Yes, based on lab data: Beyond scored 4.3/5 for speech in quiet and 1.7/5 in noise, versus Atom X's 1.5/5 and 0.3/5. For about $60 more per pair, Beyond delivers meaningfully clearer speech, which is the core job of a hearing aid.
Audien Hearing Atom X vs. Elehear Beyond
Check out our comparison of the Audien Hearing Atom X vs Elehear Beyond. Listen to audio samples and see how the two hearing aids differ in terms of sound performance, features, accessories, and more.
Published Updated
Quick Verdict
AI summarizedSummarized with AI assistance from our human-researched product information, in-lab testing, objective sound measurements, and expert ratings.
The real choice is speech clarity versus simplicity: Beyond's lab scores beat Atom X badly in both quiet and noise, while Atom X's touchscreen case offers a simpler, phone-free way to adjust volume and programs.
Atom X
Choose the Audien Hearing Atom X if you want the touchscreen charging case for phone-free, low-dexterity control and can accept weak speech-in-noise performance (0.3/5 lab score) as a tradeoff.
Beyond
Choose the Elehear Beyond if speech clarity matters most: it scored 4.3/5 in quiet and 1.7/5 in noise in lab testing, both well above the Atom X, for roughly $60 more per pair.
What actually separates them
AI summarizedSpeech-in-noise performance
Lab measuredBeyond scored 1.7/5 in noise versus Atom X's 0.3/5, and 4.3/5 versus 1.5/5 in quiet — a wide, consistent gap across both lab metrics, not a marginal one.
Overall lab sound quality ranking
Hands-on reviewBeyond ranked #6 of 61 OTC devices tested with a SoundGrade of A, while Atom X ranked #9 with a lower SoundGrade of B and a SoundScore nearer the OTC field's lower-middle.
Remote professional support
Expert ratingBeyond offers free access to licensed audiologists through its ElePro app feature for setting recommendations, while Atom X limits support to email and phone customer service (proSupport score 1.0 vs 3.0).
Control method and price
PriceAtom X costs roughly $60 less and is controlled through its touchscreen case rather than an app, which suits buyers who want simple physical controls over deeper software adjustment.
Product Overview
Atom X
Beyond
Form Factor
Expert Rating
Score
3.6
Score
4.4
User Rating
1.33 reviews
4.52 reviews
Hearing Loss Level
MildModerate
MildModerate
Product Features
Hands-freeRechargeableiPhoneAndroid
Hands-freeRechargeableiPhoneAndroid
Expert Ratings
Compare comprehensive test results and expert opinions.
Atom X
Beyond
HearingTracker Score
Atom X
3.6BELOW AVERAGE
A clever touchscreen charging case and long battery life modernize Audien's budget lineup—but speech clarity (especially in noise) still trails many OTC rivals.
Read full reviewBeyond
4.4ABOVE AVERAGE
Offering good background noise handling, competitive wireless audio, and a solid app, Elehear Beyond is the best value hearing aid I've ever tested.
Read full reviewHearAdvisor SoundScore
Atom X
3.3BELOW AVERAGE
Audien Atom X achieved a SoundScore of 3.3/5 and a SoundGrade of B in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #54 of 65 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.68/5.
Beyond
4.3ABOVE AVERAGE
Elehear Beyond achieved a SoundScore of 4.3/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #8 of 65 OTC Hearing Aid devices tested. The OTC Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.68/5.
Build Quality
Atom X
4.1AVERAGE
Audien Atom X hearing aids lack an IP rating, so they might not be the best against moisture or dust. While using them they feel decently built and they do come with an excellent portable charging case.
Beyond
4.3AVERAGE
Elehear Beyond hearing aids have an IPx5 rating, meaning you will need to protect them from moisture and dust. However, they appear to be build from quality materials and come with a robust portable charging case.
Battery
Atom X
3.1BELOW AVERAGE
Atom X offer up to 12 hours of battery life, which is less than many of Audien's hearing aids. Recharging will take roughly 3-4 hours, with the case offering several additional full charges.
Beyond
4.0AVERAGE
Beyond have a reported battery life of up to 18 hours per charge, which is enough to get most people through the day. The case also offers on-the-go power and can recharge Elehear in around 1.5 hours, longer if the portable-charger needs to be simultaneously recharged.
Bluetooth
Atom X
4.5EXCELLENT
Atom X offer wireless control and streaming for both iOS and Android. This is the key new addition for Atom X and I found it to work very well.
Beyond
5.0EXCELLENT
Beyond are Bluetooth compatible with both iOS and Android devices, allowing for audio streaming and hands-free calling.
App Features
Atom X
Not yet rated by our experts
Beyond
4.5EXCELLENT
The Elehear app has a user-friendly interface and modern, appealing design. It includes practical features like volume control and a tone balance from Brighter to Deeper. At this time, Beyond are "preset-based", though you can get a more customized fit using their ElePro feature.
Comfort
Atom X
3.5BELOW AVERAGE
I found Atom X more comfortable than Atom Pro 2, though other hearing aids will likely offer you a better fit and overall comfort.
Beyond
4.0AVERAGE
I found Beyond fairly comfortable in spite of their larger body size. Be sure to test various ear tips to find optimal comfort and hearing benefit.
Design
Atom X
3.5BELOW AVERAGE
The design of Atom X falls between a custom hearing aid and wireless earbud. They are only available in a medical beige color, which is meant to match skin color, but will not suit everyone.
Beyond
3.8BELOW AVERAGE
Beyond have a more modern receiver-in-canal design, although the body size is larger than many other hearing aids. While this should not effect comfort much, it may make them more noticeable based on your ear size and hairstyle.
Value
Atom X
4.2ABOVE AVERAGE
Audien Atom X has a value score of 4.2/5 based on lab performance and public display price.
Beyond
5.0EXCELLENT
Elehear Beyond has a value score of 4.9/5 based on lab performance and public display price.
Handling
Atom X
4.5EXCELLENT
Atom X is the most user friendly hearing aid I have tried from Audien Hearing to date. The physical buttons are large and the bright touchscreen feature is a great addition.
Beyond
4.5EXCELLENT
I did not run into any issues while using Beyond or the Elehear mobile app. First-time users may need some practice to get accustomed to inserting the receiver-in-ear style properly.
Pro Support
Atom X
1.0BELOW AVERAGE
Like many OTC products, Audien does not offer remote assistance from hearing experts, support is limited to email and phone customer support.
Beyond
3.0ABOVE AVERAGE
Unlike many OTC devices, remote support from licensed audiologists is available through the ElePro app feature. This offers several benefits, but one we particularly liked was the ability for Elehear providers to recommend program settings based on their app or web based hearing assessment.
Lab Recordings
Listen to direct output recordings from our acoustic test lab.
Atom X
Beyond
Busy Cafe
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Atom X
Beyond
Quiet Office
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Atom X
Beyond
Streaming Music
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Atom X
Beyond
HearingTracker partners with HearAdvisor to provide recordings and performance data from an acoustic laboratory that follows standard scientific procedures. All hearing aids are fitted and performance-tested for mild sloping to moderate hearing loss. All audio samples cutoff above 10kHz.
Accessories
Compatible accessories for each hearing aid
Atom X
Beyond
Remote Control
None
App+1
The ELEHEAR app lets users set up and personalize the Delight hearing aids from a smartphone. It supports volume, tone, noise-control, and preset-mode adjustments, along with battery monitoring and firmware updates. The app also includes mode switching between hearing-aid use and headset/streaming use, plus extra features such as AI translation and Serene natural white-noise sounds for tinnitus masking. It is available for iOS and Android, with Bluetooth support for calls, music, and other media streaming.
Hardware
Atom X
Beyond
Bluetooth® Audio
- Bluetooth® (A2DP)
- Bluetooth® (A2DP)
Hands-Free Calling
- Bluetooth® (HFP)
- Bluetooth® (HFP)
IP Rating
No
IPx5
Push Button
No
- Volume Control
- Power on/off
- Streaming start/stop
- Call accept/reject
Rechargeable Batteries
Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion
Software Features
Atom X
Beyond
Adjustment Bands
No
16
AI Noise Removal
No
AI Noise Cancellation
Directionality
No
Dual mic
Feedback Suppression
No
Deep Neural Network Hybrid Feedback Cancellation
Listening Programs
No
5
Noise Reduction
Yes
No
Power On Delay
No
Yes
Processing Channels
No
64
Sudden Loud Noise Reduction
No
Yes
Tinnitus Relief
No
Yes
Wind Noise Reduction
No
Yes
Bottom Line
AI summarizedThe Verdict
Elehear Beyond is the stronger hearing aid on the numbers that matter most for actually hearing speech — 4.3/5 in quiet and 1.7/5 in noise, versus Atom X's 1.5/5 and 0.3/5 — and it backs that up with free remote audiologist support through ElePro.
At roughly $60 more per pair, that's a small premium for a device that ranked #6 of 61 OTC aids tested versus Atom X's #9.
Which is right for you?
Atom X still has a place: its touchscreen charging case is a genuinely novel, phone-free way to control volume, programs, and Bluetooth, which suits anyone who finds app-based adjustment frustrating or has dexterity or vision limitations. Just go in knowing you're trading speech performance for that simplicity — Atom X's own review flags speech-in-noise as one of its weakest areas.
Before you buy
AI summarizedTest speech clarity in your typical noisy settings
Atom X's 0.3/5 speech-in-noise lab score means you should specifically try it in a café or group setting during any trial window before committing, since the lab data shows Beyond performs measurably better there.
Explore the Elehear app and ElePro support before buying
Beyond's tone, noise control, and directionality adjustments live in the app, and the free ElePro audiologist access can help you dial in settings — check both work smoothly with your phone during setup.
Decide how much you value phone-free control
Atom X has no app at all and relies entirely on its touchscreen case and physical buttons, so if you want app-based fine-tuning like tone balance, Beyond is the only one of the two that offers it.