Frye FONIX 7000 - Manual (Page 9)

Chapter 1
1
Introduction & Setup
Welcome to the newest innovation in hearing aid testing! The 7000 Test System
is the long-awaited successor to the 6500-CX, the analyzer that arguably has
become the standard by which all other hearing aid test equipment is measured.
The 7000 Test System has many design improvements, including a high-resolu-
tion color display, a flexible and easy-to-use interface, and built-in help screens.
Throughout the design process of the 7000 Test System, the engineers at Frye
Electronics have followed two important mantras: Flexibility and Usability. We
wanted all the features of the existing 6500-CX system in a new package that was
easier to use and easier to upgrade. We are confident that the 7000 Test System is a
success on both counts
1.1 History
The 6500-CX has been one of the fastest and most accurate hearing aid analyz-
ers in the industry. Since its introduction in 1985 at the International Audiology
Congress in Prague, Czechoslovakia, it has evolved through three model num-
bers: the original 6500, the 6500-C with color, and the 6500-CX with a faster
CPU. These hardware upgrades, and the software upgrades that went with them,
kept the 6500 analyzer current as hearing aid technology evolved.
The original 6500 operator interface was originally designed around a set of
tests that were needed at the time of its introduction. Linear and AGC hearing
aids were tested for ANSI coupler performance, and real ear tests were done to
check on insertion gain performance. Its Composite signal gave the industry the
first real time, interactive frequency response measurement for both coupler
and real ear tests. This enabled an order of magnitude increase in the collec-
tion speed of response data. This feature has been particularly useful in real ear
tests, where artifacts caused by ambient noise in the acoustical environment are
a factor.
The 6500 evolved to keep pace with the technology of the hearing aid industry.
The 6500-C with color video came in 1992. The CX version with its faster CPU
was introduced in 1994. Functions such as Multi-curve, Target 2-cc, ANSI 92,
CIC, Digital-Speech-in-Noise, the real-ear SPL screen, and Enhanced DSP were
gradually introduced, making the 6500-CX analyzer more powerful with each
release.
The number of tests on the 6500-CX grew, but the operator interface remained
much the same. To accommodate new functions, 6500 front panel buttons were
programmed with functions different from their original purpose and labeling.
While the help messages on the screen allowed the first time user to operate the
instrument, it was obvious that improvements could be made. Some of these