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AB is the Industry Leader
in Technology Innovations

  AB's Harmony System Cochlear's Nucleus Freedom System Cochlear's Nucleus 5 System Why this Matters
Temporal Resolution
(Stimulation Rate, pulses per second or pps)		 Up to 83,000 pps Up to 32,000 pps Up to 31,500 pps The faster the stimulation rate, the more accurate the timing of sound.
Spectral Resolution
(Spectral Bands)		 Up to 120 Up to 22 Up to 22 The higher the resolution, the more detailed sound you hear.
Input Dynamic Range (IDR)
(Decibels or dB)		 Up to 80 dB Up to 45 dB Up to 45 dB The wider the range, the more sounds you hear.
Simultaneous Stimulation Circuits Multiple Single Single Multiple stimulation circuits allow unique speech processing strategies.
Simultaneous Stimulation Channels 16 0 0 Simultaneous channel stimulation is required for current steering, which delivers a full musical experience.
Potential Pitch Percepts  460** 161** 161** The more pitch percepts,
the better the opportunity you have
to differentiate sounds.
Sound Coding Strategies* HiRes 120-S, HiRes 120-P, HiRes-S, HiRes-P, CIS, MPS ACE, CIS, SPEAK ACE, CIS, SPEAK Every ear is different so the more sound strategies offered, the more options you have for hearing your best.
Listening Modes BTE Mic, Telecoil, T-Mic BTE Mic, Telecoil BTE Mic, Telecoil Connect to audio devices like normal-hearing people for natural-focused listening.
Case Impact Resistance Up to 6 joules Up to 1 joule Up to 2.5 joules The more joules your cochlear implant can resist, the more impact it can take without affecting performance. From flying soccer balls to falling off a bike, you can have peace of mind knowing that AB implants are built kid tough.
Moisture Resistance Yes Yes Yes Backed by a three-year warranty, AB's advanced water protection is guaranteed to keep water where it belongs—on the outside of your sound processor.

*HiRes Fidelity 120 is not approved for pediatric patients in the United States.

**Capability representative of software that is not commercially available from any cochlear implant manufacturer.

Throughout AB's 16 year history, we've consistently made the industry's leading technological hearing advancements, including superior temporal resolution, spectral resolution, dynamic range, and stimulation flexibility designed to be the most like normal hearing.

The newest system on the market isn't necessarily the most advanced.

Harmony is still the most advanced cochlear implant system in the world. To hear your best, choose a company that continues to focus on innovations that improve your hearing experience not just the appearance of the processor. With AB, you can count on the most advanced technology to improve your quality of life.

Remember that how your sound processor looks will undoubtedly change over time—what matters more than its size and appearance is the technology inside that delivers the best hearing experience to you or your child.


“The Bionic Ear appeared to offer more potential for being upgraded in the future as new and better coding strategies and software became available so that I could conceivably have more and better hearing.”
—Michael Chorost, implanted at age 37