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Description
Designed to get a reasonably priced Hearing Aid with best ergonomic
and acoustical qualities, the RONDO uses very few components installed
in a simple and rugged construction. This means not only a low production
price, but also the feasibility of the huge quantities potentially
required to satisfy the world needs. The sophistication of the main
competitors manufacturing digital Hearing Aids leads to no-competitive
prices and restricted producible quantities, so that only a few %
of hearing impaired people are equipped! (statistics available).
Ergonomics and physical
appearance (look)
The RONDO is rather large: this is a necessity, either for ease of
handling (children, old and/or clumsy people, etc.) and for best sound
quality.
This size allows also an adequate built-in battery or an original
rechargeable accumulator, for lowest costs and ecological maintenance.
Size and look will be studied, according to the fashion.
 ...
Sound Quality
Nobody can get away from the physical laws of
the acoustics, and tiny speakers like those commonly used inside the
current digital H.-A. are not able at all to produce the Hi-Fi sound
of the RONDO-hearer: thanks to its low distortion and broad frequency
range, which covers 9 musical octaves.
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Similarly for the RONDO microphone,
with its exceptional directional characteristic, resolving quasi
perfectly the hearing problems in a noisy environment.
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The unique compressor-limiter (drift
away from Stellavox professional products and enjoying a very long
experience in audio recording ) is a special electronic circuit installed
inside the RONDO circuit board. It controls the sound level for best
audible comfort, and particularly even the very short sound peaks,
which are utmost disagreeable.
Specifications:
Size (without hearer)
: dia 32 mm x 20 mm (dia 1,25 inch x 0.8 inch)
Weight (with battery) : 15 g (0.5 oz)
El. Frequency Range : 20 Hz - 20 kHz +/- 2 dB (without
corrections)
Acoustical F-Range : 40 Hz - 12 kHz +/- 5 dB (without
corrections)
Electrical Supply : 1 Lithium Button Battery size
dia 20 x 3,2 mm
Type : CR2032 or equivalent / 230 mAh, 3 V
or : ML2032, compatible, rechargeable, 65 mAh
Life of the Battery : many years when not in use:
no self-discharge
Power Drain : approx 1 mA per " RONDO "
Supply Voltage Range : 4 to 2 V=, for stable (+/-
0,5 dB) general gain
Trimmer Gain Control : adjustable from -6 to + 6dB (nominal
= 0 dB)
Comparative:
|
Item |
Competitor |
RONDO |
|
ERGONOMICS |
| Battery: |
special,
expensive |
standard,
inexpensive |
| Rechargeable
Battery: |
not
available! |
standard |
| Annual
Cost: |
approx.
US$ 150 |
approx.
US$ 60
(less with rechargeable battery) |
| Solar
Power: |
not
available |
built
in (case holds 2 RONDOs) |
| How
to put on: |
laborious |
fast
and easy |
| Maintenance: |
fastidious
cleaning |
none |
| Handling: |
tedious |
no
control to adjust |
| Comfort: |
occlusion
noise when eating |
excellent |
| Sturdiness: |
fragile |
robust |
| Moulding
Necessity: |
to
individual ears |
no
need |
|
ELECTRONIC PERFORMANCES |
| Correction
of Spectrum: |
not
accurate |
very
accurate |
| Limiter-compressor: |
distortions |
audiologically
correct |
| Gain: |
depends
on battery level |
stable |
| Slope
of Amplification: |
fixed |
adaptable |
| Battery
Charger: |
not
available |
optional |
| Accidental
Switch-on: |
possible |
impossible |
| Technical
Maintenance: |
difficult |
easy |
|
ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCES |
| Music
Rendering: |
restricted
sound |
natural
sound |
| Microphone: |
limited
performance |
studio
quality |
| Speaker: |
low
performance |
studio
quality |
| Larsen
Effect: |
occasional |
on
rare occasions |
| Directivity: |
pseudo-cardïoide |
true
cardïoide |
| Understanding
in Presence of Ambient Noise: |
poor |
good |
| Noise
from Wind: |
high |
low |
| Frequency
Response: |
restricted
with peaks |
extended,
flat |
| Input-Output
Fidelity: |
poor |
good |
| Direct
Hearing: |
reduced |
unobstructed |
| Audiogram
Transfer: |
indirect |
direct |
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