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Signia Introduces Hearing Aids That Tackle the Most Difficult Challenge for People With Hearing Loss: Group Conversations in Noise

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Exactly- this is a skill that has nothing to do with hearing impairment. With two people talking, I actually listen to only one, and mentally record the sound of the second, “translating” its meaning later on. This is helped by the fact that the information content of most speech is rather low…

In reply to @Reginald

@Reginald said:

Also, as someone working in the IT field, I strongly believe that the hardware in current HAs simply isn’t there yet, to back their claims of “AI” performance

Agreed. Everything I’ve read on for leads me to think the AI and machine learning is done in development, and the HAs have that work set in hardware… so the HA aren’t actively leaning, but reacting smarter at recognizing situations. Still the processing algorithms and times are still far behind being a panacea for all.

Here’s the latest video review of the Signia IX. It’s done by Blake Cadwell of Soundly.com4, who appears to be a hearing aid user himself. In it he says that the new IX platform uses a new chip to do what it does. Here’s the link:

Barely a review, mostly regurgitates marketing stuff. “…It uses a new operating system…”; No it does not, he’s picking stuff out of thin air. Soundly sells , so he isn’t impartial either.
That being said, he confirms what many suspected already, most of it is a marketing fluff and the group hearing feature is disappointing.
I’m skipping the IX platform.

From Soundly’s FAQ at https://www.soundly.com1:

“Q: Does Soundly sell hearing aids?

A: Soundly does not sell hearing aids directly. Our team of hearing aid wearers and audiologists research all the best available products to help you make a more informed decision. Once you choose a product, we’ll connect you with the best brand or care provider for your needs.”

Edited

In reply to @Reginald

@Reginald said:

“…It uses a new operating system…”; No it does not

Whether it’s in the hardware, the firmware, the software, or just the beam forming, wouldn’t you agree that the IX operates differently than the AX by processing 4 acoustic streams simultaneously rather than just 2 acoustic streams?

This reviewer said that the IX may be a little bit better than the AX but is not a game changer and he would not recommend anyone upgrade from the AX to the IX.

That’s great feedback for AX users but it really doesn’t answer the question for everyone else. Would anyone interested in Signia hearing aids be better off buying the currently available AX products or waiting for the IX which I’m told should be in the hands of audiologists very soon?

And while Cadwell in this Soundly review felt that the IX version is only a little bit better than the AX, he’s just one reviewer. Doctor Cliff, on the other hand, described the IX as very impressive and definitely better than the previous generation (AX).

The only way for any of us to know whether any of these devices will benefit us is to try them out.

Edited
@billgem said:

…
That’s great feedback for AX users but it really doesn’t answer the question for everyone else. Would anyone interested in Signia hearing aids be better off buying the currently available AX products or waiting for the IX which I’m told should be in the hands of audiologists very soon?
…

They’re already available at the place I buy my from.
This one is a no brainer since they cost the same as AX ones; go with IX. They will eventually get / which makes them more future proof.
The ecosystem isn’t there yet but it will be.

For now, at least for me, it’s not worth it upgrading from AX.

Doctor Cliff is like a kid on a sugar rush, he hypes up everything. I’d wait for other reviewers (especially the ones that use HAs themselves).

In reply to @billgem

For the last month, I have been testing a Signia Pure IX 5 IX. The miracle that I was hoping for from the 2 processor device didn’t happen. I do think that the directional settings which I have experimented with while sitting in the back seat of a car helps somewhat, but overall the Signia is not much better than my old hearing aid from Hi Health Innovations. Also, when I have the app open on my iPhone and walk into a noisier environment, I don’t see any self adjusting happening in the app. Shouldn’t I? When I physically change programs, it mostly just seems to adjust the volume lower. What don’t I understand about trying out this device?

I see that I can buy 2 Signia devices online for $3700. I suspect my audiologist is not going to quote me such a reasonable amount. I’d like for him to make a profit but I think that when people like me (who can afford unreasonable markups) pay big prices in order to continue working with an audiologist, that the industry will continue to overcharge for hearing aids. That keeps prices high so that poorer people can’t afford good hearing aids. I believe that the hearing inpaired community could help bring prices down by refusing to buy overpriced hearing aids. So…what would I be losing if I buy this Signia hearing aid or another one online? I feel very inexperienced with making this complicated purchase. Is there anyone out there who feels able to help with some questions?

  1. My old hearing aid never really needed any adjustments. Therefore, do I really need my audiologist?
  2. How are online hearing aids serviced?
  3. Can individuals who buy online get access to the complete software that the audiologist can use?
  4. Signia avoids specifying how long the warranty lasts. Isn’t that suspicious? The only service center listed in the user guide is in Denmark.
  5. The Signia device was not able to detect the airfly device I bought from Apple which I had intended to use during a vacation to connect wirelessly to a tour guide’s microphone setup. Do other manufacturer’s products do that?
  6. Several of the options on the Signia don’t work - the mask setting, my WellBeing doesn’t know what day it is, and the assistant only has canned assistance. Am I expecting too much?

Welcome to the forum, yeah looks like a bit of a raw deal, but in fact the IX are pretty good , a lot of your issues can be put down to not being familiar with how the devices work and what they’re capable of doing, but let’s just start on your questions.

  1. Yes and no, I mean just because you don’t need any further adjustments means your Audiologist was pretty good and got them set how you like things to sound “first time” nice really, so there’s always a place for the clinics, not just for additional adjustments but to buy accessories, custom molds, warranty claims etc

  2. The manufacturer covers all warranty claims “through the clinics” so you’d need to return to your online business, you can in most cases send through any other clinic for this, but there’s no obligation for them to do so

  3. Yes the manufacturer software in most cases is available for projects.

  4. Don’t know where you get that from, but it’s 3 years, in fact some clinics can offer more.

  5. This is not recommended, the correct way is through a or similar.
    The IX is with ready with a firmware update, this will eliminate the need for a remote microphone
    (hopefully, still pretty new to the market)

  6. The mask setting needs to be set up in the software by your Audiologist for it to work, the wellbeing doesn’t know what day it is, but that doesn’t effect how anything works tho, the assistant works ok, I mean you can’t expect to have basic adjustments within the App as per with other brands.

@Member371 said:

I don’t see any self adjusting happening in the app. Shouldn’t I?

Nope I wouldn’t expect that, but however Phonak App can because of the way AutoSence works.

@Member371 said:

When I physically change programs, it mostly just seems to adjust the volume lower.

Just seems that your not quite set up correctly to what you want to hear in any given program/environment, mostly these changes are in the directional mics, as in beam forming etc but bear in mind you have the 5IX the 7 is the premium version, so some features are locked out, stupid idea but they all do it unfortunately.

Edited

In reply to @Member371

@Member371 said:

I see that I can buy 2 Signia devices online for $3700. I suspect my audiologist is not going to quote me such a reasonable amount.

You can buy them way cheaper if you have access to Costco, Rextons Reach are rebranded top line Signias Pure IX.
You cannot use Bluetooth Classic with modern hearing devices [with the exception of Phonak) they all use / . Some of them use Audio but support for it isn’t here yet.

Actually… it is possible to use BT Classic, but not directly unfortunately.
You’d have to use
https://www.signia.net/en/chargers-and-accessories/streamline-mic/3 as intermediary

Or when firmware gets released you could use something like this one, directly, which has audio in and you could use it instead if airfly

Multi-Mic+7

The new Multi-Mic+ pairs seamlessly with your Beltone Serene hearing aids to enhance your hearing experience at home and on the go. Focus on the conversation with this portable microphone that lets you pick up the voice of one or multiple...

In reply to @tenkan

Tencan and Reginald - thank you so much for your detailed responses. I feel that I’ve been floundering around trying to form conclusions and reach decisions. From what you both say, it sounds as if there is a bigger range of settings that an audiologist can fiddle with than I expected so that he can make these the right for me. So, in addition to dealing with warranty and services, that justifies the need for me to stick with the audiologist.

I asked to test drive the 5IX instead of the 7IX because background noise isn’t any more significant for me than for a person who is not hearing impaired. I can usually hear everything at a table in a restaurant for 4, but not at a table of 6 or more people, regardless of background noise. But it sounds as if maybe I should buy the 7IX to get all the bells and whistles. I am going to a play this weekend and will test the function. Thanks again for all the information.

Just to repeat what was said above, you can buy the highest technology level Signia hearing aid from Costco. It is the Rexton Reach and is priced at $1,599, with three year warranty, lifetime adjustments and free hearing tests from Costco. The only downside is that you will probably be dealing with a hearing aid specialist rather than an audiologist. But you can get adjustments from any Costco. It sounds like you have a pretty stable hearing loss, so Costco should be ideal if one or more stores are accessible to you.

Things I’ve discovered lately about the Signia dual processor hearing aids:

  1. The works great on the Signia 5 IX.
  2. There aren’t enough reviews by the hearing impaired on the Rexton Reach sold by Costco for me to assess it yet.
  3. Does anyone know if the the Signia 7 IX is significantly better than the 5 IX? My audiologist charges an extra $1,000 for the pair of 7 IX.
@Member371 said:

Does anyone know if the the Signia 7 IX is significantly better than the 5 IX? My audiologist charges an extra $1,000 for the pair of 7 IX.

Don’t wait around, there’s plenty of reviews on the Signia IX (Rexton) Costco has the premium 7IX version so get that instead and save a ton on money, the service and warranty is as good as anywhere else.

After rebates, the cost is about $6500, but it includes fast concierge service, the traveling charger, supplies, repairs, and warranty for the life of the - which I hope is 5 years. (My health care plan does not cover any regular visits, wax removal, or adjustments, just a once a year visit in the hearing test booth). Yes, the audiologist costs a lot more than Costco. We aren’t currently Costco members because we never really went there. That would only be $325 over 5 years, so that’s not much. Do you know the price at Costco? I’m in the process of weighing advantages and disadvantages.

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