FYI: To learn more about our favorite hearing aids, read our guide to this year’s best hearing aids.
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Built on Signia’s AX platform, the Styletto AX hearing aids are among the most advanced devices we’ve tried. By combining rechargeability with advanced sound performance, these hearing aids are an ideal option for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.
FYI: To learn more about our favorite hearing aids, read our guide to this year’s best hearing aids.
Unpackaging my Styletto AX hearing aids, I was immediately struck by how much their size, combined with the charging case, reminded me of a pair of AirPods. Compared to other receiver-in-canal hearing aids, these devices were slimmer, albeit a bit longer. Still, it’s hard to notice them when worn, as the shell of the hearing aid fits snugly behind one’s ear.
I should also note that, in terms of physicality, these hearing aids are comfortable to wear. Because they are lightweight and smooth, I could hardly feel I was wearing them after several minutes.
To charge the Styletto AX hearing aids, you must place them in the charging case, which can hold up to three additional full charges. To charge the charging case, you can use the included USB-C charging cable.
Signia also sells a charging pad that allows you to charge your case wirelessly. While this device is not included with the hearing aids, you can purchase a Qi-certified wireless charger from Amazon or Best Buy for under $20.
My hearing aids took about three hours to charge fully, and with regular use, I was able to get upwards of 16 hours on a single charge. Regardless, I’d recommend you charge these hearing aids every night.
Upon charging these hearing aids, I downloaded the Signia app and paired the hearing aids to my iPhone. Once this was complete, I was ready to begin a remote fitting session with a Signia hearing health professional.
During this session, my audiologist walked me through every aspect of the Styletto AX hearing aids, from placing them in my ear to making adjustments to my sound profile. She also walked me through the ins and outs of the Signia App, which can be used to schedule additional remote sessions.
Overall, the experience felt similar to a traditional in-person visit to an audiology clinic. The help I received was professional and thorough. The only downside I see is that if a person doesn’t have a smartphone, this functionality might be a bit more difficult to access.
Once my remote fitting was complete, I was left in control of how to use these hearing aids. Using the Signia app, I was able to access a number of helpful controls.
You can adjust the volume of each hearing aid (left or right) independently as well as together. You can also adjust the directionality of hearing aid microphones. For example, I often struggle to hear conversations in noisy environments. By adjusting my Styletto AX hearing aids to focus on sound coming from my left-hand side, they tuned out some of the noise coming from my right-hand side, allowing me to focus on my conversation.
With the press of a button, I could also activate face mask mode, which enhances speech audibility for those wearing facial coverings. In my tests, this feature seemed to work very well.
Beyond manually adjusting volume, tone, and directionality, the app also features Signia Assistant. Essentially, this functions like an advanced chatbot. By activating Signia Assistant, you’ll be prompted to select what is causing your issue: your own voice, other voices, sound quality, or handling.
From there, Signia Assistant will ask further questions about what’s giving you trouble and eventually alter the settings on your hearing aids. I found this feature to be particularly useful, as people often don’t know exactly which settings need to be adjusted.
Additionally, when making changes through Signia Assistant, your Signia hearing health provider will be alerted of these changes, allowing them to see which aspects of the hearing aids are giving you trouble and advise accordingly.
I always appreciate when Bluetooth hearing aids allow you to stream music and calls, and luckily, Styletto AX does support this for iPhones and Android devices. Overall, I found the audio quality to be pretty good, at least on par with my AirPods Pro. Calls came in exceptionally clear, and my music did as well.
One caveat with audio, however, is the adaptive streaming of these hearing aids. This feature automatically adjusts the volume of your music based on surrounding noise. For example, while going for a walk, gusts of wind would cause my music to fluctuate obnoxiously, and there is no way to turn off this feature.
Signia Styletto AX hearing aids can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 for a pair. The actual cost will depend on the seller and the technology level you choose. Since these hearing aids are not available over the counter, you’ll have to visit an audiologist or hearing health professional to get them.
Pro Tip: Looking to save on a pair of hearing aids? Be sure to check out our guide to this year’s most affordable hearing aids.
Minor gripes with audio streaming aside, I found my Signia Styletto AX hearing aids to be among the best I’ve ever tested. Sound quality was crystal clear, and the companion smartphone app made it super easy to adjust my settings or — in the case of more complex issues — get telehealth from a Signia hearing health specialist.
For those with mild to moderate hearing loss, I would definitely recommend these hearing aids. The only people for whom I would not recommend these hearing aids are those who don’t own a smartphone, as one of the main components of Styletto AX is the ability to make your own adjustments through a smartphone app.
