Philips HearLink 9050 vs. ReSound Key

Check out our comparison of the Philips HearLink 9050 vs ReSound Key. Listen to audio samples and see how the two hearing aids differ in terms of sound performance, features, accessories, and more.

Philips HearLink 9050 miniRITE

HearLink 9050 miniRITE

$1,599.99 per pair

ReSound Key RIE 61 4

Key RIE 61 4

$2,799 per pair

Product Overview

Form Factor

Receiver In The EarForm FactorThis type of hearing aid sits behind the ear. A wire runs along the top of the ear and down to a speaker sitting inside the ear canal. An custom-fitted mold may be required.

Receiver In The EarForm FactorThis type of hearing aid sits behind the ear. A wire runs along the top of the ear and down to a speaker sitting inside the ear canal. An custom-fitted mold may be required.

Expert Rating

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User Rating

3.7

19 reviews

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Hearing Loss LevelHearing Loss LevelThis represents HearingTracker's best guess on suitability. Please consult a licensed audiologist to confirm your own candidacy for this device.

MildModerateSevereProfound

MildModerateSevereProfound

Product Features

Hands-freeRechargeableiPhoneAndroidTelecoilIP68

Hands-freeRechargeableiPhoneAndroidTelecoilIP58

Accessories

Compatible accessories for each hearing aid

3.5mm Line to Streaming

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Multi Mic

Multi Mic

3.5mm Line to Streaming+3

A flexible remote microphone that can either be clipped to clothes or used as a tabletop mic for meetings. Use the mini-jack input for streaming audio from a music player to your hearing aids.

Battery Charger

Charger Plus miniRITE

Charger Plus miniRITE

Battery Charger+1

A fast, portable charger for traveling light and charging on the go. Charge for a full day's power in 1 hour or get 4 hours of use from a quick 15-minute charge.

HearLink desk charger

HearLink desk charger

Battery Charger

A faster contact charger for a full day’s power in one hour, or up to four hours of hearing in only 15 minutes.

Charger

Charger

Battery Charger

Bluetooth Streamer

AudioClip

AudioClip

Bluetooth Streamer+3

The Philips AudioClip is a hearing aid accessory that serves as a remote microphone to help you better hear one-to-one conversations in noisy environments or when listening to someone speak from a distance.

Unite Phone Clip+

Unite Phone Clip+

Bluetooth Streamer+2

Small enough to clip onto your shirt collar, it streams phone calls and audio to your hearing aids from any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone or smartphone.

FM to Digital Streaming

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Multi Mic

Multi Mic

FM to Digital Streaming+3

A flexible remote microphone that can either be clipped to clothes or used as a tabletop mic for meetings. Use the mini-jack input for streaming audio from a music player to your hearing aids.

Power Pack

Charger Plus miniRITE

Charger Plus miniRITE

Power Pack+1

A fast, portable charger for traveling light and charging on the go. Charge for a full day's power in 1 hour or get 4 hours of use from a quick 15-minute charge.

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Remote Adjustments

HearLink 2 app

HearLink 2 app

Remote Adjustments+2

App allows you to change programs, adjust the volume, mute your hearing aids, activate streaming options and personalize your sound. You can also use the app to connect with your hearing care specialist if you need to have your hearing aid settings adjusted remotely.

ReSound Smart 3D app

ReSound Smart 3D app

Remote Adjustments+2

Adjusts sound, volume and balance settings, tinnitus settings, and allows your provider to make remote adjustments to your hearing aid programs.

Remote Control

AudioClip

AudioClip

Remote Control+3

The Philips AudioClip is a hearing aid accessory that serves as a remote microphone to help you better hear one-to-one conversations in noisy environments or when listening to someone speak from a distance.

Remote Control

Remote Control

Remote Control

To turn the volume up and down on your hearing aids you can use the Philips HearLink app. In case you prefer using the Philips Remote Control we have this option as well.

HearLink 2 app

HearLink 2 app

Remote Control+2

App allows you to change programs, adjust the volume, mute your hearing aids, activate streaming options and personalize your sound. You can also use the app to connect with your hearing care specialist if you need to have your hearing aid settings adjusted remotely.

Unite Remote Control 2

Unite Remote Control 2

Remote Control

Gives you push-button control of volume and program settings on your hearing aids and lets you manage streaming accessories.

Unite Phone Clip+

Unite Phone Clip+

Remote Control+2

Small enough to clip onto your shirt collar, it streams phone calls and audio to your hearing aids from any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone or smartphone.

ReSound Smart 3D app

ReSound Smart 3D app

Remote Control+2

Adjusts sound, volume and balance settings, tinnitus settings, and allows your provider to make remote adjustments to your hearing aid programs.

ReSound Smart 3D app [Watch]

ReSound Smart 3D app [Watch]

Remote Control+1

Control+

Control+

Remote Control+1

Remote Microphone

AudioClip

AudioClip

Remote Microphone+3

The Philips AudioClip is a hearing aid accessory that serves as a remote microphone to help you better hear one-to-one conversations in noisy environments or when listening to someone speak from a distance.

Multi Mic

Multi Mic

Remote Microphone+3

A flexible remote microphone that can either be clipped to clothes or used as a tabletop mic for meetings. Use the mini-jack input for streaming audio from a music player to your hearing aids.

Micro Mic

Micro Mic

Remote Microphone

A matchbook-sized remote wireless microphone that lets you hear from a distance up to 80 feet away.

Smartphone App

HearLink 2 app

HearLink 2 app

Smartphone App+2

App allows you to change programs, adjust the volume, mute your hearing aids, activate streaming options and personalize your sound. You can also use the app to connect with your hearing care specialist if you need to have your hearing aid settings adjusted remotely.

ReSound Smart 3D app

ReSound Smart 3D app

Smartphone App+2

Adjusts sound, volume and balance settings, tinnitus settings, and allows your provider to make remote adjustments to your hearing aid programs.

Control+

Control+

Smartphone App+1

Smartphone Streamer + Hands Free

AudioClip

AudioClip

Smartphone Streamer + Hands Free+3

The Philips AudioClip is a hearing aid accessory that serves as a remote microphone to help you better hear one-to-one conversations in noisy environments or when listening to someone speak from a distance.

Unite Phone Clip+

Unite Phone Clip+

Smartphone Streamer + Hands Free+2

Small enough to clip onto your shirt collar, it streams phone calls and audio to your hearing aids from any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone or smartphone.

Smartwatch App

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ReSound Smart 3D app [Watch]

ReSound Smart 3D app [Watch]

Smartwatch App+1

Telecoil Streamer

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Multi Mic

Multi Mic

Telecoil Streamer+3

A flexible remote microphone that can either be clipped to clothes or used as a tabletop mic for meetings. Use the mini-jack input for streaming audio from a music player to your hearing aids.

TV Streamer

TV Adapter

TV Adapter

TV Streamer

Connect the Philips TV Adapter to your TV so you hear the sound from the TV directly in your hearing aids. This allows you to watch TV at your preferred volume.

Unite TV Streamer 2

Unite TV Streamer 2

TV Streamer

Streams stereo sound from the television directly to your hearing aids from up to 22 feet away.

Hardware

AccelerometerAccelerometerThis hearing aid is capable of measuring acceleration through an embedded sensor.

Yes

No

Bluetooth® AudioBluetooth® AudioThis hearing aid is capable of streaming Bluetooth® audio certain phones and/or devices.

Made for iPhone (MFi)
Android (ASHA)
Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE)
Bluetooth® Auracast™

Made for iPhone (MFi)
Android (ASHA)

Disposable BatteriesDisposable BatteriesCommon disposable batteries last anywhere from a few days to two weeks or more. For more information Google "how long do hearing aid batteries last" and click on the Hearing Tracker link.

No

13

GyroscopeGyroscopeThis hearing aid is able to determine orientation using embedded sensors.

Yes

No

Hands-Free CallingHands-Free CallingIt is possible to have a hands-free phone call with this hearing aid. You are not required to hold the phone up to your mouth.

Made for iPhone (MFi)
Android (ASHA)
Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE)

Accessory required

IP RatingIP RatingIP Ratings rate sealing effectiveness of hearing aids against intrusion from foreign solid matter (dirt, dust) and moisture.

IP68

IP58

Push ButtonPush ButtonThe hearing aid features a push button which allows toggling across different sound processing programs

Program control
Volume Control
Mute control
Power on/off
Call accept/reject
Tinnitus volume
Airplane Mode

Program control
Volume Control

Rechargeable BatteriesRechargeable BatteriesCharge your batteries overnight in a docking station and get a full day's use (in most cases) of battery life the following day.

Lithium-ion

Lithium-ion

Tap ControlsTap ControlsThe hearing aid may be controlled by physically tapping it with your fingers.

Accept/end calls

No

TelecoilTelecoilThe hearing aid is able to pick up audio from landline telephones or public audio systems without using its acoustic microphones. This minimizes background noise and improves clarity and understanding, even over great distances. At performing arts venues, events, government meetings, etc., look for assistive listening systems (hearing loop, FM, and infrared systems), which must be provided at no cost under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other international regulations.

Yes

Yes

Volume RockerVolume RockerA volume rocker or wheel to allows the adjustment of volume with a finger.

No

Yes

Software Features

Adjustment BandsAdjustment BandsThese are frequency-divided sections that can be adjusted in a hearing aid in order to amplify sounds. Although there are rarely more than 10 frequencies measured in a hearing assessment, having more bands that can be adjusted may allow for improved speech understanding and user comfort.

Yes

6

Adjustment SynchronizationAdjustment SynchronizationThis feature allows for a more pleasant listening experience by ensuring that both hearing aids process sound the same way. If one hearing aid changes its processing in response to noise or speech, it will send a wireless signal to the other hearing aid so both process sound in the same way.

No

Yes

AI Noise RemovalAI Noise RemovalArtificial Intelligence is utilized to remove or modify background noise from the sound signal to help isolate speech for better speech understanding.

Yes

No

Automatic Phone ProgramAutomatic Phone ProgramHearing aids with this feature can detect when a phone is placed near them and automatically switch to a phone program. In this setting, the hearing aids will reduce background noise and increase the volume of the phone.

No

Yes

Bass BoostBass BoostExtra amplification for lower tones.

No

Low Frequency Boost: Basic

Better Ear FocusBetter Ear FocusSome modern hearing aids can share sound from one ear to the other. In some cases the sound from the less noisy side can be shared to the other ear, enabling the listener to hear a cleaner sound in both ears.

Yes

No

DirectionalityDirectionalityDepending on the types and number of microphones a hearing aid has, the hearing aid may be able to boost sounds from specific directions (by reducing sounds from other directions). This can be helpful to focus on a speaker directly in front of the hearing aid user, as well as to give the user information about where different sounds are coming from.

No

Yes

Ear SimulationEar SimulationThe outer ear, or pinna, can have a significant effect on the frequency shape of sound arriving at your inner ear. Some hearing aids mimic the "pinna effect" when producing sound, to deliver more natural sound to the listener.

3 options

No

Environmental AdaptationEnvironmental AdaptationThe hearing aid can detect different acoustical environments, like speech in noise, and adjust the sound of the hearing aid accordingly to drive comfort or speech understanding, etc.

No

Yes

ExpansionExpansionExpansion reduces audibility for very soft sounds. This can help to remove microphone noise, which is generated by soft environmental sounds.

No

On/Off

Extended bandwidthExtended bandwidthHearing aid provides amplification at frequencies (pitches) higher than the typical hearing aid.

10kHz

No

Extended Dynamic RangeExtended Dynamic RangeExtended dynamic range typically makes louder sound clearer. This may help with the reproduction of loud music or loud speech in a very noisy environment.

Yes

No

Feedback SuppressionFeedback SuppressionIf any sound amplified by the hearing aid escapes the ear canal, it may reach the hearing aid’s own microphone and cause a harsh whistling noise. Some hearing aids are able to recognize when this feedback occurs and reduce or eliminate it.

Yes

Yes

Frequency LoweringFrequency LoweringUnderstanding certain speech sounds is dependent on the high frequency parts of these sounds. For individuals with high frequency hearing loss, this feature can take high frequency speech information and move it to lower frequencies where it will be audible.

Yes

No

Handling noise reductionHandling noise reductionReduces noises related to hearing aid movement on the ear and noises related to hands or objects touching the hearing aid while worn.

Yes

No

Listening ProgramsListening ProgramsNumber of manually accessible listening programs (using push button, remote, app, or other switching method)

4

Fully flexible programs: 4

New User AdaptationNew User AdaptationProvider may set the hearing aid to gradually get louder over the first few weeks or months of a new hearing aid fitting. This can be convenient for new users who want to experience maximum benefit without making a lot of trips to the provider for tune ups.

Yes

Yes

Noise ReductionNoise ReductionThis feature uses modern hearing aids’ processing power to examine the incoming sound signal, determine if noise is present and reduce the volume of the troublesome sound to increase comfort.

No

NoiseTracker™ II: On/Off

Phone Ear FocusPhone Ear FocusWhen on a phone call, some hearing aids can focus amplification on the phone ear and reduce amplification in the non-phone ear.

No

Yes

Power On DelayPower On DelayWhen you close the battery door to turn on your hearing aid, the hearing aid won't start producing sound for a certain amount of time. This can alleviate whistling (feedback) sound that sometimes occurs while inserting your hearing aid.

No

Yes

Processing ChannelsProcessing ChannelsThese are all the frequency-divided sections the hearing aid is able to examine at a single time. The hearing aid uses this information to determine whether the contents of each section are noise, speech, or something else and amplify the sound in each section accordingly.

64

No

Soft Speech BoostSoft Speech BoostMore aggressive amplification for softer speech sounds

Yes

No

Spatial AwarenessSpatial AwarenessListening to sound through hearing aids is not a natural experience, and your ability to tell where a sound is coming from may be impacted by the way sounds are amplified with hearing aids. Some hearing aids attempt to fix this problem by preserving cues to sound localization like between-ear level differences, etc.

4 options

No

Spatial Noise CancellationSpatial Noise CancellationThis feature recognizes where sounds are coming from and can reduce noise coming from behind or to the side of the listener. This helps the listener focus on the speaker, usually in front of them.

Yes

No

Streaming Bass BoostStreaming Bass BoostBoosts bass when streaming audio

Yes

No

Sudden Loud Noise ReductionSudden Loud Noise ReductionThis feature detects loud sounds and reduces their volume to a comfortable level. Though not a replacement for hearing protection, this technology can greatly improve listener comfort.

SoundProtect Transient Noise Reduction: 6 options

Impulse Noise Reduction: On/Off

Tinnitus ReliefTinnitus ReliefTinnitus, or ringing in the ears, can be addressed by hearing aids in several different ways, such as introducing a soft therapeutic signal or targeted notched noise.

Yes

Yes

Unique Amplification StrategyUnique Amplification StrategyHearing aids all process sounds a little bit differently. Sometimes it varies even within one model.

Yes

WARP compression: 12

Wind Noise ReductionWind Noise ReductionAs wind blows against the microphones of hearing aids, unpleasant noise may be generated. Some hearing aids have the ability to recognize this wind noise and reduce its level. Such reductions may also affect the audibility of desired sounds, like speech.

Yes

Wind Guard: On/Off