Gear
04.08.2021 06:00 AM
Signia Active are hearing aids in a smart disguise
Hearing aids have gone from assistive tech to lifestyle tech. But is the Signia Active’s added subtlety a good thing?
Rating: 7/10 | Price: from £999 | Signia
WIRED
Impressive sound quality; straightforward app; fantastic battery life; music streaming
TIRED
Ear domes can cause discomfort; disorientating auto situation detection on Pros; small changes can require full reprogramming
The distinction between wireless earphones and hearing aids are becoming ever smaller – much like the devices themselves. Even in their own promotional video for their Active Pro hearing aids, manufacturers Signia blur the words ‘hearing aid’ and ‘hearing bud’. Hearing aids have moved from assistive technology to customisable lifestyle devices, and with that comes minimalism and discretion.
By minimalism, I mean that newer hearing aids tend to limit the involvement of other people such as medical professionals. Bose recently launched its first-ever hearing aids in May, with the unique benefit that they don’t require any hearing tests or fitting appointments with audiologists. The SoundControl is direct-to-consumer, with all the sound adjustments left in [...]