I have not tried a pair of Signia Active Pro IX myself yet but Signia just announced a new form factor into their fleet of IX technology platforms (Integrated Xperience) that is worthwhile a small chat about it. After all, Signia Active IX can be the best of the two worlds for many.
Signia Active is part of the AWS strategy (Widex, Signia and Rexton's parent company) to provide hearing aids to satisfy young and active users, as well as those first-time users of hearing aids who wish to test the water by trying a hearing aid that does not look like the traditional hearing aids and can be used as earbud for everyday listening and streaming.
Product highlights of Signia Active Pro IX:
It combines a modern earbud design with prescription-grade hearing aid capabilities. Suitable for active people as well as first-time hearing aid users.
These earbuds feature RealTime Multi-Conversation Enhancement technology, improving speech clarity in noisy environments. Studies show significant improvements in hearing clarity and signal-to-noise ratio with the Integrated Xperience platform (10-12 dB in SNR).
Wind noise reduction
EchoShield for hearing speech in reverberance environments
Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the location adjustment (Signia Assistant)
Tap control for streaming and answering calls
What are the differences between the Signia Active and Active IX?
Please see the performance comparison table of Signia Active and Signia Active Pro at the end of this article. Following are the major differences that the IX version of Signia Active brought to the table compared to Signia Active X:
The IX technology platform is smarter than the X platform in helping you to hear speech better in noisy environments
The Signia Active IX comes in 6 colours vs 3 colours in Signia Active
Signia Active IX has 29 hours of battery life with 5 hours of streaming, versus 23 hours of use with 2 hours of streaming for the Signia Active X model
Signia Active IX can operate through LE Bluetooth Audio with superior sound quality than the Active X
What is the shortfall of Signia Active IX?
The only shortfall of the product I can see is that the Signia Active IX is 2 millimetres thicker than its predecessor Signia Active X. This makes the earbud hearing aids stick out more and be more noticeable, especially for people with smaller ears particularly female users.
They are certainly popular. Signia Active family are earbud hearing aids. “Signia Active Pro IX offers a modern, low-profile solution for people who need to boost their hearing but might not otherwise accept hearing aids right now,” says Jens Møller, Global Head of Signia Brand. “In addition to a contemporary earbud design, Signia Active Pro IX delivers the full power of Integrated Xperience technology, empowering wearers to reconnect with conversations and engage fully regardless of their environment.”
They can also be categorised in the OTC line of hearing aids (Over-the-counter), a class of hearing aids that are authorised to be sold over the counter without a prescription in the US, but not yet in the UK.
What is the difference between Signia Active X and Signia Active IX?
Integrated Xperience (or IX) is Signia's hearing aid platform that uses a multi-stream architecture capable of pinpointing multiple moving conversations in real-time. The platform can process up to four focus streams using Signia’s RealTime Conversation Enhancement solution, which analyzes, augments, and adapts to the dynamic flow of multi-party conversation environments. This ensures uninterrupted conversation engagement in noise, addressing a critical challenge many hearing aid wearers face.
You can learn more about the Signia IX platform and the multi-stream architecture and the research papers published about them on the Signia website.
Does the Signia Active IX help speech understanding in a group conversation?
Studies of group conversation show that Signia’s Integrated Xperience platform can significantly improve speech understanding. In one case, 95% of participants experienced greater hearing clarity with Signia Integrated Xperience than without. In another study, Signia Integrated Xperience was shown to provide an incredible +12dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in a simulated noisy group conversation scenario. In a recently published peer-reviewed study, 80% of participants preferred RealTime Conversation Enhancement to be on in real-world noisy group conversations.
“People with hearing loss often struggle to engage in group conversations, compelling many to withdraw from social situations and put their overall well-being at risk,” Møller continues. “Even so, many of the same people missing out on conversations are unwilling to wear hearing aids due to stigma. But they do wear earbuds as part of their every day, digital lives, making Signia Active Pro IX a modern, appealing solution that integrates seamlessly into peoples’ lives.”
How are the Signia Active IX battery and connectivity features?
Available in multiple colour options, the new Signia Active Pro IX hearing aids include a rechargeable battery for all-day power and come with a convenient charging case just like any modern true wireless product. A full charge will give you 29 hours of run time for a pair of Signia Active IX with a 5-hour streaming budget. I also like the fact that the charger unit is portable which means you can charge Signia Active Pro IX on the go 3 times (or say 3 days) which is great when you go out in nature for camping or biking trips for example.
And like consumer earbuds, the Signia Active Pro IX hearing aids support Bluetooth connectivity for streaming audio and communicating via smartphone hands-free. Users can even tap their Signia Active Pro IX earbuds to accept or decline calls.
What I like about Active Pro IX is that the hearing aid is capable of connecting and streaming through LE Bluetooth Audio which provides a much better sound quality and a lower battery consumption.
To whom do I recommend Signia Active Pro and Signia Active IX?
I'd highly recommend Signia Active IX and Signia Active Pro IX to the following group of patients who are looking for a pair of hearing aids:
You have an active lifestyle e.g. regular sports, gym, sailing, hiking, skiing,...
Your hearing loss is not severe, so you can manage the conversation most of the time, you look for a dual-purpose device to work as hearing aids and earbuds i.e. 2-in-1.
Your job and work need you to use masks or noise-protective devices most of the time e.g. doctors, nurses, medical teams, construction workers, ...
What are the performance levels of Signia Active IX?
Signia Active IX comes in an Essential and Pro level. Please see the difference in performance levels in the below table.
My advice to my patients is to consider the Signia Active Pro IX if you are young, have an active and engaging lifestyle, hold meetings and socialise in noisy spaces. If you use a pair of hearing aids for a less noisy space such as group hiking, sailing, travelling, or sports at less noisy spaces the Signia Active IX might be just the hearing aid you need.
How resilient is Signia Active IX?
Signia Active and Active Pro IX are both IP68 rated, one of the highest in the hearing aid industry. This rating makes Signia active and resistant to water, moisture, and dust, making it a perfect option for an active lifestyle.
What is the warranty period for Signia Active and Signia Active Pro IX?
That's a good question. We offer a 5-year warranty on Signia Active and Active Pro IX. I would suggest making sure that you take the warranty period into account when shopping around for the best price for Signia Active and Signia Active Pro IX. A longer warranty period gives you peace of mind and it really makes sense to go for the longest warranty you can find in the market.
Conclusion
I believe that Signia's Active IX will be a success among the group of patients who have a sporty and active lifestyle. The earbud hearing aid suits the younger generation and those in occupations that cannot use behind-the-ear hearing aids.
As always please feel free to reach out to us with questions and comments.
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