Yes — Active Pro IX scored 3.0/5 in HearAdvisor's tuned-fit lab testing for speech in noise, compared to 2.6/5 for Silk IX. Both scores are modest in absolute terms, but Active Pro measures meaningfully ahead.
Signia Active Pro IX vs. Signia Silk Charge&Go IX
Check out our comparison of the Signia Active Pro IX vs Signia Silk Charge&Go IX. 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 here is Bluetooth versus invisibility: Active Pro IX streams audio and takes iPhone calls hands-free for less money, while Silk IX drops wireless streaming entirely in exchange for a nearly invisible completely-in-canal shape.
Active Pro IX
Choose the Signia Active Pro IX if you want Bluetooth streaming and hands-free iPhone calling in an earbud-style design, plus stronger lab-measured speech-in-noise performance (3.0/5 vs 2.6/5), at a lower price than the Silk.
Silk Charge&Go IX
Choose the Signia Silk Charge&Go IX if you want the most discreet, nearly invisible completely-in-canal fit and are willing to give up Bluetooth streaming and hands-free calling entirely.
What actually separates them
AI summarizedWireless streaming and calling
SpecActive Pro IX streams audio and supports hands-free calling on iPhone via Bluetooth; Silk IX has no Bluetooth radio at all, so it offers neither audio streaming nor hands-free calling — a hard limitation for anyone who wants to take calls or stream through their hearing aids.
Speech-in-noise performance
Lab measuredIn HearAdvisor's tuned-fit lab testing, Active Pro IX scored 3.0/5 for speech in noise versus 2.6/5 for Silk IX, making Active Pro the stronger pick for following conversation in background noise.
Value score and price
PriceActive Pro IX costs roughly $950 less per pair and carries a value score of 3.6/5, versus Silk IX's 2.4/5 value score — Silk asks more money for a device that scores below the site-wide value average of 3.6.
Discretion vs visibility
Hands-on reviewSilk IX's completely-in-canal shape is nearly invisible in the ear, while Active Pro IX's earbud-style design sits visibly in the ear, which some buyers will actively prefer and others will want to avoid.
Product Overview
Active Pro IX
Silk Charge&Go IX
Form Factor
Form FactorNon-custom device that typically sits inside the ear canal. The device will be clearly visible to the naked eye.
Form FactorNon-custom device that typically sits completely inside the ear canal. Some of the device may be visible to the naked eye.
Expert Rating
Score
4.5
Score
3.4
User Rating
3.01 reviews
2.45 reviews
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.
MildModerate
MildModerate
Product Features
Hands-freeRechargeableAndroidIP68
Rechargeable
Expert Ratings
Compare comprehensive test results and expert opinions.
Active Pro IX
Silk Charge&Go IX
HearingTracker Score
Active Pro IX
4.5EXCELLENT
The Signia Active Pro IX offers the functionality of a high-performance hearing aid in a sleek, earbud-like design, making it ideal for those who value both modern aesthetics and advanced hearing enhancement. Lab tests showed strong performance in speech clarity and music streaming, though its instant-fit design has some limitations, such as reduced feedback handling and lack of custom-fit personalization.
Read full reviewSilk Charge&Go IX
3.4AVERAGE
The Signia Silk Charge&Go IX is a groundbreaking, rechargeable completely-in-canal (CIC) hearing aid designed for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. It offers up to 28 hours of battery life, instant fit with soft silicone ear tips, and wireless control via the Signia app, but lacks Bluetooth streaming and can be challenging to handle due to its small size.
Read full reviewHearAdvisor SoundScore
Active Pro IX
4.6EXCELLENT
Signia Active Pro IX achieved a SoundScore of 4.63/5 and a SoundGrade of A in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #3 of 35 Prescription Hearing Aid devices tested. The Prescription Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.91/5.
Silk Charge&Go IX
3.7AVERAGE
Signia Silk Charge&Go IX achieved a SoundScore of 3.70/5 and a SoundGrade of B in HearAdvisor lab testing. It ranked #25 of 35 Prescription Hearing Aid devices tested. The Prescription Hearing Aid category average SoundScore was 3.91/5.
Build Quality
Active Pro IX
4.9EXCELLENT
Active Pro IX has an IP rating of 68, meaning it has excellent protection against dust and moisture. This is consistent with my hands-on testing which suggested it is built well and will hold-up to daily use.
Silk Charge&Go IX
4.7EXCELLENT
Signia Silk C&G IX have an impressive build quality, featuring a top-of-the-line IP68 ingress rating, which is crucial for nearly invisible hearing aids. They also come with a durable portable charging case.
Battery
Active Pro IX
4.4ABOVE AVERAGE
I love the all-day rechargeable battery life of Active Pro IX. Even with 5 hours of audio streaming, you can expect around 29 hours of user per charge.
Silk Charge&Go IX
4.4ABOVE AVERAGE
Silk IX provide up to 20 hours of use per charge which is exceptional given their extremely small size. Recharging takes up to 4 hours, which is longer than some other models, but this isn't a significant drawback given their all-day battery life.
Bluetooth
Active Pro IX
5.0EXCELLENT
Signia Active Pro hearing aids are Bluetooth compatible with both iOS and Android devices, allowing for audio streaming and hands-free calling. While streamed audio quality is not the best, I did not run into any issues while testing.
Silk Charge&Go IX
Not yet rated by our experts
App Features
Active Pro IX
5.0EXCELLENT
Signia's hearing aid app stands out with its user-friendly interface and modern, appealing design. It includes practical features like the ability to control the focus of your hearing aids and a mask mode to enhance speech clarity. Additionally, the app offers wellness features, utilizing hearing aid motion sensors for activity tracking.
Silk Charge&Go IX
3.4BELOW AVERAGE
While Silk IX hearing aids are not Bluetooth compatible, they still work with Signia's app using high-frequency coded signals. This is a valuable addition, although the communication is less stable than Bluetooth and the app offers fewer features compared to other Signia models.
Comfort
Active Pro IX
4.5EXCELLENT
I found the instant-fit comfort and retention of Active Pro good. Your hearing care provider can demo various ear tips to find the best fit for your ears and hearing needs.
Silk Charge&Go IX
4.5EXCELLENT
I found Silk IX very comfortable for an instant-fit nearly invisible hearing aid. Your hearing care provider should ensure they are fitted for optimal comfort and hearing benefit.
Design
Active Pro IX
5.0EXCELLENT
Active Pro IX have a modern earbud-like look, which may be desirable depending on your preferences, and you can choose among 6 colors.
Silk Charge&Go IX
5.0EXCELLENT
Silk IX is another unique offering from Signia, featuring an instant fit design with silicone ear tips that is nearly invisible. Its extremely small and discreet design may, however, pose challenges for those with limited dexterity and or vision.
Value
Active Pro IX
3.6AVERAGE
Signia Active Pro IX has a value score of 3.6/5 based on lab performance and public display price.
Silk Charge&Go IX
2.4BELOW AVERAGE
Signia Silk Charge&Go IX has a value score of 2.4/5 based on lab performance and public display price.
Handling
Active Pro IX
4.8EXCELLENT
I did not run into any issues while testing Active Pro IX. However, I do wish they offered ear-level controls such as buttons, or tap controls, as it would make the streaming features more user-friendly.
Silk Charge&Go IX
4.0AVERAGE
I did not run into any issues while using Silk IX hearing aids. They are very easy to use once setup by your hearing care provider. Silk also have large color indicators making it easy to distinguish the left from the right hearing aids.
Pro Support
Active Pro IX
5.0EXCELLENT
You should receive quality hearing care and support from your provider. The Signia App should enhance your experience with AI assistance and user-friendly virtual appointments, given your provider offers telehealth services.
Silk Charge&Go IX
4.0ABOVE AVERAGE
You should receive quality hearing care and support from your provider. The Signia App should further enhance your experience with AI help and remote assistance should your provider offer telehealth services.
Lab Recordings
Listen to direct output recordings from our acoustic test lab.
Active Pro IX
Silk Charge&Go IX
Busy CafeBusy CafeSpeech intelligibility improvement in loud environments
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Active Pro IX
Silk Charge&Go IX
Quiet OfficeQuiet OfficeSpeech intelligibility improvement in quiet and moderate environments
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Active Pro IX
Silk Charge&Go IX
Streaming MusicStreaming MusicStreaming music provides a full range of bass and treble
Hear this scene unaided, for comparison
Active Pro IX
Silk Charge&Go IX
Lab recordings not yet available
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
Active Pro IX
Silk Charge&Go IX
Remote Control
None
miniPocket
Enables push-button remote control of hearing aid functions.
Signia App+2
The Signia App provides a remote control, directional hearing control, telecare access, and access to connectivity and streaming settings.
Hardware
Active Pro IX
Silk Charge&Go IX
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)
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)
No
IP RatingIP RatingIP Ratings rate sealing effectiveness of hearing aids against intrusion from foreign solid matter (dirt, dust) and moisture.
IP68
No
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
Software Features
Active Pro IX
Silk Charge&Go IX
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.
20
20
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.
e2e wireless 4.0e2e wireless 4.0Control coupling, synchronization, binaural directionality, Spatial Speech Focus, CROS/ BiCROS.
e2e wireless 4.0e2e wireless 4.0Control coupling, synchronization, binaural directionality, Spatial Speech Focus, CROS/ BiCROS.
Direction SelectionDirection SelectionAllows the user to select one or more directions to focus their hearing aids on. For example, some hearing aids allow the listener to focus on sounds coming from in front or back, or from the right or left.
- 5/5
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.
Binaural DirectionalityBinaural DirectionalityDirectionality provides scientifically proven enhanced speech understanding in noise. Available for bilateral fittings with directional microphones and e2e wireless link.Spatial SpeechFocusSpatial SpeechFocusAvailable for bilateral fittings with Ultra HD e2e.
Binaural OneMic directionalityBinaural OneMic directionalityEach CIC receives the sound and information not only from its own microphone but also from the microphone of the other hearing aid. This creates a virtual four-microphone network, allowing the pair of hearing aids to create a directional beam. In addition, the natural pinnae effect of the outer ear supports this directionality and makes the listening experience even more natural.
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.
TruEar 360TruEar 360Reproduces benefits of the natural pinna effect by highlighting the difference between front and back sources of sound.
No
Echo ReductionEcho ReductionThis feature improves speech audibility by reducing the “blurring” of speech sounds that can occur in the presence of echoes.
Auto EchoShieldAuto EchoShieldAutomatically creates a more comfortable hearing experience in high-reverb environments leading to increased speech clarity and natural room perceptions.
Auto EchoShieldAuto EchoShieldAutomatically creates a more comfortable hearing experience in high-reverb environments leading to increased speech clarity and natural room perceptions.
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.
RealTime Conversation Enhancement: 5/5
No
Extended bandwidthExtended bandwidthHearing aid provides amplification at frequencies (pitches) higher than the typical hearing aid.
12kHz
12kHz
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
Yes
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.
Feedback cancellationFeedback cancellationHigh-speed monitoring and control of feedback risk in individual processing channels.
Feedback cancellationFeedback cancellationHigh-speed monitoring and control of feedback risk in individual processing channels.
Listening ProgramsListening ProgramsNumber of manually accessible listening programs (using push button, remote, app, or other switching method)
6
6
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.
SoundSmoothing™: 3SoundSmoothing™Reduces the sound of clattering cutlery and rustling newspaper, etc.
SoundSmoothing™: 3SoundSmoothing™Reduces the sound of clattering cutlery and rustling newspaper, etc.
Own Voice ComfortOwn Voice ComfortAmplification is applied differently to your own voice versus the other voices around you. This allows adequate amplification of people you want to hear and no over-amplification of your own voice.
OVP™ 2.0OVP™ 2.0Processes the wearer's own voice independent from ambient sounds, providing improved speech clarity and a natural perception of their own voice as well as background noise.
No
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.
48
48
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.
Advanced Focus StreamsAdvanced Focus StreamsAdds up to 3 additional focus streams providing the correct amount of boost for each conversation partner's speech while allowing the wearer to stay connected to their environment.Augmented Focus™Augmented Focus™Separates the focus sound (speech) from surroundings, creating a clear contrast between the two, which makes it easier to follow conversations.Conversation BoosterConversation BoosterDetermines the optimal balance of speech enhancement & noise reduction to augment speech while preserving the acoustic environment.Dynamic Soundscape Processing 3.0Dynamic Soundscape Processing 3.0Integrates inputs for precise hearing aid optimzation, including (when available): acoustic sensors, motion sensors, OVP 2.0, noise detection, SNR analysis, and RealTime Conversation Enhancement.Speech & Noise ManagementSpeech & Noise ManagementReduces listening effort using sophisticated sound processing.SpeechStabilizerSpeechStabilizerPreserves the natural envelope of speech in any situation, including very
noisy situations, which preserves acoustic cues that are important for speech
understanding.
Advanced Focus Streams: 3
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.
eWindScreen binauraleWindScreen binauralBinaural processing of the audio signal (using Ultra HD e2e) delivers superb performance in asymmetrical wind environments.
eWindScreen binauraleWindScreen binauralBinaural processing of the audio signal (using Ultra HD e2e) delivers superb performance in asymmetrical wind environments.
Bottom Line
AI summarizedThe Verdict
Active Pro IX is the stronger all-around buy for most people — it costs about $950 less per pair, scored better in lab tests for speech in noise (3.0 vs 2.6/5), and adds Bluetooth streaming and hands-free calling that Silk IX simply doesn't have.
Its value score of 3.6/5 also beats Silk IX's 2.4/5, which sits well below the site-wide value average.
Which is right for you?
Silk IX only makes sense if invisibility is the priority that overrides everything else — you're giving up streaming and hands-free calling, and paying more, purely for the smallest possible footprint in your ear. If discretion isn't your top concern, the tradeoff doesn't favor Silk.
What to ask at your fitting
AI summarizedDecide how much you need streaming
If taking calls or streaming music through your hearing aids matters, that rules out Silk IX outright since it has no Bluetooth radio — raise this before your fitting.
Ask about real-ear measurement plans
Both devices showed feedback and own-voice tradeoffs after professional tuning in lab testing, so ask your provider how they'll balance speech audibility against comfort for your ears specifically.
Try on both shapes if visibility matters
Active Pro IX sits visibly in the ear like a modern earbud while Silk IX is nearly invisible, so ask to see and wear a demo of each before committing to either form factor.
Frequently Asked Questions
AI summarizedNo, Silk IX has no Bluetooth radio, so it can't stream audio or support hands-free calling. It uses near-field magnetic communication for app control instead, while Active Pro IX supports Bluetooth streaming and hands-free calling on iPhone.
Active Pro IX is the cheaper of the two, priced roughly $950 less per pair than Silk IX. Active Pro IX also carries a higher value score (3.6/5 vs 2.4/5) based on lab performance relative to price.
If invisibility is your top priority, Silk IX's completely-in-canal design is nearly undetectable in the ear, which Active Pro IX's visible earbud-style shape can't match. But you'll pay more and give up all Bluetooth streaming and hands-free calling to get there.
Active Pro IX is the only option of the two — it supports Bluetooth audio streaming and hands-free calling on iPhone. Silk IX has no Bluetooth capability at all, so streaming and hands-free calling are not available on it.