Hello all, I am in the process of getting new hearing aids and I have been a Widex user for eight years. I loved the Beyonds and they suit my lifestyle of being a public school teacher and DJ. I recently tested the SmartRICs and it left more to be desired. It seems like there is WAY too much noise reduction and the hearing aids seem to have a mind of their own —ducking sounds it think I don’t want to hear. My audiologist said that the noise reduction is fixed in with this model and that’s disheartening. Has anyone else experienced this? I know people say you have to get used to them as your brain is hearing new sounds, but how my brain get used to new sounds if audio is always being compressed. It’s so bad that even when I use my teacher voice and project, the sound gets squashed and I can’t hear hats being said in my classroom.
I do not have widex.
I presently am trialing Starkey Edge AI.
The Starkey also automatically reduces noise.
The only time it does not is in the music program. I use that program to determine how loud the environment is.
I then use the noise reduction feature. This helps me realize how much noise has been reduced.
I also have an app where I can set up a program to my liking.
I can turn down are off the noise reduction.
I know that Widex have music programs. Musicians like them.
I’m guessing they have an app also.
Talk to your audiologist about this.
I trialled the smartRIC recently and overall I did like them even though I ended up returning them as I didn’t think aids were helping me enough to justify the cost with my mild to moderate high frequency hearing loss + tinnitus.
Wind noise was very noticeable.
The PureSound program was really good. The sound was very clear and it made me feel “switched on”. My audiologist insisted I used the universal program though for directionality or whatever. 
The Bluetooth connectivity wasn’t great. It cuts out a lot when streaming music which made me think what is the point? This was streaming from an iPhone 14 sitting right next to me in small room.
I remember having an appointment where the audiologist adjusted the settings for better audibility. The next day I was in the car with people in the back and their voices were so muffled. I could hear them fine without the aids but terrible with the aids. Very annoying. That day I decided to return them.
I have the feeling that the aids could probably have done a lot more for me had the fitting been better.
Sounds like you have peak/loud noise reduction set to sensitive. There are steps/levels.
Is this the same audiologist that fitted your Beyonds? My guess is no.
Freezerman, would you mind starting a thread focusing on your thoughts on Starkey Edge AI. Do not want to steal this thread, but would be very interested in your opinions. Thanks
I can do that.
I’m turning then in Tuesday. The trial will be over.
Thank you. I am thinking about a trial
There is a thread on the aid.