As we’ve written many times, the optimal wearable is one you’re not aware of. If you can forget you’re wearing an assistive device, it’s less likely to end up in the back of some drawer. That’s why, when I describe the Widex Moment hearing aids as “forgettable,” I mean it in the very best way.
During the past few months I informally tested a borrowed sample set of Widex Moment aids. Widex claims Moment hearing aid technology “delivers the most pure, natural sound ever.” When I wore the Widex Moment hearing aids I regularly forgot I had them in my ears. It was almost like the hearing aids disappeared.
Widex Moment hearing aids are medical devices. They are not sold direct to consumers; you need to go to an audiologist in person and get a professional audiogram before you can be fitted for the devices. In addition to the Widex Moment hearing aids, Widex also sent me a Widex Remote Link. After your initial in-person fitting, an authorized audiologist can test your hearing and adjust the hearing aids via the Remote Link. Here’s how it works; first you download and install two smartphone apps: Widex Moment and Widex Remote Care. The two apps connect via Bluetooth to the Remote Link and the Widex Moment hearing aids. For the sake of my review, Widex arranged for an audiologist to conduct the test and adjust the hearing aid settings during a single online session entirely remotely. Normally, however, this would have to be done at an audiologist’s office.
The Widex Moment hearing aids I tested were the company’s smallest behind-the-ear receiver-in-canal style, model mRIC R D. Fully charging the hearing aids takes about four hours in the provided portable charger. Widex rates the battery life for up to 16 hours per charge in normal conditions. I recharged the aids each night and never ran out of power.
After your Widex Moment hearing aids have been configured to match your needs, you can use the Widex Moment app at any time to select volume, left/right balance, and equalizer settings. There is a preset for music. You can select directional focus front, left, back, or right or choose the Universal setting. You can also save a named customized sound configurations for specific settings. There’s even an AI-driven learn mode that remembers your sound preferences based on A-B comparisons.
All of the features and software controls mentioned above were convenient, but I was stunned by the Widex PureSound setting. The PureSound setting uses Widex’s ZeroDelay technology. ZeroDelay minimizes sound processing time to just 0.5 milliseconds. The figure compares to 7 to 10 milliseconds for most hearing aids, according to Widex.
PureSound appears to work dynamically and cuts ambient sound to focus on voice. I’ve used many hearables and several hearing aids that range from “just okay” to “excellent” in isolating the sounds of voices… but none so effectively as Widex Moment PureSound. It quickly became a family joke when I’d forget to remove the Widex Moment hearing aids because I forget I was wearing them. The fit is light and comfortable, but in my experience there was virtually no background sound. With other devices I’ve been annoyed to hear the sound of myself chewing or swallowing, but there was no such annoyance with the Moment aids.
There is no hardware-only end-user price for Widex Moment hearing aids. They are only sold with audiologist fittings and services. I’ve noticed several online audiology services the sell the same model I tested from $2,800 to $3,000 with testing and fitting included.
The virtual care aspect of the Widex Moment hearing aids isn’t unique today, but it’s a welcome disruptive medical model that challenges the need to travel to an audiologist’s office. In my experience, however, the best thing about Widex Moment hearing aids is their ability to simply disappear.
