Widex at a glance
Widex was founded in Denmark and spent most of its history as a family-owned company. It merged with Sivantos, the company behind Signia, to form WS Audiology, so Widex and Signia are now sister brands. They continue to design their own products and have quite different personalities.
Widex has always made a point of sound quality. Its engineers have focused on how natural sound feels to the wearer, not only on making speech louder. If you have ever tried hearing aids and found them tinny or artificial, that history is worth knowing about.
Why do people say Widex sounds natural?
All digital hearing aids pick up sound, process it and play it into your ear. That takes a tiny amount of time. When sound also reaches your eardrum directly through an open fitting, the two can mix. Widex has designed parts of its recent technology to reduce the side effects of this mixing, which it says helps sound feel more natural.
You do not need to understand the engineering. What matters is whether you notice it. People who tend to notice are:
- Musicians, singers and keen music listeners
- People with milder hearing loss who still hear a lot naturally
- People who disliked the sound of earlier hearing aids
Others notice little difference between brands. That is why we would rather you listen than read reviews.
How to test sound quality for yourself
If natural sound is the reason you are interested in Widex, make the most of a trial by listening on purpose. A few ideas:
- Play a piece of music you know well, at a normal volume, and notice whether instruments sound full or thin.
- Listen to your own voice while reading aloud. Some people find their voice sounds hollow at first with any hearing aid; note whether it settles.
- Spend time in a kitchen with running water and clattering plates. Does it feel comfortable or harsh?
- Sit in a quiet room and listen for small sounds such as a clock or birds outside, which many people have not heard clearly for years.
Write down what you notice. Your audiologist can use those notes to adjust the settings, and the comparison is fairer if you repeat the same tests with any other brand you try.
Which Widex ranges are available?
Current Widex ranges include the following. Your audiologist will show you the newest models at your visit.
Widex Moment
Moment is the family most closely tied to Widex’s focus on natural sound. It comes in receiver-in-canal and other styles, at several technology levels.
Widex SmartRIC
SmartRIC is a receiver-in-canal aid with a distinctive shape designed to sit comfortably behind the ear and position its microphones well. It is rechargeable and suits people who want a modern design.
Widex Allure
Allure is one of Widex’s newer ranges. Ask your audiologist how it compares with Moment and SmartRIC for your hearing, since the right one depends on your results and priorities.
As with every brand, each Widex range comes at several technology levels. The level, more than the range name, decides how much automatic adjustment the aid does in complicated sound. A higher level is not always necessary, and we will explain what you would gain before you decide. Widex also makes custom and more powerful styles for people whose ears or hearing loss need them.
Who might prefer Widex?
| If this sounds like you | Why Widex may be worth trying |
|---|---|
| You play or listen to a lot of music | The brand’s emphasis on sound quality is aimed at people who are sensitive to how things sound |
| Previous hearing aids sounded harsh or echoey | A different sound approach may feel more comfortable |
| You have mild to moderate loss with open fittings | This is where natural-feeling sound tends to be most noticeable |
| You live with tinnitus as well as hearing loss | Widex has a long history of tinnitus sound options |
If your main struggle is following one voice in a very loud room, compare Widex with a brand that takes a more focused approach. Your audiologist can set this up during a trial.
Widex and tinnitus
Widex has offered tinnitus sound programmes for many years, including soft, gentle tones that some people find calming. These do not cure tinnitus, and results vary from person to person. For many people, simply hearing everyday sounds better with hearing aids makes tinnitus less intrusive. Read more on our tinnitus in Sutton Coldfield page.
Widex compared with other brands
We fit Widex alongside Phonak, Oticon, Signia, Starkey, ReSound and Unitron. At the same technology level all of them are good hearing aids. The question is which one gives you the most comfortable sound, the right style and smooth pairing with your phone. If you are weighing Widex against its sister brand, see our Signia guide. For an overview of how to choose, read about the best hearing aids in the UK.
Try Widex hearing aids near Sutton Coldfield
Book a free hearing test at Sutton Hearing Care in Streetly. It lasts up to 90 minutes and includes speech-in-noise testing, so we can see how you cope with background noise as well as quiet sounds. If Widex suits your results, wear a pair at home for 14 days free of charge. Bring music you know well and listen to it during the trial. Prices start at £1,595 a pair, with full details on our hearing aid prices page.