I also have phonaks on a similar price range and mine sound pretty good. Could it be an issue with how they're configured?
Over a few months my brain priced it in, and now I don't get that at all. Putting them in just means I hear better. It is like my brain has noticed the new sounds and interprets them before I hear them. The audiologist I spoke to said this happens to everybody, however the longer you've had untreated hearing loss and the older you are, the longer it will take your brain to adapt.
Thanks for your insight though - I was told "a couple of days" to get used to them would be enough.