Phonak Roger On V3: The Best Noise Cancelling Hearing Aid Accessory

As an audiologist working daily with individuals suffering from hearing loss, I am all too familiar with the common challenge that many of my patients face: understanding speech in the presence of competing background noise. Struggling to hear in background noise can result in everything from minor frustration to disengagement, and, in severe cases, avoidance of social settings altogether.

While advanced hearing aids can help in background noise, they often aren't enough. Many of my patients still struggle even after being fitted with perfectly-tuned modern hearing aids. In such cases, it's often necessary to consider remote microphone tech, like Phonak's Roger On, which can bring distant voices closer and remove the bulk of the background noise in the environment.

A New Era in Hearing Aid Technology

Released in August 2024, the Roger On Version 3 delivers all of the features you've come to expect from Roger On, including serving as a TV streamer as well as the newer "Headset Mode" feature to help with online meetings and video calls (originally released with Version 2 in June 2023). From my standpoint as a hearing professional, I can confidently assert that the Roger On ranks among the most versatile accessories across all manufacturers in the hearing aid industry. Let's explore why.

What is Roger On?

The Roger On, with its sleek, compact, and lightweight design, is a handy device that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. It uses Digital Modulation (DM) technology and transmits sound using the 2.4 GHz system, which is also the same system used by your Bluetooth and wifi devices. It features four separate microphones, each serving a unique function depending on the device's mode. The central LCD screen displays the current mode using a series of easy-to-decipher symbols.

This device comes with an easy-to-press large function button, a USB-C charging station that fully charges in about 3 hours, and a simple on-off switch on the side. There's also a handy lapel clip for secure attachment to your clothes and a pairing button at the back.

Roger On 3 pairs with all Phonak Marvel, Paradise, Lumity, and Infinio hearing aids. Other Phonak hearing aids, as well as some other brands of hearing aids and cochlear implants, may be able to use Roger On, often via the receivers in the Phonak Roger Direct, NeckLoop Receiver, or the Roger X Receiver. I'll address compatibility at the end of this article, but you should also check with your hearing care provider or visit the Roger On compatibility page for more information.

Top Features of the Roger On

The Roger On is not just an accessory; it's a game-changer for those struggling to hear in noisy environments.

With Version 3, Phonak went back and fixed some annoying obstacles in Version 2, and also added a several new features. In 2019, Phonak introduced RogerDirect™, eliminating the need for an external receiver attached to the hearing aid. Building on RogerDirect, Roger On 3 features unlimited receivers in Roger microphones. It also introduces additional innovations to improve performance including Stereo Wide Pointing mode, SmartMute, and a new scratch resistant screen.

Let's dive into the six key features that my patients find exceptionally useful.

1. TV Streamer

Roger On 3 can stream TV audio directly to your hearing aids at the volume you prefer. Thus, it can replace the Phonak TV Connector, which also essentially transforms Phonak Bluetooth hearing aids into wireless stereo headsets.

You can use Roger On 3 as a TV streamer by placing it into its base station. Two cables come with the base station: 1) a power cable that allows you to plug it into a power source and 2) a TOSLINK cable that plugs into the "Digital Audio Out" or "Optical Audio Out" port found in the back of most modern TVs, media devices, and computers. The base station uses Dolby Audio to transmit sound to your hearing aids.

One great advantage to using Roger On 3 for TV streaming is that you can adjust the volume independently without bothering other viewers; you can even watch your shows with the TV volume muted.

2. Table Mode

Now, we all know how difficult it can be in a busy restaurant, especially if there's a lot of noise going on around you. And you could potentially have somebody on a table next to you which is sat closer than the person that's furthest away from your own table. So of course, your hearing aids have got a tough job and are likely to struggle to know what you want to hear versus what you don't want to hear.

In this scenario, I would recommend placing the Roger On as close as you can to the people that are sat furthest away from you, so that the voice of that person speaking only has to travel to the Roger On rather than all the way to your hearing aids.

Phonak's MultiBeam 2.0 technology analyzes your environment hundreds of times per second and automatically compares the speech and noise arriving to the microphone array. It then chooses the direction with the best signal-to-noise ratio, recognizing where the speech is coming from, and then delivering the cleanest speech signal directly to both of your hearing aids.

And then, which can I add I absolutely love, it delivers the sound to you in the same direction that it actually arrives to the Roger On, giving you the same surround sound sensation based on where the person's sat relative to where the Roger On is positioned on the table. Meaning that not only you'll be aware that somebody's speaking, but also the direction that their voice is coming from.

3. Presenter Mode

When you're in a one-to-one situation and Roger On is placed around someone's neck, it will send the sound of that person's voice directly to both of your ears. Now, the closer it is to their mouth, the more effective it will be. So, if it's six inches from my mouth, then it's a little bit like me being six inches from one of your hearing aids. In fact, it's actually sending to both of your hearing aids as well. The furthest distance that Roger will work is around 25 meters, so you really are limited by your imagination as to where you feel this might benefit you.

Roger On is now being used in many different venues. HearingTracker's editor recently visited the U.S. Congress and Capitol buildings, where the tour guide used Roger On to transmit her voice directly into the tourists' headsets, allowing them to hear clearly in very large, noisy, reverberant rooms.

4. Pointing Mode

I've already described how useful this can be in a restaurant when you're sat around a table, but of course, there'll also be times where you're in noise and not sat around a table, so have nowhere to be able to put it down. Fear not, however, because Phonak have also thought about this with their pointing feature. This feature is not only unique to the Roger On but it's also unique to Phonak.

Very simply put, if you hold the Roger On in your hand in a noisy environment, say a cocktail party or the interval at the theater, and then point it towards the person speaking in front of you, it will automatically switch into Pointing Mode 2.0. This feature utilizes the row of the three microphones and narrowly zooms into the person speaking in front of you, cutting out the surrounding background noise.

Now, the good thing is, it doesn't have to be pointed out in front of you like Harry Potter trying to cast a spell to ward off evil spirits. But it can be discreetly pointed towards individual people speaking and should specifically focus on somebody in front of you amongst the cacophony of sound around you.

5. Media Mode

The Roger On is supplied with both a Toslink three and a half millimeter jack and a docking station, allowing you to connect it to most multimedia devices ranging from your cell phone, TV, stereo, or computer. All that you need to do is to plug the device into the audio output from one of those devices and it streams the signal to both of your ears. And this doesn't affect the sound for anybody else listening to it.

So, instead of also having to buy the Phonak TV connector, this device can be used to serve that purpose too. Plus, whilst it's sat in the docking station connected to the TV, it's simultaneously being charged. If you haven't come across the power of a TV streamer, I would 100% recommend checking out this video which tells you exactly what they do and how they can completely change your experience when watching the TV.

6. Roger On Version 3's “Headset Mode”

The latest generation of Roger On introduces the much-awaited headset mode. With this new feature, the integrated microphones in the Roger On V3 remain activated during online calls. This essentially transforms your hearing aids into a wireless headset, allowing you to use your hearing aids as headphones and Roger's microphones as the pick-up for your voice.

So how does the 'headset mode' in Roger On V3 work? Here are the three ways you can use Roger On V3 during online calls without worrying about it picking up surrounding voices and noise:

1. Placed on a desk: When the device is placed flat on your desk, it activates the MultiBeam mode, which picks up your voice from all directions. This gives you the freedom to move around your desk without worrying about the clarity of your voice.
2. Placed in the stand: If you place the Roger On V3 with the stand on your desk, the device points in your direction, picking up your voice only and significantly reducing the noise from your surroundings.
3. Clipped onto shirt: When clipped onto your shirt, the device forms a short directional beam that points upwards to your mouth, providing the best speech pick-up of all three modes. This mode ensures your voice is captured accurately, even amid ambient noise.

Keep in mind that you will need to maintain a hard-wired USB connection between your computer and Roger On in order to use Headset Mode.

Why Headset Mode is Better than Bluetoothing

Now, if you're thinking, "Come on, Matthew, we can do this already using our Bluetooth connectivity to a computer," right? You are absolutely 100% correct, and I posed that very same question to Phonak when I heard about their new headset feature when V2 was released. I've come up with three potential scenarios when direct Bluetooth connectivity may not be ideal, and using the Roger On features may just be better.

1. Plug-and-Play Functionality: Ideal for individuals who frequently switch computers or workspaces, the Headset Mode simplifies the transition process. There is no need to tinker with Bluetooth settings with each new workstation; just plug in the Roger On V3 and you're good to go.
2. Stable Connection: Some computers may present stability issues with Bluetooth connections. With the Roger On V3, these potential connectivity issues are virtually nonexistent since the device is hardwired.
3. Superior Noise Cancellation: Open-plan offices often mean a cacophony of background noise. With its intelligent microphone array, the Roger On V3 is adept at filtering out surrounding noise, ensuring that your voice is clear and audible to other meeting participants.

How Do You Control Roger On 3?

Although Roger On 3 is automatic and can generally tell which mode you want to use via its built-in accelerometer, there are three ways you can control the device:

1. Push-button: The large button on the front allows you to cycle through the different modes discussed above. Once you get to the mode you want, you can “lock it in” by pressing the button for 2 seconds. When the "lock" on the front screen is not showing, Roger On 3 operates automatically. There is also an on/off switch on the side and a small button on the back that is used when pairing the device.
2. MyPhonak app: If you use the MyPhonak app with your hearing aid, it will automatically switch to the Roger Direct + Mic mode. There are several thing you can do from the MyPhonak app, including muting the microphones of your hearing aids (i.e., hearing sounds only from the Roger On accessory and not the hearing aid), using the Ambient Balance to favor hearing your Surroundings (hearing aids) versus the directional mics in Roger On, or changing your listening mode back to one of your hearing aid listening programs (i.e., ceasing sound streaming from Roger On).
3. Roger On app: This special app allows you to change the various modes, adjust the volume, select the directionality of the microphone array in Table Mode or Stereo in the Pointing mode), pair up to 10 Roger On devices to the app, and more.

For more details, you can read and download the Roger On 3 User Guide [PDF] here.

How Much Does Roger On V3 Cost?

Roger On V3 is typically purchased at a local hearing clinic for around $2,300, but you may be able to find them online for less. Refurbished V2 units can sometimes go for considerably less and can be found online. While the price is on the higher end, there is currently no better, more versatile remote microphone on the market.

Roger On vs Roger On iN

Confusingly, the price varies depending on whether or not you need Roger receiver software pre-installed on the Roger On. With the software, we refer to the accessory as Roger On iN, and without the software, it's simply Roger On (no iN). The price is typically $250-400 more for the iN version, which most people will need. The only time you won't need the iN version is if you're a prior owner of Roger X receivers, in which case your hearing care professional can transfer the software license to your Roger On to activate it.

Which Hearing Aids Are Compatible with Roger On V3?

1. Hearing aids with RogerDirect™: All Phonak, Unitron, and other Sonova-manufactured hearing aids with RogerDirect.
2. Telecoil-enabled hearing aids: Hearing aids from other manufacturers can also be compatible if they have a Telecoil (T-coil), though an additional Roger X receiver or Roger MyLink neckloop may be necessary.
3. Cochlear implants: Many cochlear implants, such as those produced by Cochlear, MED-EL, and Advanced Bionics, are also compatible. For these, a compatible Roger receiver is typically required.

However, before purchasing a Roger On or any other hearing aid accessory, check with your hearing care professional to ensure the devices will work together effectively.