The Phonak Terra+ RIC-312 in review
Once again we find ourselves in the test lab, and this time we had a product from Phonak in our hands, or rather, on our ear. The full product name is Terra+ RIC-312, and it is categorized among the devices in the more affordable price range. By placing the speaker directly in the ear canal, it has good acoustic properties. The Terra+ RIC-312 is worn behind the ear, and it is a discreet hearing aid suitable for nearly every hearing requirement.
Hearing comfort
Hearing aids are not just meant to bring speech to the ear, but also to sound pleasant. So let's first look at the comfort features. What types of noise does the hearing aid recognize? Are they dampened or transmitted unchanged? Is the hearing aid suitable for a lively everyday life? Here with this test device, we found only a few options for influencing comfort. As in every hearing aid, there is also a typical noise cancellation feature. It aims to reduce uniform, noisy background sounds to the point where they don't dominate as much. With the Terra+ RIC-312, the noise suppression works rather average, but it is somewhat modifiable.
We painfully missed wind noise suppression. Those who are often outside might find the clearly audible wind noises quite bothersome. Unfortunately, we did not find a burst filter that responds to short, loud sounds. The number of equalizer bands is very important for adapting to hearing needs. The RIC-312 provides us with only 10 and does not allow for many fine-tuning options in the long run. The hearing aid can autonomously orient itself towards the speaker opposite, but we get little more support for spatial hearing from the Terra+ RIC-312.
The signal processing of the Terra+ RIC-312 also utilizes artificial intelligence. This allows for a much more realistic analysis of the hearing environment, and especially the clarity in noisy surroundings is noticeably better.
Rating Hearing comfort: 4,0
Operation & connectivity
Although hearing aids are now very intelligent, they still cannot read the thoughts of the hearing aid wearer. And so, the automation sometimes reaches its limits. Individual adjustment options can be really useful, so let's briefly look at the options with the Terra+ RIC-312: A very quick way to adjust the volume is the small button on the device. It is easy to feel, and you can adjust it in several steps to make it louder or quieter. Additional programs for specific hearing situations can also be activated with it. If someone wants to do without the button, they can simply have it deactivated. We like the small remote controls, and for this model, we found one. This allows you to make discreet small changes to the volume or sound.
We are always excited when a hearing aid surprises us with a great additional feature. For instance, we would have liked to see voice control at this point. However, this feature is currently not available in the Terra+ RIC-312. Some hearing aids can also be controlled with a simple touch of the finger, without needing to press an extra button. This feature has not yet been implemented here.
For better usability, the manufacturer also provides us with a smartphone app. The Phonak app for the Terra+ RIC-312 is impressive: You can not only change the volume, but truly influence the sound and various noise parameters. The Terra+ comes with a 2.4 GHz antenna and allows us to enjoy binaural phone calls. This even provides us with an advantage over hearing individuals. We think that's great and gladly give points.
Rating Operation & connectivity: 1,8
Phonak Terra+ RIC-312:
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Simplicity & security
In the next step, we want to address the topic of user-friendliness. Is the Terra+ RIC-312 easy to handle? Is it weatherproof? Do you have to do a lot to get accustomed to it? Here are our answers: The Terra+ RIC-312 can independently differentiate between quiet and loud environments, but there is not much more in the program automation. One can hardly do without manual adjustment options here. Some people struggle with getting used to it, but this hearing aid makes it easy for us to cope with the new volume. There is an acclimatization manager that gradually leads us to the required target amplification. The duration can be a few weeks or even several months; this can be individually adjusted. The individual increments are so small that you hardly notice a volume increase.
Unfortunately, the Terra+ RIC-312 is not equipped with a rechargeable battery, so regular size 312 batteries are needed for operation.
The data sheet certifies the Phonak device with an IP protection rating of 68. This makes it one of the most durable hearing aids on the market. Dust doesn't stand a chance, and water does not penetrate the housing, as long as it doesn't go deeper than 1.5 m underwater. However, be cautious. Shampoo, for example, alters the surface tension of water. You should also avoid saltwater. In everyday life, though, you can behave completely carefree.
Rating Simplicity & security: 2,5
Extras
The finale belongs to the extras, which are small additional functions that could earn the hearing aid some extra points: We would have liked to discover a tinnitus program at this point, but unfortunately, there isn't one.
A real added value is provided by the remote maintenance service. For a change in the hearing aid settings, you no longer have to go to the specialist shop; instead, you can directly contact the acoustician through the app. Through a cloud service, you can then load the new data package into the hearing aids. This is exactly what we expect from a modern hearing aid.
With hearing aids, you can do much more than just hear. Here in the Terra+ RIC-312, for example, there is the option to analyze your own movement data. Then you can check in the evening how far you've walked. This type of health tracking is interesting for many customers, so additional functions could be added through future updates. In conjunction with a smartphone, the Terra+ RIC-312 surprises us with some nice lifestyle features. It is definitely worth taking the time to familiarize yourself thoroughly with the app and make use of the offered assistance programs.
Rating Extras: 1,8
Conclusion: Phonak Terra+ RIC-312
With a final grade of 2.8, this model holds its ground in the middle range. It comes with a fairly decent comfort package that is sufficient for typical everyday moments and creates a satisfying listening experience.
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Our Phonak Terra+ RIC-312 review was created on March 20, 2024 and lastly updated on January 2, 2025. The overall rating of 2,80 is composed of: »Hearing Comfort (40% weighting): Rating 2 | »Operation & Connectivity (28% weighting): Rating 4.5 | »Simplicity & Security (17% weighting): Rating 3.5 | »Extras (15% weighting): Rating 4.5 | Learn more about our evaluation criteria and testing standards in How We Test..
FAQ
Wie groß ist das Terra+ RIC-312 von Phonak?
Da eine Größe in Millimetern nicht erklärt, wie groß ein Hörgerät wirkt, haben wir die Größenanmutung in Klassen unterteilt. Klasse "XXS" ist praktisch unsichtbar, Klasse "M" hat die größte Anmutung. Das Terra+ RIC-312 von Phonak befindet sich in der Größenklasse S. Man könnte es also als bezeichnen.
Wie ist der Preis des Phonak Terra+ RIC-312?
Terra+ RIC-312 von Hersteller Phonak wird von Hörakustikern in Deutschland momentan in einem Preisrahmen von ca. zwischen 700,00 € und 1.300,00 € angeboten. Um die Preis-Leistung zu beurteilen, sollten Sie die Gesamt-Testnote von 2.8 (***) mit ins Auge fassen.
Wie gut hört man mit dem Phonak Terra+ RIC-312?
Phonak Terra+ RIC-312 bekommt von uns eine Note für den Hörkomfort von 4,0 (**). Das Phonak-Hörgerät bekommt für seine Unterdrückung von Windgeräuschen das Prädikat . Die Lärmunterdrückung des Gerätes erreicht . 10 Frequenzbänder sind in diesem Hörgerät separat für die Verarbeitung von Tonlagen einstellbar (Top-Werte der aktuellen Spitzenmodelle: 24).
Für wen ist das Phonak Terra+ RIC-312 geeignet?
Wenn Ihr Hördefizit ist, könnte das Phonak Terra+ RIC-312 für Sie geeignet sein. Dieser sogenannte "Anpassbereich" des Hörgerätes wird vom Hersteller festgelegt und hat unter anderem mit der Verstärkung des Hörgerätes zu tun. Ob das Gerät tatsächlich für Sie geeignet ist, kann nur ein Hörakustiker/in vor Ort bei Ihnen sinnvoll beurteilen, nachdem ein ausführlicher Hörtest durchgeführt wurde.
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