Starkey Hearing Aid Lineup

Starkey’s current lineup includes Edge AI, Evolve AI, Genesis AI and custom-made Signature Series hearing aids. The products were designed to bridge the divide between medical devices and wearable consumer electronics. Styles range from behind-the-ear (BTE) to invisible-in-canal (IIC), so there’s something for pretty much everyone here.

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Every Starkey hearing aid is engineered to provide clear, natural sound with little to no feedback or noise. There are disposable battery and rechargeable options throughout their current offerings.

Starkey’s hearing aid processing is arguably equivalent to premium products from other big players, such as ReSound and Widex. What is significantly different is that some of the hearing aids feature sensors that help users track body and brain activities, including daily steps, heart rate, standing time and time spent actively engaging in conversations through the Thrive app for iPhone and Android. It’s an interesting way to attract folks like me who are in their mid-50s and spend more time than we should staring at a screen. The research on the benefits of this kind of tracking is mostly internal, but if you already track this stuff and need hearing aids, combining them may make sense.

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Another unique feature in some of Starkey’s top-of-the-line products is fall detection and alerts. If you or someone you care for has a history of falls, this feature is excellent. Plus, it’s unique for the hearing aid industry. Even top-of-the-line brands such as Signia and Phonak don’t offer devices with fall detection.

A final breakout for this line of hearing aids is that Starkey has managed to provide a rechargeable option in all form factors, from BTE to in-the-canal (ITC). Starkey’s ITC devices have gold charging contacts, and, like other manufacturers, Starkey provides a high-tech black version to appeal to the folks who wear something stuck in their ears anyway and aren’t trying to hide their hearing device. The same products are available with disposable zinc-air batteries.

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Starkey offers multiple charging cases for their products. The standard charger provides an all-day charge (about 45 hours depending on streaming behavior) in a few hours. The StarLink 2.0 line of chargers provides three hours of listening time in 10 minutes via turbo charging. The Premium StarLink chargers have a power bank that can fully charge the devices and hold three additional charges at a time. This is very helpful in places like Florida where seasonal weather creates the probability of periodic power outages.

Although Starkey hearing aids offer high-tech features and health tracking, it’s important to note that their product line is fairly limited compared to providers like Signia. If you’re looking for innovative health and safety features, however, Starkey is an excellent choice.

Accessories

Starkey products are compatible with several smartphone apps and a few accessories to help with background noise and reverberation. Their Hear Share app is a marvel for people who wish to keep family members or caregivers in the loop about their daily activities.

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Starkey Accessories

Remote Microphones

Starkey hearing aids are compatible with two remote clip-on microphones and one tabletop microphone: Starlink Remote Microphone + , StarLink Mini Remote Microphone and StarLink Table Microphone. The Remote Microphone + captures sound and can also stream audio through receivers like the Phonak Roger X or a Bluetooth connection (helpful if you have an Android phone or tablet). It also includes a Telecoil. By the specs, it sizes up well against the ReSound MultiMic and would be a good multifunction tool.

» Compare Providers: Phonak vs. Starkey

The Mini Remote Microphone doesn’t include the Bluetooth or audio input options, so it must be clipped or placed very close to the source (around 5 inches) to be effective. Because of the lack of Bluetooth, it is best for seniors with older phones who don’t have a use for the technology. The Table Microphone is a bit larger than the other two options, but it can be worn on the body. It is best suited for meetings or dinners where it can be set in the middle of the table to help the listener better hear the primary speaker.

TV Streamer

Starkey offers two TV streamers: StarLink TV Streamer and the newer StarLink Edge TV Streamer. The former device connects via an analog or digital cable to your TV or cable box and then streams the signal to the hearing aids. Once connected, they are pretty straightforward and help counteract the negative effects of distance, reverberation and background noise on TV listening, particularly in large rooms with vaulted ceilings and hard floors.

The Edge TV Streamer is designed for more tech-savvy older adults who want to ensure that their devices will continue to work with future TVs. It is Auracast-ready, which means it’s compatible with the next generation of Bluetooth technology. The Edge TV Streamer is also less than half the size of the standard TV Streamer and consumes less energy than its predecessor.

Remote Control

For those who aren’t all about smartphone apps and have trouble with the relatively small buttons on hearing aids, Starkey offers a stand-alone remote control: StarLink Remote Control 2.0. About the size of a business card case, the simple remote is a newer version of the long-standing and successful Starkey SurfLink Remote.

Starkey’s Synergy Platform

Starkey’s Synergy platform uses 900 MHz wireless, which Starkey has used for many years in their SurfLink (now StarLink) accessories. The current platform provides an excellent range of high-quality hearing aids, including custom-fit Picasso devices, in a good range of prices. The Synergy line is compatible with a remote control, TV streamer and remote microphone. They also offer a small Bluetooth receiver that plugs into the Remote Microphone to provide Bluetooth streaming and background noise control.

I’ve used both SurfLink and StarLink products for years and have always found them to be reliable and easy to use.

Starkey Build and Service

I have found Starkey’s hardware build quality to be on par with other brands, such as Oticon and Phonak. Like those providers, Starkey occasionally has a design that shows more failures, but I have always found them to be responsive when it comes to repairs, replacements and learning lessons for future models.

 » Compare Providers: Oticon vs. Starkey

Their focus since the early days was on custom ITE solutions and all-make repairs, which they still excel at. It’s pretty common in the hearing aid industry for a manufacturer to repair only their own devices if they are less than five years old. They will sometimes deviate from that, but they usually tack on a hefty price to do the work.

Starkey Hearing Aids

Expert Insights

From Dr. Brad Ingrao, Audiologist

Starkey has always honored repair requests for any of their older models, even if they no longer sell them. That sets them apart from other top providers in the industry. My patients and I have always been happy with their service.

Starkey Prices

Starkey’s pricing is all over the place. You’ll find that costs vary by location and provider. The company has Starkey dealerships, and they also offer their products through local dispensers and audiologists. As you may imagine, prices tend to be a bit higher in a closed-loop shop. On the other hand, they work very hard with independent folks to make their products competitive at the wholesale level. Depending on the pricing structure of the practice, you can find Starkey hearing aids at prices comparable to other major manufacturers, with some models starting around $1,000 per ear. Starkey also participates in several large buying groups, which helps keep wholesale prices down.

Expert Insights

From Dr. Brad Ingrao, Audiologist

Starkey has contracted with the VA for several years, so anyone who qualifies for basic VA health care can obtain top-of-the-line hearing aids and accessories at no cost.

To learn more about financing options and ways to find free or discounted hearing aids, watch my interview with our Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Hoyt.

My Experience With Starkey

At the risk of dating myself, I’ve been a fan of this brand for decades. When I was in graduate school in the late 1980s, Starkey was the go-to company for tricky in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids, particularly for people with profound hearing loss. Under founder Bill Austin’s leadership, Starkey was very focused on giving those with very poor hearing the option to wear whatever hearing aid style they wanted.

Many years later, I had the pleasure of meeting and having dinner with the original Incredible Hulk, Lou Ferrigno, at a Starkey Foundation gala. I knew he had severe to profound hearing loss, but I didn’t notice any hearing aids. When I asked about it, he pulled out his Starkey multispeaker completely-in-canal (CIC) devices made personally by Austin. He told me he loved them for public appearances where his usual power BTE hearing aids would have been too visible. Just like Ferrigno, I’m a big fan of Starkey hearing aids. I have been prescribing them to my patients for decades.

Starkey vs. the Competition

Starkey has a wide range of high-end prescription hearing aids, most of which integrate advanced AI tech to improve the wearer’s listening experience even more. But is Starkey better than the competition? We took a look at three of Starkey’s biggest prescription hearing aid competitors to see how they compare.

Final Thoughts on Starkey

Starkey is a great example of the American dream. Built on Austin’s passion and elbow grease, it has become one of the 800-pound gorillas of hearing aids and continues to push the envelope of possibility in hearing enhancement. Throughout my almost 30 years in practice, they were always one of my serious considerations for patients. With very few exceptions, I feel confident recommending them to my patients.

Still deciding if Starkey is right for you? Check out my video on choosing the best hearing aids. I compare the industry’s leading brands and offer more insights into my experience with Starkey.