Phonak Infinio Ultra: Clear speech from every direction

When it’s quiet, conversations just flow. Words are clear, timing makes sense, and the brain has all the cues it needs. But once the noise starts to build in busy cafés, crowded rooms, or train stations, keeping up with what’s being said can quickly turn into a daily challenge for anyone with hearing loss.

Phonak has been tackling this challenge head-on with AI-powered hearing solutions that make speech clearer in noise, innovations that reach a new milestone with Infinio Ultra and Spheric Speech Clarity 2.0.

Unlike traditional directional microphones that focus on sounds from one direction, Spheric Speech Clarity captures speech from all around and can still separate it from noise even when both come from the same place, all while keeping environmental sounds natural and balanced.

The science behind the struggle

Scientifically, that struggle comes down to how the brain separates one voice from all the background noise. In quiet, the brain relies on spectral cues (rich sound details across frequencies), temporal cues (precise timing information), and binaural information (input from both ears) to follow the speaker with ease.

In noisy places, two types of masking make things difficult. Energetic masking happens when noise physically overlaps with speech sounds, and informational masking happens when other voices grab attention and overload working memory.

Hearing loss makes this even harder, since it reduces the ear’s dynamic range and limits access to the fine timing and frequency details that help the brain pull speech out of the mix.

Meeting the challenge with Spheric Speech Clarity

We took on this challenge with Spheric Speech Clarity, a Deep Neural Network (DNN)–based noise reduction system designed to pull speech out of background noise, enhance it, and blend it smoothly back into the signal.

This is made possible through advanced AI-driven DNN processing combined with intelligent adaptive directionality. And with Infinio Ultra, we’re introducing Spheric Speech Clarity 2.0, featuring a completely retrained DNN model that delivers an impressive 30 percent efficiency boost.¹

The result is a listening experience that automatically adjusts to real-world situations, helping clients hear speech more clearly, with less effort, and without losing touch with their surroundings.

What makes Spheric Speech Clarity 2.0 different

• Automatic activation: Integrated into AutoSense OS™ version 7.0, Spheric Speech Clarity 2.0 activates automatically when users enter challenging noisy environments without the need for manual adjustments or additional controls.
  
• Comprehensive speech access: Users have up to three times greater likelihood of understanding every word regardless of direction compared to two key competitors.²
  
• Reduced listening effort and fatigue: With Spheric Speech Clarity 2.0, users experience up to 35% less listening effort³ and report feeling less fatigued at the end of the day, compared to state-of-the-art directional microphone technology.⁴
  
• Improved efficiency: The new architecture behind Spheric Speech Clarity 2.0 operates 30% more efficiently than its predecessor, providing users with extended benefit throughout the day.¹
  
• Combination of DNN and directional processing: Audéo Sphere Infinio can process both Spheric Speech Clarity 2.0 and advanced directionality features. When walking, Motion Sensor Hearing prioritizes spatial awareness, while Speech Sensor automatically selects the most optimal directionality depending on the location of the speaker. This delivers a personalized blend of environmental awareness through additional microphone directionality and DNN-based denoising.

Years of innovation behind the technology

These advancements are the result of years of dedicated research and engineering at Phonak. Our teams have focused on optimizing every layer of the system, from hardware design and chip architecture to software intelligence. The goal has been to achieve the perfect balance between power efficiency and processing power within the tiny space of a hearing aid.

Spheric Speech Clarity was trained on millions of audio samples, making real-time DNN processing possible directly inside the device. Not long ago, this level of on-board AI was considered impossible because of power and speed limitations.

The launch of Infinio Sphere, the first hearing aid to feature a dedicated AI chip, was a breakthrough moment for both Phonak and the broader audiology field. Building on that foundation, Spheric Speech Clarity 2.0 takes speech extraction and environmental awareness to a new level, aligning hearing performance more closely with real-world listening demands.

With Spheric Speech Clarity 2.0, busy cafés, crowded rooms, and bustling stations become places to connect again, where effortless conversations feel natural even in the noise.

For further details about how Infinio Ultra can enhance your practice please visit our webpages.

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References:

1. Based on internal Sonova data. Please contact claims@sonova.com for more information.
   
   
2. Wright, A., Kuehnel, V., Keller, M., Seitz-Paquette, K., & Latzel, M. (2024). Spheric Speech Clarity applies DNN signal processing to significantly improve speech understanding from any direction and reduce the listening effort. Phonak Field Study News. Retrieved from https://www.phonak.com/evidence
   
   
3. Tian, E., et al. (2025). Spheric Speech Clarity significantly improves speech understanding in a multi-talker scenario and reduces spatial listening effort with Mandarin speakers. Phonak Field Study News. Retrieved from https://www.phonak.com/evidence
   
   
4. Latzel, M., et al. (2025). Spheric Speech Clarity improves speech understanding and reduces both listening effort and fatigue. Phonak Field Study News. Retrieved from https://www.phonak.com/evidence