Our Experience with Phonak and Signia

I’ve fit patients with Phonak and Signia products for years. They both offer a full range of behind-the-ear (BTE) and custom receiver-in-canal (RIC) products that fit hearing losses ranging from mild to profound. They both also offer in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids that are invisible or nearly invisible.

Expert Insights

From Audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman,

One of the many attractive elements of Signia hearing aids is the slim, compact, portable charger that comes with their rechargeable options. The close resemblance to AirPod chargers is often an influential element for patients.

Phonak is known for its pediatric offerings in bright colors, along with an app designed specifically for those under 18. While not pertinent to seniors specifically, some older patients have opted into brightly colored Lumity hearing aid options. This is great for seniors who don’t want “dull” looking hearing aids and prefer to have more customization options when it comes to style and color. Signia doesn’t offer quite as many unique color options, with some models only having two or three colors to choose from.

Phonak’s Lumity line also comes in “grown-up” color choices. One of the things I like about Lumity is Phonak’s SpeechSensor technology, which identifies the direction of the main speech signal. This enhances speech understanding and reduces listening effort. Phonak’s Lumity line also has StereoZoom 2.0, which helps the listener maintain engagement during conversations, even if the noise volume around the speaker increases.

Comparing Phonak and Signia Hearing Aids

Both companies produce a wide range of innovative hearing aids, which are being updated and fine-tuned technologically all the time. Here are some of their current offerings:

Slimmed Down and Discreet Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) Hearing Aids

Phonak Slim, one of Phonak’s offerings, is an ergonomically-shaped, RIC hearing aid. It won’t compete with “real estate” behind the ear, even if you wear eyeglasses, thanks to its slim design.

Phonak – RIC hearing aids. Photo credit – Phonak

Like the Phonak Slim, Signia’s Styletto AX is an RIC hearing aid with trimmed-down appeal. It’s very lightweight and comes in 12 colors. The Styletto AX generates crystal-clear sound quality through Signia’s new Augmented Xperience (AX) technology platform. The AX platform processes speech and background noise separately, so the listener can better enjoy conversations in noisy environments.

Wearing Signia Styletto hearing aids

Hearing Aids For the Active Set

For nightlife aficionados and active or athletic people, Signia’s instant-fit Active X hearing aids may be a great choice. These very visible hearing aids hide in plain sight by masquerading as earbuds. Active X is great if you just want it to seem like you’re listening to music or taking a call, when you’re actually improving your listening experience incognito! They’re Bluetooth-enabled, so you can use them to stream phone calls and media. They’re built on Signia’s Xperience platform to produce clear, natural sound in noisy environments.

» You Might Like: Best Bluetooth hearing aids

Phonak doesn’t have an earbud-style hearing aid like Signia or even OTC hearing aid providers like Eargo and Sony, but their Virto Paradise hearing aids offer a similar look. Unlike Signia’s Active X instant-fit hearing aids, Phonak’s in-the-ear Virto Paradise hearing aids are custom-made to fit your ear perfectly. They’re visible, but super stylish. They’re also Bluetooth capable and produce clear, crisp, natural sound.

» Skip the Prescription: Best Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids

Small but Mighty Hearing Aids

Phonak’s Lyric is an extended-wear hearing aid that’s inserted deep into the ear canal by a hearing professional. It can remain in your ear 24/7 for several months at a time. It’s completely invisible. You wear Lyric while you’re sleeping or participating in any of life’s activities that don’t require water immersion. A small study of around 100 people run by Phonak found that Lyric wearers experienced tinnitus relief faster than daily-wear hearing aid users.4

Expert Insights

From Audiologist Dr. Ruth Reisman,

Phonak’s unique extended wear Lyric device is a draw for patients who need hearing aids but want to restore natural no-fuss hearing. Even though the subscription can be expensive, patients often choose convenience over cost.

Signia doesn’t have an extended-wear or invisible hearing aid offering. Signia’s most discrete, smallest hearing aids are the Insio Nx in-the-canal (IIC) and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) models. Insio Nx are custom-made to fit each ear’s anatomy comfortably. If you’ve had trouble getting proper fittings with other hearing aid brands and styles, the Insio Nx could be a solid option for you.

Accessories and Apps

Both companies provide hearing-enhancement accessories, like wireless microphones that make watching television easier. Phonak’s Partner Mic is a neat little add-on that’s tailor-made for couples. The partner mic attaches to your significant other’s lapel so you won’t miss a word during important conversations.

» Also Check Out: Senior Living for Couples

Phonak’s myPhonak app enables Bluetooth streaming and hands-free phone calls for iOS 15 and up, Android OS 8.0 and up, and Google Mobile Services-certified Android devices that support Bluetooth 4.2. Not every Phonak hearing aid is app-compatible. Phonak also has an app that syncs to the myRoger remote control.

» Related Resources: Best made-for-iPhone hearing aids and best Android-compatible hearing aids

If you’re looking for an app that does double duty as a step and activity counter, Signia’s My WellBeing app may be beneficial. Through this app, you can track your steps and daily activity levels, hearing aid use, and social interactions. It can help provide a more well-rounded picture of your day-to-day health and well-being.

» Useful Guide: Changes in Health and Health Care Needs as We Age

Signia can stream directly to iOS devices, and some of their newer hearing aids, like the Styletto AX and the Pure Charge&Go iX, are Bluetooth-enabled. However, some Signia models require an intermediary device to connect to Bluetooth. If you’re looking for options that don’t require an extra device for Bluetooth compatibility, Phonak may be the better choice.

Tinnitus Relief

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is a common complaint among people with hearing loss. In fact, nearly 1 in 4 older adults (24 percent) report experiencing symptoms of tinnitus.5 Hearing aids restore hearing while they’re in use, which is sometimes enough to reduce the annoyance of tinnitus noise. Both Phonak and Signia also have added tinnitus tools that may help.

» Related Reading: Best Hearing Aids for Tinnitus

Phonak’s Tinnitus Balance app feature includes a large number of background sounds and soothing masking sounds that help the listener focus less on their tinnitus. The app is meant to be part of a tinnitus management program that’s set up and overseen by a hearing professional. To use the tinnitus tools, you’ll need to have Phonak hearing aids that are app compatible, such as the custom-made Phonak Virto Marvel or the Phonak Bolero Marvel.6

Signia offers five types of static noise and ocean-wave therapy masking sounds that help tinnitus noise fade into the background. In addition, some of Signia’s hearing aids have built-in Tinnitus Notch Therapy, which generates an inaudible “quiet zone” to help your brain ignore tinnitus sounds over time. For people with tinnitus, Notch Therapy may make Signia a better bet.

A Quick Note on Pricing

Signia and Phonak don’t list their prices online. Hearing aid costs for these brands and other prescription hearing aids are set by the provider you buy them from. There are geographic differences in costs and other factors that may come into play. According to Dr. Reisman, Signia and Phonak hearing aids can cost between $1,000 and $3,750 per device on average.

» Save More: Best Cheap Hearing Aids for Seniors

To find out the exact cost of Signia or Phonak hearing aids, you’ll need to contact a hearing aid professional that sells that company’s products. You can find more information on how to purchase these hearing aids in our Phonak pricing guide and Signia costs page.

Phonak and Signia vs. the Competition

Phonak and Signia are two industry leaders that offer patients a diverse lineup of hearing aids to meet their unique hearing needs. While I am a fan of both providers, I also prescribe several other excellent brands that are worth considering. Here is a closer look at Phonak and Signia in comparison with some of their biggest prescription hearing aid competitors:

Phonak vs. Signia: The Bottom Line

Signia provides a comprehensive line of products with solid connectivity to hearing-enhancement accessories and smartphone apps. They offer solutions for mild to profound hearing loss. The technology behind Signia’s devices has been around for decades and has always proved reliable for patients.

Phonak offers a robust product line to suit the needs of a variety of people with mild to profound hearing loss. The company prides itself on providing the world’s only extended-wear hearing aid and for its products’ compatibility with Advanced Bionics cochlear implants. Although both providers offer tinnitus relief solutions, Phonak is the preferred option for those with the condition because Phonak’s devices and features can help train your brain to block out the ringing sound.

Phonak and Signia both provide high-quality hearing aids that produce natural sound, even in challenging environments. The differences between the two are relatively minor and won’t impact your ability to hear and enjoy conversations and media.