This is an excellent question that highlights not only the differences in philosophies of sound processing techniques and electrode designs, but also the great variability in patient outcomes, especially when it comes to appreciating music. A recipient’s satisfaction with music is largely dependent upon their hearing history and can be directly related to their length of hearing loss, health of the cochlea, their prior exposure to music, how much they liked music before cochlear implants, and involvement in aural rehabilitation, specifically of music.  It is common than recipients report poor satisfaction with music, although there are plenty of recipients who report high satisfaction of music. Is it the influence of the electrode design or sound processing? Is it the recipient’s circumstances? Researchers have been investigating these questions and will continue to learn more over time. It would be a good idea to meet with your individual audiologist to get more insight into the various factors to consider. 

Cochlear implants have been very successful in helping recipients understand speech, especially in quiet. Complex listening environments that have background noise and/or music continue to be an area of focus for technological advancement through the field of cochlear implants. Each manufacturer has made advancements in technology over the years to try to address the full spectrum of auditory stimulation that a recipient with a cochlear implant needs access to hear through their cochlear implants. Having said that, they all approach this topic of “music appreciation” differently. Anecdotally we do have recipients who play musical instruments from childhood or relearn how to hear music through their cochlear implant. Many adults who had hearing and then lost their hearing note a significant difference in music following cochlear implantation, regardless of manufacturer. While the manufacturers may each make individual claims on music appreciation and benefit, the clinical support is less definitive. The individual variants, musical background, and overall performance are just some of the many factors that may influence how someone perceives music electrically through a cochlear implant. As you are a unique individual, it would likely be helpful to discuss your particular goals and needs with your audiologist and surgeon to make the best decision for your specific situation.