RightFit Customization: Smaller, More Precise, and More Comfortable

Virto R Infinio is built around four pillars:

• Personalized customization
• Exceptional sound quality
• Universal connectivity, and
• Intuitive ease of use.

Custom hearing aids—those that require an ear impression or 3D scan of your ear canal like the Virto R—have many advantages over non-custom in-ear devices. Made to match the exact contours of a person’s ear canal, they can provide more comfortable and secure fittings, improve acoustic performance and sound quality, and accommodate specific ear anatomy needs.

Phonak Manager of Audiology for Specialty Solutions Melanie Coetzee introduced the new RightFit™ Customization process during the launch. “Customization has always been part of the Phonak story,” she said. “What’s different [now] is that Phonak is introducing two new innovations as part of the customization processes: RightFit modeling and acoustically optimized receiver selection. We have integrated these with our well-known customization processes to create a holistic RightFit ecosystem that will optimize first-fit, right-fit for every ear.”

Coetzee says Phonak's “RightFit ecosystem” is designed to produce the smallest rechargeable ITE devices—possibly the smallest on the market—while enhancing clinic efficiency and customer satisfaction. The new process aims to make custom devices up to 15% smaller and cut remakes and rework by approximately 20%. A key differentiator is biometric calibration, which uses about 1,600 ear-specific data points to virtually calibrate each device for optimal acoustic performance based on an individual’s unique anatomy. The personalized approach supports advanced beamforming technology, improving speech understanding in noise and should contribute to the overall market success of the Virto R Infinio.

“Users have long desired a small, discreet, and fully featured in-the-ear hearing aid,” said Phonak Vice President of Marketing Oliver Frank in a press statement. “Through our innovative RightFit™ customization, the Phonak Virto R Infinio delivers what is likely the smallest rechargeable ITE, perfectly blending style and advanced functionality.”

Virto R Benefits from Flagship ERA Chip and AutoSense OS 7.0

The Virto R Infinio runs on the same ERA sound-processing chip found in Phonak’s top-tier Infinio RICs. And with it comes the new AutoSense OS™ 7.0, retrained with 18 times more real-world sound recordings than its predecessor for 24% greater accuracy in classifying listening environments, according to Phonak. The system orchestrates Phonak’s SmartSpeech Technology suite, including directional microphones and a built-in motion sensor that adapts its beamforming and noise reduction to the user’s movements.

However, due to its small size and corresponding power restraints, Virto R Infinio does not use the additional DEEPSONIC chip, which is featured in the Audéo Sphere Infinio and gives that hearing aid its Deep Neural Network (DNN) processing capabilities.

Also new to the Virto R is StereoZoom 2.0, an adaptive binaural beamforming technology made possible by the device’s dual-microphone design. Coetzee said this delivers “16% better speech understanding” in noise, bringing the ITE’s performance on par with the Audéo R Infinio RIC.

The device uses Phonak’s APD 3.0 fitting formula, which a recent field study found delivered 93% first-fit satisfaction for instant comfort and sound quality. It also supports RogerDirect™ for direct wireless streaming from Roger microphones. According to published research, this can improve speech understanding in group conversations by up to 61%.

Universal Connectivity

Virto R Infinio offers Bluetooth^® connectivity with support for both Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) 5.3, allowing for audio streaming and hands-free calling with Android and iOS devices and use with the myPhonak app. Pairing is simplified with a one-step process that connects to both protocols simultaneously. Although Phonak says the Infinio line is Auracast-ready, it would take a firmware update to do this; the company says it will consider this if and when the time is right. It does not currently offer a telecoil option.

A redesigned myPhonak app gives users intuitive access to key settings and personalization options with more user-friendly language. Another unique feature of Phonak's universal connectivity is it's dual streaming capability, allowing you to connect to multiple devices simultaneously without going into the app and making changes.

Robin Gillon, a professional skier, biker, skateboarder, pilot, and Phonak brand ambassador, praised the wireless experience: “It turns on automatically just by removing [the hearing aid] from the box…It has already connected to all the devices that I use daily—my Apple Watch, iPhones, and iPads.”

All-Day Rechargeability

Phonak’s new Snap and Charge case uses 360-degree magnetic retention to make inserting and removing the devices easy—even for users with dexterity issues. You simply release the hearing aids gently into the charger, and they snap into place. LED indicators on the lid show charging status at a glance.

The rechargeable lithium-ion battery reaches a full charge in 3 hours, providing up to 30 hours of use in calm environments, and at least 16 hours with 8 hours of streaming. However, unlike some chargers, the Virto R charger does not have a power bank with extra charges.

Style, Durability, and Everyday Confidence

The Virto R Infinio is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance, which is the highest Ingress Protection (IP) level possible for hearing aids. Shells are available in 8 colors, including five skin tones, red, blue, and transparent, and the faceplates come in five finishes. The device can be controlled via the myPhonak app, tap controls, or the single push-button on the device faceplate, which also has an LED that makes it look very futuristic and high-tech—and much less like a hearing aid.

Gillon prefers matte black: “It just looks like another really nice earbud…It fits well with everything.” Beyond looks, Gillon said the design changed how he feels about wearing hearing aids: “I just feel so much better in my skin having to wear something that looks like a really fine piece of technology…If it looks good on me, it makes me want to wear it. And when I have that kind of confidence, then I’m really willing to tackle new, amazing challenges.”

He lit up when describing how he recently wore the Virto R hearing aids at his wedding. The devices also gave him the confidence to follow in his fighter-pilot grandfather’s footsteps: “I grew up on his story, dreaming of flying someday. Then [this] technology happened, and suddenly my hearing [performance] improved more than I ever thought possible. Quietly, I signed up for the pilot test just to see, and I passed. Today, I'm flying for the kid in me who never stopped dreaming, and to honor a true hero who believed in me since the very beginning.”

Controls, Tech Levels, and Availability

The Virto R Infinio includes tap control via a built-in accelerometer, a mechanical push-button, and full app-based management through myPhonak. The device is available in all four Phonak technology levels: Premium 90, Advanced 70, Standard 50, and Essential 30.

In the United States, select availability begins August 12 with broader distribution later in the month. Other global markets will follow starting in September.

For more information, please visit the Phonak Virto Infinio website.

Source: Phonak and HearingTracker