Audicus Omni 2 Hearing Aid Review: Sound Quality Comes at a Price

Omni 2 is Audicus’ latest premium OTC hearing aid. Starting at $1399 per ear, Omni 2 offers modern features like rechargeability, hands-free calling, graphic EQ control, and remote hearing aid adjustments. Lab tests show that Omni 2 performs above average on speech enhancement, especially in quieter environments.

What I love about Omni 2

What I don't like

Who is Audicus?

Audicus was one of the first companies to market affordable hearing aids online with professional hearing care services, and today offers multiple hearing aid models—manufactured by two of the world's largest hearing aid companies, Sonova and WSA—ranging in price from $699 to $1,399 per ear. Audicus does everything in-house, including hearing aid programming, shipping, and remote customer care.

Founded by Patrick Freuler in 2012, the Manhattan-based company's mission is to provide easy access to fairly priced hearing aids. You can either pay upfront to own the hearing aids or lease them through the Audicus Premier membership plan which adds additional perks.

What is the Omni 2?

Omni 2 is a receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid built on the same technology as the Unitron Moxi Blu 7—a higher-end prescription hearing aid. Both hearing aids are manufactured by Sonova, the longstanding global leader in hearing tech. Omni 2 offers strong sound performance, recently earning a 2023 Expert Choice Award from HearAdvisor.

Omni 2 reminds me in a way of the Jabra Enhance Select 200; both hearing aids are manufactured by traditional hearing aid manufacturers, but reimagined and rebranded to facilitate a modern online shopping experience. Having an establisherd manufacturer involved should instill confidence—Sonova has an established track record on quality control and reliable audio algorithms for hearing enhancement. Plus they produce a set of robust wireless accessories, like the TV Connector (discussed below), which are compatible with Omni 2.

Frequently Asked Questions

A strong-performing discreet device

There is no questioning the comfort and quality of the Omni 2. They feel identical to devices from Unitron and other major hearing aid manufacturers. They are lightweight, comfortable and discreet on ear, and the ear wire is a nice blend of flexibility and ruggedness. The sound quality was also up to the standard I would expect from a top-tier prescription manufacturers.

Wireless streaming and hands-free calling

I love how commonplace wireless connectivity has become with hearing aids and Omni 2 is no exception. They support Bluetooth 4.2 making them compatible with most iOS and Android mobile devices. You can also pair Omni 2 with up to eight devices (two active connections), expanding the reach of your wireless connection web. 

Most modern mobile phones will also offer you hands-free call, where the hearing aid microphones are used to pick up your voice for the person on the other end of the phone. Ringtones will automatically transfer to your hearing aids if they are paired properly and you can answer calls with a short press of either the up or down multi-function rocker switch (long press either button to end calls).

Controlling the hearing aids

You will find a multi-function rocker switch on the back of Omni 2 hearing aids. This allows you to adjust the volume (short press up or down) or cycle between your hearing programs with a long press (> 2 seconds). Here is a list of the available programs which can all be personalized by your hearing care provider. 

Omni 2 hearing aids communicate wireless so volume adjustments to one hearing aid will occur in the other simultaneously. They will also reset to the Universal program and their default volume setting (5 of 10) anytime they are turned off and on. The universal program will cycle automatically between conversation in quiet, conversation in small group, conversation in a crowd, conversation in noise, no conversations in quiet, and music, depending on your sound environment.

If you prefer wireless control, don’t worry as Audicus offers several remote control accessories as well as a full featured app (more on that below).

The Audicus Hearing Remote App

Audicus’s Hearing Remote App gives you control over some of the most important adjustments such as volume, mute, and program switching. You will also find “Comfort” and “Clarity” buttons towards the bottom of the main tab which reduce volume and boost high-frequencies, respectively. There is even a 3-band equalizer allowing you to shape your sound to taste with bass, midrange (mid), and treble. 

A nice feature I stumbled upon is that Omni 2 stores your streamed and general used adjustments separately. This is beneficial as your equalizer settings for streamed music will likely be different than what you want during normal use for speech clarity. I have included a few images below showing Omni 2 recalling my store preferences.

You will also find a program manager tab and a few features within the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines towards the top left). Most notable of which is likely the Adaptive Bandwidth setting which is supposed to improve sound quality for hands-free phone calls.

Something you will notice quickly with the Remote Plus App is that your Omni 2 hearing aids must reconnect every time it is opened. Audicus did this intentionally as prolonged wireless connection would drain the battery quicker. However, it is bittersweet as the extra few seconds can get annoying for the impatient.

Remote programming

Omni 2 are programmed remotely by Audicus hearing specialists. This requires you to either share a clinical hearing test with them or take a short online hearing screening. Your hearing aids will arrive programmed based on those results.

If you need other adjustments down the road, you can call your Audicus hearing care professional for remote assistance. They will send you updates through your app to be installed on your devices. This is honestly a bit antiquated as many modern hearing aids provide video conferencing with real-time programing adjustments. I see this being one of the biggest limitations of Omni 2. They are good hearing aids, but a better remote adjustment model would offer a more personal touch for your hearing needs.

Power and rechargeability

Omni Series 2 is available in two options, one that takes disposable batteries and another with an internal lithium-ion battery. This is great if you prefer the longevity of traditional power options which should last you roughly a week with a standard size 312 battery. If you opt for the rechargeable option, Audicus reports a battery life of 16 hours which may or may not get you through your day. In general, you can expect shorter battery lifes with streaming, if your hearing loss is more significant, and based on certain environmental factors.

Omni 2 comes with a charging case if you opt for the internal battery model. This will need to be plugged into a standard wall socket using the included USB cable and adapter. You can expect several hours of recharge time from fully depleted batteries so it is likely best to do this overnight while you sleep. If you favor a portable charger, as common among many OTC devices nowadays, Audicus offers their Power Pack (below) which supercharges your standard case with an additional ~7 charges.

One nice addition of their portable case is the inclusion of a desiccant pocket, which can help fight moisture buildup and improves the lifespan of your devices.

Lab Testing with HearAdvisor™

HearAdvisor is an independent lab that provides objective comparisons of prescription, over-the-counter, and hearable devices. All products are tested in two settings which approximate what consumers experience when fit with hearing aids:

• Initial Fit: The Initial Fit programming reflects how a device performs “out of the box” when the recommended settings are used. Volume adjustments may be made depending on the device, but real-ear measurements are not performed. HearAdvisor’s Initial Fit aims to reflect the performance most people experience with their hearing aids.

• Tuned Fit: The second test setting involves professional adjustments, such as real-ear measurements and optimizing the device’s amplification. This reflects how devices perform when best practices are followed and a hearing care provider professionally fits you.

HearAdvisor Report Card

Should you buy the Omni Series 2?

Omni Series 2 is a quality hearing aid that offers advanced features, such as wireless connectivity and hands-free calling, that I’ve come to expect in modern hearing aids. Beyond this, my subjective experiences with their sound quality put them on the shelf next to prescription receiver-in-canal style hearing aids. Again, Audicus has ties with Sonova so this does not surprise me. Omni 2 seems to be a quality OTC hearing aid that may be right for you if you have a mild-to-moderate hearing loss, want quality technology, and are comfortable with call-based hearing care services.

As I have not tested Audicus’s previous Omni Series 1, it is difficult to make inferences regarding sound performance improvements between their first and second generations. Given the marginal price difference between them it may be worth spending a little more for the smaller size and more futureproof Bluetooth connectivity.

Where to buy Omni 2

All of their products, accessories, and plans can be purchased directly through their website audicus.com. Audicus also offers in person appointments at their full-service clinics. While I have seen references to brick and mortar stores across the continental United States, their website is currently showing only one facility in New York.

What should I buy instead of the Omni 2?

You may consider Jabra Enhance Select 200 if you are interested in a direct-to-consumer OTC device. Similar to Audicus, Jabra has ties to a larger company with a history of manufacturing quality hearing products, i.e. GN which is the parent company of Resound and Beltone. 

One big difference between these two devices is that Enhance Select 200 offers real-time virtual video appointments through your mobile device. While this may seem small, the visual cues can make troubleshooting and counseling much easier—especially if you struggle to hear. 

It is worth noting that both Audicus Omni 2 and Enhance Select 200 received HearAdvisor’s 2023 Expert Choice Award. Meaning, both devices have been put under the microscope and found to be top performers based on the market today. Lastly, Enhance Select 200 will also leave more in your wallet as they can be purchased for $1695 per pair compared to nearly $3000 for a pair of Omni 2.