This week I have had the pleasure of trialling Encanta 400 RITE (aka RIC) aids.
Encanta replaces the Alpha generation, and represents quite a change for Bernafon. The build quality has taken a step up, and they are now indistinguishable from others in the premium market, with integral rechargeable batteries and a sturdy charging unit. The charging unit has an added edge of being rather cute, with a weighted bottom and no irritating blinding light on it like some I could mention!
Bernafon Signature Sound
As someone who really doesn't get on with Oticon aids at all, I had worried that they might have borrowed their insides from Oticon, but I needn't have done. These are still Bernafon's signature sound. For the uninitiated, that is:
Super mellow, no rough edges, no tinniness
Speech level sound is where most of the focus seems to be
Soft sounds seem to be absent, or certainly require focus to hear
Louder sounds are there but they are dampened somehow
I have always internally referred to Bernafon as "Fisher Price 1-2-3" aids. They are perfect for those who don't want aids.
For people who have tried aids before and hated every minute of it - a pair of Bernafon can be what gets them back in the saddle. For those who wear their aids but look for every excuse to take them out for the evening (at 6pm!) - they might just find themselves leaving Bernafon in.
For my clients, there are many other reasons why you might want mellow sound. Those with attention deficit, autism, misophonia and any other type of sound sensitivity would probably rate these hearing aids higher than most. The social segment that is "irritable gentlemen who prefer their shed to a party" might well be happier with Bernafon than something else.
Sound Quality
Sound quality wise, they are still beautiful. Very natural-sounding right out of the box, even with frequency lowering on. Someone like me who has cochlear dead regions requires some serious tweaking to stop distortion (as with all manufacturers), but I expect that most people would be very happy with the initial setup.
Peripherals
The RITE still uses Oticon's receivers and domes. The receivers are quite stiff and not the most comfortable, but the aid position is good. Domes are super grippy and quite thick. This is a personal preference, some like the 'yes it's there and secure' feeling that Oticon/Bernafon domes bring.
Performance and Tech
I'm not seeing much difference, if any, between the Alpha 9 performance and the Encanta 400 performance, but then again I was pretty happy with Alpha. Speech in noise separation is as good as any other top shelf aid, with the added benefit of that mellow edge if that's what you're after.
Encanta brings with it 4 levels of tech (previously there were 5), which brings it in line with most other manufacturers. These are the 100, 200, 300 and 400 and you can read more here.
For some reason, these 4 tech levels have been personified by 4 CGI characters. I find this slightly unnerving, but I see where they are going with this. Different lifestyles demand different tech levels, is the underlying message. To fellow dispensers I would remind them that the chap who looks like he's stepped off his allotment might only meet up in a big group once a year, but it might be the most important thing in the world to him. He might well want to know about the Encanta 400.
To Summarise
Bernafon have always been great on the inside, but Encanta is the generation that fixed the niggling build issues. A unique sound that has some unique problem-solving applications for those who like life a little more comfortable.
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