Hear.com AX

Hear.com is a popular online shopping destination for hearing aids. Alongside well-known brands like Phonak, Oticon, and Signia, hear.com also sells its own self-labeled hear.com hearing aids, under the brand name Horizon. Released in January 2022, the latest generation of Horizon hearing aids offers the latest technology from Signia, a well-respected hearing aid brand owned by hear.com’s parent company WS Audiology (WSA).

The Horizon line of hearing aids operates on Signia’s Augmented Xperience (AX) technology platform, which offers a unique dual-processor approach to processing speech and noise in difficult listening environments. The team at hear.com have also worked closely with engineers at Signia to develop three additional features—Speech Focus, Panorama Effect, and Relax Mode—which differentiate hear.com’s products from their Signia counterparts.

Horizon AX hearing aids are currently available in two different behind-the-ear styles, Horizon Go AX and Horizon Style AX. Go AX is a mini receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aid and Style AX is a slim RIC format. Hear.com also sells all 5 major hearing aid manufacturing brands through their network of over 2000 hearing care providers in the U.S.

Horizon AX Highlights

• Two rechargeable behind-the-ear RIC styles available
• Audio streaming from Android and iOS devices
• Dual processors to separately process speech and environmental noises (Augmented Focus™)
• Signature hear.com features - Speech Focus, Panorama Effect, and Relax Mode
• Increased input dynamic range
• Improved hearing aid design
• Improved receiver design
• Three technology tier options including 7, 5 and 3 with 7 providing the most channels and the highest level of technology
• Four color options

Rechargeability

Both the Horizon Go AX and Style AX come with built-in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and offer excellent battery life on a single charge. Go AX is also available in a non-rechargeable version in Germany.

According to Hear.com, the rechargeable Horizon Go AX provides up to 28 hours of wear time without streaming or 24 hours of wear time with 5 hours of streaming. The Horizon Style AX (the slim RIC) provides up to 20 hours of wear time without streaming and 17 hours with 5 hours of streaming. Streaming protocols demand higher energy usage and, therefore, reduce the battery life.

Several charger options are available for the Horizon Go AX depending on your needs, including the standard portable charger and an optional Dry&Clean charger that sanitizes and removes moisture while charging. A plug-in / non-portable charger is also available. The portable charger is standard with all levels of technology (7, 5, and 3).

Style AX also comes with a portable charger by default, but you’ll also have the choice of going with the Dry&Clean or a Qi-wireless charger. Qi (pronounced “chee”) is the world’s de facto wireless charging standard. An inductive charging plate charges the charging case, which in turn charges the hearing aids. The Qi charging plate can remain plugged in and you simply place the charging case on the Qi plate. For those that have dexterity or vision issues this may offer an advantage. Again, the portable charger is standard at all three technology levels.

Smart Phone Compatibility

The Horizon Go AX and Style AX hearing aids currently support audio streaming on both Apple® and Android™ phones. Android streaming is achieved via Android’s relatively new ASHA (Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids) protocol. And, iOS streaming is made possible by the MFi (Made For iPhone) protocol. Be sure to check with hear.com to ensure you have a compatible handset. Not all Android phones support the ASHA protocol.

Hands-Free Calling Coming Soon

At least at the time of this writing, the Go AX and Style AX do not support hands-free calling, but—according to hear.com—this solution is in the works and should be available in the first half of 2022. It should be noted that, when available, the hands-free streaming will apply only to iPhone 11 and newer and will not apply to Android phones.

In practical terms, this means that the microphones on the hearing aids do not act as an input while you are talking on the phone and you will still need to speak into the phone when on a call. However, by pairing an optional accessory, the StreamLine Mic, hands-free calling can be achieved. This accessory also acts as a remote microphone which is especially helpful in difficult listening situations or it can even be used in classroom settings to improve overall speech comprehension.

Augmented Focus™

The AX hearing aids incorporate two separate processors with the intent of processing sound that you want to hear, such as conversation, separately from surrounding noise. A long-time complaint of hearing aid wearers is that hearing aids amplify all sounds equally; this technology is intended to allow you to focus on the sounds you want to hear while keeping background noise to a minimum. This is accomplished by processing sound coming from the front of the listener separately from that of sound coming from behind the listener. The obvious intent is to improve your speech understanding in environments with competing noise such as restaurants.

Own Voice Processing (OVP)

Borrowed from Signia, this feature processes your voice independently from environmental sounds. For many hearing aid wearers, adjusting to the sound of your own voice can be difficult. This feature works by recognizing your voice and then minimizing it to help ensure listening comfort. Hear.com notes that this is done without sacrificing sounds that you need to hear. Currently, Signia and Hear.com are the only companies to offer this technology (also available in the previous-generation Xperience products).

For those that have struggled with the sound of their own voice when wearing hearing aids, this feature may help to improve overall satisfaction. It should be noted that the voice processing is only possible with binaural fittings (both ears) and both instruments require directional microphone capabilities. In other words, four microphones (2 per hearing aid) in total are needed to accomplish own voice processing.

Panorama Effect

Panorama Effect is a new feature available within the Horizon smart phone app and offered for both the Go and Style AX hearing aids. Panorama Effect is intended to be used in situations where you wish to hear from all directions providing a 360-degree listening experience. Wearers may find this setting useful for outdoor activities such as hiking or jogging or anywhere hearing sounds all around you is beneficial. This feature can only be activated/deactivated from within the smart phone application.

Relax Mode

An interesting feature, also only available via the smart phone application, is “Relax Mode”. In this setting, the hearing aid microphones are turned off and instead of hearing the environment, the wearer hears an ocean sound through the hearing aids. The thinking here is that for those who wish to “unplug” from the noisy world, Relax Mode offers a soothing and peaceful sound scape. Hear.com notes that new hearing aid wearers may especially appreciate this feature as they are learning to listen via their new hearing aids and may prefer time not “on the air”.

It should be noted that Relax Mode is not intended to be a tinnitus masking program, though wearers may choose to use it as such. Separate tinnitus programming features are available within the Horizon AX hearing aids and can be set by your Hearing Care Provider (HCP), specific to your needs.

Speech Focus

A third feature available only via the smart phone app is Speech Focus. An algorithm that was also available on the previous Xperience platform, Speech Focus allows the wearer to manually control their hearing aids in noisy environments. That is, when engaged, Speech Focus will provide more mid-frequency gain, fine-tune the directional microphones and increase noise reduction. The intent is to minimize annoying noise and improve speech clarity in challenging listening environments.

Increased Input Dynamic Range

The dynamic range of the input signal for the analog to digital converter can have a significant effect on sound quality, especially for loud inputs. Horizon AX hearing aids have a higher input limit of 117 dB (compared to previous platform) which should help ensure the quality of the amplified sound even for loud inputs. For those who enjoy music and/or may sing in a choir, for example, Horizon AX’s extended dynamic range should offer a noticeable improvement in sound quality over previous generations. In theory, loud sounds should sound clearer and more natural overall.

Improved Design

The Go AX was redesigned to minimize device thickness at the top of hearing aid where the hearing aid rests on the ear. The slimmer case may be more comfortable for those that wear glasses or have smaller ears, and may also be more discreet. The button (rocker switch) has also been redesigned to provide more tactile input. That is, the button should be easier to find and manipulate compared with the previous RIC model.

The slim Style AX was also redesigned slightly to be slightly less thick than its predecessor (the Style X). This may improve comfort and discretion for many wearers.

The receivers (speaker portion worn in ear), cables and plug system have also been redesigned to minimize size and improve overall retention and durability. There are also new tips and sleeves which should accommodate a wider range of ear shapes and sizes as well as acoustic needs. This applies to both the Go AX and Style AX hearing aids.

Acoustic Motion Sensors

These sensors recognize when you are in motion and automatically modify your directional listening. The thinking here is that, when in motion, you may want to hear voices from all around you, rather than just the voices in front of you. Imagine walking through a restaurant with a conversation partner—typical hearing aids would continue focusing to the front, while it would be preferable to hear the person at your side in this scenario. Remember, you can also manually engage 360-degree listening via hear.com’s “Panorama Effect”.

Accessories

Horizon products offer several accessories including the StreamLine TV streamer, a StreamLine microphone and a miniPocket remote. The TV streamer allows sound to stream directly from your TV to your hearing aids in Dolby stereo. The StreamLine Mic is beneficial for those who struggle in noisy situation and need help beyond what the hearing aids alone can provide. In addition, the Mic can be used to accept/reject phone calls and it can be used to transmit calls from non-compatible Bluetooth phones and/or other devices such as laptops and tablets. Finally, the uncomplicated miniPocket remote can be used in lieu of the smart phone application for those that prefer a simple device to make simple adjustments to their hearing aids.

Hear.com Delivery Model

It is worth discussing Hear.com’s approach to hearing aid delivery as it does differ from simply choosing an HCP on your own. Their model is to take online leads, connect consumers with a Hear.com expert for a personal consultation and then connect them to a local provider for a 45-day risk-free trial. If the HCP is at a distance from the consumer and/or transportation is an issue, Clinic-in-a-Box™ tele-audiology is another delivery option available through Hear.com.

If tele-audiology is requested, within one business day, a package containing hearing aids, a tablet and diagnostic equipment is shipped to the customer’s house. These items allow an HCP to conduct a hearing evaluation and remotely fit the hearing aids.

Regardless of the fitting approach, in-person or remote, the journey starts with a free phone or video conference consultation. This consult is used to understand the individual’s listening needs, lifestyle requirements and personal listening preferences. Items such as technology tiers, cost and insurance coverage are also discussed to help the consumer navigate their hearing healthcare options. At the end of the discussion, a technology solution and a local HCP recommendation are made (for either remote or in-person care). The Hear.com expert remains as a contact for the wearer even after they are fit by the local HCP and can be used as a resource, especially during the 45-day trial period.

In addition, a Hearing Success Program™ is offered to the wearer during the trial period. The program is a 30-day training course intended to help the wearer adjust to their new hearing aids and learn how to effectively use the technology. The program is achieved via the Horizon app, which also provides access to video-call support. Hear.com notes that the program helps contribute to high satisfaction rate among their customers.

This means that Hear.com customers have access to two expert providers and an application training program during the trial period of the hearing aids. Hear.com also provides long-term support.

Bottom Line

Hear.com is an online hearing healthcare company that provides an extra layer of expert support for the consumer. The company offers their own private-labeled hearing aids that are made by WSA using Signia technology. The current Horizon AX hearing aids offer several advantages over their predecessor. However, there are some disadvantages to these products as well. And while hear.com’s hearing care delivery model works well for many people, there are some potential disadvantages, which are discussed below.

Pros for Horizon AX Products and Hear.com

• New Android streaming capability.
• New redesigned receivers and cables which hopes to improve cosmetics, retention and overall durability.
• Available in multiple power levels, including high-power (HP) for the Go AX to fit a wide range of hearing losses.
• The new Augmented Focus has the potential to improve ease of listening and sound quality but will need to be proven.
• Own voice processing may make a big difference for some in their overall satisfaction with hearing aids by improving the quality and comfort of their own voice.
• Extended dynamic range of input signal which should improve sound quality for loud sounds including music.
• Proven rechargeability with several different charger options and excellent battery life on a single charge.
• Tinnitus features are available.
• High level of professional support for the consumer throughout the entire hearing healthcare journey which may be especially helpful to new hearing aid wearers.
• Additional application made available to encourage hearing aid use and help the consumer acclimate to their hearing devices.

Cons for Horizon AX Products and Hear.com

• At this time, no hands-free calling without the use of an accessory. However, this feature should be available later this year.
• No “tap” feature for initiating streaming; to start/stop streaming wearers can utilize their smart phone app or an accessory.
• No user controls on the Style AX—must be controlled via the app or a remote
• Custom hearing instruments not an option at this time but are said to be in the works.
• No pediatric options such as locking battery door and small earhooks.
• Other than volume changes, tinnitus feature cannot be adjusted by the wearer.
• Own voice processing requires a binaural fitting where both hearing aids are directional.
• Not every consumer may need the additional support and some may find several contacts confusing.