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
Ev ery day S o u nd s Better
Figure 1: Sound pressure level differences over time for the
incoming signal “Everyday Sounds Better”. Notice that the
intensity level between the phonemes /nd/, /s/, and /B/ are
very different. Speech Variable Processing is able to capture
and amplify each individual phoneme precisely, including
the softest parts of speech.
70
Speech
Variable Processing is specifically designed to very
rapidly
analyze
the incoming signal and quickly adjust gain
60
thousands of times per second. The ability to quickly identify
50
a sound
and apply amplification – the attack time – and then
to change
applied gain quickly when the sound changes – the
40
releasefrequency
time – is(Hz)
what allows Speech Variable Processing to
30
enhance
speech intelligibility and create a natural sound.
Output Level (dB SPL)
Amplitude
-.10
100
250
500
1000
/e/
10000
A
Amplitude
-.05
-.10
-.15
time in seconds
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
-.20
1.1
1.15
1.2
nd
1.25
s
1.3
7
1.35
B
Uncompressed (Linear)
Speech Variable Processing
Multichannel
Figure 3
B
A
100
90
Output Level (dB SPL)
80
70
60
50
40
frequency (Hz)
30
100
250
500
1000
10000
/e/
Figure 3: The frequency contrast for the vowel sound /e/.
Clarity requires frequency contrast
If speed is the key to accuracy, frequency contrast is the
key to clarity. Frequency contrast is the difference in the
amplification across frequencies for an incoming sound.
Correctly identifying these contrasts plays a large role in
speech clarity. A healthy cochlea amplifies sound to maintain
this natural level difference across frequencies. With a
sensorineural hearing loss, the ability to amplify correctly
at different frequencies is diminished, resulting in a loss of
frequency contrast.
Most traditional multichannel compression systems split the
acoustic signal into separate frequency bands, measure the
signal at separate levels for each band, and compress each
band according to its individual measurement and prescribed
gain setting. In doing so, these systems systematically flatten
the spectrum of sounds they process, losing contrast across
frequencies in the process.
Speech Variable Processing overcomes this loss of frequency
contrast by measuring and applying gain to the wideband
acoustic signal. Because the system is never measured and
adjusted in separate frequency regions, it avoids the summing
effect of applying gain in multiple bands. Speech Variable
Processing preserves the contrast inherent in the original
signal.
A: Traditional multichannel systems can cause a flattening
of the spectrum, resulting in a loss of contrast across
frequencies.
B: Speech Variable Processing applies gain to the entire
wideband signal, thereby preserving the frequency contrast.
8
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
Reduce the Noise,
Increase the Joy
Soft Noise Reduction
While amplifying important speech
signals is part of a hearing device’s
basic function, amplifying annoying
and unwanted noise shouldn’t be.
This is particularly true of low-level
sounds: the whirring of a fan or the soft
rumble of a refrigerator. Soft Noise
Reduction reduces these quiet but
distracting sounds without modifying
the amplification of important speechrelated signals.
Wind Noise Reduction
Wind Noise Reduction makes time
spent outdoors more enjoyable by
preventing wind sounds from being
amplified. When wind is detected,
the Wind Noise Reduction feature
quickly sets the lowest frequencies to
an optimal directional response and
applies maximum attenuation across all
frequencies, providing instant relief.
Speech Priority Noise Reduction
A hearing device’s primary goal is to
maximize the ability to understand
speech. This can be difficult when
speech is mixed with noise. Correctly
identifying what is speech and what is
noise can be very difficult, and often
noise reduction systems trade comfort
for speech intelligibility. Not so with the
sophisticated Speech Priority Noise
Reduction found in Bliss.
Speech Priority Noise Reduction
1.0 ] ························································································································································································
0.8 ] ························································································································································································
0.6 ] ························································································································································································
SPEECH
0.4 ] ························································································································································································
0.2 ] ························································································································································································
0 ] ························································································································································································
-0.2 ] ························································································································································································
-0.4 ] ························································································································································································
Audio in dB
Unwanted noise can be distracting,
confusing, and simply irritating. Bliss
puts multiple systems to work to
identify and reduce unwanted sounds.
Less noise means better speech
understanding and greater patient
comfort.
STEADY-STATE NOISE
-0.6 ] ························································································································································································
-0.8 ] ························································································································································································
-1.0 ] ························································································································································································
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Time in Seconds
Speech Priority Noise Reduction works
to separate speech from surrounding
noise, making conversations
comfortable and clear. The system
constantly monitors the input and
determines the modulation ‘fingerprint’
of the signal. Sounds that are highly
modulated are most likely speech and
should be preserved; sounds that do
not show modulation characteristics
are most likely noise and should be
reduced. By independently managing
the noise and leaving the speech signal
intact, Speech Priority Noise Reduction
provides comfort and preserves
underlying speech signals, resulting in
improved speech intelligibility.
Impulse Noise Reduction
Impulse Noise Reduction suppresses
unexpected loud sounds, like the
clinking of silverware or jangling
of keys. Patients often rate the
amplification of these sounds as one
of the most uncomfortable aspects of
wearing hearing instruments.
Impulse Noise Reduction identifies
impulsive sounds by examining the input
and checking for the following traits:
• Is the input unexpected – does it greatly differ from the average input?
• Is the input quick – is it of
a short duration?
• Does the input have a high
intensity – is it loud?
Once an impulsive sound is identified,
Impulse Noise Reduction suppresses
the sound without modifying other parts
of the input that may contain important
speech cues. The result is improved
listening comfort without sacrificing
speech intelligibility.
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
9
No More
Whistle and Squeal
Feedback is a thing of the past with
Bliss. Bliss removes offending feedback
signals – often before they are even
heard – for squeal-free, easy listening.
Feedback signals typically build in
intensity before they become loud
enough to be audibly perceived as
feedback. The Adaptive Feedback
Canceller system in Bliss continually
monitors the frequency content
of the input signal for oscillation
characteristics typical of feedback. Once
identified as feedback, the inverse phase
canceller quickly applies a counter
signal to the offending component,
which typically eliminates feedback
before it is audible.
If an amplified signal re-enters the
microphone within 5 milliseconds
of exiting the receiver, the system
recognizes that component as a signal
that has been previously amplified,
and treats the signal as feedback.
This allows for very quick removal of
unwanted feedback.
Conventional feedback cancellation
systems typically react too late to stop
feedback before it starts, reacting only
once it is a noticeable problem. The
Adaptive Feedback Canceller in Bliss
proactively attacks feedback, resulting
in squeal-free easy listening.
Yes
Incoming Signal
Memorize signal
characteristics
Has the signal been
in the system in the
last 5 milliseconds?
No
Yes
Is there feedback?
No
Apply inverse phase
cancellation to remove
feedback
Send signal
to receiver
10
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
Focus On
The Positive
The sophisticated directional systems
in Bliss allow patients to focus on the
things they want to hear – the important
everyday sounds happening right in
front of them.
Fixed Directionality
Fixed Directionality is useful in scenarios
where the location of sound is static or
more defined. Sitting in a restaurant is a
great example.
Adaptive Directionality is ideal in more
dynamic, variable environments, such
as in an office setting or when out on the
town. The incoming signal is constantly,
quickly analyzed to determine the
location of the loudest sound within
each of four frequency regions. Upon
identifying the location, the best polar
response is applied independently in
each region to improve the signal-tonoise ratio.
10 0 0Hz
Hybrid Adaptive Directionality is the
directional system that most closely
approximates the performance of a
healthy, open ear canal. The system is
configured to preserve the manner in
which low and high frequency sounds
are naturally propagated through the
auditory system, taking into consideration
head shadow effects and the shape of the
external ear.
The lowest frequencies – those most
commonly associated with important
environmental cues – are set to a fixed
omni directional mode. This helps to
minimize wind and maintains audibility in
reverberant environments. The mid and
high frequencies – where speech content
is prevalent – uses Adaptive Directionality
to best attenuate the noise and allow the
listener to focus on speech.
Adaptive Directionality
LOW
10 0 0Hz
150 0Hz
250 0Hz
HIGH
10 0 0Hz
150 0Hz
250 0Hz
HIGH
Hybrid Adaptive Directionality
LOW
12
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
Bliss
Fully Equipped
Life is full of the unexpected. And
your patients’ listening environments
change day to day, even hour to hour.
Bliss is ready to tackle them all with
features that deliver accurate, handsfree operation. So your patients can
take on the day with a seamless
listening experience.
harmonics
Universal Environment
The Universal Environment constantly
monitors for specific characteristics
of the incoming signal (sound level,
presence of speech, frequency content,
and harmonics). By analyzing these
different sound traits, the system
determines which combination of
features and amplification will be
beneficial in the environment, and then
automatically adjusts accordingly.
harmonics
sound
level
frequency
frequency
speech
frequency
Although the Universal Environment
is capable of addressing a variety of
listening situations, special attention
has been given to prioritizing speech
intelligibility. Because speech is vital
to comprehension, the Universal
Environment is specifically tuned to
optimize essential speech-related cues,
maximizing speech intelligibility in noisy
situations.
sound
level
speech
quiet
noise
frequency
wind
speech
speech
in quiet
Detect
Analyze
Detect
speech
in noise
Adjust
An
Binaural
Coordination
With Binaural Coordination, Bliss*
can wirelessly share information
between the left and right devices. The
operation is simpler for patients, and the
experience is so natural, they may forget
they’re wearing hearing instruments.
Volume and Program Change
Changes to volume levels or program
selection made on one device are
automatically made in both devices
simultaneously.
Environment Classification
Uses the input from both instruments
to create a 360° analysis of the auditory
scene. Based on this information, the
devices adjust in unison to select the
ideal configuration for the Universal
Environment.
Non-Telephone Ear Control
(Bliss 100 Exclusive)
When one ear engages its Auto
Telephone listening program, Bliss
automatically specifies the other device
as the non-telephone ear and reduces
gain or mutes the input on that side.
This reduces the distractions caused by
non-telephone sounds and increases
the perception of volume from the
telephone.
* BTE, miniBTE, ITEPDW, ITCPDW models
14
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
Bliss
Fully Connected
A hearing instrument isn’t the only
device patients need to rely on. Cell
phones, MP3 players, PCs, and
television are integral to everyday life.
Created specifically to connect to life’s
conveniences, Bliss* comes ready to
communicate with Bluetooth®compatible external audio sources.
The SoundGate device provides wireless
communication between Bliss and
virtually any external audio source that
uses Bluetooth® transmission. Simply
pair SoundGate with Bliss, and patients
can instantly enjoy hands-free mobile
phone use, binaural audio streaming, and
basic remote control operations.
Listening to television is easier, too.
Connect the optional TV Adapter to a
television, and SoundGate streams the
audio directly to Bliss. Thanks to binaural
wireless reception, movies and TV shows
have never sounded clearer.
Even landline phones get direct attention.
An optional accessory, the Phone
Adapter provides a binaural wireless link
between landline phones and SoundGate,
making even non-mobile phone use
simple and clear.
* BTE, miniBTE, ITEPDW, ITCPDW models
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
Programmed to
Please
Bliss provides several features
specifically designed to help you get
your patients quickly fit, fine-tuned,
and on their way.
Environments
Pre-configured Environments make
device configuration simple. Each
Environment combines features and
amplification adjustments ideal for that
specific listening scenario.
Wireless programming
The nEARcom programming unit
allows wireless programming between
Bliss and your fitting system computer.
Simply place the nEARcom unit around
your patient’s neck, start up
EXPRESSfit 2013 and begin
programming – no extra parts, no
cables.
Data Logging
The Data Logging system records usage
information about patients’ listening
behaviors. By analyzing this information,
you can make quick fine-tuning decisions
based on historical performance data.
Data Learning (Bliss 100 Exclusive)
With Data Learning, Bliss devices learn
patients’ preferred volume settings over
time, and adapt the default amplification
settings to match their preferences.
nEARcom
15
16
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
Bliss
Fully Delightful
Bliss is a delightfully natural fit for a variety of
lifestyles and hearing needs. Patients can choose
from two stylish behind-the-ear models.
8
1
9
2
9
1
7
5
3
5
7
6
8
6
11
2
10
3
4
1 Dual Covered Microphones
• Dual microphones allow for
sophisticated directional features to
enhance performance in noise
• Microphone protection keeps unwanted
debris and moisture from entering the
device
2 Program Button
• Provides easy access for up to four
listening memories
3 Tamper-Resistant Lock
• Keeps the battery secure from children
4 Direct Audio Input
• Provides connectivity for FM audio
sources
5 Auto Telephone
• Provides hands-free switching to a
fully-configurable, dedicated telephone
listening program.
6 Wireless Connectivity
• Allows for communication between
devices
• Provides connectivity to external audio
sources (mobile phone, television,
computer, etc.)
7 Programming Port
• Hidden and protected
• Programming cable easily connects
directly into the port – no additional
boots or Flex Strips required
4
8 Battery Compartment
• Easy open design
• Integrated on/off switch
• Size 13 battery for outstanding battery
life (200 hours)
9 Acoustic Options
• Earhook or Thin Tube options
• Thin Tube option in two diameter sizes
for fitting flexibility
• Domes available in a variety of sizes and
configurations
10 Volume Control (BTE only)
• Large, easy to locate and operate
• Programmable range
• Configurable alerting tones provide
audible cue as the wheel is turned
11 Telecoil (BTE only)
• Provides optimal sound quality for
telephone use
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
17
Bliss custom instruments are powerful,
feature-rich*, yet discreet and include
several new improvements to help extend
the life of microphones and receivers.
2
3
4
1
5
1 Dual Covered Microphones
• Dual microphones allow for
sophisticated directional features to
enhance performance in noise
• Microphone protection keeps unwanted
debris and moisture from entering the
device
4 Optional Telecoil and Auto
Telephone
• Telecoil provides crystal-clear
telephone reception
• Auto Telephone provides hands-free
switching to a fully-configurable,
dedicated telephone listening program
2 Program Button
• Provides for easy access for up to four
listening memories
5 Wireless Connectivity
• Allows for communication between
devices
• Provides connectivity to external audio
sources (mobile phone, television,
computer, etc.)
3 ProWax System
• Protects receiver from moisture and
cerumen
• Easily replaceable by the patient
6 Optional Volume Control (not shown)
• Programmable range
• Configurable alerting tones provide
audible cue as the wheel is turned
*Not all features are available on all models – refer to
the chart in the back of this guide for details.
18
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
Model Overview
IIC*
CIC
CICP
ITCD
ITCPDW
ITED
10
10
10
312
312
13
13
13
13
l
l
l
l
l
n
n
Battery Size
Program Button
Volume Control
l
ITEPDW miniBTE
l
BTE
n
Telecoil
l
l
l
l
Auto Telephone
l
l
l
l
n
n
l
l
l
DAI/FM
n
n
Earhook
n
n
n
n
Wireless Accessories
l
n
Thin Tube
n
standard
l
optional
*Bliss 100 only
Fitting Ranges
Fitting Range BTE | miniBTE
Fitting Range ITEPDW
Frequency in Hertz (Hz)
Fitting Range ITED | ITCD
Frequency in Hertz (Hz)
Frequency in Hertz (Hz)
0
10
20
30
60
70
80
90
100
110
8000
Fitting Range ITCPDW
Frequency in Hertz (Hz)
Frequency in Hertz (Hz)
Hearing Level in decibels (dB)
Hearing Level in decibels (dB)
Fitting Range CIC | IIC
Fitting Range CICP
Frequency in Hertz (Hz)
Hearing Level in decibels (dB)
4000
6000
3000
2000
1500
750
1000
500
250
120
Hearing Level in decibels (dB)
Hearing Level in decibels (dB)
50
125
Hearing Level in decibels (dB)
40
Accessories
SoundGate
Wireless Communication Link
and Remote Control
TV Adapter
Wireless transmission
to SoundGate
Phone Adapter
Wireless transmission
to SoundGate
RC-P Remote Control
Program, Mute and
Volume Change
Sonic · Bliss Sound to make you smile
Feature Overview
bliss100
bliss80
Sound Quality
Signal Processing
Speech Variable Processing
Frequency Bandwidth
10 kHz
8 kHz
Noise Management
Adaptive Feedback Canceller
n
n
Wind Noise Reduction*
n
n
Soft Noise Reduction
n
n
4 levels
3 levels
n
n
Fixed Directionality
n
n
Adaptive Directionality
n
n
Hybrid Adaptive Directionality
n
Speech Priority Noise Reduction
Impulse Noise Reduction
Directionality*
Binaural Coordination**
Volume & Program Change
n
n
Environment Classification
n
n
Non-Telephone Ear Control (with Auto Telephone)
n
Programming Options
Universal Environment
n
n
Manual Listening Programs
4
4
Environments
14
11
Data Logging
n
n
Data Learning
n
nEARcom Wireless Programming**
l
l
Push Button Mute
n
n
Audible Performance Indicators
n
n
Patient Conveniences
Start-Up Delay
n
n
Auto Telephone Detection*
n
n
n
standard
l
optional
*BTE, miniBTE, ITED, ITEPDW, ITCD, ITCPDW models
** BTE, miniBTE, ITEPDW, ITCPDW models
BTE and miniBTE colors
Custom colors
beige
taupe
dark
brown
grey
metallic
beige
metallic
dark brown
metallic
dark grey
metallic
black
dark
grey
black
black
(IIC Only)
beige
light
brown
medium
brown
dark
brown
19
© 2013 Sonic Innovations, Inc. All rights reserved.
Bluetooth is a registered trademark owned by
Bluetooth SIG, Inc, USA.
www.sonici.com
08.13 | 125953 | UK