Are using hearing aids for stereo listening like trying to push a river through a straw?

I have been lucky in that my good friend and college roommate happens to be the top ENT in our part of the country specializing in ears. He set me up with Phonak a few years back. After getting used to them and making some adjustments to the app, I was pretty happy. We have now upgraded to their latest model which boasts AI processing. Marketing BS was my first thought. I did notice some differences in the way they handled background noise. It took a lot of tweaking to get them dialed into the stereo but when they were set it sounded great. Try listening with them in and then taking them out and listening to the same song; it's a huge improvement. Unfortunately, headphones are a struggle and require a different sound setting. Haven't got that dialed in yet. I found that the key to delightful sound is keeping them clean. They get new wax guards every week.

I hear better, and maintain directionality and imaging listening to music with my new hearing aids.

My recent and initial experience (after having ears inspected/cleaned by doctors, then tested by two audiologists, take the charted results with you):

High End hearing aids, around $6,000/pair if you buy from an audiologist; same quality $1,800 or $1,500 from Cosco; $1,850 from Audicus: all have a variety of programs, ranging from severely processed 'Speech Priority in Noise' to ‘Television’, ‘Restaurant’ to 'Live Music', far less noise cancellation, simply adjusting frequencies related to your hearing test. It takes time, it’s not easy, but they give you money back periods, Costco 6 months, Audicus 100 days.

You use ‘Auto’ or choose adjustments using a Smart Phone, some work partially or fully with Android, almost all work with Apple. Remote adjustments are possible/done by the hearing team on a zoom appt. Both Audicus and Costco have very professional setups, equal to audiologists, it’s very impressive and no compromise, just savings in my experience. Costco is everywhere, Audicus is mostly online, I am close enough to go to their NYC office initially, now zoom when desired.

I am quite happy listening to television or music with my Audicus top of the line Omni II Hearing Aids, (with ear cups with perforations letting some sound pass in/out)., and one of the two Music Programs: 'Live Music', and I just tried 'Music 1' the other night. I need more time to compare them.

I took my time, heard a pair of Oticon in the Audiologists Office; joined Costco for $60./yr to try theirs, they have top of the line from Philips, Rexton, and Jabra, I tried the Rexton in the store, took a pair of Philips 9040's home for 60 days, then they upgraded me to the newest Philips 9050's. On the 95th day, I chose the Audicus based on how natural music sounds, and the ability to perceive the Imaging my system presents. The Philips frequency balance was a bit brighter, the Audicus has a more natural foundation, and they work fully with my Android Phone, double tap ear to answer, single tap to hang up (don’t scratch your ear while talking).

Importantly, the hearing aid’s mic is active with the Audicus using my Android; with the Philips, Rexton, Jabra: you need to use/stay close to the phone’s mic unless you have an Apple Phone.

Research, there is a lot of video on you tube about hearing aids, then compare, adjust, choose, USE!

I will just add that you should wear them every day for a month or so, it takes time for your brain to adjust, but it will slowly filter out some of the negative aspects. 

I've worn hearing aids for over 20 years; they will probably not sound right immediately; it's a matter of going back to your audiologist and telling them what you don't like, and they can make adjustments. You might have to do this several times. I recently did this with a set of Jabra hearing aids I got from Costco. Took a few visits, but music sounds great to me through them at this point. I've always gotten good sound with any hearing aids I've had, but not right away....