Signia Pure Charge&Go Nx Hearing Aid Review

 

 

 

Signia Pure Charge&Go Nx Hearing Aid Review

 

 

Lithium-ion rechargeable hearing aids are increasing in popularity in Australia.  In April 2018, Signia (formally Siemens) will launch its new Lithium-ion rechargeable hearing aid: Signia Pure Charge&Go Nx RIC (receiver-in-canal).  The Signia Pure Charge&Go uses Signia’s latest impressive audiological platform: Signia Nx and will be available in three performance levels:

  • 7nx (Premium)
  • 5nx (High-end)
  • 3nx (Mid-range)

 

Why Lithium-ion Rechargeability?

There are several advantages of lithium-ion hearing aids:

  • Ease of management and convenience – the wearer never needs to change fiddly zinc-air batteries. The hearing aids are designed so that they are charged every night, so they deliver a full day’s hearing.
  • Reliability and robustness – Doing away with disposable zinc-air batteries means there is no need for a battery door that opens and closes. This means the housing is designed with less gaps improving the hearing aid’s water resistance and general reliability.

Signia is very experienced in the rechargeable space producing rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride hearing aids for well over a decade.  However, the Signia Pure Charge&Go RIC will be Signia’s second generation lithium-ion hearing aid replacing the popular Cellion primax RIC released in 2016 (see review of this model here)

Pure Charge&Go uses an inductive rechargeable system doing away with the need for battery contacts on the hearing aid’s housing.  By using an inductive charging system, the Pure Charge&Go is designed to be extremely easy to use as there is no need to plug it in to be charged.  When the hearing aids are placed in the charger cradle they turn off automatically and when removed, they turn on automatically (no need to fiddle with the controls).  The inductive system also means the hearing aid can be designed as one piece with less openings reducing the risk of moisture or dust/dirt entering the hearing aid.  In fact, the Pure Charge&Go has been certified as achieving an ingress-protection rating (IP) of 68.

The Signia Pure Charge&Go battery takes 3 hours to charge and delivers 19 hours of use.  Signia advises that this time is reduced slightly if the wearer does a lot of wireless audio streaming (e.g. listening to music or taking phone calls).  Signia indicates that wearers can expect 17 hours of use if wearers audio stream for 5 hours.

Pure Charge&Go is considerably smaller than its predecessor Cellion, In the past many wearers were disappointed in the size of lithium-ion hearing aid models as they were comparable in size to traditional 13 size battery models.  The new Pure Charge&Go is considerably smaller and comparable in size to traditional 312 battery models.

 

 

Audiological Performance

Pure Charge&Go uses Signia’s latest audiological chip platform: Signia Nx.  In our opinion this one of the most advanced hearing aid platforms on the market delivering superb sound quality and speech clarity even in challenging situations.  More information about the Signia Nx audiological platform can be found here.

One of the standard out technologies is Signia’s Ultra HD e2e wireless system.  This technology is used to connect the two hearing aids when worn together ensuring the hearing aids act as a binaural “system” rather than independently.  The advantage of this “system” is that each hearing aid processes sound not only from the two microphones on its own hearing aid, but also from the two microphones on the other hearing aid.  This binaural processing technology forms the basis of some very powerful audiological features:

  • Narrow directionality – for improved hearing in background noise (Signia has shown that this can out-perform normal hearing in challenging situations with a lot of background noise*)
  • Own Voice Processing – a unique feature that improves the perception of the wearer’s own voice but independently processing the wearer’s own voice from all other sound in the environment.
  • 3D classification – the hearing aids are able to determine the type of environment the wearer is in and optimally adapt their performance.

 

Wireless Audio-Streaming

The Pure Charge&Go also features direct wireless audio streaming technology.  Wearers with Apple (Made for iPhone) devices can audiostream phone calls, music or any other audio input directly into their hearing aids.  Effectively their hearing aids become wireless headsets.  Signia offers a device called StreamLine mic that will enable wearers to wireless stream audio from other non-Apple Bluetooth devices.  The StreamLine mic can also be used as a remote microphone.  Wearers can give the Streamline mic to the person they want to hear (e.g. lecturer) and their voice will be wirelessly streamed into their hearing aids at a distance of up to 20 metres.

 

Our Conclusion

At Sounds of Life we are very excited about the Signia Charge & Go.  We believe the lithium-ion technology will improve the wearer’s experience by offering a hassle-free and convenient way of managing their hearing aids.  We have fitted many of the non-rechargeable Signia Nx hearing aids and feedback from our clients has been excellent.  Certainly for active wearers that are regularly in challenging situations with background noise, they benefit significantly from the advanced noise reduction technology in the Signia Nx platform.  Wearers also appreciate the direct audio streaming capabilities for phone use.

 

Sounds of Life offers the Pure Charge&Go hearing aids at Brisbane’s lowest prices:

Signia (Siemens)

  • Premium: Pure Charge&Go 7Nx RIC – $3890 (+ $299 for the charger)
  • High-end: Pure Charge&Go 5Nx – $2990 (+ $299 for the charger)
  • Mid-range: Pure Charge&Go 3Nx – RIC – $2200 (+ $299 for the charger)

Special Launch offer – For the month of April, Sounds of Life is offering the charger free-of-charge for all binaural purchases of Pure Charge & Go.

 

*http://www.hearingreview.com/2017/05/comparison-study-speech-recognition-using-binaural-beamforming-narrow-directionality/?ref=fr-title

 

About Sounds of Life

Sounds of Life audiology is a member of Audiology Australia and Independent Audiologist Australia. We adhere strictly to Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics.   We pride ourselves on:

  • Being fully independent – We are not owned or operated by a hearing aid manufacturer or large chain.
  • Ethical Practices – We are focused on providing the highest level of care and do not pay commissions.

We also follow the Australian Government Hearing Services’ protocol for hearing services.

 

If you feel hearing loss is impacting your life contact Sounds of Life.

Contact us today on 1300 744 432 or via our contact form below:

 

    Your Name (required)

    Your Phone Number (required)

    Your Message

     

     

     

     

     

    Signia Nx hearing aid review

     

     

     

    Signia Nx hearing aid review

     

    In November 2017, Signia (formally Siemens) released its new hearing aid range called Signia Nx to the Australian market.  Signia’s marketing around the new range focusses on new innovations that “replicate nature” (the name “Nx” stands for “Natural Experience”).  The main new technologies of note are Own Voice Processing technology, “Made for iPhone” wireless audio-streaming and an improved Telecare remote support solution (coming soon).

     

    Own Voice Processing (OVP™) 

    It is common for hearing aid wearers when they first get hearing aids to find that their own voice sounds unnaturally loud.  Of course, having hearing loss means that the volume of one’s own voice is perceived as softer than it really is and when fitted with hearing aids, wearers naturally report that hear their own voice sounds louder.  However, this perception is magnified by the fact that hearing aids are worn on the ears and their microphones are very close to the wearer’s mouth.  Consequently, for many hearing aid wearers, their own voice is perceived as artificially too loud.  To address such a complaint, audiologists would turn the hearing aid volume down to make the wearer’s own voice sound more natural.  Unfortunately this has the undesirable impact of also reducing the volume for sounds the wearer wants to hear reducing the benefit of the hearing aids.

     

    Signia’s new Own Voice Processing (OVP™) technology eliminates this problem by processing of the wearer’s own voice, completely independent from all other sounds, including all other voices.  The benefit for the wearer is that their own voice sounds more natural without the audiologist having to turn the hearing aids down for all the other sounds the wearer wants to hear.  During the initial fitting (under guidance by the audiologist), the wearer conducts an “own voice” training exercise which simply involves counting   Once trained the hearing aids will then be able to identify the wearer’s own voice.  At the recent Brisbane launch event we had the opportunity to test the new OVP™ technology and found it worked very well and certainly made one’s own voice sound more natural.

     

    “Made for iPhone” for wireless audio-streaming to Apple devices

    “Made for iPhone” technology enables direct wireless connection (without additional accessories) to Apple devices during phone calls and audio-streaming.  This means the hearing aids become virtual wireless headsets, so wearers do not need to hold the phone up to their ears.  This technology is fantastic for watching movies from iPads and televisions, with high quality sound, conveniently being streamed wirelessly into wearer’s hearing aids.  Although direct wireless audio-streaming is currently only available for Apple devices with  the new Nx range, Signia advises that an Android solution will be available early next year.

     

     

     

    In addition to supporting “Made for iPhone” wireless audio-streaming technology, the new Nx hearing aids feature an upgraded full audio wireless link between the hearing aids (a technology Signia calls Ultra HD wireless e2e technology).  This wireless link enables binaural sound processing which is the basis for binaural features like narrow directionality which markedly improves hearing in background noise.   Signia promotes that they are the only manufacturer that offers both direct Bluetooth audio-streaming and full audio binaural sound processing in the one device.

     

    Telecare with full live remote fine-tuning and video chat – Coming Soon

    Signia TeleCare is a tele-audiology solution that allows audiologists to remotely fine-tune hearing aids.  The new Signia Nx hearing aids feature Telecare 3.0 which allows full fine-tuning with video chat via the hearing aid wearer’s mobile phone.  No matter where the wearer is in the world, as long as they have a mobile phone connection, the audiologist can program and fine-tune their hearing aids.  The video chat feature provides a visual tool so the audiologist can check that the hearing aids are not damaged and are being worn correctly.  This is a great feature for busy hearing aid wearers (particularly travellers) who may find it difficult to visit the clinic.  Although Telecare 3.0 was not available in Australia at the launch of Signia Nx, Signia advises that it will be rolled-out in February 2018.

     

     

     

     

    Range of hearing aids

    The Signia Nx is initially being released across three performance levels in two “Pure” receiver-in-canal (RIC)  hearing aids and one “Motion” behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid.

     

    Pure, discreet fully-featured RIC hearing aids with direct streaming.

    The Pure RIC devices are available in both 312 and 13 battery models.  They have an elegant design and are an ideal solution for wearers who want high performance, full connectivity, and complete discretion.  They feature new state-of-the-art silicone microphone technology.

    Available performance levels: 7Nx (Premium), 5Nx (High-end), 3Nx (Mid range)

     

    Motion. Versatile stylish BTE with excellent battery life

    With its high capacity 13-size battery, the Motion 13 offers wearers excellent battery life when streaming.  The Motion can be used with a normal earhook and mould or a thin-tube.  The Motion Nx features new state-of-the-art silicone microphone technology.

    Available performance levels: 7Nx (Premium), 5Nx (High-end), 3Nx (Mid range)

     

    Our Conclusion

    The Signia Nx suits active wearers who require high performance hearing aid technology to ensure they hear well in challenging situations with background noise.  One of Signia Nx’s features that we are really impressed with is the hearing aids use of the iPhone motion sensors.  Although not a focus of Signia’s marketing, the hearing aids use the smartphone’s Motion sensors to identify when the wearer is on the move so hearing aid features like directionality are activated and adapted appropriately.  This ensures audibility is optimised even in rapidly changing environments.

    The Signia Nx also suits wearers who require wireless audio-streaming.  Wearers that rely on their smartphones will enjoy the convenience and sound quality experience of direct wireless audio-streaming without an additional accessory.   Wearers can also optionally purchase a Streamline TV transmitter and wirelessly stream Dolby quality stereo sound from the television directly into their hearing aids.

    At Sounds of Life we have had the opportunity to fit a number of the new Signia Nx hearing aids since launch.  So far the feedback from clients has been very positive with reports that the hearing aids offer very good sound quality, especially when audio-streaming.  At Sounds of Life we are pleased to offer the new Signia Nx at Australia’s lowest prices.

     

    About Sounds of Life

    Sounds of Life audiology is a member of Audiology Australia and Independent Audiologist Australia. We adhere strictly to Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics.   We pride ourselves on:

    • Being fully independent – We are not owned or operated by a hearing aid manufacturer or large chain.
    • Ethical Practices – We are focused on providing the highest level of care and do not pay commissions.

    We also follow the Australian Government Hearing Services’ protocol for hearing services.

     

    If you feel hearing loss is impacting your life contact Sounds of Life.

    Contact us today on 1300 744 432 or via our contact form below:

     

      Your Name (required)

      Your Phone Number (required)

      Your Message